SANFL: Woodville-West Torrens conquer North Adelaide in entertaining preliminary final rematch

Woodville-West Torrens had waited all summer to have another crack at North Adelaide and it got the job done in style despite facing some obstacles.

New Eagle Jordan Foote beats diving Rooster Tom Schwarz in the race for the ball at Woodville Oval. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

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How ironic Woodville-West Torrens should have just 17 players on the field for the final five minutes of its clash against North Adelaide at Woodville Oval on Sunday.

Injuries and load management prompted the decision to play one short late in the final quarter with the Eagles in control en-route to a 25-point victory in a highly entertaining battle.

The Roosters had created a huge controversy when they had 19 players on the field for the first four minutes of the final quarter in the preliminary final. They won the contest and earned the opportunity to face Norwood in the grand final, which they won.

The Eagles, furious after the preliminary final, had waited all summer for another crack at the Roosters and they did it in style. And with tremendous character.

Young Eagle Jake Weidemann takes a strong mark over North's Tanner Smith. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

Eagles Jake Johansen and James Rowe celebrate a goal. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

After losing Nick Hayes and Tom Schmusch to injury in the first half, the Eagles were further hurt when Jake Johansen left the field in the final quarter after being concussed.

“It was a fantastic effort first up,” new Eagles coach Sam Lonergan said.

“To be down two players going into half time and down four with five minutes to go, it was an interesting game to do that in.

“The heart and competitive spirit to hang in there, when you have only one bloke on the bench for half the game against quality opposition on a big ground was going to hurt.

“The players stuck together and did the job they needed for each other.”

There was always going to be plenty of emotion early and just two minutes into the game former Eagle Jarred Allmond was felled late by Nick Hayes and the subsequent free kick resulted in a goal for Alex Barns.

Two minutes later Lewis Hender kicked the ball off the ground for a goal. Both goals were celebrated with gusto, evidence of just what this game meant.

The first half was a tremendous spectacle between two quality, well-drilled sides.

North's Alex Spina and Mitchell Clisby appeal for a free after wrapping up Eagle Matthew Goldsworthy. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

Roosters defender Tanner Smith was having a huge impact while onballer Jordan Foote was influential in his debut for the Eagles. The Eagles also had a strong forward target in Jack Hayes.

The Eagles established the platform for their win in the third term. They lifted the intensity, had superior composure and moved the ball with conviction to build a 35-point buffer on the back of five unanswered goals.

There was no relief from the committed pressure of the Eagles and the Roosters struggled to find effective movement into attack.

The Roosters were able to grab the ascendancy late in the quarter, only to fail to capitalise on the scoreboard.

Roosters coach Josh Carr said the home side deserved credit after being two men down for the second half.

“We started okay and our pressure was okay early,” he said. “We could not kick our goals which was the story of the day. Once we made a few mistakes they lifted and put some good pressure on us. They played well and we were disappointing in the end.”

Sam Lonergan gets a win in his first game as Eagles coach. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

SCOREBOARD

EAGLES 2.2 6.6 12.8 13.12 (90)

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.6 4.8 7.13 8.17 (65)

BEST — Eagles: J. Hayes, Foote, Thompson, von Bertouch, Redden, Goldsworthy. North: Smith, Allmond, Tropiano, Combe, Castree.

GOALS — Eagles: J. Hayes 4, Rowe 3, Lonergan, Petrenko, Hall, Weidemann, Poole, Redden. North: Ramsey, Barns, Hender 2, Miller, Thring.

INJURIES — Eagles: N. Hayes (finger), Schmusch (shoulder), Johansen (concussion).

UMPIRES — Harris, Lewis, Hundertmark.

CROWD — 2816 at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville

North Adelaide fans out in force at Woodville Oval. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin