Woodville-West Torrens’ Jacob Wehr shows persistence pays off to make SANFL level
After 48 reserves games, Jacob Wehr was questioning his SANFL future, then new coach Jade Sheedy came to Oval Avenue, and the rest is history. SEE YOUR ROUND 13 TEAMS HERE
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Jacob Wehr was at the crossroads.
He had failed to break into Woodville-West Torrens’ league team in three years of senior football, playing 48 reserves matches, and was considering his future in the SANFL.
Then came a new coach (Jade Sheedy), a new opportunity and a decision to give the game everything he had in one last roll of the dice.
“At the end of last year, having played so many twos games, I was questioning where I was at,’’ 22-year-old Wehr said of his sudden coming of age as a footballer.
“I was contemplating whether I’d keep playing in the SANFL but I spoke to my dad and decided to stick at it.
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“I worked a lot harder in the pre-season break, got fitter and stronger, and ‘Sheeds’ has backed me in from there.’’
It has paid off in bucket loads.
After impressing Sheedy in the pre-season and finally making his league debut in round one, the hard-running half-back has become one of the hot flag favourite’s most valuable assets, playing every game since.
Sheedy has labelled the 184cm, classy left-footer the Eagles’ best kick, describing it as “a weapon’’, and handed him the responsibility of kick-in duties.
“Jacob’s a beautiful left-foot kick, the best kick at our club,’’ said Sheedy.
“His ability to hit a long, punch or advantage kick is outstanding. He has a terrific skill set and gives us a lot of drive from the back half.
“He was crying out for an opportunity, has taken it with both hands and is one of the reasons we’ve got better.’’
Wehr, from Balaklava in the Eagles’ country zone, is pinching himself at the stunning U-turn his career has taken.
“It’s been awesome,’’ he said after having a career-high 29 disposals against premier Glenelg last week.
“It’s been a slow grind and I didn’t come through the traditional pathway of playing elite junior football, but getting ‘Sheeds’ on board was a blessing.
“From the start he backed a lot of us young kids in, put faith in us to do a job for him and gave us the confidence to play on instinct.
“I was lucky enough get an opportunity at the top level early this year and it was nice to finally get that reward and make the most of it.’’
Lightly built at 71kg, Wehr played most of his reserves football as a wingman before Sheedy moved him to half-back to capitalise on his elite ball use.
It proved to be a masterstroke.
“He was looking for some more drive back there, a bit of creativity,’’ said Wehr, adding he modelled his game on GWS star Lachie Whitfield and had long focused on his kicking because of his slender build.
“I’m stoked with how things have worked out because if you had told me a year ago that I’d play 12 league games in a row I would have said you were joking.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better year, from an individual and team perspective, and hopefully we can get the ultimate result (a premiership) at the end of it.’’
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EAGLES’ JONES FLIES HIGH
If anyone needed reminding of just how exciting Port Adelaide NGA draft prospect Lachlan Jones is, he delivered a signature moment at Woodville Oval on Saturday.
Renowned for his strength, toughness and no-nonsense approach, the 18-year-old Woodville-West Torrens defender is also highly skilled.
Possessing a booming right-foot kick, he also is an exceptional high mark and took a memorable skyscraper over a pack of players, including two ruckmen, on the outer wing against Glenelg that would have had the Power’s recruiting staff licking their lips with excitement.
“That mark’s been coming, that’s what ‘Jonesy’ can do,’’ Eagles coach Jade Sheedy said after Jones used his powerful legs to virtually jump unassisted to take one of the great SANFL marks – and a mark of the year contender – in the second quarter.
“He’s a special talent and I’ve been waiting for him to take one of those marks all year because he loves to run and jump at the ball.
“He’s gone for four or five of those this season but hasn't quite got his timing right. This time he timed it beautifully and it was great to see him in full flight.’’
Watch & admire @EAGLES_WWTFC teenager Lachie Jones taking flight! 👀✈ï¸ðŸ‘Œ pic.twitter.com/cyoNindQg1
— SANFL (@SANFL) September 12, 2020
Jones, who is tied to Port as a Next Generation Academy player because he has indigenous heritage on his dad Ben’s side of the family and hails from the Yorke Peninsula town of Bute, is suddenly pushing much-hyped West Adelaide tall Riley Thilthorpe as SA’s best draft prospect this year.
