Eagles send off servant Scott Lewis in style with eight-point win against Adelaide Crows
The Eagles have sent off long-term servant Scott Lewis in style, hanging on by eight-points against finalist Adelaide at a sodden Woodville Oval.
An injury-depleted Woodville-West Torrens has given 205-gamer Scott Lewis the perfect send off at a sodden Woodville Oval, upsetting Adelaide by eight points in miserable conditions on Sunday.
With the retiring Lewis playing his final game at Oval Ave, the Eagles adapted to wet weather footy better than the Crows, hanging on despite a goalless final quarter and injuries to ruckman Jordan West and Jake Weidemann.
The conditions might have been feral but Ben Davis still managed to hook a gem over his shoulder from the pocket in the sixth minute to open the Crows’ ledger.
But the Eagles got the quick reply though Jesse Lonergan, standing all alone in the goalsquare.
And when Weidemann soccered one off the slippery surface, and James Rowe snapped truly on his left, the home side wrestled control with a 14-point lead which felt more like a six-goal break.
It could have been heftier too, with two posters either side of half time through Nick and Jack Hayes.
The Eagles hit the post for the third time through a towering bomb from Matt Goldsworthy before a telling moment arrived in Jordan Foote’s dribbler from 40 metres in teeming rain.
Then, in a further omen, the Crows’ sign fell off the scoreboard midway through the term as the rain flew in sideways at Woodville Oval.
A 16-point three quarter time lead was still gettable for the Crows — especially when Rory Atkins scored his first in the 19th minute — but the visitors left their charge too late.
Proud Eagles coach Sam Lonergan said it was a courageous effort with the team having little to play for in their penultimate match for 2019.
“We had every right not to turn up today,” Lonergan said.
“In terms of not making finals, the weather, the opposition… our boys were very good for four quarters.
“(I said to the team) you’ve always got something to play for.
“You have a character, you have values, you have what you stand for.”
Adelaide coach Heath Younie said the result was a “flip of the coin” in sloppy conditions.
“I though the Eagles adjusted a little bit better,” Younie said.
“It’s whoever can take their chances when they do get it forward, and they did it better than us.”
Josh Jenkins found it difficult to impose himself on the contest, collecting eight possessions.
Hugh Greenwood was among the best with 20 touches and a classy goal, while other AFL-listed players in Jordan Gallucci (15 possessions) and Tyson Stengle (eight) were relatively quiet.
SCOREBOARD
EAGLES: 1.1 3.3 5.8 5.10 (40)
ADELAIDE: 1.0 1.1 3.4 4.8 (32)
BEST — Eagles: Petrenko, J. Hayes, Goldsworthy, Boyd, Sharrad, Foote. Adelaide: Wright, Atkins, Poholke, Wilson, Keath Greenwood.
GOALS — Eagles: Longergan, Foote, Weidemann, N. Hayes, Rowe 1. Adelaide: Davis, McAdam, Greenwood, Atkins 1.
UMPIRES: Lewis, Schramm, Bryce.
CROWD: 4584 at Woodville Oval.