It’s all about baby steps, declares Godden
PERUSE Woodville-West Torrens’ list for this season and there is an argument to say no rival club has had more player movement.
PERUSE Woodville-West Torrens’ list for this season and there is an argument to say no rival club has had more player movement.
Luke Jarrad, Phil Raymond, Andrew Ainger, Jarrad Redden, Jake von Bertouch and Nick O’Brien are no longer with the club. There are others but those names were key ingredients in the side which stormed into the grand final.
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Recruiting has been minimal, although regaining Paul Stewart is important.
“It’s like a new beginning this year because of significant list changes,” Eagles coach Michael Godden said.
“We made a stand as a footy club we were not going to recruit this year and felt it was the opportunity to play the guys we have been developing.
“There is a group of guys we have been grooming and now the opportunity has come to give them a chance. The program we put in place in the middle of 2011 is going to come to fruition and we are excited about that.
“It is going to be a very different side to the one we have had in the past couple of years.”
How the Eagles react to last year’s loss to Sturt in the premiership decider will be interesting, given they were also beaten in the 2015 season finale after starting favourites.
They have been a dominant side in the minor round for the past two years and the first team to earn a spot in the grand final. Getting the job done on the season’s biggest stage has been the massive issue – for many years too, not just the past two.
Godden said his side would not have the height of last year, meaning there would be an adjustment to the game plan.
He added while there would be no wholesale changes to the way the Eagles attacked games, freshness was important to the playing group.
“I’m under no illusions, we have failed in the past two grand finals and it has been our own fault,” he said.
“As a whole, we have been a very successful footy club and we are not going to panic in terms of those losses.
“But we have not stood up when it mattered so it is a little bit of game plan, little bit personnel, a bit of everything.”
While there has been a huge change in personnel – and the loss of a heap of quality experience – Godden believes this year’s list is no less talented and has the element of being a little more unpredictable.
“It is about baby steps,” he said. “No matter what the result of the previous year, you have to make sure you do all the small things well.
“If you get the small things right, you will have sustained success.”
RECALL
2016 SEASON
Second
BEST & FAIREST
1.Jared Petrenko
2. Nick O’Brien
3. Chris Hall
LEADING GOALKICKER
Michael Wundke 46
GUN RECRUIT
Paul Stewart, a premiership player with the Eagles in 2006 after coming through the junior ranks, returns to the club after being delisted by Port Adelaide where he played 101 AFL games. Versatile and a class act at this level.
ONE TO WATCH
Joe Sinor, recruited from Henley, made his league debut in 2014 but has had few opportunities since. Sinor has continued to impress in the reserves and is expected to be given every chance to cement a spot this season.
RISING STAR
Ball magnet Jake Comitogianni was a joint winner of last year’s reserves Magarey Medal and is ready to take the next step to league level. The teenage on-baller also won the 2015 Macca’s Cup MVP award in the under-18 competition, further evidence of his talents.
BIG OFF-SEASON
There were rumours gun forward Michael Wundke was set to leave Woodville Oval after last year’s grand final loss. But not only has he committed to the Eagles, he has shone on the track with the club claiming it is his best pre-season since becoming an Eagle.
STATE PRIDE
There is just one non-South Australian player on the Eagles’ list. Co-captain and former Adelaide defender Luke Thompson is the only interstate product, having been drafted by the Crows from Victoria in 2010.
The Eagles’ back-to-back grand final losses were the first in the SANFL since they suffered the same fate in 2004-05. They then won the premiership in 2006. The Eagles were also runner-up in 2000-01.
Since Michael Godden started his league coaching career with the Eagles in 2010, they are the only club to have played in every league finals series.
They have finished third, top, fifth, fourth, fifth, second and second under his watch.
The Eagles have not had a reserves coach for the past three years. There has been a development officer who has also taken on the role of facilitator. The league and reserves train together under the same banner.
In 2015, the Eagles played West Adelaide in a pre-season trial game.
Last year, they met Sturt in the corresponding game.
And we know what happened in the grand finals in those two years.