Injury to Angus Rowntree detracts from Eagles' 68-point win over Panthers

THE Eagles' premiership hopes have taken a hit with Angus Rowntree suffering a potentially season-ending injury against South Adelaide.

The Eagles' Chris Kane tussles with South's Xavier Gotch during the match at Woodville.

WOODVILLE-West Torrens' premiership hopes took a significant hit on Saturday after Angus Rowntree suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in a 68-point win against South Adelaide.

The Eagles' reigning best and fairest will be sent for scans today after collapsing in the third quarter.

"It's highly likely it's an ACL," Eagles coach Michael Godden said.

"I'm gutted. When he went down it really made me feel flat - for him.

"He'd just started to play some really good footy so it's so disappointing for him.

"As a club it can deflate you but from an individual standpoint, it's 12 months. It's a long time to wait to play footy again."

Rowntree was joined on the sidelines by key forward Andrew Ainger and second gamer Matthew Appleton.

Ainger copped a heavy knock to his collarbone and is in doubt for this week's crucial trip to play North Adelaide while Appleton was concussed and also faces a test to prove his fitness.

These injuries leave the Eagles significantly undermanned as they attempt to secure a double chance.

Godden's side - which moved in to third position - faces the toughest run home of any team, facing the Roosters (away), Norwood (home) and West (away).

"It's not perfect," Godden said.

"When you remember Nick Joyce is out for the year, Luke Thompson is out (for another week), Adam Grocke and Todd Culley have just gone in for season-ending surgeries - it's certainly not perfect.

"But the kids who have come in every week have stood up so we've just got to trust in them now."

It was an even team performance by the Eagles yesterday as 20 of their 21 players hit double figures in disposals but none had more than 21.

Scott Lewis, Luke Dunstan and Matt Goldsworthy were the standouts because of their ability to hit the scoreboard but there were plenty of others.

South copped a 114-point defeat last time they visited Woodville but were much more committed in the early stages this time.

But they struggled to move the ball forward of centre and when they did found full forward Michael Wundke battling through an off kicking day.

Nathan Daniel, Nick Liddle and Joel Cross kept knocking on the door and South managed to pull within 21 points late in the third term.

But the Eagles' class came to the fore. Goldsworthy intercepted a kick in and nailed the set shot and then Lewis drilled a goal from 50m off a couple of steps.

Those two goals ended South's resistance and the Eagles piled on six goals to none in the final term.

"I thought they looked a bit wobbly when we got to 21 points but that's the tale of us really - we just haven't got that ruthless streak," Fuller said.

"We've just got to get better, it's as simple as that."

EAGLES 3.2 7.4 12.5 18.5 (113)

SOUTH 1.1 3.4 6.7 6.9 (45)

BEST - Eagles: Dunstan, Lewis, Staple, Salter, Heath, Raymond, Goldsworthy. South: N. Daniel, Liddle, Hartigan, Brooksby, Cross.

SCORERS - Eagles: Staple 4.1, Dunstan 3.0, Lewis 2.1, Borholm, Goldsworthy 2.0, Salter 1.1, Jarrad, Allmond, Ainger, Heath 1.0, Hall 0.1, rushed 0.1. South: Wundke 2.5, Brooksby, Ah Chee, Snook, Beilby 1.0, Veide, Seccull, Shaw 0.1, rushed 0.1.

Injuries - Eagles: Rowntree (knee), Appleton (neck).

Umpires - Dey, Bowen, Cook

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