Grand Final: Eagles vs Sturt

Who's excited? Chance to redeem what we all thought was a shoe-in in 2015. Hopefully O'Brien and Boyd are available. Who is going out? Any thoughts on playing Boyd. Its a risk. All the best to the boys and all the best to the"2". Another premiership in the reserves but don't let them get ahead of themselves.

Last year Eagles win 2nd semi
West have easy victory in Prelim and run into form
Grand final disaster for us
This year Eagles dispose of Sturt in 2nd semi
Sturt have solid win against favourites in Prelim and run into form
Don't let history repeat itself for all our sake
Just play out of your skins team and make it our best form of the year
Good Luck

Thanks for the post Goddy been busy in rehab monday and again wednesday
I was there 2015 but as we all know i have zero memories of anything from 2015.
Now i saw adelaides first quarter against south on TV werent great after that when i got to the oval Adelaide with 21 afl players were all over south .
Sturt last week were let off in the first quarter unlike the Eagles Adelaide couldnt kick straight and no 21 AFL players no incentive to win Sturt went ahead .
So with all that /i hope we can kick straight again in the first quarter . That helped last game also starting Wundke and Ainger at the full foward line or one in the pocket the smalls including Lewis at half forward CHF confused sturt will this work again ,
And do we go with Boyd do we drop which player ?
And Obrien comes in for which player ?

Where are all the Eagles fans. I thought the GF would have this thread buzzing. Does any-one have any feedback from training?

I think everyone might be a bit on edge goddy11...

Although there's a couple similarities to last year Reddeer, the biggest difference is injuries going into the GF.
Boyd is the only concern, and if we can't cover 1 player (if we need to) then depth is an irrelevant word.

The other thing different to last year unfortunately, is that Sturt are actually a good side, deserving of their GF spot and more than a very worthy opponent. They were top for more of the season than we were, but because we ended up on top we are deemed favourites... this is even money at best.

For a neutral, it should be a cracker between the 2 best teams of the year.

For us, it may be a heart stopper... but if the Eags play their best I reckon we'll get the job done. 15 pts.

yep we hopefully get Boyd back
If not we got to play like we did the last final every goal shot must be a goal.
We need to learn from last years GF loss but also Adelaides goal kicking in the first term
We must kick straight kick more goals than points .
We must block down that Gamble guy for sturt
And Sturts big ruck man ex crow we got to wear him out have redden and bomber hit and hit and hit
And most importantly be in front when the ball lands

Mara32 wrote:I think everyone might be a bit on edge goddy11...

Although there's a couple similarities to last year Reddeer, the biggest difference is injuries going into the GF.
Boyd is the only concern, and if we can't cover 1 player (if we need to) then depth is an irrelevant word.

The other thing different to last year unfortunately, is that Sturt are actually a good side, deserving of their GF spot and more than a very worthy opponent. They were top for more of the season than we were, but because we ended up on top we are deemed favourites... this is even money at best.

For a neutral, it should be a cracker between the 2 best teams of the year.

For us, it may be a heart stopper... but if the Eags play their best I reckon we'll get the job done. 15 pts.

Thanks mate. Deep down I think we will win by 36 + but like you cautious. They are good defensively like us but our attack on its day is superior. Wundke needs to be on his game and taking 2 of their players out. He played a bit up ground last match and took his opponent with him although he is not really that mobile to get back. Our rebounding backs hold the key.

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder James Boyd has been named to play in Sunday’s SANFL IGA League Grand Final against Sturt at Adelaide Oval.

Sidelined with a broken collarbone since Round 21, Boyd has recovered swiftly to put himself in with a chance of playing in the title-decider from 2.40pm.

The West End State team on-baller will be put through a physical test at the club’s main training session at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, to ensure he will be fit to face the Double Blues.

Magarey Medal runner-up Nick O’Brien is more certain of playing, having overcome the minor hamstring strain which kept him out of the Second Semi-Final.

Boyd and O’Brien’s return will give Eagles coach Michael Godden a significant headache at selection with two players needing to be trimmed before the bounce.

Classy small forward Lachlan McGregor will play after making a successful return from a broken arm in the Second Semi-Final, with Jackson Press and Sam Rowland the other two players listed on the extended interchange bench.

EAGLES
F: Lewis, Redden, N. Hayes
HF: Gaffney, Ainger, Wundke
C: Goldsworthy, Poole, Hall
HB: Jarrad, Von Bertouch, Allmond
B: P. Raymond, Thompson, Giuffreda

R: Borholm, Petrenko, Rowntree
INT: Rowland, McGregor, Press, O’Brien, Boyd
IN: O’Brien, Boyd

Mickyj. 5 players named on interchange and 5 named on reserves interchange. Lets hope there are no injuries and its just selection dilemma. Boyd is rated 90%. I would take the risk. He is just a ball magnet in the Caleb Daniel mould and works well with Pooley. O'Brien will come in. Not sure who drops out.

goddy11 wrote:Mickyj.  5 players  named on interchange and 5 named on reserves interchange. Lets hope there are no injuries and its just selection dilemma. Boyd is rated 90%. I would take the risk. He is just a ball magnet in the Caleb Daniel mould and works well with Pooley. O'Brien will come in. Not sure who drops out.

