SANFL 2006 ROUND 18: SOUTH
ADELAIDE v WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS
Slow, uncompetitive Eagles drop
streak
By JAI BEDNALL
THE Eagles' 10-game winning streak was brought to a disappointing end
on the weekend as the side suffered a shock 66-point loss to
The defeat cost the side top spot on the ladder but the Eagles will
regain pole position if they can knock off
There were several worrying signs for coach Ron Fuller against the
Panthers with the Eagles being outplayed all over a ground they had not lost at
since 1997.
“We were uncompetitive right across the ground from the full-forward
line to the full-back line,” Fuller said.
“(South) has got as much talent as anyone in the competition if not
more in my opinion.
“If you give them space and the opportunity to run they can really hurt
you.”
The Eagles were second to the ball and looked slow against South, with
only Hayden Skipworth and Leigh Treeby
making any meaningful contribution.
Skipworth had 40 disposals in a performance
sure to catch the eye of Crows' coach Neil Craig and Treeby
also battled hard for his 18 disposals.
Forward Mark Passador had a day to forget -
he failed to add to his league-leading tally of 63 goals until late in the
final term.
Despite being disappointed with his side's effort, Fuller said he would
not be making too many changes heading into the clash with the Roosters.
“We don't think after winning 10 straight that we need to make
wholesale changes.
“The match committee's initial thoughts are that we'd like to give the
same group of players the opportunity to respond.
“But the side could change depending on the availability of players
with AFL commitments.”
Fuller said Crows players Bernie Vince and Chris Knights were a chance
to return from injury. They would be more than handy against North, in a match which could decide who gets the weekend off in the first
week of finals.
The ledger sits at one game each in the battles between the
competition's two best sides this year with North recording a 22-point victory
in round one, while the Eagles thumped the Roosters by 79 points in round nine.
The Eagles will be wearing replica guernseys from Woodville's 1964 season, the Peckers'
first year in the competition.
SCORES:
BEST: South - Thewlis, Sampson,
Wright, Carlile, McGlone, Archard; Eagles -
Skipworth, McKenzie, Fiacchi,
Jarrad,
GOALS: South - Davey
3, Warren 3, Iljcesen 3, Kenna
2, Twomey 2, Cupido 2,
Thewlis 2, Parry, Sampson, Wright, Archard, Clarke; Eagles - Symmons
3, Grocke, Cicolella, Fiacchi, Skipworth, Rugolo, Passador, Inkster,
Jacobs, Jarrad.