Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens enjoyed big wins, West Adelaide came from the clouds to claim a remarkable victory and Norwood staked its claim as a flag threat after halting the Bays.
Read all about it in this week's SANFL wrap.
Norwood 10.11.(71) def Glenelg 7.5.(47)
Norwood strengthened its claim as a genuine premiership threat in 2024 after taking down reigning premiers Glenelg at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
In an impressive defensive display, the Redlegs held the Tigers to just 12 scoring shots for the night, the fewest the Bays have managed since Round 18, 2022, also against Norwood.
For the second consecutive game, Norwood put their opponent to the sword in the third term, kicking four goals in a 13-minute blitz while keeping the Tigers to just a single behind.
The win was built on the back of relentless pressure around the ball and locking the Sherrin in their front half, resulting in a mammoth 60 inside 50s, the most conceded by Glenelg in nearly three years.
Norwood also held their own against Glenelg's high-powered midfield, with Harry Boyd feasting against debutant ruckman Sam Dunn to finish with 18 disposals, 46 hitouts and nine clearances in another best-afield performance.
South Adelaide recruit Mitch O'Neill put in another standout game with 21 disposals and two clever goals snapped from forward 50 stoppages, while fellow recruit Billy Cootee collected a game-high 26 disposals and a goal.
Redlegs skipper Jacob Kennerly set the tone early, kicking two first half goals to go with a team-high eight tackles as he provided toughness around the contest.
Two of Norwood's more unheralded players in Jake Creswell (24 disposals and seven inside 50s) and Sam Morris (18 disposals, seven tackles and two goals) also played starring roles in the win.
Tom Donnelly and Jack Heard were outstanding in negating dangerous forwards Lachie Hosie and Luke Reynolds, with the Tigers pair contributing just two goals to the total.
For Glenelg, Darcy Bailey and Max Proud held up brilliantly in defence, each finishing with 24 disposals and combining for 14 rebound 50s.
The ever-reliable Matthew Snook battled away in the middle, winning 19 disposals, four clearances and eight inside 50s, while the returning Will Gould was pushed forward in the absence of Liam McBean and booted two goals from limited opportunities.
Woodville-West Torrens 21.12.(138) def North Adelaide 7.4.(46)
Woodville-West Torrens showed what they might be capable of in 2024 with a 92-point demolition of North Adelaide at Woodville on Saturday.
The Eagles burst out of the blocks, kicking the first six goals to lead by 37 points after just 13 minutes of play.
Two late goals to the Roosters before quarter time briefly breathed some life into the contest, but eight consecutive Eagles goals on each side of half-time killed off any hopes of a comeback.
With clearances evenly matched for most of the day, it was the Eagles' ability to move the ball with express pace and punish the Roosters' turnovers that were the gap in the game.
The lack of pressure from North Adelaide is reflected in the tackle numbers, which the Roosters lost by 22 despite also finishing with 50 fewer disposals and 19 fewer marks.
Perhaps what will please new Eagles coach Sam Jacobs the most is the evenness of his team's performance, with plenty of contributors across every line.
James Rowe was as damaging as ever with the ball, racking up 30 disposals, six inside 50s and three goals in a stellar performance.
Luke Beecken provided run and dash from the half-backline, also finishing with 30 disposals and also snuck forward for a running goal from 50 metres in the first quarter blitz.
In just his sixth league game, Patrick Weckert was a huge presence in the forward line, kicking three goals in the first term and four for the match as he proved a handful for the North Adelaide defence.
Captain Joe Sinor led from the front as always as he found 20 disposals, 11 tackles and two goals.
In a lean day for the visitors, Roosters captain Alex Spina was stoic in the backline with 21 disposals and seven rebound 50s, while Campbell Coombe battled away in the middle to finish with 20 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances.
Central District 15.7.(97) def Adelaide Crows 5.12.(42)
Central District chalked up their second consecutive win to start this season, this time easing past an undermanned Adelaide at Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Bulldogs made the most of their chances in the first half, going into the main break with a 29-point lead despite registering the same amount of scoring shots as the Crows.
They then powered away in the second half, kicking eight goals to three to run out 55-point winners.Â
Following on from an impressive attacking display last week at Prospect, the Bulldogs bested their highest score from 2023 for the second consecutive match.
Aiden Grace recaptured his elimination final heroics to boot five goals, while Dale Pearce also finished with a handful to go with six marks.
At the other end, Centrals restricted Adelaide to their lowest goal tally since Round 17, 2019, when the Crows were held to four goals at a boggy Woodville Oval.
