West Adelaide steams home to mow down Glenelg at Richmond

WEST Adelaide continued its habit of finishing like a steam train to turn what had been a slog for three quarters into a comfortable win against Glenelg at Richmond yesterday on Saturday.

Kaine Stevens (West Adelaide) handballs during the final quarter against Glenelg. Picture: Stephen Laffer

WEST Adelaide continued its habit of finishing like a steam train to turn what had been a slog for three quarters into a comfortable win against Glenelg at Richmond yesterday on Saturday.

The Bloods trailed improving Glenelg by 10 points 15 minutes into the third term and looked to have their work cut out, with the Bays set to finish to the scoring end on a wet, blustery day.

Instead West turned the afterburners on and banged through 10 goals to two in the final 40 minutes of the match to run out a 38-point winner and consolidate its place in the top three by a win plus percentage.

The Bloods have lost just three final quarters this season and kicked a collective 22 goals to five in their fourth terms over the past three rounds, as coach Mark Mickan makes good on his pre-season vow to ensure fitness would not be an issue this season.

For a two-and-a-half terms yesterday Glenelg attacked the footy harder than West and was bolder on the transition as it got rewarded for taking on the corridor and kicking longer into an open forward line.

West was handball happy and beaten around the clearances for a half but that all changed when Shannon Green goalled 15 minutes into the third term and changed the momentum of the game.

“Westies were too good for us around the contest late in the match I thought and their midfielders got on top of us,’’ Bays coach Matthew Lokan conceded.

“They got on top in small areas.

“I thought we were good for a lot of the game and I suppose you look at the scoreboard and 38 points maybe doesn’t reflect that ...

“We didn’t want to lose by 10 points and not give ourselves a chance late so we did roll the dice a bit and take some risks.”

There are plenty of positives for the Bays’ fans, among them young forward Josh Scott, who kicked three goals on a difficult day for forwards and gave his side a target.

Matthew Snook continued his excellent form in the midfield but weight of numbers eventually turned against the Bays as best afield Kaine Stevens and Josh Schiller began giving West the edge around the clearances.

John Beech proved yet again that he is seemingly a step ahead of SANFL level with four goals, three of them as West piled on seven final term majors and played some powerful football.

Mickan was satisfied with the overall result but, for a second consecutive week, was disappointed his side left it until late to click into gear.

“I thought they were more desperate than us for probably two-and-a-half quarters and we had to work really hard for not much result for a long period of time.

“I thought they controlled the ball better than we did and we struggled to compose ourselves for a large period of the game ...

“But, to come away with the win by about six goals, it was really pleasing that we were able to find that desperation that we require and also be a bit smarter with the ball going inside-50.”

West Adelaide kicked with the aid of a solid opening term breeze and settled quicker than the Bays in slippery conditions.

They kicked two goals in the opening seven minutes of the clash but Glenelg found its feet and, importantly, held its own for the remainder of the opening term.

The Bays’ tackling pressure and clearance work was outstanding in the second term and they began winning the war for territory and getting reward for moving the ball quickly on the counter-attack.

Scott was proving a handful and goalled midway through the term before Clint Alleway gave the Tigers the lead approaching half-time.

But from then Glenelg kicked five goals to West Adelaide’s 11.

WEST ADELAIDE 3.1 3.2 7.8 14.12 (96)

GLENELG 2.0 4.2 6.3 9.4 (58)

BEST - West: Stevens, Beech, Porplyzia, Schiller, Hartlett, Wasley-Black. Glenelg: Snook, Scott, Bradley, McNeil, Nason

GOALS - West: Stevens 4, Beech 4, Green 2, Middleton, Snelling, Haysman, Fielke. Glenelg: Scott 3, Milera 2, Alleway, Johansen, Nason.

INJURIES: Nil

UMPIRES: Lewis, Bowen, Schramm