NOT only did North Adelaide win for the fifth time this season, to move clear in third spot on the SANFL ladder, it came from behind to beat a form team in the Eagles, to demonstrate its credentials as a legitimate premiership contender.
The Roosters are finding ways to win, which is a trait traditionally employed by teams looking to have a point of difference with other competitive sides.
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In the first term North was as much as 27-points down, with Woodville West Torrens goalsneak Andrew Ainger booting three majors, before time-on goals to Daniel Stewart and Nick Amato reduced the margin to 15 points at the first break.
Through most of the second term the game remained tight, until again the Roosters managed a pair of late goals to only trail by a point at half time, although a little inaccurate, with four more scoring shots.
North kept the pressure on, taking control with an eight-goal third term to lead by 3-8 at the final break, and coasted to an 18-14 to 13-6 victory.
Fresh off a six-goal haul in the State game, Rooster Leigh Ryswyk booted four goals, while teenager Amato seemed to be everywhere and was his side’s best, and former Central District champion Chad O’Sullivan collected 25 possession in a solid outing.
For the Eagles, Chris Hall, Campbell Heath and captain Luke Jarrad were their best.
This Saturday Woodville West Torrens should be able to stay in touch with the top three sides when it hosts Glenelg, while North will travel to Alberton on Sunday to play the Magpies.
Port Adelaide gave an improved performance at Richmond Oval on Friday night against top team West Adelaide, but fell away in the third quarter, to go down by 15 points.
It was a low-scoring game, with the teams locked together at 5-6 apiece when half time was reached.
But with four goals to just one by the Magpies, West set up the win in the third term, and held on in a dour final quarter, although Port closed the gap to just eight points late in the game.
Ever-reliable Chris Schmidt and best-on-ground performer Ben Macreadie led the Bloods to victory, while captain Ryan Ferguson booted three goals.
While West dabbled its toes in the water last season as a premiership contender, this year’s model is a genuine threat, as it did what was required to win and still has a host of players set to return in coming weeks.
Missing on Friday night were James Ezard, Joel Tippett and Tyson Slattery, while Adam Hartlett and Brad Moran made their comebacks in the twos.
For the Magpies, teenage sensation Jake Johansen looked like taking the game by storm with both of Port’s first two goals in the opening quarter, and finished strongly to be high on Port’s best player list, with Sam Gray the black and white’s standout.
Adelaide Crow Graham Johncock booted three goals and played well for the Magpies, as he searches to re-establish himself in the AFL.
This Saturday the Bloods travel to Unley to take on the under-performing Sturt.
Supporters saw the best and worst of the 2013 Central District model last Saturday, in the first half of its SANFL match against Sturt at Elizabeth, before the Bulldogs finished the game 27-point victors.
The first quarter saw a rampaging Bulldogs nail the only seven goals of the period to lead 7-2 to 0-4 at the first break.
Just five minutes into the second term Central booted the first goal, then it stopped!
Sturt managed its first goal of the game at the eight minute mark of the second quarter. Just four minutes later it had its fourth.
Another three goals in the period, all by the visitors, saw the Double Blues close to with-in four points and have all the momentum at the long break, with spearhead Matthew Duldig nailing four majors.
With the first five goals of the third term, Central was out to a 33-point lead, then by three quarter time Sturt was only 12 points down and booted the first goal of the final quarter to be just a kick behind.
But the Bulldogs controlled the rest of the game to run out convincing 20-12 to 15-15 victors.
Rookie teenager Josh Glenn, in only his sixth league game, was sensational, using his pace and clean disposal to devastating effect, in collecting 35 possessions, in a best on ground performance for Central.
James Boyd again had a high possession, high impact game, while Ian Callinan was an opportunist forward with five goals.
For Sturt, Luke Crane was a livewire all game and collected 29 possessions, while Brodie Martin and Fraser Evans were solid, and Angus Graham had his moments in ruck.
This week the Bulldogs travel to Noarlunga to play bottom-placed South Adelaide.
Mired in a slump, with two losses from its past three games, Norwood was not convincing on Saturday night at Noarlunga, but did enough to earn the premiership points against South Adelaide in a 14-7 to 10-6 victory.
The Redlegs class shone though in the first half as they established a handy 19-point lead, which was reduced to eight points on the back of a spirited comeback by the Panthers in the third quarter, but Norwood dominated the final term.
Former South forward Ben Warren kicked five goals for the Redlegs to lead the way, while Mat Suckling continued his rich vein of good form and captain Kieran McGuiness again put in a solid performance, after missing most of last season.
Regular Panther good performers Nick Liddle and Joel Cross were again solid, with 59 possessions between them, while John McDonald was South’s best.
Norwood has the bye this week, followed by a Friday night home game against Sturt.