Coming off a best-on-ground performance in last week's state game, Jez McLennan was impassable down back, finishing with 30 disposals, nine marks and five rebound 50s.
Also back from state duties, Harry Grant returned to his best after a quiet game against North Adelaide, collecting 30 disposals and five clearances.
New recruit Wilson Barry continues to impress and is adding a new dimension to this team with his tearaway speed and ball use, racking up 19 disposals and two goals.
Jarrod Schiller and Mani Liddy were both influential in the middle, while recruit Jake Gasper was a livewire up front with two goals from 15 disposals.
For Adelaide, Billy Dowling led the way in the midfield with 23 disposals and six clearances, while Luke Pedlar responded well to his AFL demotion with 18 disposals, five clearances and six inside 50s.
Last year's first round draft pick Dan Curtin looked assured in defence, finishing with 20 disposals and six rebound 50s, while fellow draftee Charlie Edwards had positive moments with 14 disposals.
West Adelaide 12.11.(83) def Port Adelaide 11.13.(79)
West Adelaide broke through for a historic first win in the Riverland in a nail-biter against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Playing for the Russell Ebert Tribute Cup at Waikerie Oval, this contest went down to the wire after a gutsy fightback from the Bloods late in the last term.
Quinton Narkle's goal for the Magpies at the 18-minute mark looked to have sealed the game, only for West to hit back with three quick goals to snatch the lead at the death and hold on for an important victory.
The goal that started the run was an exciting glimpse into the future for West Adelaide fans, with two of their young guns Kobe Ryan and Isaac Johnson combining beautifully to breathe life into the contest.
Another emerging player in Liam Delahunty took a crucial intercept mark late in the piece while new recruit Brady Searle laid a massive tackle on Cody Szust that stopped an attacking foray for the Magpies.
Ryan was a deserved winner of the Russell Ebert Medal as best on ground, finishing with 28 disposals, 10 tackles and four clearances in a masterful midfield display.
Joel Stevens was also influential throughout, kicking three goals and launching six inside 50s as he proved a constant attacking threat.
Lucas Merline played one of his better games in West Adelaide colours, amassing 23 disposals and eight rebound 50s as well as a match-saving intercept mark in the dying moments.
Port Adelaide ruckman Jordon Sweet followed up his dominant Round 1 performance with another sublime rucking display, totalling 19 disposals, 37 hitouts, seven clearances and eight tackles.
Other AFL-listed players in Josh Sinn, Trent McKenzie, Narkle and Francis Evans all put in solid performances and finished with 20 or more disposals.
Tom Clurey's move to the wing this year is showing signs of progression, finding 18 disposals and a goal before being sent back late in the game.
South Adelaide 5.10.(40) def by Sturt 16.9.(105)
Sturt bounced back strongly to register their first win of the season in convincing fashion over South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Sunday.
After a first-up loss to Norwood at The Parade, Sturt were back to the form that saw them make last year's grand final.
The Double Blues' midfield was dominant throughout, finishing with 11 more clearances and a whopping 35 more inside 50s as the Panthers struggled to sustain any form of attack.
South Adelaide didn't kick a major until the 22-minute mark of the second term, but it was worth the wait as Eamon Wilkinson curled in a ripping snap from the boundary in what will be a goal of the year contender.
Other than that, it was lean pickings for the Panthers, who managed only two goals in the first three quarters, in which time Sturt piled on 10 and had well and truly iced the contest.
New Sturt recruit Will Snelling was superb in his second outing in Blues' colours, collecting 38 disposals, seven clearances and 10 tackles.
Skipper James Battersby and Jared Dakin each finished with seven clearances as they rounded out the midfield onslaught, while Amos Doyle had the better of the ruck duel with 25 hitouts and six clearances of his own.
James Mathews was electric in attack, booting five goals including three in a rampaging second quarter that completely deflated any hope the Panthers had.
Sam Conforti was busy with 18 disposals and two goals, as was Josh Hone, who finished with two goals including his own contender for goal of the year with a running checkside kick from almost the identical spot as Wilkinson's effort.
On a lean day for the hosts, Hayden Sampson battled hard in the midfield and collected 34 disposals and six clearances, while new recruit Jake Arundell was impressive on the wing and finished with 28 disposals and four inside 50s.
Defenders Nic Schroder, Jonti Schuback and Max Clifton all stood up under enormous pressure, combining for 15 rebound 50s.
At the other end, Wilkinson booted with three goals while young tall forward Noah Howes showed plenty of promise, taking three big contested marks and could have hit the scoreboard if not for inaccuracy in front of the sticks.
