Woodville-West Torrens’ stunning final quarter shocks Adelaide Crows
THE third quarter was just five minutes old when total pessimism descended on Woodville-West Torrens’ season in its battle with Adelaide at Woodville on Sunday.
THE third quarter was just five minutes old when total pessimism descended on Woodville-West Torrens’ season in its battle with Adelaide at Woodville on Sunday.
The Eagles were being belted all over the park, trailed by 42 points after failing to register a score in the second term and had no answers.
This was an old fashioned standing eight count for a battered and bruised Eagles.
Coming off thrashings from Norwood and South Adelaide, there were massive concerns for the Eagles hierarchy.
They looked slow, lacked composure and were constantly knocked to the canvas.
However, those worries have been replaced by a huge dose of optimism after the stunning comeback to claim an 11-point victory and secure the minor premiership for the third successive year.
“I’d be lying to say I wasn’t worried,” Godden said. “I was looking for answers, why does a club go from where we were (four games clear at the top of the ladder) to look disinterested? To see the players take control of that at halftime, that is what it was. It pleases me they have that courage to turn it around.”
After a tight tussle in the first quarter, the Crows took total control to blow the game open with impressive ball movement built on terrific pressure and well drilled defensive actions.
Kyle Hartigan and Kyle Cheney were strong in defence and Paul Seedsman had a significant influence.
Everything the Eagles did was under enormous pressure.
As the second half lengthened, the Eagles got more ball from the stoppages and attacked with greater aggression. And the confidence grew.
Jared Petrenko and Scott Lewis were prominent and Jake Johansen and Michael Wundke fed off the constant supply.
“It probably blows our chance at finals,” Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe lamented.
“Of course it does (hurt). You should not lose a game like that and to serve up rubbish like that in the last quarter is unacceptable.”