Eagles down Bulldogs by 29 points to record third-straight victory and edge closer to SANFL top five
Woodville-West Torrens has downed Central District by 29 points to record its third-straight win and move to within one victory of the SANFL top five.
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Woodville-West Torrens’ mid-season revival has continued as they edged to within one win of the SANFL top-five thanks to a hard-fought victory over Central District.
The Eagles recorded their third-straight win with a 29-point success at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday to consign their 1-5 start to the campaign to a distant memory.
Three-goal Jack Hayes, who shone throughout with 18 disposals and nine marks, ensured the visitors led at every change on their way to a 15.13 (103) to 11.8 (74) triumph.
The Bulldogs got back to within 10 midway through the third term in a seesawing contest, thanks largely to Troy Menzel (three majors) and Jarrod Schiller (28 possessions).
But two final quarter goals to Nick Moore, as well as majors to Chris Hall (25 disposals) and Jake Johansen (22), sealed the Eagles’ victory.
It also left Central (2-7) scrambling to stay in touch with the competition pacesetters on the day the club celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its 2009 premiership.
Eagles coach Sam Lonergan praised his players’ ability to respond to the challenges the Bulldogs presented them with.
“We certainly leaked a little bit,” first-year mentor Lonergan said.
“But the positive was the offensive side of our game still had us in front.
“During that third quarter … we just looked for an extra handpass rather than keeping it in tight, which allowed some overlap and that turnover type of football.
“But we tidied that up at three-quarter time … and got another win, which was positive.
“We knew it was going to take a little bit of time (this season).
“It took a couple of weeks to adapt, but now the group really understand the ability to make changes and to adapt if something is not working.”
The Eagles withstood a Bulldogs fightback late in the opening term to hold a two-point lead at the first break.
Hall got the ball rolling for the visitors, before Johansen in his 100th game and Jack Hayes in his 50th goaled to hand their side a handy early buffer.
But Fraser Fort marked strongly and converted, then Jack Hoskin, with a booming kick from 50m, and Jonathan Marsh, after a sweeping team move, were on target in quick succession.
Angus Poole dished off expertly to tee up Jake Comitogianni for the Eagles, but another quick break ended with Kyle Presbury kicking into an open goal to keep the Dogs in it.
The second quarter mirrored the first as the Eagles pushed out to a 21-point advantage, only for the hosts to peg them back.
Nick Hayes, Jordan Foote and captain Luke Thompson, who bobbed up in an unfamiliar forward position, goaled with ease thanks to non-existent Bulldogs pressure.
But a brilliant Menzel grab and conversion from inside the goal square and a Jarrod Schiller major on the run ensured Central would not go away.
A composed 50m kick from the unlikely source of big man Seb Guilhaus edged the Eagles out by 15 at half-time.
Menzel and Fort each grabbed their second for the Bulldogs in the third term, either side of a Jack Hayes soccered effort from close range.
The match turned into an arm wrestle in an 11-minute goalless stretch, but Jack Hayes produced a clever snap and Louis Sharrad held his nerve to put the Eagles in control.
A Menzel kick from outside 50 in third quarter time-on kept the result in the balance.
But Moore (two), Hall and Johansen from long range put the game to bed in the fourth.
Central coach Roy Laird lamented his team’s inability to capitalise on its spells of dominance.
“There were too many fundamental mistakes that just lose momentum in important times,” Laird said.
“We had some periods where we really worked hard and had some good control of the game, but we couldn’t convert.
“At the stage we’re at the moment, you’ve got to be prepared to support each other better than we’re doing.”
SCOREBOARD
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 4.3 8.7 11.10 15.13 (103)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 4.1 6.4 9.6 11.8 (74)
BEST: Eagles: J. Hayes, Petrenko, Hall, Johansen, Poole, Boyd, Foote. Central: J. Schiller, T. Schiller, Menzel, Hoskin, Fort.
GOALS: Eagles: J. Hayes 3, Hall, Moore, Johansen 2, Comitogianni, N. Hayes, Foote, Thompson, Guilhaus, Sharrad. Central: Menzel, Fort 3, Hoskin 2, Marsh, Presbury, J. Schiller.
UMPIRES: Sboro, Philp, Bryce.
At Elizabeth Oval
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