Round 20 2010
From Snoutslouts
GLENELG is top-three quality; Woodville-West Torrens is not.
That was the reality at Woodville Oval today as the Tigers all but guaranteed a place in the second week of finals by over-running the disappointing Eagles by 33 points.
Matthew Bode booted three goals in a game-turning performance and Todd Grima kicked four as Glenelg bounced back from a scoreless opening quarter to honour captain Ben Mules in his 150th game with a win every bit as tough as the no-nonsense backman.
``We knew it was going to be a difficult game in terms of scoring into the wind, it was going to require a lot of discipline and being willing to grind it out, coach Mark Mickan said.
``We attacked it that way and in the end we were pretty happy with the way they did the `grind' factor.
The defining clash was a grind in every way. For most of the see-sawing contest the margin was less than a goal - but that closeness on the scoreboard until the final term was as far as the entertainment value went.
As far as visuals go, this was a stinker. The boggy centre wicket and persistent wind played a role but skill errors - especially from Eagles players, and especially in front of goal - delivered a scrappy game that belied the talent on show.
While Woodville-West Torrens sabotaged themselves by scoring a woeful 3.10 with the breeze in the first and third terms, Glenelg was as efficient as it needed to be.
With a five-point lead at the last change and the wind coming home the Tigers piled on 5.1 in the final quarter to the Eagles' 0.3.Grima, who had been well held early by Trent Hentschel, booted two in the last term to ice the result and set up two more to Bode and Ben Kane as Glenelg jumped two wins clear of third-placed Norwood.
A dampener came with the potential loss of Josh Willoughby for the finals campaign. The speedster looked to wrench his left knee in a tackle late in the third quarter. He hobbled from the ground but failed to return and was expected to undergo scans.
For the Eagles, it was one of those days.They led the hit-outs thanks to Craig Parry, who looked like he copped a knock to the ribs early, and won the clearances 27-20, but their disposal was reflected by their appalling conversion in front of goal.
The Eagles held the ball inside their attacking half for much of the opening term but failed to make the most of the scoring end.
Scott Welsh missed two set shots and Mark McKenzie and Jared Polec sprayed chances, and even the normally reliable boot of Luke Jarrad hit the behind post on the run from 30m.
The malaise finally ended in the 16th minute when Adam Grocke slotted the opening goal before a clever James Stewart snap just before quarter-time gave the Eagles a 16-point lead.
The Tigers responded with the wind at their backs in the second term. Josh Carr stole a goal and Kane Tenace snapped another from nowhere before a Ruory Kirkby mark and goal put Glenelg in front for the first time.
Polec slotted a blinder from the boundary, 50m out, to open the third quarter but that's where the joy ended for the Eagles.
``I thought we did enough to win the game, but at certain moments the Bays stepped it up and we couldn't go with them, coach Michael Godden said.
``That's weak footy - bad scoring is bad footy, so that's the message.
GLENELG 0.0 4.3 7.3 12.4 (76)
EAGLES 2.4 4.4 5.10 5.13 (43)
BEST:
Glenelg: Bode, Ruwoldt, B. Kane, Murphy, Panozzo, Carr, Mules.
Eagles: Powell, Jarrad, Cicolella, Parry, Lewis, Thompson.
GOALS:
Glenelg: Grima 4, Bode 3, B. Kane, Tenace, Carr, Ruwoldt, Kirkby.
Eagles: Polec, Grocke, Stewart, Day, Goldsworthy.
Injuries/reports: Glenelg: Willoughby (knee). Eagles: Smith (arm).
Umpires: Fila, Medlin, Crosby.
See also
1. 2010 - full season details
2. Video highlights of this match
