RD 14 Sturt def West review

[MightyEagles]

Sturt 22.9.141

def

West 7.3.45


Sturt Goal Kickers: Chambers 7, Herring 4, Crane, Reilly, Coad 2, Plant, Evans, Kurtze, Johncock, Vassal 1
West Goal Kickers: Willets, Cupido 2, Birss, Fisher, Caruso1

Sturt Best Players: McGlone, Reilly, Sheedy, Chambers, Coad, Herring.
West Best Players: Birss, Pettigrew, Cupido, Morris, Fisher, Ferguson.


Reserves Score

Sturt 12.7.79
West 10.5.65

[wycbloods]

we just cant get near sturt unfortunately. We are still a long way off being a top5 side.

[CUTTERMAN]

Was worried about this game, thought West might've given us a real run today. Well done Blues.
How many times has Chambers kicked 7 goals? Gotta be his lucky number.

[am Bays]

How many goals did Bennett's opponent running off him set up???

[wycbloods]

How many goals did Bennett's opponent running off him set up???

not sure but it was the difference

[Mr66]

We are still a long way off being a top5 side.

But you are now way off from being a bottom two side.

[wycbloods]

We are still a long way off being a top5 side.

But you are now way off from being a bottom two side.

yep that has been the pleasing thing of this season.

[harley d]

Pretty god effort by the looks of it from Sturt. Gave West a reality check I think. I think West would have given themselves a chance in this game but obviously no where near it.

[locky801]

Thought it would have been alot closer, reality check for Westies in a sense but the coach has been saying for weeks they are improving but not yet a final 5 side, dont think there is much Sturt could take out of today

[purch]

...dont think there is much Sturt could take out of today

Two points and % sounds good to me.

[harley d]

Thought it would have been alot closer, reality check for Westies in a sense but the coach has been saying for weeks they are improving but not yet a final 5 side, dont think there is much Sturt could take out of today

How can you not take something out of a 96 point win ?

[GWW]

I would have thought they would have taken quite a bit from a return to form!!

[Bluedemon]

to get a win after the last 2 losses is what sturt needed, keeps us in the top 3.

[NFC]

And we lost to West?

[Jimmy]

good to be back in the W column.

well done blues. % and 2 points is something to take from this win...that is pretty obvious to see for anyone I would have thought.

[Big Phil]

FINAL SCORES:

STURT: 5.1 12.2 15.5 22.9 = 141
WEST: 2.1 4.2 7.3 7.4 = 45



RESULT: Sturt by 96 points



GOAL KICKERS:

STURT: B.Chambers 7.3, R.Herring 4.1, B.Reilly 2.1, L.Crane, M.Coad 2.0, C.Evans, A.Kurtze, B.Vassal, J.Johncock, J.Plant 1.0, S.McGlone 0.1, Rushed 0.3

WEST: R.Willits 2.1, D.Cupido, F.Caruso, S.Birss, B.Fisher 1.0, Rushed 0.2




BETTER PLAYERS:

STURT: S.McGlone, B.Reilly, B.Chambers, J.Sheedy, L.Crane, M.Coad, B.Martin, R.Herring, J.Johncock, C.Evans, A.Kurtze

WEST: S.Morris, S.Birss, B.Fisher, M.Lobbe, R.Ferguson, M.Pettigrew




INJURIES:

STURT: T.Gum (general soreness) replaced in selected side by M.Payne, M.Bratton (general soreness) replaced in selected side by B.Vassal, J.Bode (calf)

WEST: Nil




REPORTS: D.Cupido (West) for striking M.Coad (Sturt)




CROWD: 2,265 @ Waikerie Oval


Leading into this game, many tipsters gave West Adelaide a real chance of winning. Taking into account the inconsistent form of the Double Blues prior to last weeks bye and then the improving signs shown by the Bloods in recent weeks, West had every reason to think they would be a chance to win and impress the locals. Sadly for the Riverland faithful and Andy Collins, today’s performance shows Westies still have a long way to go. Sturt absolutely dominated every aspect of the game and showed that when they are switched on, are an exciting team to watch.

From the outset, the Double Blues looked realy seitched on and after both sides took 5 minutes to settle in to the unusual surroundings, Sturt ran rampant and did as they pleased for the rest of the contest. Despite losing two quality players before the bounce in Bratton and Gum, Luke Norman had his side playing a brand of football that gave them complete control of the game and had the result beyond any doubt by half time with a comfy 54 point lead. The second half action was no prettier for Bloods fans and in the end, it was extremely close to being a three figured final margin and was a true reflection of the dominance from the side in light blue.

Brant Chambers continued his dominant goal-kicking ways finishing the day with 7 majors, including a couple of superb snap shots, while Ryan Herring stepped up across half forward to chime in with 4 goals. Former Panther Scott McGlone was superb from half back, providing constant drive into the Double Blues attack, as well as showing supreme class and composure when in possession. Luke Crane showed his Magarey Medal winning form with some blistering pace and superb finishing of skills in front of the big sticks.

Crows listed player Brent Reilly was extremely busy winning numerous possessions by working hard into space, using the ball superbly and attributing on the scoreboard with a couple of goals. Jeremy Johncock presented well across half forward all day while the usual suspects of Nick Wark, Pat Fittock, Dane Avery and Michael Coad led the Double Blues defence with great confidence and cohesion. Coad showed his flexibility late in the game to shift forward and bob up with two quality goals while Angus Kurtze continued his great form in the ruck, probably just having the better of his improving opponent in Matthew Lobbe.

For the Bloods, there were far too many passengers and a reliance placed upon those who have usually been getting the job done in recent weeks. The problem was, that the inform likes of Bronik Davies, James Ezard, Ryan Willits and David Piasente probably had one of their quieter games for the year and the gap to the next tier of players was too great for the Bloods. Shane Birss played probably his best game for the club since joining West from the AFL and battling his much publicised personal issues with depression.

Michael Pettigrew came into the Bloods outfit for the first time in a few years after being demoted by the Power and showed why is an AFL listed player, stepping up to the challenge of taking Sturt spearhead Brant Chambers after the Ken Farmer medallist completely dominated his previous opponent, Waikerie native Wade Champion. Youngster Steve Morris showed great attack on the ball all day and never gave up, while Ben Fisher tried hard all day and was amongst the Bloods better players.

Damien Cupido played the majority of the game in attack and finished with 2 massive goals from Outside 50 while skipper Ryan Ferguson battled manfully in defence all day. Local product Ryan Bennett, brought into the Bloods side specifically for this Riverland encounter, struggled to adjust to the pace of league football but didn’t have too many opportunities to get into the game with the fluency in which Sturt carried the ball out of defence. Luke Norman would be pleased by a dominating performace that gets the Double Blues season back on track while Andy Collins will realise the task gets no easier now as his side backs up next week against the Doggies at home.

[smithy]

Nice write-up Big Phil.
Is Bode's injury definitely a calf ?
I've read he'd done a knee.

[mal]

DRAW
WA 7-3 CHAMBO 7-3

[smithy]

DRAW
WA 7-3 CHAMBO 7-3

Westies 7-4 MAL.

[Big Phil]

Nice write-up Big Phil.
Is Bode's injury definitely a calf ?
I've read he'd done a knee.

Thanks for that Smithy...

Wasn't able to get any confirmation from Sturt on either Bode or the late withdrawals in Gum and Bratton. Based on seeing Bode hobble out onto the ground after the game with what looked like the calf (fairly high up the back of the leg - could have been low behind the knee ?) and Luke Norman teeling me pre-game the 2 lads who pulled out were just "a bit sore" is the reason I posted this.