SANFL 2006 ROUND 16: GLENELG v WEST ADELAIDE

 

Falling West turns to youth

 

By JAI BEDNALL

 

WEST Adelaide's season from hell continued last Saturday with the Bloods on the end of an 85-point thrashing at the hands of Glenelg.

The final margin was particularly disappointing considering the application West had shown for the majority of the match.

With big guns Scott Welsh, Ben Haynes and Jason Porplyzia all firing early, West raced out to an early three-goal lead.

While Glenelg responded and gradually took control of the match, the Bloods were down by just three goals at three quarter time and still in the hunt.

However the side barely raised a hand in protest as Glenelg completely dominated the final term.

The Bloods conceded 11.3 to 0.2 in an effort coach Wayne Weidemann described as “total capitulation”.

“They got on top of us and the scoreboard pressure hurt us a fair bit,” he said.

“I think it broke us mentally and made us look pretty dishevelled and slow.

“But I think you get that when you're getting hammered.”

Porplyzia did his chances of a recall to the Crows no harm with 30 possessions and three goals whileRoss Glover and Charles Slattery were also serviceable.

The club blooded another youngster in Caolan Buckley who finished with 11 possessions and also kicked a goal after taking a strong mark.

West faces the two best sides in the competition in the next fortnight – the Eagles at Woodville and then North at home.

Weidemann said the club was now looking toward next season.

“We know the season's shot basically in terms of finals and all that stuff,” he said.

“We know where our deficiencies are.

“We want to have a look at a few kids and hopefully build a side around them next year.”

 

SCORES: Glenelg 3.4 10.7 16.9 28.12 (180) defeated West Adelaide 6.2 9.6 14.9 14.11 (95).

 

BEST: Glenelg – McConnell, Douglas, Backwell, Mules, Mitchell; West – Porplyzia, Glover, C. Slattery, Haynes, Dragicevic.

 

GOALS: Glenelg – McConnell 7, Douglas, Duldig 4, Graham, Kirk, Rogers, Ruwoldt, Mules 2, Kirkby, Backwell, Moore; West – Welsh, Porplyzia 3, Haynes 2, Jericho, Buckley, Donaldson, O'Sullivan, Dragicevic, Hollands.