Eagles v West Adelaide Sun 13th sept Adelaide oval

the season starts on Sun

By ZAC MILBANK | Twitter @zacmilbank

Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden is facing several selection headaches as he prepares to name his squad of 23 today to face West Adelaide in the Second Semi-Final at Adelaide Oval.

Declaring the Eagles were itching to get involved in this year’s finals series after earning the week off, Godden has a completely healthy list to choose from entering the major round.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 2011 premiership mentor confirmed star midfielder James Boyd would come under serious consideration after collecting 44 disposals in his most recent Reserves outing.

Godden revealed only around 17 spots in his side were safe, leaving him with at least four places to fill as the club’s Reserves prepare for their first final on Saturday.

The Eagles’ League and Reserves teams went head-to-head in an internal trial match last weekend, Godden describing the clash as hotly contested as players put their hand up for promotion.

Last year’s Elimination Final loss to South was the Eagles’ fourth in succession, providing Godden’s charges with plenty to prove against the Bloods from 3.10pm on Sunday.

EAGLES
Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden has rolled the dice at selection with the inclusion of star midfielder James Boyd for Sunday’s Second Semi-Final against West at Adelaide Oval.
Despite not playing at league level since injuring his groin in Round 10, Boyd has been named to start in the centre square from 3.10pm.
The 2010 premiership player has been steadily building match fitness during the past month, with his most recent Reserves outing yielding 44 disposals in an impressive display.
Boyd has been joined in the Eagles’ 23-man squad by running defender Nathan Batley and former Essendon rookie Fraser Thurlow.
Thurlow could provide relief for Marc Borholm in the ruck, while also presenting himself as an enticing marking option in attack amid the expected fine conditions.
Giles Ellis and Matthew Raymond are the unlucky players sent back to the Reserves, with Godden to consider playing two more from his extended interchange in Saturday’s Reserves Second Semi-Final.

F: Poole, Wundke, C. Hall
HF: Petrenko, Ainger, McGregor
C: Allmond, Lewis, Martyn
HB: Goldsworthy, Thompson, Jarrad
B: P. Raymond, Von Bertouch, Giuffreda

R: Borholm, Rowntree, Boyd
INT: Schwarz, Thurlow, N. Hayes, Appleton, Batley
IN: Boyd, Batley, Thurlow
OUT: Ellis, M. Raymond

Both teams have a long drought when it comes to winning this final - we haven't won since 1994 and West since 1983

Obviously this is going to be a tough match. It probably won't surprise you to see my post saying I don't think we will win...we have only been undefeated in a finals series once (1993) and for some reason this club needs a final just to realise what we are up against. After 2004 (the last QF win), we have been 2-7 in first finals. The two wins being 2009 and 2010 EFs.

Hope I'm wrong of course. Then if we lose the toss and West kick first, they get the use of the predicted 25-40 km/h winds and that may negate their slow starts (which is our strong point).

A good gutsy win after losing Rowntree and Poole.
That last quarter and those kicks making sure they found Eagles players up forward mainly Ainger. May have won the day

Woodville-West Torrens has booked a berth in its first Grand Final since 2011 after holding of a valiant West Adelaide by 14 points in Sunday’s Second Semi-Final at Adelaide Oval.

Leading at every change, the Eagles appeared to be cruising when they took in a comfortable five-goal buffer at the final change.

But the ultra-fit Bloods weren’t done there as consecutive goals to Hugh Haysman, Errin Wasley-Black and Daniel Webb trimmed the margin to just 10 points at the 12th minute mark of the fourth quarter.

This forced the minor premier to gain control of the ball in order to halt the Bloods momentum, with the fourth goal to Eagles forward Andrew Ainger steadying the ship 17 minutes into the final stanza.

The only major concern to come out of the game for Michael Godden’s men was a knee injury to star on-baller Angus Rowntree, which resulted in him being stretchered from the field just 14 minutes into the opening quarter.

