Match Report

Straight From The Sauce – Round 10 League & Reserves

2 minutes ago – June 14, 2026

Sam Jacobs reviews Round 10 League v South Adelaide

In challenging conditions at home at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval the boys put together a strong 4-quarter performance to beat South Adelaide by 37 points.

We knew a fast start was going to be important and we were able to put some early scoreboard pressure on and take a 7-point lead into the first change. Connor Ballenden and Pat Weckert being the goal scorers.

In the 2^nd quarter it was a real scrap with both teams competing hard around the ball and there being limited chances to kick goals, Zac Buck was able to find one on the goal line as we took a 16-point lead in the half time break.

We came out ready to go in the third quarter and played a bit more direct and were able to finish off some work. We put a decent enough lead to virtually break the game open to lead by 31 points at 3/4 time. Goal scorers in this term were Ballas and Weck for their 2nds and Zane Williams worked hard forward to kick one also.

In the last quarter both teams stayed committed to the contest, but I was really pleased we went on to win the final quarter by 6 points, Jack Cook and Ted Clohesy hitting the scoreboard to round out 2 strong games.

Best players on the day could have went to a lot, but Ted again, Jack Hayes and Rowey had a strong return to form, Jordy Lukac continued on his strong year and Will Pearce is building back into league footy nicely.

We now take our mid-season bye, give the players a chance to unwind with no state footy, get home or away to see some sun.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support and continue to support us through this challenging weather, it does mean a lot and helps us build into the back half of the season.

Sauce

Sam Jacobs – Eagles Senior Coach

Kieran Sankey reviews Round 10 Reserves vs South Adelaide

We produced a determined performance to hold on for a thrilling two-point victory over ladder leaders South Adelaide, winning 6.5 (41) to 5.9 (39) at Woodville Oval.

Played in difficult winter conditions following heavy overnight rain and continued showers during the first half, the match was always going to be a hard-fought contest. Ball movement was challenging, and the game quickly became a battle of territory, field position and contested football, with both sides forced into a high-pressure, stoppage-heavy contest.

While opportunities were limited, we felt that when we were able to move the ball, we did so in a way that challenged South Adelaide’s defence and created more effective scoring opportunities. The defining period of the match came early in the third quarter, where we were able to kick three goals in a 10-minute burst to establish a valuable buffer. In conditions like those, every score was critical, and that period ultimately proved to be the difference.

As expected from the competition leaders, South Adelaide fought their way back into the game and put us under significant pressure in the final quarter. Pleasingly, our group was able to stand up in a number of important moments and find a way to hold on when it mattered most.

What was particularly pleasing was our ability to lift our level of competitiveness and match one of the benchmark teams in the competition. In traditional wet-weather football, games are often decided by small moments, and while we still made some mistakes, our consistency, decision-making and willingness to compete were at a level that gave us every chance to succeed.

Adam D’Aloia was outstanding throughout the day. His strength around the contest was perfectly suited to the conditions, and he led from the front with his competitiveness and work rate. Jordan Tilbrook also played a critical role, producing an excellent defensive performance on Eamon Wilkinson and limiting the influence of one of South Adelaide’s most dangerous players.

After a tough and demanding contest, the bye comes at a good time for the group. It provides an opportunity to reset and refresh before attacking the second half of the season. With some positive momentum from recent weeks, we are hopeful these performances can act as a springboard for a strong finish to the year.

Go Eagles!!!

Kieran Sankey – Eagles Development Coach