YARTAPUULTI won its second game of the season, holding on for a two-point win against North Adelaide at Alberton Oval.
A hot start and a strong breeze saw the Magpies kick five goals to one in the first quarter, before resisting a last-gasp Rooster retaliation to win 11.6 (72) to 10.10 (70).
Yartapuulti led North Adelaide since the 16-minute mark of the first quarter and led by 23-points at three quarter time, before the Roosters kicked five goals in the final term to pull ahead.
The Magpies were able to respond through an end-to-end goal sparked by Rome Burgoyne (18 disposals), allowing forward Jed McEntee to kick his second goal to ultimately win the game.
Coach Hamish Hartlett was relieved with his young side’s ability to dig deep and get a result.
“The boys executed the last two or three minutes as well as we could have possibly asked them to,” Hartlett praised.
“The boys just hung on for dear life, so very very happy for what they were able to do in the last few minutes.”
The Magpies reacted to the Rooster’s surge well, sending talls Jake Weidemann (17 disposals, seven marks) and Jack Whitlock (seven disposals) behind the ball to help turn the tide back in Yartapuulti’s favour.
Despite seven changes to the side due to injury and AFL selection, Hartlett had faith his side could find a way to win and was pleased with the resilience his team showed.
“I always rock up to game day and regardless of who we’re playing and who we’ve got on our team, we’ve got full faith and belief that we’ve got the capacity to win games… that was no different today.”
“[The players] were able to use that grit and determination to hold on at the end there,” Hartlett said.
Usual forward Shay Linke was deployed as a defender on Saturday, impressing coaches with 17 disposals and a goal-saving tackle.
“[Linke] loves playing, regardless of where it is, so he was fantastic in defence for us,” Hartlett said.
“He might have cost himself a few more goals for the rest of the year… I can’t see him going forward anytime soon [because] he played too well,” Hartlett laughed.
Jack Watkins also impressed as the Magpies’ best with 31 disposals and a goal, improving his reputation as a reliable, hard-nosed midfielder capable of impacting results.
“[Watkins] continued his brilliant form from the start of the year; he’s really built into the season nicely… he was huge again for us today,” Hartlett said.
Yartapuulti will enjoy a bye before returning to Alberton Oval on Sunday June 8 to face West Adelaide at 2:10pm.
SCOREBOARD:
YARTAPUULTI: 5.2 6.4 9.6 11.6 (72)
NORTH ADELAIDE: 1.1 4.4 5.7 10.10 (70)
Goals: Charleson, McEntee, Sweet 2, Anastasopoulos, Barrett, Moore, Soldo, Watkins
Best: Sweet, Watkins, Burgoyne, Lorenz, McLennan, Linke
