Eagles beat Double Blues to earn second semi-final battle against Norwood
WOODVILLE-West Torrens is just one step away from a potential grand final berth after overcoming Sturt in a lacklustre qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, with the Double Blues’ injury woes deepening.
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WOODVILLE-West Torrens will face minor premier Norwood in the second semi-final after overcoming Sturt by 21 points in a lacklustre qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
It will be the Eagles’ fourth successive appearance in the second semi with the winner advancing to the grand final.
The loss has damaged the Double Blues’ hopes of a hat-trick of premierships and they have more injury concerns with classy onballer James Battersby in doubt for the first semi-final battle against North Adelaide.
Battersby hurt his shoulder in the third quarter and did not return to the contest. The Double Blues were already missing tough midfielder Aidan Riley and key defender Fraser Evans.
Eagles coach Michael Godden was rapt with the effort of his players around the contest, claiming it was as “good as it has been for a while”.
“Our tackling pressure was terrific and getting on the loose footy was strong,” he said. “The game ebbed and flowed, there were parts I really enjoyed and parts I didn’t.
“This group has been through a lot together and I don’t have to do a lot. At the breaks they took control and I listened to them.”
The Double Blues bagged the opening two goals within three minutes, only to go without another goal until 22 minutes into the second quarter.
The Eagles dominated the possession count, having 49 more disposals until half time. Despite the heavy weight of possession in their favour, the Eagles went inside their 50 just twice more than the Double Blues.
The first half was a scrappy affair with both sides guilty of plenty of dropped marks and skill errors.
And the Eagles wasted prime scoring opportunities with wayward goalkicking.
Godden said he had experimented more this season and that was evident at a centre bounce when he had brothers Nick and Jack Hayes, best known for their work in attack, and defender Paul Stewart on the ball.
It took seven minutes for a score in the third quarter — a Shane McAdam goal for the Double Blues after a terrific pass from Ken Farmer Medallist Mark Evans — such was the tight contest.
The Double Blues then lost Battersby, hurting a midfield already lacking the influence of Riley. And while they got within 14 points in the final term, the Eagles seemingly had control.
“We were very average today and they played pretty well,” Double Blues coach Marty Mattner said. “It is not how we wanted to play.
“We started well, but fell away. Contested possession was no good all day, and uncontested possession was no good. We were second to the ball, it was a disappointing day.”
SCOREBOARD
EAGLES 2.4 4.7 7.9 8.13 (61)
STURT 2.2 3.3 4.3 6.4 (40)
BEST - Eagles: Stewart, Lewis, N. Hayes, Redden, Sharrad, Sinor. Sturt: Crocker, Kirkwood.
GOALS - Eagles: Poole 2, Borholm, Gray, Hall, J. Hayes, N. Hayes, Haylock, Sturt: McAdam 2, Osborn, Read, Taggert, Dodd.
INJURIES - Eagles: Borholm (ankle). Sturt: Battersby (shoulder).
UMPIRES - Bowen, Lewis, Harris.
CROWD - 8632 at Adelaide Oval.