SANFL 2018: Woodville-West Torrens v North Adelaide | Round 5 match report
LAST season’s wooden-spooner North Adelaide has shot to the top of the SANFL ladder after upsetting perennial premiership contender Woodville-West Torrens by nine points in a thriller at Woodville Oval.
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IF the three-straight wins that drove North Adelaide up the SANFL ladder raised some eyebrows, this is the victory that will make the biggest statement.
The Roosters surged to the top of the table following a thrilling nine-point triumph over perennial premiership contender Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval on Sunday.
Josh Carr’s men ensured last season’s wooden spoon was fast becoming a distant memory as they swept aside the previously unbeaten Eagles in a 14.7 (91) to 13.4 (82) success.
But they were made to work for it in the first-versus-second contest, after the sides entered the final term locked on 9.3 on the back of a third term featuring nine goals and five lead changes.
Jake Von Bertouch put the Eagles in front early in fourth period, before Lewis Hender held his nerve from 45m and the inspirational Max Thring snapped home under pressure for North.
The hosts again responded through Borholm’s composed finish, but Roosters debutant Connor Rozee kept his cool to kick home and Barns converted to push the visitors out by 14.
Teenager Rozee took a high-flying mark and dished it off to Hender who kicked a sensational goal from the forward pocket to seal a remarkable success for North.
Coach Carr said his players followed his game plan to a tee, as the Roosters saw off the minor premier from the past three campaigns.
“I’m obviously pretty rapt with that,” Carr said.
“To come here and get that win off the back of (defeating reigning premier) Sturt away as well, they’re the big ones that we want to win and we probably let drop last year.
“It was a tough game all game, but it was nice to finish it off in the last quarter.
“Playing our brand of football, no matter whether we’re at home or away, that was the message driving through to them and they went out there and delivered it.”
Thring (three goals, 34 disposals) was outstanding, while Jarred Allmond (30) shone against his former club and Aidan Tropiano (27 possessions, one goal) continued his strong form.
The Roosters led by one at quarter-time and nine at the main break after carrying on the intensity and swift ball movement which their impressive start to the season was built on.
But the hosts roared back to life in third term, booting five goals to four to set up a pulsating finale before falling just short.
Jake Johansesn (23 disposals, one goal) led the way for the Eagles.
He was ably assisted by three-major Jack Hayes and the gallant Angus Poole (24).
The home side’s coach Michael Godden remained upbeat despite the narrow defeat.
“I’ve been really happy with our first few games and our second half today was pretty solid,” Godden said.
“The first half I don’t really think we were on, but they are as confident a footy team as you’ve ever seen.
“They outworked us and looked fitter than us in the last quarter.
“I thought we competed quite well and our intensity was really good, but we didn’t use the ball very well.”
The top-of-the-table clash opened at a cracking pace as North took a slender advantage to the first change.
The Roosters continued their theme of lightning starts to kick the first two goals of the contest on the back of relentless pressure without the ball.
Matt McDonough booted the first with a classy set shot from 55m, before repeating the trick with another thumping long-range kick a minute later.
The Eagles were pinned inside their defensive half and took until the 13th minute to register their first inside 50.
From it, ruckman Marc Borholm converted from 45m, before Ethan Haylock got the host’s second with a nice kick on the move.
Jack Hayes produced a beautiful left-footed snap to put the Eagles in front for the first time.
But Roosters youngster Rozee kicked truly on the run from outside 50m to edge his side in front late in the term.
The match became more of an arm-wrestle in the second quarter.
Thring finished accurately from directly in front after good work by youngster Maris Olekans forced a turnover in the Eagles’ defensive 50.
Keenan Ramsey left the field with a head injury after coming off worse in a committed marking contest, before Jack Hayes goaled to pull the hosts back to within a point.
Tropiano intercepted an Eagles’ kick-in and converted to give Carr’s side a handy half-time buffer.
A tense encounter opened up in a barnstorming third quarter.
Johansen on the run and Jack Von Bertouch with a brilliant banana kick from the boundary put gave the Eagles the lead.
Alex Spina spun and converted to put North back in front, before the sides went goal-for-goal as Haylock and Callum Wilkie kicked truly.
Hender did well to feed Roosters big man Alex Barns who slammed the ball home from close range.
Jack Hayes again responded for the home side with a beauty from the pocket.
Thring took a stunning mark at full stretch and played on to kick a superb major from an angle, but Jarrad Redden marked in the goal square to convert and tie the match up.
The clash continued to seesaw in the fourth quarter, before North pushed out to a game-high 21-point lead.
Late goals to Nick Hayes and Chris Hall closed the gap, but were not enough as the Roosters inflicted the Eagles’ first loss of the year.
NORTH ADELAIDE 3.1 5.3 9.3 14.7 (91)
EAGLES 3.0 4.0 9.3 13.4 (82)
BEST – North: Thring, Allmond, Tropiano, Schwarz, Castree, Barns, Hender, Rozee. Eagles: Johansen, J. Hayes, Poole, Haylock, Sharrad, Borholm.
GOALS – North: Thring 3, McDonough, Rozee, Barns, Hender 2, Tropiano, Spina, Wilkie. Eagles: J. Hayes 3, Haylock, Von Bertouch, Borholm 2, Johansen, Redden, N. Hayes, Hall.
INJURIES – North: Ramsey (head).
UMPIRES – M. Schramm, J. Broadbent, G. Lewis.
At Woodville Oval
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