Eagles take winning form into SANFL finals after beating Central District
WOODVILLE-West Torrens tuned up for a qualifying final clash against Sturt with a victory over Central District in a lack-lustre battle at Elizabeth Oval.
WOODVILLE-West Torrens coach Michael Godden has no doubt his side is ready for the qualifying final confrontation against Sturt at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Eagles tuned up for the finals with a 26-point victory over Central District in a mistakefest at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
While noting his side coughed up too much turnover ball, he claimed the battle was great for the club and it was as ready as it has been for years.
“We turned the footy over a bit and that was our biggest enemy,” Godden said. “We won enough of the ball and controlled enough of the game.
“It was hard work with the big deck and extra warmth. The players got plenty of game time and it was exactly what we needed.”
It is a strange description for a side coached by Roy Laird, but the Bulldogs have become a bruise-free side lacking in mongrel.
Their skills are also poor and the harm that does to the side was no more evident than 23 minutes into the opening quarter when they had possession and were threatening on the wing.
A simple skill error gave the ball back to the Eagles, however, and the visitors rushed the ball forward for Marc Borholm to mark and goal.
So rather than build on their lead, the Bulldogs allowed the Eagles to regain the frontrunning.
The Eagles took the game away from the Bulldogs in the second term when they built a 33-point lead. They got some productive movement to dominate the inside 50 count, bagging five goals before the Bulldogs kicked a major for the quarter.
Louis Sharrad was damaging on the ball for the Eagles and he constantly annoyed opponents with his desire to get in their face. The second quarter ended with most players involved in some push and shove and Sharrad was right in the action.
The Bulldogs showed fight in the third term to close within six points, but the Eagles had all the answers.
“I was really happy when Central came back, it is what we needed,” Godden said. “We needed to be challenged and I thought we responded well”
Laird said the Bulldogs had more possessions and clearances, but lacked the finishing touch.
“Whether that is feeling pressure or fatigue, whatever, it has been a constant through the year,” he said.
EAGLES 2.5 7.6 9.8 13.11 (89)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.1 3.5 7.7 9.9 (63)
BEST - Eagles: Sharrad, Stewart, Petrenko, Boyd, Lewis, Gray, N. Hayes. Central: Nietschke, F. Fort, T. Schiller, D. Fort, Butcher, Jenner.
GOALS - Eagles: Petrenko, N. Hayes 2, Borholm, Sharrad, Boyd, Poole, Lukosius, Johansen, Gray, Lewis, J. Hayes. Central: Jenner 2, Butcher, Barmby, Gillard, Goodrem, Habel, Hoskin, Presbury.
UMPIRES - Sobieraj, Schramm, Burke.
CROWD - 1926 at My Money House Oval, Elizabeth.