Adam Grocke to have season-ending achilles surgery in blow to Eagles SANFL premiership hopes

EAGLES spearhead Adam Grocke will have season-ending achilles surgery next week in a major blow to the club's premiership hopes.

WOODVILLE-West Torrens spearhead Adam Grocke will have season-ending achilles surgery next week in a major blow to the Eagles' premiership hopes.

A three-pronged attack of Grocke, Andrew Ainger and Nick Salter would have tested any side in the competition but the trio will have to wait until next year to play together.

Eagles coach Michael Godden said Grocke, 28, was determined to play on and would be ready to start training in mid-January.

"He's absolutely hating not playing and will be ready to go next year," Godden said.

Grocke's absence this season has left Ainger carrying a heavy workload in attack and there have been signs in the past month he's tiring.

After kicking 27 goals in the first nine games of the season the former Panther has managed just four in his past five.

"He's battling physically at the moment," Godden said.

"He had a really big preseason with us and has played every game so we're going to have to freshen him up.

"He's not playing the kind of footy he was from rounds 1-8 but he's still standing under the ball and giving us a contest which is what you want from your centre half forward."

The Eagles are also missing Chris Hall (dislocated thumb) and Jarred Allmond (knee) for today's danger game against Sturt at Woodville.

The Double Blues have made a habit of giving Godden headaches in recent years, including a six-goal win when these sides last met in round 10.

Sturt's Crows contingent of Brodie Martin, Matt Jaensch and Tim McIntyre generally performs against the Eagles while ruckman Angus Kurtze has fared well against Craig Parry.

Godden will be looking to settle his back six as September approaches.

The departure of defensive mainstays Ben Grieger, Mark McKenzie and Robert Shirley has left a revolving door on the Eagles backline this season.

Luke Thompson, Phil Raymond and Pat Giuffreda have been the regulars with Nathan Batley and AFL-listed duo Cameron Ellis-Yolmen and Campbell Heath the latest to join them.

"I always try to settle the back six as quickly as possible but the changes have been forced on me a bit this year," Godden said.

At 9-5, the Eagles are in a great position to move into the top three over the next month with games against Glenelg and South to follow today's clash.

They'll be hoping Norwood continues its four-game winning streak against West Adelaide at The Parade today.

The Redlegs won't regain the services of Crows debutant Mitch Grigg, who is the travelling emergency.

In today's other fixture Port Adelaide hosts Glenelg at Alberton, while North hosts South at Prospect on Sunday.

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