SANFL 2006 ROUND 23:
STURT v WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS
Eagles' double win
By ROB BIDMEADE
WOODVILLE West Torrens had two big reasons to celebrate after its 66-point
victory against Sturt at Unley Oval last Sunday.
Firstly, the victory - the 16th for the season with four losses in an
impressive record - allowed the Eagles to clinch the minor premiership (their
first since 2000) on percentage ahead of North and these teams are the
favourites for the flag.
This will give them a rest during the first week of the finals and they
will be primed for a big game in the second semi-final as they chase their
first premiership since 1993.
Secondly, Eagles forward Mark Passador kicked
five goals to clinch the Ken Farmer Medal as the league's leading goalkicker with 74 goals.
He finished five goals ahead of Sturt forward Brant Chambers, who also
kicked five goals last Sunday.
Passador is the first Eagles player to be
the leading goalkicker since 1991 when Scott Morphett
scored 99 goals.
Aged 27, Passador has kicked 205 goals in his
79 games for the Eagles and has been a handy player since being recruited from
VFL club Box Hill.
He was a former rookie with
“I'm obviously honoured to win the Ken Farmer Medal,” he said after the
game.
“However, it was not something that I set my sights on at the start of
the year, so it's a nice little bonus.
“As a group we set our goal of winning the minor premiership about two
months ago.
“With the finals being a very demanding contest the week off will be
good to help blokes freshen up.
“It also gives a chance to watch the qualifying final and have a good
look at our opposition.”
Passador described this season as his most
consistent since he joined the Eagles in 2003 and he planned to be at Woodville
again next year.
The week's rest will enable coach Ron Fuller
to manage his players to help overcome any niggling injuries.
Against Sturt, the Eagles started slowly but they dominated the game
after trailing by 13 points at the first change.
They scored 18 goals to five in the final three quarters to show their
dominance against the hapless Double Blues.
The Eagles kicked eight goals to one in the last quarter to record a
comfortable victory – their 11th consecutive win against Sturt.
Sunday's win against Sturt gave the Eagles a record of 44 wins and nine
losses against Sturt.
Best for the Eagles, which had a very even team effort, included
ruckman Paul Lindsay, who had an interesting battle with Simon Feast with both
players doing good things for their respective teams.
Not only did Lindsay do a good job in the centre square but he also was
effective around the ground and he scored three goals when moved into attack.
Others to impress for the Eagles were damaging wingman Leigh Treeby, defender Mark McKenzie, midfielder Matthew Cooper
(against his formar club), Passador
and Brodie Lomas.
From a Crows point of view, Ken McGregor was used at both ends of the
ground and he showed he needed the run at SANFL level and Bernie Vince was
hardly sighted.
With the Eagles having this week off, McGregor may be given a run with
the reserves to gain more match fitness.
Zak Hier, 18, is only his
second league game, showed he is a player of the future.
Experienced defenders Steven Hall and Brent Frewen
played for the reserves last Sunday to show the depth at Woodville West
Torrens.
SCORES: Woodville-West
BEST: Eagles – Lindsay, McKenzie, Treeby, Cooper, Jarrad, Passador, Lomas; Sturt – Feast, Rischbieth,
Sheedy, Chambers, Coad,
Wicks, Hurley.
GOALS: Eagles – Passador
5, Lindsay 3, McGregor, Rugolo, Shattock
2, Cooper, Fiacchi, Powell, Symmons,
Cicolella, Grock; Sturt – Chambers 5, McLeay 2, Feast,
Button.