Hey Goddy 11 yeah i saw that are there injury worries being sure about Boyd
Or not showing your cards to the otherside earlier than you need
Boyd in the centre we become much faster that might hurt sturt a lot seeing they had an easy game last week

Probably as you said not showing their cards. Heard James Gowan on Roo and Ditts kept mentioning the Eagles hit by injury. If we play badly injured players after 2 weeks we need to be swabbed. If think he may only be referring to Boydy and Nobby.
God I am getting nervous. I missed last year as I was O/Seas.(just as well) I thought we were a shoe-in. I got up at 5am to listen to it on radio.

goddy11 wrote:Probably as you said not showing their cards. Heard James Gowan on Roo and Ditts kept mentioning the Eagles hit by injury. If we play badly injured players after 2 weeks we need to be swabbed. If think he may only be referring to Boydy and Nobby.
God I am getting nervous.  I missed last year as I was O/Seas.(just as well)  I thought we were a shoe-in. I got up at 5am to listen to it on radio.

i just dont recall anything from 2015 its all gone and thankfully the GF is gone to

I saw a FULL league squad fit and firing at Adelaide Oval last night, injuries pffff. I just wish I had a few more mates there with me to see it. Come one people support your club!!! i'm sorry but fans you need to get behind these guys turn up and support them no matter what. Let them know the sacrifices they make for you week after week are appreciated.

Dont worry Mickyj last season never ended;)

No need for nerves until half hour before the bounce, confidence and sticking to the tried and true will get us there also being the Hunter and not the hunted will win it.

Eags by 43 points!!!!

Have Faith!!!

I'm expecting a 60+ margin

Dont you worry Guys I'll be there
I was back in hospital the other week for a short stay after our final win
I'll be there tickets and I are ready to scream my support
Go Eagles

I wonder if the injuries said on the radio was to unsettle us Jarmsn and Matner were crows together I think .
I think everyone except us wants a Sturt win
Let's go tomorrow win the seconds and then the league

the betting odds are Eagles $1.36 Sturt $3.15
The bookmakers are on to us

Lets get the job done. Good luck to everyone in the Eagles colors. Go Pooley!

I left the player presentation today at Rundle Mall then driving home heard some Sturt official on the car radio talking about 1000 last night at Unley. Anyway that was like a red rag to a bull and after hearing that I did a sharp U turn and made my way to Woodville Oval. Glad I did as there was a great atmosphere there and the boys had a good clean sharp session. I'd guess at 50 - 60 fans there to support the boys, well done!!!

Loved Ken McGregor's article in todays Sunday Mail
Ken McGregor writes
The reason why I’ll be wearing gold and green and blue and screaming for the Eagle boys to get across the line today is simple: They’re the best team in South Australia.
And, oh, because I played with them, too.
They are a no-frills club who only recruit tough, understated and humble players and have been that way for decades. There are no egos and they all want to do their bit.
By the time the Sturt players get dropped off at Adelaide Oval in their Hugo Boss suits by their personal drivers from their Victoria Ave homes, the Eagles boys have probably done six hours fixing roofs, patching gyprock or laying brick.
No southside flash at Oval Ave, just Westside grunt. Nothing soft comes out of Pecker Park. Everything they have, they have worked hard to build up.
Their graduation numbers to the AFL are almost unmatched.
Everything they have achieved has been done so on a shoestring budget.
Our supporters don’t rank in numbers anywhere near some of the others but they are the most loyal I have ever come across.
The same dozen or so still come back to presentations every week, win lose or draw. The same past players attend every home game on the hill, just near the scoreboard. And they love their players, no matter what the result. Sure, they are disappointed when the result does not go their way but there is a mutual respect between players and supporters that they always give their all and they offer a supportive hand-up rather than blame for ruining their weekend.
Loyal, long-term players are more than just football leaders. Club heroes Luke Jarrad, Luke Powell, Justin Cicolella, Mark McKenzie, Steven Hall were leaders of men off the field, too. The club makes better people, not just better footballers. I first pulled on a jumper for the Eagles about 25 years ago for the under-11s.
I still remember my league debut at Alberton as a 16-year-old in front of a black and white crowd baying for blood.
Port Adelaide hard man Brian Leys was playing on me so it was not long until they got their wish.
But the blue, green and gold jumper always felt like more than a uniform to me — it felt safe, secure.
In a way, it made me feel stronger, fitter and more confident because I knew I shared a common goal — and a love of the club — with my teammates, which could make us win no matter how dire the scoreboard.
Coach Michael Godden is not originally from the Eagles but he sums them up perfectly. He has passion oozing out of his pores. As a player, he just gave everything he could and, as a coach, the players feed off his passion.
Sturt, admirably, have become a power this year after struggling for many years but they don’t deserve to stick their head up from the clouds once and win.
They need to string seasons together and have a carrot in front of them, rather than already in their stomachs.
This will propel them into being a force for years to come.
In comparison, the consistency at the Eagles is uncanny. They don’t miss finals.
The club deserves to have stocked up its premiership cabinet with many more titles over the past 20 years but, thanks mainly to Centrals, have fallen just short on all but two occasions.
They were the best team last year, but lost the big one.
They are the best team again this year and they will win.

just about to leave for the AO but I think I see Press and Rowlands in the reserves.

I don't think I have been so down for a while. I honestly thought we would just win today. The reserves had a bad day. Just outplayed. I am sick of losing Grand Finals.

Groundhog day sucks

Ainger!!!!!! Seriously, we can't go on with such an unreliable, highly paid weak link if we are serious about wanting to win big games. Rant over

Yeah unfortunately we haven't had a centre half forward that can impact a contest since Grocke retired. Honestly that was the most embarrassing performance i have ever witnessed. Beaten by a bunch of battlers that wanted it more. Having the same personnel and game plan and expecting a different result ..just garbage....playing safe predictable football...not taking the game on..its just what they wanted. Some players that don't perform in big games need to go...