North Adelaide defeat Woodville-West Torrens in stunning comeback in first SANFL semi-final
NORTH Adelaide believes it can do anything after a stunning 37-point comeback to beat the Eagles in today's first SANFL semi-final.
NORTH Adelaide is on a roll again and has the momentum and belief it can do anything after a stunning 37-point comeback to beat the Eagles in today's first semi-final.
The Roosters' season was all but over when they trailed by six goals in the second quarter before storming home with a seven-goal final term to win by 17 points and progress to this week's preliminary final against West Adelaide.
After five straight losses coming into the finals, North's form is now heading in the direction that can challenge even Norwood.
"You can only hope," North Adelaide coach Josh Francou said when asked if he felt his side was on a roll.
"Momentum comes with confidence and belief.
"It's great for the confidence of the guys that if we're ever in that position again, we can actually come back and the message to the guys is 'keep persisting'."
But it was heartbreak for the Eagles, who coughed up a matchwinning lead for the second week in a row after blowing a 27-point lead against Westies last weekend.
"We gave ourselves false hope with tremendous effort two weeks in a row in the first half, but unfortunately we couldn't sustain it," Eagles coach Michael Godden said.
"Some players got caught out with the pressure, made some critical errors ... and responsibility falls wholly and solely on me and I'm really annoyed because I look at it and think two 25-point plus half-time leads, you should hold on to that."
Godden called his players, including the reserves, into a huddle on the ground after the game, which he said was about honouring retiring ruckman Craig Parry, but captain Luke Powell is yet to decide on his future.
"When you get to that point in your career (like Powell) you never know and we haven't spoken (about it), we were going to get through this finals series first," Godden said.
"But I hope it's not his last because I don't want to send him off that way."
Eagles supporters had their heart in their mouth midway through the third term when Parry - one suspension away from a life ban - collided with North debutant Patrick Boles.
But Parry was not reported and although Boles left the ground, he returned and kicked a goal in the last quarter.
For North, Chad O'Sullivan and Michael Clinch's pressure was outstanding even when their side was beaten in the first half while Jay Shannon and Todd Miles got the Roosters going in the middle after half time.
Francou said he understood the Crows' decision to withdraw Lewis Johnston from the game because of an ankle injury, but he would be "very surprised" if he didn't play in the preliminary final.
The Eagles had plenty of contributors in the first half but few stood up for four quarters.
Chris Kane was their best midfielder, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen and Sam Martyn ran hard from defence and Nick Salter was the most dominant forward on the ground, but it amounted to nothing.
The key to North's comeback was two goals in time-on to brothers Max and George Thring just before half-time. They were within 17 points at the last break then two goals to Leigh Ryswyk and one to Boles put them in front.
North's charge became unstoppable and they could do nothing wrong as Cohen Thiele and Nathan Blee's classy goals sealed victory.
SCOREBOARD
NORTH ADELAIDE 2.3 4.4 8.5 15.10 (100)
EAGLES 2.3 8.5 10.10 12.11 (83)
BEST - North: O'Sullivan, Clinch, Miles, G. Thring, Shannon, Gordon, Ryswyk. Eagles: Kane, Ellis-Yolmen, Martyn, Salter, Jarrad, Powell.
GOALS - North: Ryswyk 3, Gordon, Blee, Campbell, Thiele 2, G. Thring, M. Thring, Shannon, Boles. Eagles: Salter 4, Ainger 2, Kane, Carey, Appleton, Goldsworthy, Staple, Borholm.
UMPIRES - M. Avon, T. Dey, R. Hundertmark.