Sturt moved into outright premiership favouritism with a solid win over title contender Glenelg, North Adelaide survived a kick after the siren to break West Adelaide hearts, while Norwood put in strong showing against South.
Read all about it in this week's SANFL Wrap.
West Adelaide 11.8.(74) def by North Adelaide 12.6.(78)
North Adelaide held off a fast-finishing West Adelaide to claim a thrilling four-point victory at Richmond on Saturday that keeps their finals hopes alive.
The Roosters led by 23 points midway through the final quarter before three quick goals from the Bloods set up a grandstand finish, with Dylan McCormick's shot from 50 metres after the siren sailing wide to the relief of the visitors.
While the result didn't go their way, West Adelaide showed plenty of spirit and took the challenge to their more fancied opponents for the whole afternoon, with their pressure and attack on the football particularly evident.
The result saw West Adelaide kick their highest score of the season and secure their best scoreboard return since Round 19 last year, while their defence conceded under 100 points for just the third time this season.
Meanwhile, North will be relieved to walk away with the victory despite playing well below their best, with the experience of key players proving pivotal in the end.
With Angus Schumacher receiving a heavy tag from Lachie Squire, emerging midfielder Hughen Wissman played a key role in the engine room, gathering 26 disposals, six clearances, eight tackles and seven inside 50s.
Harrison Wigg (21 touches) and Zavier Maher (16 disposals) also offered great support and were consistent contributors through the midfield.
Oskar Faulkhead (19 disposals and eight marks) and Will Francou (18 touches and five inside 50s) worked hard on their respective wings all day and had some crucial moments at either end of the ground.
Cody Raak (20 disposals, nine marks and 10 rebound 50s) was deployed as a key defender on Tom Scully and competed strongly, while Jarman Sigal continues to find his feet with the Roosters and fought hard against West big man Ned Stevens.
At the other end, Kym LeBois was a major threat inside 50 and kicked four goals in the second term to ignite his team, while Lachie Wilsdon was an important aerial presence and finished with four majors.
In a far more respectable outing for West Adelaide, the positives were hard to miss as several key players showcased the potential this young group has.
Midfield star Kobe Ryan (29 touches and 11 clearances) was relentless at the stoppages and won plenty of tough possessions for his team, while Brady Searle (24 disposals and seven clearances) worked hard across the ground to get his team moving.
First-year ruckman Caleb May (29 hitouts, four clearances and two goals) enjoyed his best game at SANFL level, winning some key contests for his midfielders and pushing forward to provide another option in attack.
Small forward Dylan McCormick (25 disposals, five inside 50s, seven marks and two goals) played arguably his most impactful league game, while Tom Scully was again the key pillar in attack for West Adelaide to kick three goals.
Tom Morrish (21 disposals and 11 marks) was seemingly everywhere across half-back as he read the ball superbly to take several intercept marks, while Callum Park (22 touches and eight rebound 50s) was an important distributor from defence.
Cooper Patterson (14 disposals and seven marks) continues to develop nicely as a key defender and fought strongly in his one-on-one battles, while Adam Bunworth was again tenacious as the lockdown small defender.
Glenelg 9.13.(67) def by Sturt 13.9.(87)
Sturt surged into outright premiership favouritism with a clinical 20-point victory over reigning premier Glenelg on Sunday afternoon.
The win extends the Blues' unbeaten run to 10 matches and puts them three games clear atop the SANFL ladder with eight matches remaining.
Trailing by 12 points early in the last term, Sturt piled on six of the last seven goals as they found an extra gear to finish full of running.
Many of the key stats categories finished relatively even, but ultimately, Sturt's polish and ability to execute in key moments proved telling.
Glenelg's deadly accuracy that has been on show for much of the season deserted them when it was needed most, registering the same number of scoring shots but missing some key opportunities.
One area that Sturt controlled was the midfield battle, winning clearances by 11 despite having star Magarey medallist Will Snelling copping a heavy tag from Alex Martini.
As he has done all year, Tom Lewis stood up with a powerful display through the midfield, gathering 29 disposals, 10 clearances, 11 tackles and a superb final-quarter goal.
Angus Anderson (21 disposals and four clearances) continues to relish his new midfield role and was an important presence at the stoppages, while Martin Frederick (21 touches and eight tackles) spent more time around the ball and held his own.
Amos Doyle (34 hitouts) commanded the ruck duel and continually provided quality hits to his midfielders, while 100-gamer Daniel Fahey-Sparks offered serviceable ruck relief.
