Jared Petrenko boosts Eagles' hopes of defeating flag favourite Norwood

THE Eagles' hopes of conquering Norwood at Woodville Oval have been bolstered after regaining Jared Petrenko from the Crows.

Jared Petrenko celebrates a goal with the Eagles.

WOODVILLE-West Torrens' hopes of conquering hot premiership favourite Norwood at Woodville Oval on Saturday have been significantly bolstered after regaining Jared Petrenko from the Crows.

Petrenko, an Eagles junior, could be making his final appearance in the jumper in the penultimate minor round following the decision to include a Crows reserves team in the state league next season.

"Jared has played some really good footy for us and he will be important,'' Eagles coach Michael Godden said.

"I'm not sure if he will play for us beyond this weekend so he could be playing his last game for the Eagles.

"Jared has come through the juniors at the club and he always represents us well.''

The Eagles will be without suspended ruckman Craig Parry and have lost promising youngster Luke Dunstan for the rest of the season after tests revealed torn ligaments in his ankle.

Dunstan, captain of the triumphant state under 18 side this year and an All Australian, was injured at training on Wednesday night and he will wear a moon boot to protect the ankle for six weeks.

"I'm sad for Luke - he has cracked it into the league side and I was excited to have him in the finals,'' Godden said.

The Eagles beat the Redlegs by 36 points in round four in their only meeting this season. But both teams will field vastly different outfits tomorrow.

Missing from the Eagles team from that encounter are Bernie Vince, Luke Thompson, Angus Rowntree, Brodie Smith, Craig Parry, Kane Mitchell and Jarred Redden. The Redlegs are without Mitchell Grigg, Mat Suckling, Brett Zorzi, James Aish and Brady Dawe from that contest.

"At this time of the year you want to be playing the best teams so we are excited at the opportunity to play Norwood,'' Godden said.

"We will get a chance to find out where we are at before the finals.

"We have still got to win one more game to secure a top three spot.''

Central District and Glenelg will also be having their first meeting since round four when they clash at Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Tigers over ran a then struggling Bulldogs to win by 10 points at Brighton Road. That victory snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.

While the Bulldogs were convincingly beaten by the Redlegs last weekend, the Tigers will make the drive north buoyed by a hefty win over North Adelaide at Prospect on Sunday.

West Adelaide can all but confirm a top three spot and the crucial double chance in the finals with a win over Port Adelaide at Alberton tomorrow and South Adelaide will make its final appearance for the season when it takes on Sturt at Unley.

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