After a weekend off with the interleague action, the Hills Football League returns this weekend with Round 9 of the season. The round sees the third placed Woods (6-2) up against the fifth placed Demons (4-4) in a key battle. Getting the chocolates in Round 2, the Demons will come into the match looking to continue their good form having defeated the Barkeroos in Round 8. Getting to six-and-two after eight rounds, the Woods will be re-engergised after taking a weeks rest.
Game details
Who – Blackwood vs Echunga
When – Saturday, 16 June
Where – U-Install-It Kitchens Oval
Times – U14s (8.45am), U16 (9.55am), U18 (11.10am), Bs (12.50pm), As (2.30pm)
U-Install-It Kitchens Oval
The opponent
Season 2018 has seen the Echunga Football Club record four wins from the opening eight matches. The victories have all come at home with wins in Round 2 against the Woods, Round 3 against the Devils, Round 7 against Lobethal and Round 8 against Mt Barker. From the opening eight matches, the Demons have the third best attack in the competition averaging 80.4 points but have the fifth best defence averaging 70.1 points against. This compares to the Woods who average 71.8 points for and 57.6 points against.
The Demons have used a total of 35 players (most in competition) with 25.7% (9) having played every match. This compares to the Woods who have used 33 players with 27.3% (9) having played every match. The competition average across the same period is 35.1% (or 11 players) playing every game.
Of the eight matches played, a total of 14 different players have featured in the best players (40.0%) for the Demons. Luke Carey and Sam Grave have featured in the best players the most times (62.5% or 5 times). Of the 94 goals kicked by the Demons, Joel Aish has kicked 37.23% of them (35 goals). This is the highest percentage of leading goal kickers from any club with the next closest being Jake Adcock from Onkaparinga Valley (33.3%). This compares to Blackwood where the leading goal kicker (Phil Hopton- 11 goals) has kicked 13.6% of the 81 goals the Woods have kicked.
Since their historic premiership in 2014 in their first season in the Division One competition, the Demons have won 41.7% of minor round matches played (25 games of 60 games). From these 60 matches they have an average differential of -20.2 which is made up of 70.7 points for and 90.9 points against. This compares to the Woods which have won 63.3% of games (38 matches) with the second best differential (+17.5) averaging 79.0 points for and 61.5 points against. The best side in the competition across this period is Hahndorf with a differential of +45.2.
Historically vs Echunga
Since the Demons moved the Division One competition in 2014, the clubs have played on 10 occasions with the Woods winning four times (40.0%). The Woods have won by an average of 46.5 points in these four victories with the biggest occurring in 2016 (107 points). From the ten matches played between the clubs, Blackwood has scored 119 goals at 54.6% accuracy whilst the Demons have scored 110 goals at 51.9% accuracy.
Last 4 matches v Echunga @ U-Install-It Kitchens Oval
2017 – Blackwood 17.14 (116) defeated Echunga 12.10 (82)
2016 – Blackwood 23.17 (155) defeated Echunga 6.12 (48)
2015 – Blackwood 12.8 (81) defeated by Echunga 17.4 (106)
2014 – Blackwood 5.5 (35) defeated by Echunga 8.9 (57)
Key Focus Area
In the Round 2 match up between the sides, the Woods conceded the first four goals of the match inside the opening 10 minutes of the game. The Woods will be out to ensure this does not happen against and will look to get away to a quick start. So far in 2018, the Woods have won five of eight opening terms (62.5%) averaging 17.6 points for and 11.8 points against. This compares to the Demons who have also won 62.5% of opening quarters in 2018 scoring 20.0 points whilst conceding 17.6 points.
Other HFL matches
The other HFL matches poise to be quality battles with all sides currently placed within the top five:
B Grade – Fourth v Sixth on the ladder, the Woods will be looking to secure the victory after getting beaten by 32 points. It was the first time the Woods had been beaten by the Demons in the B Grade in any match since the Demons moved to Division One in 2014. Since that game the Woods have a record of (4 and 2) whilst the Demons have a (1 and 5) record with the Woods having a differential of +1.8 whilst the Demons have a differential of -23.9.
Under 18s – Second v Seventh, this game was a close encounter in Round 2 with the Woods claiming a 15 point victory after kicking four unanswered goals in the last quarter. This game will be determined on the side which can take their opportunities in front of goal with the Woods having the second best forward line scoring 65.4 points on average compared to the Demons who have scored 47.6 points on average across the season.
Under 16s – Second v Eight. The Woods got the victory in Round 2 defeating the Demons by 118 points. Coach Waldron will be looking to continue the solid run of form for his side which currently has a differential of +58.6.
Under 14s – Fourth v Eighth. In round 2 the Woods got the victory by 93 points kicking 14 goals to one. The Woods have the fourth best differential in the competition (+17.8) and will be looking to improve their defence which is the fourth best in the competition (24.8 points per match) with the top three sides average 6.9, 14.6 and 17.5 points against per match.
See you at the football #beapartofthemarch
