Straight From The Sauce – Round 3 League & Reserves

It was a strong showing from the boys on Good Friday vs West Adelaide. We started the game out pretty well, Jay Watson scoring a nice goal on the run from 50m after we transitioned the ball from defence to get us under way.

West Adelaide worked their way back into the game scoring the next two goals, but we were able to get the lead back heading into the quarter time break with goals to Mutch, McKay, Hann and Ballenden.

Through the next 2 quarters I was really happy with how we defended the game. We were able to own possession, and our defence did a good job in stopping West Adelaide’s ball movement. We were able to kick 7.9 to 2.2 in these two quarters, it would have been nice to convert a few more but we were playing how we wanted too.

In the last quarter we started it well kicking the first 2 goals and extending our lead to around 60 points before West Adelaide fought back to kick the last 4 goals of the game and bring the margin back to 38 points at the final siren. It would have been good to finish the game strongly as % will be important, but the conditions were pretty hot for the players and we had a couple sit most of the last quarter out to manage minor niggles.

Better players on the day were Zane Williams, 25 touches @ 84% kicking efficiency and 11 score involvements, Zane was able to spend some more time in the midfield and he showed how dangerous he can be. In the back half, the 2 Max’s performed well, Litster having his best game in recent time with 23 touches, 3 intercept marks and 2 spoils, Beattie ran well off half back with 24 touches, 6 rebound 50s and kicking the ball at 86%. Mutchy carried on his great start to the year, going head to head with Sam Frost in a fun battle to watch, Mutchy had 29, 3 clearances, 8 inside 50s and 9 score involvements. James Rowe (28 and 1.1), Kade Herbert (18 and 8 tackles) and Connor Ballenden (18, 3.3 and 12 score involvements) were also strong contributors on the day.

We sit at 2-1 with the in-form Crows this Sunday at Maughan Thiem KIA Oval, and really keen to test ourselves to see where we are at.

Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday.

Sauce

Sam Jacobs – Eagles Senior Coach

A strong 4 quarter performance ended up in an 87-point victory.

In the first quarter whilst we gave up more inside 50s then we would have liked, we were able to defend them well and give our forwards enough to chance to convert, we kicked 4.4 to 2.1 despite losing the inside 50s 12 to 10.

The 2^nd quarter was a lot closer with Westies evening up most of the key stats, we were able to start winning the field position battle and although we didn’t convert it on the scoreboard, we were set up well defensively behind the ball, winning the quarter by 8 points.

In the second half of the game, we were really proud of the boys as we took total control of the game. We felt in the second quarter we were starting to get on top of them and for the whole of the second half we converted it into scores. We won the second half 13.6 to 3.2, also winning the possession count by 55, inside 50s by 10, this was mainly due to winning the footy at the contest.

Better players on the day were Adam D’Aloia, and credit to him after coming down from the league side, AD had 35 touches, 12 clearances and 10 score involvements. His midfield assistant’s were good too with Blake Hansen (29 touches and a goal), Will Neumann (25, 10 score involvements), Nathan Barkla (21, 8 score involvements). Noah Angove in defence has his best game of the year with 24 and a kicking efficiency of 94%.

On Friday we are fortunate enough to play on Anzac Day in the morning vs Central District. We look forward to this opportunity.

Shane Hancock – Eagles Development Coach