He is a certain first-round selection and while the Power currently does not have a first-round
pick, it can package later selections to have enough points to match a rival bid for his services.
Sheedy is adamant Port must take Jones, describing him as “a special kid with elite attributes’’.
The 186cm Jones has played every league game for the top-of-the-table Eagles this year and shown an ability to play on talls and smalls.
He described his mark, where he leapt over three Tigers and two teammates, including ruckmen Jack Hannath (Glenelg) and Jarrad Redden (Eagles), as “easily the best one I’ve had this year’’.
“It felt pretty good,’’ he said after the Eagles confirmed their flag favouritism by smashing Glenelg by 13 goals.
“I didn't feel a body underneath me and the boys reckon I jumped over the top of a couple of players, so I’ll have to go back and watch it on video.
“Ever since I was a kid I’ve liked to jump for high marks and it was nice to get the timing right on this one and pull it in.’’
Jones said he was well aware of all the AFL attention he has been getting but was focused on trying to win a premiership with the Eagles.
“We’re in a good position as a club and my focus is just on trying to continue to play well and help us win games,’’ he said.
“The (SA) AFL Draft Combine is obviously coming up as well (on September 30) but if I just worry about ticking all my boxes then the rest will take care of itself.’’
EAGLES TURN UP THE HEAT
The Eagles, who virtually have the minor premiership sewn up with two rounds remaining, are jammed-pack with talent but arguably the most impressive part of their game is the immense pressure they apply to the opposition.
This was never more evident than in last Saturday’s heavyweight clash against Glenelg.
After losing what should have been an important toss and kicking into a four-to-five goal wind in the opening term, the Eagles simply did not give last year’s premier a look in.
In a remarkable first quarter, Jade Sheedy’s high-flying outfit kicked the first 4.3 of the game and didn't allow the Tigers a score until 26 minutes into the term and their only goal for the quarter after the siren, when Jack Kluske kicked truly from a set shot.
Not only did the Eagles win the disposal count, 99-61, for the term but they won tackles, 16-10, and they smashed Glenelg at the stoppages, where their pressure stamped their authority on the contest.
Given the strength of the wind, the match was effectively over at the first break and the Eagles put it to bed with the wind at their backs in the second quarter, kicking 6.8 without reply.
It was the most impressive first half of football any team has played this year.
After the game, Sheedy lauded his men for their workrate and ability to apply enormous pressure to the opposition.
“We base our game around pressure, our game starts from there, and we brought that early against the wind, which really set the tone for the rest of the game,’’ he said.
“We competed well in the contested footy and were then able to get our uncontested game going as well.
“I’m really proud of the group for being able to come mentally switched on every week, I don't but we need to stay humble and grounded because while we’ve given ourselves an opportunity, there’s still a lot of work to do.’’
THIRD MAGAREY NOT BEYOND SUPER PANTHER
There would be few current players in the competition with as strong a longevity record as South Adelaide captain Joel Cross.
Two Magarey Medals in 2012 and 2015 and a third is not beyond the unflappable leader this season.
Cross already has an amazing record at his club, winning the Knuckey Cup as best and fairest four times and finishing runner-up on four other occasions in his nine years with the Panthers.
It is a remarkable statistic for the 33-year-old.
With that record and age profile he would be entitled to drop off a little bit.
But Cross appears to be in as good a form as ever, making the most of spending more time in attack as a creative goalkicker and score assist playmaker.
He kicked an equal team-high three goals in South’s win against West Adelaide at Richmond on Friday night while having 26 disposals and laying four strong tackles.
With the Panthers a strong chance to play finals, Cross will have a big say in whether South can win its first flag since 1964.
BASTINAC A DIFFERENCE MAKER
Former North Melbourne and Brisbane midfielder Ryan Bastinac is a star in the SANFL.
If there was one difference maker in Norwood’s late comeback win against Sturt at The Parade last Friday night, it was the former AFL midfield dynamo.
While defender-turned-midfielder Nik Rokahr proved the hero of the Redlegs’ season-saving three-point win with a goal 25 minutes into the final term, Norwood would not have been in the contest without the efforts of 182cm running machine Bastinac.
