Final another chapter in ongoing story of Michael Godden and Mark Mickan
EAGLES coach Michael Godden jokes that after this weekend, he will have had it “up to here” with West Adelaide rival Mark Mickan and his Bloods.
EAGLES coach Michael Godden jokes that after this weekend, he will have had it “up to here” with West Adelaide rival Mark Mickan and his Bloods.
“Hopefully by the end of Sunday night I don’t have to look at him again,” Godden laughs.
That’s because there is a bigger backstory here than just another clash between two teams pushing for a shortcut to the SANFL grand final.
Sunday’s second semi-final at Adelaide Oval will be the fifth time Woodville-West Torrens and West Adelaide have met this season.
The sides split their two scheduled home-and-away matches 1-1, starting with Westies’ six-point win in round two.
But even by then the clubs had met twice already — not for points, but for preparation.
The long history between Godden and Mickan prompted the pair to arrange trial matches in December and February, in a mutual bid to get the most out of their pre-seasons.
Add to the mix the coaches’ connection, starting with a partnership as former teammates at West Adelaide and then as coaches at Glenelg, where Godden served his apprenticeship as an assistant under former Tigers boss Mickan.
Mickan said the duo’s link and each side’s exposure to the other was unlikely to offer any pivotal inside knowledge.
“We do go back a fair way, and we’ve seen a lot of each other this year,” Mickan says.
“But there’s probably no real advantage to any party. We’ve spent a bit of time together in various situations, so I think it just balances itself out.”
Godden’s Eagles secured the minor premiership with two rounds to play, while Mickan’s Bloods are the star improvers this season.
After a forgettable 2014 season that delivered just six wins, West responded this year with a coveted top-three finish, iced with a powerful 29-point win over Port Adelaide in Sunday’s qualifying final.
The Bloods turned a slow start against Port into a demolition during the second and third terms. They kicked nine unanswered goals to send the second-ranked Magpies back to a knockout first semi-final.
“We don’t have a switch to flick, unfortunately,” Mickan said.
“We’d just prefer to start better.
“But it was good the players were able to respond, and acknowledge that they lacked the intensity early in the game. They lifted that and that really helped us get back in the game.”
Godden said a tough internal trial on Saturday night featuring the Eagles’ league side versus its reserves helped make up for a bye in the first week of finals.
“It was a ‘if you want your spot, go and get it’ game,” Godden said.
“That certainly put a few guys’ names up, so it’s going to be a real challenge to select the final 21.”
West Adelaide is likely to be without Tait Silverlock, who has a hamstring strain, while the Eagles could welcome back James Boyd, coming off 44 disposals for the reserves in his second game back from injury 11 days ago.