SANFL Grand Final: Woodville-West Torrens’ line-up a puzzle for Sturt coach Marty Mattner
STURT coach Marty Mattner did not know which players his side would confront in the preliminary final battle against Adelaide on Sunday until the day of the game.
STURT coach Marty Mattner did not know which players his side would confront in the preliminary final battle against Adelaide on Sunday until the day of the game.
The Crows line-up hinged on the result of the AFL semi-final in Sydney the previous night and the loss meant Ricky Henderson and Paul Seedsman were ineligible for the SANFL final.
Mattner expected the Crows to name captain Luke Carey as one of their two top up players to come into the line-up as replacements. Instead, the Crows opted for Scott Spriggs and Dylan Schoenmakers.
Now it is Woodville-West Torrens’ turn to keep Mattner guessing as to its personnel for the grand final battle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Eagles have declared Nick O’Brien a definite starter. The gun onballer missed the second semi-final win over the Double Blues due to a slight hamstring problem, but he has trained strongly to dismiss any doubt over his health.
But will rover James Boyd play? Eagles coach Michael Godden expects the Central District premiership player to make himself available. However, he must still prove his broken collarbone, an injury from the penultimate round which required surgery, has fully mended and he can withstand body contact.
Godden will need to be convinced because there is little doubt the Double Blues will give him another fitness test if his place in the grand final is confirmed.
The Double Blues emerged from the impressive win over the Crows with plenty of sore bodies, including key forward Kory Beard and Ben Hansen.
“We tried to take them off the ground as early as possible,” Mattner said. “They got some knocks but they will play, we just have to manage them.
“There are a lot of blokes sore at this time of the year.”
The Double Blues will train at Adelaide Oval tonight before the selection committee meets for the final time this season.
Henry Carey was the Double Blues’ emergency for the second semi-final loss to the Eagles before replacing Sean Samblich for the preliminary final.
The Double Blues, facing a fourth finals battle compared to only two for the Eagles, could also consider young ruckman Andre Parrella given their opponents have a dual ruck threat in Marc Borholm and Jarrad Redden.
This will be the first grand final match up between the Eagles and Double Blues.