The 29-year-old was clearly best on ground, with 29 disposals, two goals, 10 clearances and 10 tackles.
It was an outstanding display from a high quality player who flies in and out of Adelaide from Brisbane for games and has played only six matches for the club this year because of his travels and a calf strain.
If the injury-hit Redlegs, sitting fifth, are to make a late push for a finals spot in the last two rounds, Bastinac will have to continue to fire.
ROOSTER FORWARDS MAINTAIN THE HEAT
North Adelaide’s attack has been productive this season, with Lewis Hender leading the way with 25 goals and Robbie Young, Will Combe, Mitch Harvey and Frank Szekely making an impact.
But it is the pressure from that group on the opposing defenders, and others floating through the forward line, which impressed coach Jacob Surjan in the comfortable win against Central District at Prospect Oval on Saturday.
“Our pressure in our forward 50 was great,’’ Surjan said after his second-placed side had a whopping 35 scoring shots, kicking an inaccurate 15.20 in the windy conditions.
“The want and intensity was first class and it was especially pleasing to see us be able to lock the ball in up forward.
“With our lack of rotations because of injuries (Tanner Smith, ankle, and Alex Barns, knee) I was really pleased to see the 18 players on the park defend really well.’’
North also showed its versatility in having to move key forward Harvey into the ruck to replace the injured Barns, giving Combe a chance to step up in attack with a season-high four goals.
SCOREBOARDS
EAGLES 4.3 10.11 10.12 16.15 (111)
GLENELG 1.1 1.1 3.7 4.9 (33)
BEST – Eagles: Foote, J. Hayes, Wehr, Sinor, McNeil, Tsitas, Rowland, Rowe. Glenelg: Snook, Partington, Nicholson.
GOALS – Eagles: Foote 3, J. Hayes, N. Hayes, Von Bertouch, Lee 2, Rowe, Lonergan, Tsitas, Poole, Redden. Glenelg: McBean 2, Kluske, Reynolds.
INJURIES – Eagles: Lonergan (calf), Mansell (Achilles), Goldsworthy (glute). Glenelg: Bradley (head knock).
UMPIRES – Bowen, Scott, Bryce.
CROWD – 1399 at Woodville Oval.
NORTH 3.3 5.11 13.17 15.20 (110)
CENTRAL 1.1 5.3 5.3 12.6 (78)
BEST – North: C. Combe, Chalmers, Harvey, W. Combe, Allmond, Jarman, Hewett. Central: Boyd, J. Schiller, Presbury, T. Schiller, Pisani.
GOALS – North: W. Combe 4, Hender, Miller, Szekely, Young 2, Harvey, Allmond, Ramsey. Central: Butcher, Hoskin 3, J. Schiller, Milne, Boyd, Stephenson, Fort, Habel.
UMPIRES – Crosby, Burke, Bennett
INJURIES – North: Alex Barns (knee), Smith (ankle).
CROWD – 1692 at Prospect Oval.
NORWOOD 2.4 4.11 6.13 10.16 (76)
STURT 4.4 4.5 7.7 11.7 (73)
BEST – Norwood: Bastinac, Barry, McKenzie, Shenton, Rokahr, Douglas, Nunn, Baulderstone. Sturt: Battersby, Colquhoun, Davis, Page, Henderson, Lewis, Wundke.
GOALS – Norwood: Barry 3, Bastinac, Wilson 2, Pinyon, Rokahr, Nunn. Sturt: Evans 3, Grivell, Houlahan, Morrison 2, Davis, Aidyn Johnson.
UMPIRES – Sobieraj, Schramm, Harris.
CROWD – 2729 at Norwood Oval.
SOUTH 1.5 6.8 12.11 17.13 (115)
WEST 2.1 4.3 6.4 8.7 (55)
BEST – South: Hunter, Cross, Heaslip, Haines, Broadbent, Schwarz, Milsom, Andrews. West: Johnson, Turner, Stevens, Fairlie.
GOALS – South: Schwarz, Cross 3, Wilkinson, Milsom 2, Hunter, Horne, McCreery, Heaslip, Sampson, Andrews, Overall. West: Johnson 3, Ellem, Haysman 2, Keough.
UMPIRES – Sboro, Morgan, Hundertmark.
CROWD – 1297 at Richmond Oval