SANFL Grand Final 2016: Sturt defeat Woodville-West Torrens by 27 points to win premiership
DON’T be surprised if an AFL club taps Sturt coach Marty Mattner on the shoulder earlier than he expected after leading the Double Blues to a 27-point triumph over the Eagles in the SANFL grand final.
- Three mates, two flags, one big party
- Godden re-lives grand final nightmare
- Flag win just a chapter in Sturt’s journey: Mattner
THE Sturt Football Club may not have Marty Mattner as its head coach for as long as it had hoped.
The former Sydney and Adelaide hard-running defender has a two-year deal at Unley. He has ambitions to test himself at the next level, but those thoughts linger well in the background, knowing he was unproven as a head coach before this season.
Don’t be surprised if an AFL club taps him on the shoulder earlier than he expected after taking the Double Blues from eighth last year to its 14th premiership with a magnificent 27-point triumph over Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL grand final at Adelaide Oval Sunday.
It was not just the fact he has built a premiership side in his first year, it was the manner in which the Double Blues conquered the heavily favoured Eagles. It was a well-devised game plan, a full team effort and a passionate hunger for the cause.
Mattner was already a hero among the Double Blues faithful after being a member of the club’s previous premiership side in 2002. He has now taken his reputation to another level.
“The players have worked hard and it is all about them,” Mattner said. “They sacrificed so much and the result is reward for all the hard work they have put in for nine months, I’m so proud of them.
“We knew our best was good enough, we just had to execute for four quarters and we did that.”
The Eagles had claimed the previous three battles against the Double Blues this season on the back of powerful statements in the first quarter.
But the Double Blues matched their rivals and would have been satisfied being only three points down at the first change.
Jack Stephens was outstanding down back and Zane Kirkwood was his usual busy self.
The Double Blues slowed the tempo, avoided the corridor and denied the Eagles the ball, as reflected in their having 21 more marks for the first half — and many were uncontested.
When Michael Wundke bagged the second of his five goals seven minutes into the second term, the Eagles led by 10 points. The Double Blues responded with two of the next three goals and from late in the second quarter to early in the third, there were five lead changes.
Vastly improved Jarrod Leinert kicked a sensational goal late in the third term before Kory Beard kicked truly after the siren to give the Double Blues a 14-point advantage.
The Double Blues were coming off three tough finals, yet they were up and about in the final quarter to take control.
They refused to stray from the possession game while their composure held firm.
SCOREBOARD
STURT 1.1 4.2 8.2 12.4 (76)
EAGLES 1.4 3.5 5.6 7.7 (49)
BEST — Sturt: Stephens, Kirkwood, Riley, McMahon, Battersby, Greenslade, Jonas, Martin. Eagles: Petrenko, Wundke, O’Brien, Jarrad, Allmond.
GOALS — Sturt: Greenslade, Beard 3, Lienert 2, Hansen, Stephens, Kirkwood, M. Evans. Eagles: Wundke 5, Petrenko, McGregor.
REPORTS — Sturt: Gamble (rough conduct).
UMPIRES — Crosby, Hundertmark, Haussen.
CROWD — 30,213 at Adelaide Oval.
JACK OATEY MEDAL — Jack Stephens (Sturt).