Former Crow Jason Porplyzia leads West Adelaide to comeback victory

WEST Adelaide kicked eight of the last 10 goals to record a come-from-behind six-point win over Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval.

WEST Adelaide kicked eight of the last 10 goals to record a come-from-behind six-point win over Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval yesterday.

The Bloods trailed by 30 points 21 minutes into the third term and the Eagles were seemingly in control.

But West booted the last two goals of the quarter and the first six majors of the fourth term then staved off a late Eagles fightback.

Former Crow Jason Porplyzia, in his return to West, breathed new life into the visitors’ forward line, booting three goals.

Others to impress were captain Chris Schmidt (28 disposals, 10 marks), key defender Tom Keough, who kept Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke to four touches and one goal, and Travis Tuck, whose bullocking centre-square work in the final term was instrumental.

Bloods coach Mark Mickan said his side believed it could win despite an 18-point three -quarter-time deficit because it had worked hard off the track over summer.

“We had a really solid pre-season for that sort of situation,” Mickan said. “We knew at three quarter-time we still had it in us to compete hard and run over the top.

“It’s a really pleasing start to the year but it’s just a start and we’ve got to back it up now.”

The game was a roller-coaster as the Eagles capitalised on the early chances to lead by eight points at quarter-time, only for West to level the scores at half-time.

Andrew Ainger came to life at the start of the third term and gave the Eagles a spark.

He booted four goals in that quarter and finished with five for the match.

But late goals to Errin Wasley-Black, one of four West debutants, and Porplyzia cut the Eagles’ lead to 18 points to give the Bloods a sniff before three quarter-time.

West then dominated the fourth quarter, winning the clearances 12-8, lifting its defensive pressure across the ground and registering 22 more disposals than the Eagles.

The Bloods pushed out to a 19-point lead.

Late goals to Lachlan McGregor and Marc Borholm, playing against his former side, cut the margin to six points but the final siren sounded moments after the centre bounce.

“It was clearly very disappointing,” Eagles coach Michael Godden said.

“There was a real lack of quality I suppose and contested footy.

“Towards the end of the third I felt we needed to put our foot on the throat a bit … but we couldn’t do it. We go back to the drawing board.”

Luke Jarrad (25 disposals, six inside 50s) and Angus Rowntree (28 disposals) were shining lights for the Eagles.