Rowntree is expected to undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of his latest setback after spending the majority of 2014 recovering from a knee reconstruction.

Despite the absence of this year’s runner-up in the Magarey Medal, the Eagles’ midfield was still deep enough to ensure their forwards received enough opportunity to have 24 shots on goal.

Unheralded Tom Schwarz, one of the club’s biggest improvers this season, was a shining light, finishing with 24 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances while Jarred Allmond, Scott Lewis and Sam Martyn also ensured the workload was shared evenly.

In attack, Ainger was well supported by triple Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke, who had an entertaining dual with Fos Williams Medallist Tom Keough, while Eagles goalsneak Lachlan McGregor was creative further up the ground.

Seeking to continue their momentum built from a Qualifying Final win against Port, the Bloods were unable to impose themselves on the contest before the major change.

SA Under-18s Will Snelling and Hugh Haysman displayed great maturity in supporting captain Chris Schmidt, star recruit Kaine Stevens and former Crow Jason Porplyzia.

But the Bloods were also hit by injury after backman Logan Hill was stretchered from the field during the third quarter.

Goalsneak Aaron Fielke was also sidelined by a knock to the head while Hill was hurt by friendly fire from team-mate Adam Hartlett who accidently hit his fellow defender in the head with his arm.

Bloods coach Mark Mickan will now be forced to sweat on the fitness of both Hill and Fielke, with a rampant Central District now awaiting his side in next Sunday’s Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval.

Mickan must also weigh up the risk in selecting wingman Taite Silverlock, who missed the Second Semi-Final after hurting his hamstring against the Magpies in the Qualifying Final.

SCOREBOARD
Eagles 4.1 7.4 10.10 11.13 (79)
West 3.1 4.2 6.4 9.11 (65)

GOALS – Eagles: Ainger 4, Wundke, Boyd 2, Batley, McGregor, Rowntree.
West: Anderson, Webb 2, Beech, Wasley-Black, Snelling, Haysman, Porplyzia.
INJURIES - Eagles: Rowntree (knee), Poole (knee).
West: Hill (concussion), Fielke (concussion).
CROWD – 9247 at Adelaide Oval

« back

MickyJ, Re your comment "Jack Boyd looked good in the Seconds", he took 2 marks for the entire game, not good enough yet ( 15 disposals was encouraging).
Secondly, although I have the highest regard for Redden as being the 2nd or 3rd Best SANFL ruckman, he can't play forward at this stage of his career - the opposition backman would have a field day, running off him and setting up coast-to-coast goals.

Don't know how my post ended up here !
Nobody reads it anyway so I won't attempt to fix it. Just couldn't help myself in correcting , IMHO , some strange posts, with due respect, etc

Premiers wrote:MickyJ, Re  your comment "Jack Boyd looked good in the Seconds", he took 2 marks for the entire game, not good enough yet ( 15 disposals was encouraging).
Secondly, although I have the highest regard for Redden as being the 2nd or 3rd Best SANFL ruckman, he can't play forward  at this stage of his career -  the opposition backman would have a field day, running off him and setting up coast-to-coast goals.

It’s ok just a thought
I just realised it’s s a west Adelaide post lol
How about Lucak up forward
Mind you end result we killed a afl seconds side

Premiers wrote:Don't know how my post ended up here !
Nobody reads it anyway so I won't attempt to fix it. Just couldn't help myself in correcting , IMHO , some strange posts, with due respect, etc

I would’ve answered or seen in wrong topic just leaving Adelaide oval

How devastating were the injuries in this game. From memory, the bullocking ruck we had that year was also injured (Borland?) that game and missed the GF.

Rowntree would've been an all-time Eagle great had he had some luck with his knee injuries and we know how important Poole was in big games.

Premiers wrote:Don't know how my post ended up here !
Nobody reads it anyway so I won't attempt to fix it. Just couldn't help myself in correcting , IMHO , some strange posts, with due respect, etc

The delete post button is your friend.