Woodville-West Torrens fightback to beat reigning SANFL premiers Sturt
THE Eagles have been hit in the face the past couple of years with devastating grand final defeats. But on Sunday they showed real grit against the reigning premiers Sturt at Woodville Oval.
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS has been punched in the face the past couple of years with devastating grand final defeats.
It has copped more whacks in recent times with plenty of big names on a lengthy injury list. And on Sunday they were given a clip around the ear by Sturt in the opening quarter in Woodville.
But these Eagles have guts. They keep getting off the canvas, patch up the bruises and come back just as hungry for the heat off battle.
The Double Blues were coming off eight successive wins, they were rolling, and their first quarter reflected their form as they carved up the Eagles with confident ball movement and terrific pressure.
They just let themselves down with wasted opportunities in front of goal.
Eagles coach Michael Godden can try and downplay the 13-point win as much as he wants. There is no dodging the fact this was a big win.
“As a coach you have to downplay it because of what you have gone through,” Godden said. “When you think you have this game sorted, it can bite you on the bum.
“We just need to stay the course. They (Double Blues) are very good side, but we played well. I came to the game not really knowing what we were going to get.
“We have learnt a lot of lessons from our failings and on numerous occasions this season we have drawn on our failings to be able to execute when it matters.”
The Double Blues went on an Eagles hunt early, the classy midfield led by James Battersby and Patrick Wilson igniting the side. They went inside their attacking 50 12 times before they Eagles had a trip inside their 50, and that took them 22 minutes.
The Eagles failed to impact on the scoreboard in the opening quarter, but with the wind at their backs they found rhythm to strike back.
Jarred Allmond, Luke Thompson and Matthew Goldsworthy were their usual reliable self in defence and Jack Hayes was a strong target up forward.
These are two high quality teams and they were committed to a tough, physical battle in the testing weather conditions. Maybe even a grand final preview?
Double Blues coach Marty Mattner said his side was in the contest for most it, but the Eagles were the better side in the third quarter and that is when the game was on the line.
“That is why they they are the best team in the competition, that is why they are top and have lost just one game,” Mattner said. “Because they win week in, week out and it does not matter who turns up for them, they play well.
“They play the game really well and win, that is where we want to get to. We are not quite there yet.”
SCOREBOARD
EAGLES 0.0 5.1 8.3 11.4 (70)
STURT 3.5 5.7 8.7 8.9 (57)
BEST - Eagles: Allmond, J. Hayes, Johansen, Sinor, Thompson, Goldsworthy. Sturt: Battersby, Wilson, Riley, Hansen, Kirkwood, Colquhoun.
GOALS - Eagles: J. Hayes 4, N. Hayes 2, Comitogianni, Allmond, McGregor, Lewis, Poole. Sturt: Hansen 3, Beard 2, Hone, M. Evans, Osborn.
UMPIRES - Bowen, Harris, Lewis.