SANFL 2006 ROUND 23:
STURT v WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS
30 minutes denies Squire a fitting
tribute
By ROB BIDMEADE
THE inability of Sturt to play four consistent quarters again proved
costly at Unley Oval last Sunday in the final minor round of a disappointing
season for the Double Blues.
In a tribute game for dual Magarey Medallist
Damian Squire, who was forced to retire because of a persistent neck injury,
Sturt battled hard for three quarters.
But the Double Blues were over-run in the final quarter with the Eagles
scoring eight goals to one, to win by 66 points and clinch the minor
premiership.
The Eagles used their psychological ascendancy and impressive record
against the Double Blues to score their 11th consecutive victory against Sturt.
Their overall record is now 44 wins and nine losses and Sturt has not
beaten the Eagles since round 14 of 2003 at Unley Oval.
At least Sturt escaped the wooden spoon because West lost to Central on
Sunday to claim the dubious honour.
The Double Blues finished the season with just three wins and 17 losses
in one of their worst seasons since the dark days of the 1990s.
Against the Eagles after Squire had tossed the coin at the start of the
game, Sturt began well and looked set for a big day when it led by 13 points at
the first change.
But the Double Blues were held to only one goal in the second quarter
while the Eagles scored five goals to lead by 10 points at the long break.
Sturt kicked three goals to five from the Eagles and trailed by 20
points at last change, with still a slim chance of victory if everything went
right in the final term.
But as has happened so many times this season with one dismal quarter,
the Double Blues' game fell apart in the final term as the Eagles poured on
eight goals to one, to score a comfortable victory.
Sturt's best included veteran ruckman Simon Feast, who played one of
his best for the season with many telling marks around the ground.
Also forward Brant Chambers battled hard to score five goals to take
his tally to 69 for the season to finish second in the race for the Ken Farmer
Medal. This honour was won by Mark Passador of the
Eagles, who kicked five goals yesterday to bring his total to 74.
Port rookie Tom Rischbieth, 19, who has been
in and out of the Sturt league side in recent weeks showed his undoubted
promise.
Others to shine for Sturt included profilic
possession winner Jade Sheedy, who did a lot of good
work across half back and fellow defender Michael Coad.
Tom Hurley, 18, continued to impress and did not harm his chances of being
picked in the AFL draft.
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.