Casey Voss (17 disposals and 11 rebound 50s) played a crucial game across half-back and repeatedly repelled his side from defence, while Zac Becker (18 disposals, eight marks and seven rebound 50s) also had a big impact in the key defensive post.
Rookie defender Alex Holt (15 disposals) continues to impress in his first season of league football, while Luke Edmunds was a welcome return to the backline and helped shut down the Bays' key forwards.
After a quiet patch of form, Sam Conforti was the key danger man inside 50 for the Blues and kicked four goals, including three in the all-important last quarter, while Tom Emmett (19 disposals and a goal) worked hard up the ground for his team.
While the loss put a huge dent in Glenelg's minor premiership aspirations, their depth and quality of talent were still evident as they produced some terrific football across the day.
Jarryd Lyons (24 disposals, six clearances and two goals) was a major threat with his ability to win the ball at stoppage and push forward to hit the scoreboard when needed.
Alex Martini (15 disposals and four clearances) executed his tag on the elusive Snelling with great effect and still managed to win enough of the footy himself.
With Corey Lyons out of the team with a foot injury, ex-Crow Patrick Parnell (24 disposals and four clearances) was moved into the midfield and looked at home, while Luke Partington (24 disposals) provided great strength at the stoppages.
Jonty Scharenberg (19 disposals and six rebound 50s) was influential with his ability to clear Glenelg from defence, while Brad McCarthy played a terrific shutdown role on Josh Hone and curbed his impact.
Max Proud offered his customary calmness in defence and defused several important aerial contests, while Cooper Beecken played a strong game on Oliver Grivell and neutralised some big one-on-one battles.
Lachie Hosie (three goals) was Glenelg's main threat in attack and created numerous chances for himself, while Matthew Allen (20 disposals and a goal) spent more time forward but could not make the most of his opportunities in front of goal.
Norwood 12.12.(84) def South Adelaide 4.8.(32)
Norwood returned to the winner's list and claimed their first home victory of the season with a comfortable 52-point win over South Adelaide on Sunday afternoon.
The Redlegs burst out of the blocks with eight goals to one in the opening half to all but end the contest by the main break with a 48-point lead.
South clawed back some ascendancy after half-time and put on three goals to Norwood's four, but the damage was well and truly done by then.
With Baynen Lowe on the sidelines for most of the second half and Nik Rokahr receiving a strong tag from Ben Ashley-Cooper, Norwood skipper Jacob Kennerley stood up in the midfield, collecting 25 disposals, seven clearances, five inside 50s and a goal.
Billy Cootee (24 touches, six inside 50s and a goal) was also influential in the middle with his speed and sharp ball use, while Connor Ling (14 possessions) spent more time around the ball and had some positive moments.
Luke Surman (21 hitouts and seven clearances) and Finn Heard (17 touches, 18 hitouts and a goal) combined well in the ruck and won numerous clear taps for their midfielders to go to work.
Jackson Callow was again a major presence in attack to finish with four goals despite some close attention from the South defenders, while Tristan Binder took his chances to kick two.
Charlie Molan (18 disposals) played arguably his best league game for Norwood as he worked high up the ground and won some key contests, while Isaac Saywell (17 disposals) was productive on the wing.
Matthew Ling and Cooper Murley (both 18 disposals) provided plenty of rebound from defence with their pace and attacking ball use, while Pierce Seymour (18 touches and six marks) was almost impassable with his intercept marking.
Alec Wright played a typically disciplined game in locking down Corey Grocock and keeping the danger man to just five touches, while Alastair Lord (16 disposals) fought strongly against Eamon Wilkinson and kept him to just three disposals.
While South Adelaide struggled without gun midfielder Ollie Davis, tough nut Callum McCarty (19 disposals and five clearances) battled admirably as the Panthers' most effective ball-winner.
Ben Ashley-Cooper played a valuable tagging role on Nik Rokahr and blunted the Norwood star's influence, while Angus Bradley (15 touches) had some good moments with ball in hand.
Although Olivier Northam (13 disposals and five clearances) was out-pointed at the ruck contests, his follow-up work and mobility around the ground were major assets for South.
Jaiden Magor (15 disposals and seven rebound 50s) made a welcome return and offered some crucial run from defence, while Nich Weightman (14 disposals) won some important contests to halt Norwood's attack.
Damon Freitag (two goals) never stopped competing in attack, while Sam Skinner continued his new role as a key forward and took some impressive marks on the lead to trouble the Redlegs' defence.
