Australian Football

Match Report

In the final match of Round 17, the gates of Thebarton Oval were thrown open again to the Eagles as they hosted the Bloods. West Adelaide’s long re-building phase would no doubt frustrate even the hardiest of Bloods supporters, five losses in a row and no end in sight. The Eagles situation is less desperate, but last week, they were only four points away from outright fifth spot and a loss to the team holding that spot -- North Adelaide -- put them further away from that goal. 

The first half was riddled with inaccuracy on goal, the Bloods were on top at the end of the first term by a single goal after kicking 2.5 to the Eagles’ 1.5. The Eagles hit back in the second term, they scored 4.4 to Westies’ 1.2 for a half-time gap of 14 points. When play resumed, the teams would remain just 14 points apart at three quarter-time after both sides kicked 3.1. But with barely enough fit personnel to see out the game and the bench already used up, the Bloods were too tired to keep pace with the Eagles in the final term. The Eagles finished the game with a 6.3 to 2.4 last quarter to win by 37 points and keep up their top five aspirations. 

Luke Jarrad was named best for the Eagles, while West Adelaide loyalist David Piasente was named best afield for the red and black.