SANFL finals 2016: Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Nick O’Brien fit for grand final
STAR Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Nick O’Brien has been declared a definite starter for the grand final clash against Sturt at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
STAR Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Nick O’Brien has been declared a definite starter for the grand final clash against Sturt at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Magarey Medal runner-up, missing from the second semi-final win over the Double Blues because of a minor hamstring issue, has trained fully for the past week and is in no doubt for the title decider.
However, mystery still hangs over the status of rover James Boyd, although the Eagles are optimistic he will return to action after being sidelined because of a broken collarbone.
A premiership player with Central District before joining the Eagles, Boyd must negotiate full contact at training before being given the green light to front the Double Blues.
Eagles coach Michael Godden said O’Brien was 100 per cent and it had been full steam at training for the past week.
“He was on target to play in the preliminary final if we were involved in that game but because we went straight through to the grand final, we were able to take a more conservative approach with his rehab,” Godden said.
“He was a big hole the last time we played, he gives the side so much versatility. He has got the pace of the SANFL and knows what to do and what to expect.
“It will be massive to have him back.”
O’Brien was arguably the best player in the league in the second half of the season and the Magarey Medal voting reflected his influence at the Eagles.
Boyd broke his collarbone in the penultimate minor round battle against Glenelg and had surgery to repair the damage.
“He was cleared by the surgeon last week and his fitness is no problem,” Godden said. “He has trained with the group for the past week and a half.
“He had some contact at training over the weekend but we will test him this week, we will attack the collarbone as we expect the opposition would. I imagine he will be right to play.”
With the return of O’Brien and likely availability of Boyd, Godden faces a selection dilemma. Which two players will lose their spot from the side which conquered the Double Blues to qualify for the season finale?
“I’d much rather it this way than last year (the Eagles lost Angus Rowntree, Marc Borholm and Angus Poole to injury for the grand final loss to West Adelaide),” Godden said.
“It is a selection headache but it is a good situation to be in.”