1st Semi Final - Sturt vs Eagles @ Football Park

[dedja]

Sturt will win if Luke Norman refrains from telling everyone they have the Eagles on toast during the game.

[eaglehaslanded]

I think there maybe an upset on the horizon.

You think Sturt will get up???

No of course I'm thinking the Eagles can win - they will still be ranked underdogs despite any ins or outs for both sides.

[CUTTERMAN]

Wasn't really directed to you Bayman, just bays supporters in general, wasn't really being all that serious either.

[csbowes]

I think there maybe an upset on the horizon.

You think Sturt will get up???

No of course I'm thinking the Eagles can win - they will still be ranked underdogs despite any ins or outs for both sides.

Really? I actually think the Eagles are favourite... we should do a straw poll on here...

[FlyingHigh]

I think there maybe an upset on the horizon.

You think Sturt will get up???

No of course I'm thinking the Eagles can win - they will still be ranked underdogs despite any ins or outs for both sides.

Really? I actually think the Eagles are favourite... we should do a straw poll on here...

Going into the finals, I couldn't realistically see us knocking off any of the top three, however would have been very disappointed if we couldn't have beaten North, as I felt we were better than them.
If these stories about Sturts' injuries are valid, then I would EXPECT my team to win again. People say injuries are no excuse, but I'm gonna turn that around and say there is NO EXCUSE for my team to not beat an injury-depleted Sturt (unless Powell, Treeby, McKenzie, Cica all jag hammies on Thursday night).

[Aerie]

Passador ruled out with a groin injury. Shirley a definite in.

Will be very interesting at selection.

I think the Eagles have to go with the same 3 tall forward structure they've used all season. Whilst it would be nice to think we could play a Symmons or push Treeby forward, if Grocke or Salter are well held we will need that extra marking option up forward. Westbrook has been there for the majority of the year but has fallen out of favour and hasn't had a chance to impress in the reserves in the last 2 weeks. Hill has also been missing for the latter part of the year, but his bigger body might best replace Passador.

Having Hier out of the side means we had to use McKenzie or Broadbent back for long periods of the game. This really takes away from our midfield and in particular ball ups where McKenzie is so good at reading the taps. Do we bring back Hier to play Full Back?

My team would be:

F: Hill Salter Goldsworthy
HF: Treeby Grocke Polec
C: Jarrad Cicolella Allmond
HB: Rimington McGregor McKenzie
FB: Broadbent Stewart Petrenko
R: Dabrowski Shirley Fairclough
I: Miles Daniel Powell

In: Hill, Shirley
Out: Passador (inj), Corbett (very unlucky)

[FlyingHigh]

Passador ruled out with a groin injury. Shirley a definite in.

Will be very interesting at selection.

I think the Eagles have to go with the same 3 tall forward structure they've used all season. Whilst it would be nice to think we could play a Symmons or push Treeby forward, if Grocke or Salter are well held we will need that extra marking option up forward. Westbrook has been there for the majority of the year but has fallen out of favour and hasn't had a chance to impress in the reserves in the last 2 weeks. Hill has also been missing for the latter part of the year, but his bigger body might best replace Passador.

Having Hier out of the side means we had to use McKenzie or Broadbent back for long periods of the game. This really takes away from our midfield and in particular ball ups where McKenzie is so good at reading the taps. Do we bring back Hier to play Full Back?

My team would be:

F: Hill Salter Goldsworthy
HF: Treeby Grocke Polec
C: Jarrad Cicolella Allmond
HB: Rimington McGregor McKenzie
FB: Broadbent Stewart Petrenko
R: Dabrowski Shirley Fairclough
I: Miles Daniel Powell

In: Hill, Shirley
Out: Passador (inj), Corbett (very unlucky)

Think Hill has potential but wouldn't play him Saturday - hasn't been playing league, and would have had at least three weeks off.
Definitely Hier in with three of Thurstans, Herring, Coad and Johncock always likely to be up forward. I'd start Cica in forward pocket, McKenzie in centre and Stewart on HBF.

