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Rough season over for North Adelaide

North Adelaide closed a rough season with a defiant 69-point victory over West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Sunday.

With nothing to play for “bar respect and pride”, the Roosters lined up with strong determination and left West Adelaide lamenting on just two wins for the season.

Last year’s Magarey Medallist and one of the favourites again this year James Allan led the charge with 29 solid possessions.

He set a good example for the next generation of red-and-white stars such as Cohen Thiele and Todd Pfeiffer who put their bodies and minds on the line against wasteful West Adelaide.

Jordan Dodman, a former Adelaide 36ers basketballer, proved useful in the forward line offering the midfield a 205cm target to kick to in the goalsquare.

However when the rain bucketed down, Dodman’s size became a curse, but it just allowed the more agile Clint Alleway and Heath Younie to pick up the slack.

Bloods coach Andy Collins chose to use playmaker Damien Cupido on the ball, leaving Ryan Ferguson and Daniel Caire struggling to the hold down the backlines.

Cupido though created his usual magic around the ground but lacked much support.

West Adelaide finished another year languishing on the bottom of the SANFL ladder but it was probably more of a disappointing year for the Roosters who finshed outside the top five after being preseason premiership favourites.

North Adelaide still celebrated one last victory of the season – 15.11 (101) to 4.11 (35) – and plan to use it as a springboard to better things in 2009.

Stephen O’Loughlin/The Advertiser