SANFL 2016: Woodville-West Torrens ready to avenge South Adelaide loss

WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens coach Michael Godden admits he had some serious chats with a few players after the 43-point thumping from South Adelaide in round two.

Eagles coach Michael Godden. Picture: Sarah Reed.

WOODVILLE-West Torrens coach Michael Godden admits he had some serious chats with a few players after the 43-point thumping from South Adelaide in round two.

The replay of the game in Noarlunga got plenty or airing in an extensive review of just what went wrong and how the players went about their work.

The assessments were damning, there were plenty of issues needing a fix.

The following week, the Eagles lost to a rampaging Adelaide, but Godden was satisfied with the effort and the response to the debacle against the Panthers.

Since then, there have been six successive wins and the Eagles have been establishing themselves as a serious threat for the SANFL crown with their impressive form and depth.

Just how well the Eagles have built their credentials since the Noarlunga contest can be proven Saturday when they challenge the Panthers on their Woodville turf.

“We were really disappointed with that game at Noarlunga on a lot of levels,’’ Godden said. “We went away from the type of things we like to do.

“South has beat some good teams this year and we are hunting them at the moment.’’

The Eagles are coming off another bye, having had two successive byes before convincing wins over Norwood and Central District.

They now confront six games before their next bye and Godden said is would be a chance for the club to gain some continuity.

He is also adamant the block of games will determine where the Eagles will be placed on the ladder at the end of the minor round.

“Five of those six games are on Saturdays and four are at home so we will get some continuity, and they it will determine where we end up,’’ Godden said. “The next block of games will be the big mover and shaker of where teams are on the ladder.

“You have to finish in the top three, the chance of winning the flag from outside that is almost zero.

“We have seven wins and generally 12 will get you in the top three.’’

The Eagles have lost forward Andrew Ainger for the next two weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Central District faces an imposing test against an Adelaide outfit flooded with AFL-listed talent when they meet in Elizabeth Saturday while West Adelaide will host Glenelg in Richmond.