Print this pageWOODVILLE-West Torrens - inspired by skipper Mark McKenzie - came from five goals down to score a remarkable victory over Sturt at Thebarton Oval Saturday.
With his Eagles scoreless and falling 32 points behind into time-on of the first term, McKenzie knew someone had to stand up and be counted.
After starting at half-back, he moved into the centre square and, with the help of senior team-mates Luke Powell and Leigh Treeby, was the catalyst for his team's devastating eight-goal second term.
In the space of 40 minutes, the Eagles wearing the West Torrens famous sash guernsey of the 1980s - had suddenly transformed their alarming deficit into a 13-point lead by half-time.
In the end, they won by 35 points in what coach Ron Fuller described as a ``character-building performance''.
``The thing that was pleasing was that we just stuck to our task,'' he said.
``To come from five goals down and then to win it by five was a very good result.''
McKenzie's eight disposals in the second stanza were extremely damaging as he also slotted through two timely goals.
It was enough to make Sturt coach Rick Macgowan sit up and take notice.
``McKenzie and Treeby were just so clean,'' he said.
``It didn't matter if they were in close or out in the open, they just took it first grab and used it so well. They really showed us up.''
The effectiveness of McKenzie, Treeby and workhorse Powell brought the dangerous forward line pair of Mark Passador (6.1) and Craig Fitzgerald (4.2) into the game, the pair kicking the opening two goals of the second half to place the early premiership favourite under immense pressure.
With Adam Grocke prominent across half-forward and Brad Dabrowski working hard in the ruck, the Eagles marched on to their 14th consecutive win against Sturt, which last tasted victory against Ron Fuller's men in July 2003. In fact, the Eagles' dominance over the Double Blues is such that they hold 37-9 overall win-loss record since their merger in 1991.
Sturt pair Tristan Gum and Greg Bentley worked hard through half-forward and the midfield for the visitors while wingman Charlie Sharples and Daniel Wicks weren't disgraced. But the lack of impact from several senior players meant Andrew Whiteman didn't receive the victory he deserved in his 150th match.
Eagles 2.0 10.4 15.6 18.9 (117)
Sturt 5.2 8.3 8.7 12.10 (82)
BEST - Eagles: McKenzie, Powell, Treeby, Salter, Passador, Grocke, Dabrowski, Fitzgerald, Schwarze.Sturt: Gum, Bentley, Sharples, Sheedy, Wicks.
SCORERS - Eagles: Passador 6.1, Fitzgerald 4.2, Salter 3.0, McKenzie, Grocke 2.0, Treeby 1.1, Daveron, Cicolella, Hicks, Dabrowski, Jarrad 0.1.Sturt: Perrie 4.0, Chambers 3.3, Wicks 3.0, Sharples 1.1, Gum 1.0, Nelson, Evans, Bentley, Sheedy 0.1, rushed 0.2.
INJURIES - Eagles: Salter (cut arm), Jacky (Crows) replaced by P. Stewart (Power).Sturt: Sharples (leg cramp).
UMPIRES - T. Dey, C. Bowen, R. Williams.
CROWD - 2788 at Thebarton Oval.
Courtesy of AdelaideNow
Story by Zac Milbank