SANFL 2006 ROUND 22: WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS v PORT ADELAIDE

Eagles flag favourites riding into September

By PETER ARGENT

WITH an imposing 56-point victory over a team which had plenty to play for itself, the Eagles have tightened their grip on the minor premiership and look set to have a rest in the first week of the finals.

“I was happy with the second half of the second term - in that last 15 minutes we started to squeeze them,” Woodville-West Torrens coach Ron Fuller said.

“We then kicked a couple of early goals in the third to blow the game open.

“We found an avenue to goals during this period and also it helped that we started to kick straight.”

Playing a Port Adelaide side vying for a double chance, the Eagles set up the victory in the third term when they kicked six goals to two, including three in the first nine minutes.

During this term they increased a 20-point half time advantage to a match winning 43-point lead at lemons.

Returning for his first league game since recovering from a career threatening heart condition, Brodie Lomas exploded into the game after half time, having 10 kicks, three handballs and kicking two goals in the third quarter alone. In his 29-possession, four-goal return match, Lomas was a prime mover in the Eagles victory.

Given the task of standing Clive Waterhouse in his debut game, 18-year-old Zak Hier was impressive, comprehensively beating his more seasoned and mature opponent.

Dale Symonns made his presence felt during the second half (all three of his goals were kicked after the main break), while Paul Lindsay gave the smaller players plenty of opportunities, dominating the aerial duels.

Justin Cicolella was another player who got plenty of the ball again, although surprisingly he was off target on occasions with his delivery.

Leigh Treeby and Luke Jarrad gave a lot of drive off their wings, while Joe Pedler rebounded strongly out of defence.

Luke Powell was industrious all game and Peter Fiacchi laid a couple of momentum changing tackles at pivotal times of the game.

On this performance, the Eagles deserve the right of a true premiership contender for the 2006 season.

Playing without reigning Magarey Medallist Jeremy Clayton, the Pies had several players step up, including Jared Poulton, Roc Harry, Tim Looby and John Baird.

SCORES: Woodville-West Torrens 2.1 5.7 11.10 16.13 (109) defeated Port Adelaide 2.4 2.5 4.9 7.11 (53).

BEST: Eagles - Lomas, Lindsay, Powell, Heir, Cicolella, Jarrad, Treeby, Pedler, Symmons; Port - Poulton, Harry, Looby, Baird.

GOALS: Eagles - Lomas 4, Symmons 3, Passador, Lindsay, Jarrad, Grocke, Powell, Shattock, Cooper, Jarrad, Rugolo; Port - Poulton 3, Waterhouse, Harry, Ilett, Biacsi.