[Big Phil]

Another good Messenger article online...

Eagles plan for Sturt - with and without Brant Chambers



Leigh Treeby celebrates the weekend win over
North Adelaide with his teammates at AAMi Stadium.


ON their previous meetings this year, the Eagles clash with Sturt in the first semi-final this weekend seems to be a mis-match.

The clubs have met twice this season, with the Double Blues recording 67 and 56 point victories.

But there will be one huge difference when the two sides go head-to-head at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Sturt is expected to be without full forward Brant Chambers.

Chambers has been the difference between the two sides this season, kicking a career-best 11 goals in Round Seven and another seven in Round 15.

But he is expected to miss at least another week after injuring his knee in Sturt’s final minor round game against Port.

``We’ll wait and see if he’s out,’’ Eagles coach Ron Fuller said.

``Until we actually get the team sheet half an hour before the game you never know. We’ll plan for him playing and plan for him not playing.’’

Regardless of whether Chambers plays, Fuller said his side needed to replicate Central District’s performance in the qualifying final and shut down Sturt’s midfield.

``Sturt has touched us up twice this year. Central didn’t allow them to play their normal game. It’s up to us to be right on our defensive game.’’

Fuller will make at least one change to his side this week.

Mark Passador is out with a groin injury, which appears to have ended his career.

``It looks like it’s a three week injury,’’ Fuller said.

``He might come in to consideration if we make the grand final.’’

But the Eagles will be boosted by the return of Robert Shirley, who is available following the Adelaide Crows elimination from the AFL finals.

``He missed a Crows commitment yesterday to come to our recovery session, which just goes to show what kind of character he is.

``It’s fantastic to have him available.’’

[Rucciangelo]

Wasn't really directed to you Bayman, just bays supporters in general, wasn't really being all that serious either.

[eaglehaslanded]

Passador ruled out with a groin injury.

Where are you getting your info regarding Passador as this isn't noted on either wwtfc.com.au or sanfl.com.au

[eaglehaslanded]

Passador ruled out with a groin injury.

Where are you getting your info regarding Passador as this isn't noted on either wwtfc.com.au or sanfl.com.au

Having said that I would be omitting him this week in any case. Is well and truly passed it at league level and doesn't provide any value for us anymore.

[Rucciangelo]

Big Phil obviously has to stop posting such long stories...some here just don't have the attention span to get through them.

[ferret]

Highly unlikely Petrenko will play. Hier, S. Hill or both must be in the 21.

[MightyEagles]

Highly unlikely Petrenko will play. Hier, S. Hill or both must be in the 21.

Why is Petrenko unlikely to play? do you know something that we don't, are you involved with the Eagles or something.

[Bluedemon]

It will be a very close game, last score will win. Sturt will struggle with out a recognised full forward. I am hoping that Sturt do win though.

[bayman]

Wasn't really directed to you Bayman, just bays supporters in general, wasn't really being all that serious either.

fair enough

[Columbo]

Highly unlikely Petrenko will play. Hier, S. Hill or both must be in the 21.

Why is Petrenko unlikely to play? do you know something that we don't, are you involved with the Eagles or something.

He looked to be lacking his usual pace on Sunday which would point to something not being right with him...think Ferret may be on the money.

[Dirko]

I actually think the Eagles may get the win here. Will be interested to see how Sturt rebound after the loss to Central, and by quarter time there will be a clear indication on where the game is heading....

Chambers if out is a huge loss, as the Eagles struggle to contain him.

Eagles by 21 points.

[ferret]

Petrenko has been playing under duress for the last month, was to have x-rays on Monday. The Crows might have a say in his availability.

[spell_check]

All the reasons given to say that we may win are vaild points. However I really think they are the same as giving valid points in a team chasing 500 to win on days four and five - just to be optimistic, but you know it won't happen.