Chris Hall leads Woodville-West Torrens to big win against Crows
UNBEATEN Adelaide sat atop the SANFL ladder this time last year having trounced Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval, on Saturday the Eagles turned the tables as they downed the Crows by 45 points to extend their perfect 4-0 start to the season.
UNBEATEN Adelaide sat atop the SANFL ladder this time last year having trounced Woodville-West Torrens by seven goals at Woodville Oval.
On Saturday the Eagles turned the tables as they downed the Crows by 45 points at the same venue to extend their perfect 4-0 start to this season.
Michael Godden’s side was more efficient in possession, hungrier without the ball and more adaptable to the tricky breeze as it recorded a 14.14 (98) to 8.5 (53) victory.
Adelaide closed to within a major late in the second quarter, but a four-goal-to-one third term proved decisive for the hosts who ran out a scrappy contest the stronger.
Chris Hall was outstanding for the Eagles racking up a game-high 27 possessions from half-back.
The tireless Jarred Allmond (24 disposals, one goal) saw plenty of the footy, captain Luke Thompson was dominant in defence and spearhead Michael Wundke overcame a slow start to boot three majors.
Godden said his players improved as the afternoon progressed.
“I thought the first half was pretty ordinary and I was pretty disappointed with the way we rushed with the ball at times,” Godden said.
“But I was really happy with the second half and it was a good result in the end.
“It’s really important with every footy team you coach that they learn to play against different styles and create ways to win.
“We wore them down a bit defensively in the end.”
The Eagles took advantage of the strong wind at their back to kick the first three goals of the match through young guns Nick Hayes, Jack Gaffney and Jake Johansen.
The margin might have been greater had the usually reliable Wundke not missed three set shots in the opening term.
Elliott Himmelberg registered the Crows’ first major score 16 minutes into the game after a commanding mark on the edge of the goal square.
Allmond booted a long bomb for the home side, but Troy Menzel kicked brilliantly from a testing angle late in the quarter to reduce the Eagles’ lead to 19 points at the first break.
Adelaide lifted its intensity in the second term and struck an early blow through Jordan Gallucci.
Wundke finally found his shooting boots to goal twice in quick succession, but the Crows pulled to within one goal as Menzel, Josh Wittwer and the excellent Hugh Greenwood kicked truly.
Jack Hayes grabbed a crucial major just before half-time and the hosts raced to a match-winning 31-point buffer in the third term.
Hall pounced on a loose ball to snap a goal and Matt Goldsworthy punished a sloppy Adelaide turnover to slot home from 45m.
Wittwer’s second of the day was the only respite for the Crows as Wundke and Lachlan McGregor pressed home the Eagles’ advantage.
Final term majors to James Boyd, McGregor and Jack Hayes sealed the win.
Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe said his young side was punished for its inability to maintain possession.
“The Eagles are probably a class above us at the moment,” O’Keefe said.
“They used the ball a lot better and we made some fundamental errors.
“They pretty much scored off our turnover in that second half — it’s pretty hard to defend when you keep giving the ball back to them.”
SCOREBOARD
Eagles 4.8 7.8 11.11 14.14 (98)
Adelaide 2.1 6.3 7.4 8.5 (53)
BEST — Eagles: Hall, Allmond, L. Thompson, Goldsworthy, J. Hayes, Wundke, Petrenko. Adelaide: Greenwood, Menzel, Doedee, Wittwer, O’Brien, Beech.
GOALS — Eagles: Wundke 3, McGregor, J. Hayes 2, Allmond, Boyd, Hall, Goldsworthy, Johansen, N. Hayes, Gaffney. Adelaide: Wittwer 3, Menzel 2, Gallucci, Himmelberg, Greenwood.
UMPIRES — T. Medlin, J. Broadbent, T. Philp.
CROWD — 1391 at Woodville Oval.