Top Eagle Michael Godden’s eye on the SANFL minor premiership
EAGLES coach Michael Godden stood outside his changerooms after a 44-point win over Glenelg at the Bay, crossed his arms and took the high ground when questioned on the minor premiership.
WOODVILLE-West Torrens coach Michael Godden stood outside his changerooms after the 44-point win over Glenelg at the Bay, crossed his arms and took the high ground when questioned on the minor premiership.
As he noted, many people baulk at such discussions.
But Godden admitted the club could start contemplating a minor premiership, and its significance entering the finals.
Yesterday's results fell in favour of the Eagles and allowed them to climb two games plus percentage clear at the head of the premiership ladder, with four rounds remaining.
"Sixty-one per cent of premiers come from top spot so we have to start thinking about that,'' Godden confessed. "I'm not going to shy away from it; a lot of people shy away from that question but I'm going to embrace it.
"We have not been in this position for a long time so let's love it and see if we can it (finish minor premier). Every game is tough to win and nothing is going to be easy, but it is in our minds.''
Coming off only their second loss for the season when over run by Port Adelaide, there were plenty of questions asked of the Eagles when the Tigers bagged the opening three goals of the second half, against the wind, to hit the front.
The Tigers were constantly escaping from the centre and the Eagles were under enormous pressure to respond.
In fairness to the visitors, they had dominated the inside 50s (29 more for the game) and scoring attempts, only to waste opportunities.
At half-time, the Eagles had had 14 more visits inside attacking 50 and had kicked just one more goal.
As has been the case this season, the Tigers were honest and willing participants in a challenging scrap courtesy of the likes of captain Andrew Bradley, Matthew Snook and Bradley Agnew.
Their efficiency going deep into attack was terrific. But a concern has been the lack of four-quarter efforts.
The Eagles dominated for the final 10 minutes of the third term and the final quarter when their ball movement became more fluent.
Chris Hall was busy, veteran Luke Jarrad had a huge influence in defence and Jared Petrenko is a class act, so clean with his work.
"That game last year we would have lost,'' Godden said. "At that moment (when the Tigers hit the front in the third quarter) we changed the game and in the previous two years we didn't.
"I feel we are so much better placed to deal with it.
EAGLES 5.3 6.7 11.9 15.11 (101)
GLENELG 1.1 5.2 8.3 9.3 (57)
BEST — Eagles: Jarrad, Petrenko, Borholm, Hall, Rowntree, Thompson. Glenelg: Snook, Bailey, Agnew, Bradley, Alleway, Curran.
GOALS — Eagles: Wundke, Ainger 3, Hayes, Martyn 2, Borholm, McGregor, Press, Martyn, Scwarz, Lewis. Glenelg: Alleway 3, Bradley 2, Snook, Nason, Scott, McGinty.
UMPIRES — Peters, Haussen, Bowen.