The Sandgropers 11.10 (76) defeated the Croweaters 3.11 (29) in the first of the double-header at Skilled Stadium on Wednesday.
After Victoria Metropolitan upset Western Australia by 27 points in the first division one match on Sunday, the Sandgropers bounced back hard, setting up the win with nine goals to one after quarter-time.
Highly-rated Western Australians - Andrew Swallow, Leroy Jetta and Mitchell Clark - all shone against South Australia.
Swallow was dominant in the midfield, collecting 16 disposals, while laying eight tackles. Jetta, who is too young to be drafted this year, but will surely be one to watch in 2006, finished with three goals and showed plenty of class in his performance. Clark, one of the hottest prospects in this year's draft, also snagged three majors.
South Australian Jace Bode notched up 17 disposals - the most in what was an incredibly low possession tally for the match - while teammates Sam Elliott, Cleave Hughes and Shannon Hurn were among their side's best.
The opening quarter was a low-scoring affair. Both sides managed two goals apiece, yet South Australia took a one-point lead into the first change.
The Croweaters were held goalless in the second term, but poor kicking for goal proved costly, as South Australia managed 0.4. In fact, the Croweaters had nine scoring shots to eight, yet trailed by nine points at the long break.
Scott Gumbleton and Jetta were the Sandgropers' goalscorers in the second term, which gave them a nine-point buffer at half-time.
Western Australia added three goals in the third term, as South Australia was again held goalless. Again, inaccurate kicking was the Croweaters downfall, as they produced 0.3, while the Sandgropers extended the margin to 26 points at three quarter-time.
South Australia finally registered its first goal - since the 11-minute mark of the first term - when Tom Hurley added his side's third goal for the day to open proceedings in the last quarter.
But any thought of a comeback by the Croweaters was thwarted when Clark booted two in a row and Jetta posted his third.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2.3 2.7 2.10 3.11 (29)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2.2 4.4 7.6 11.10 (76)
GOALS - South Australia: Hughes, Hurley, Redden
Western Australia: Clark 3, Jetta 3, Casserley, Collard, Conway, Gumbleton, Swallow
BEST - South Australia: Bode, Elliott, Hughes, Hurn, Hurley, Pfeiffer
Western Australia: Swallow, Jetta, Seal, Ballantyne, O'Brien, Clark, Bower, Thornton
UMPIRES - Cure, Mills, Keating
At Skilled Stadium
