Sturt wins SANFL preliminary final over Eagles and will face Port Adelaide Magpies in Grand Final
AFTER a slow start to the season, last year’s SANFL premier Sturt has won its way to the grand final again with a spirited win over Woodville-West Torrens on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
STURT did not win a game until round six, now it is just one victory from repeating last year’s SANFL premiership triumph.
The Double Blues will challenge Port Adelaide for the premiership in the grand final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday after overcoming a spirited Woodville-West Torrens by 20 points in the preliminary final at the same venue on Sunday.
In similar fashion to their tight win over Central District in the first semi-final, the Double Blues just had that little more polish and seized the critical moments.
It has been remarkable recovery under coach Marty Mattner given the nightmare start to the season.
Mattner never panicked and his trust and belief in his squad was further vindicated with the hard-fought win over the Eagles, the minor premiers who dropped out of the title race in straight sets.
“Today is a really big day for the footy club,” Mattner said.
“The stuff the board put in place three years ago to change the structure of the club, we are now seeing the benefits of what the board, (chief executive) Sue Dewing and the footy department have done.
“The under-18s won today (grand final) which is good for the club. The reserves and league side are in the grand final.
“As I said to the boys, there is one more week to go and we have got to finish off with a win. It is good to have a successful club and we want to be the best club in the SANFL.”
The Eagles lost co-captain Patrick Giuffreda to a hamstring injury before the game while highly promising 17-year old Jack Lukosius made his league debut. Lukosius is an absolute gun.
The richly talented forward bagged four goals and while he is too young for this year’s national draft, the AFL scouts will be circling.
Both teams struggled for rhythm for much of the game, although as Mattner noted, it was a hard finals contest between two teams playing in the knowledge it was the end of the season for the loser.
Joe Sinor was outstanding in defence for the Eagles, whose pressure and effort was superior to what they produced against Port in the second semi-final.
The Eagles had 54 more disposals as is their trademark high possession game, but that also means coughing up turnovers and they were again punished.
Double Blues’ Matthew Crocker has established himself as a crucial component of the side, and his final quarter goal on the run from the boundary was incredible.
Ruckman Jack Osborn was prominent, while up forward Kory Beard and Josh Hone had a heavy influence.
The Eagles trailed by only six points a minute into the final quarter. But as was the case all game, the Double Blues had an answer.
SCOREBOARD
STURT 3.1 5.2 7.4 11.7 (73)
EAGLES 1.3 3.4 5.4 8.5 (53)
BEST - Sturt: Crocker, Wilson, Stephens, Beard, Page, Colquhoun, Kirkwood. Eagles: Sinor, Lukosius, Johansen, Stewart, Allmond.
GOALS - Sturt: Beard 4, Hone 3, Sutcliffe 2, Crocker, F. Evans. Eagles: Lukosius 4, Poole, McGregor, J. Hayes, N. Hayes.
INJURIES - Sturt: Hansen (back).
UMPIRES - Schramm, Hosking, Lewis.
CROWD - 7332 at Adelaide Oval.
OLD FOES TO MEET AGAIN AT OVAL
STURT and Port Adelaide will have their first SANFL grand final meeting since 1998 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Double Blues earned a spot in the premiership decider with a hard-fought 20-point victory over minor premier Woodville-West Torrens in the preliminary final at the same venue.
But it came at a cost with dangerous small forward Ben Hansen in doubt after leaving the contest against the Eagles just nine minutes into the first quarter.
Double Blues coach Marty Mattner said Hansen copped a knock in a tackle and one side of leg, as well as his back, seized up.
“Hopefully it is one of those things by Monday or Wednesday he will be able to run around then train on Friday,” Mattner said.
“We will assess the injury tomorrow when he sees the doctor and physio.
“Our preparation for the grand final as been good. A couple of guys are sore, but we will manage them during the week.”
Eagles coach Michael Godden has two years remaining on his contract and he is confident in the future of the club.
“The future of the footy club is extremely bright, I’m excited about that,” Godden said.