Hostplus SANFL League Snapshot – Preliminary Final

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg will play in its fourth Hostplus SANFL Grand Final in six years after accounting for Central District by 38 points in the Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval.

Despite trailing at every change, the Bulldogs – chasing their first appearance in a title-decider since 2011 – got within a point when Beau Thomas kicked truly three minutes into third quarter.

But just as they did throughout the afternoon, the Bays managed to respond to multiple challenges as Will Chandler put his side 19 points up with a momentum-setting goal after the three-quarter time siren.

Young Tiger Archie Lovelock booted a nice snap to start the fourth term and when Cole Gerloff slammed through a long range bomb from 50m after Central’s Hugo Munn kicked his team’s last goal for the game, the Bays were in a strong position.

Glenelg trailed Central in inside 50 entries for the majority of the contest but edged ahead in the final term as Billy Stretch and captain Liam McBean extended the margin beyond six goals.

It should give Darren Reeves’ charges, who welcomed Lachie Hosie back from a long-term knee injury, plenty of confidence as they helped Glenelg become the first team since North Adelaide to come from the Elimination Final into the big dance.

Making his first League appearance since Round 7, Hosie displayed promising signs as he booted 4.3 and one out on the full from 11 disposals and four marks.

McBean also made an impact on the scoreboard with 4.2 from 13 disposals and five marks while Chandler continued his hot finals form with two goals and a goal assist inside 50m.

Jack Oatey Medallist Matthew Snook racked up a team-high 25 touches, six clearances and five tackles while James Bell strung together another excellent September performance with 24 disposals, six clearances and 10 tackles.

Fellow midfielders Corey Lyons (23 disposals) and Matt Allen (22 disposals, one goal) were also influential while Will Gould (19 disposals) got through the contest without an issues from the back spasms he suffered before the 1st Semi-Final.

Central, which had three more clearances and just four fewer inside 50s, improved its ladder position on last year’s fourth placing, confirming it is heading in the right direction.

Competitive Bulldogs bigman Beau Thomas did his best to haul his team into the grand final after collecting 15 disposals, five marks and booting two goals while playing multiple roles.

Central’s Kai Pudney collected a team-high 21 disposals and booted a long-range goal while emerging ruck Harvey Howe continues to show promise after finishing with 17 disposals, eight clearances and 28 hit outs.

Bulldogs co-captain Jarrod Schiller had 10 disposals and four tackles in what could be his 255th and final game for the club.