South Adelaide forward Brett Eddy kicks on after form struggle
TEAMS: EVEN the most ardent Brett Eddy fan probably would not have given him much chance of leading this year’s Ken Farmer Medal race during last season.
EVEN the most ardent Brett Eddy fan probably would not have given the Victorian much chance of leading this season’s Ken Farmer Medal race when he was languishing in the reserves last August.
Eddy, 23, has booted a league high 50 goals from 12 matches to help put the Panthers on track for only their third finals appearance in 20 years.
But less than 12 months ago he was playing in South’s twos while battling for form in his first season at the club.
In all, the 194cm forward played five reserves games last year and booted just 14 league goals, as the club struggled on the field and Michael Wundke was deployed as the Panthers’ main target in attack.
“Brett came late into pre-season last year, was probably a bit out of condition and it probably caught up with him,” South’s football manager Neill Sharpe said.
“He had a few injuries and never really got going again.
“I don’t think we thought at the start of this year that he’d be leading the goalkicking in the competition.
“But we knew his talent and what he was capable of, and he’s performing to the level he’s capable of.”
In a stunning turnaround, Eddy is on his way to becoming the most prolific SANFL spearhead since Brant Chambers.
If he maintains his 4.17 goal average over the last six minor rounds, he will finish with 75 majors – the most since Chambers’s 80 for Sturt in 2009.
Eddy attributes his form this year to improved fitness, playing closer to goal, the arrival of new coach Brad Gotch and Wundke’s departure to Woodville-West Torrens.
“The way Gotchy’s come in and brought a (new) game plan has helped me,” says Eddy, who has an eight-goal lead on Wundke in the Ken Farmer Medal race.
“But it’s not a real focus to kick goals, it’s more of a focus to play my role.”
Eddy was an AFL draft prospect while playing for Collingwood’s VFL side in 2011 but ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the middle of that year and was not selected.
He is getting some interest from AFL clubs again this year and remains hopeful of playing at the elite level.
“I’d cherish any opportunity that came my way,” Eddy says.
Eddy has again been named at full forward for the clash against Adelaide at Noarlunga on Saturday.
The Panthers, coming off an impressive victory over North Adelaide, have added Nathan and Caleb Daniel to the 21 who got the job done against the Roosters.
Rover Caleb is returning a successful national under 18 campaign when he had a huge influence in South Australia claiming the title.
POOLE LIKELY TO REPLACE INJURED BOYD
AN adductor injury to rover James Boyd could prompt Woodville-West Torrens to promote youngster Angus Poole after a week in the reserves.
Boyd is expected miss at least three weeks and Poole, Scott Blesing and Sam Martyn have been listed as the options to come into the side to front Norwood at Woodville on Saturday.
The Redlegs, coming off four successive wins, have also been forced to revamp their line-up after losing Craig Evans for the rest of the season and Gavin Hughes to a thigh injury.
Evans damaged his ACL in the win over Central District on June 27 and a knee reconstruction will sideline him for 12 months.
North Adelaide reacted to the poor performance against South Adelaide by dropping Aleksander Kangur and Michael Virgin. Key forward Luke Mitchell has been sidelined with a groin injury.