A seven goal final quarter helped Blackwood recorded its sixth victory of Season 2019, downing the Echunga Demons by 27 points in Round 12 of the Mortgage Choice Hills Football League, Speaking in the rooms after the match, coach Ryan Anderson stated it was probably the best quarter he had seen the team play. “We played some outstanding periods of football throughout the match. It was a great to put it all together in the final quarter and run over the top of them.”

The Woods made three changes to the side from the previous weekend with Anderson, Jacob Broad and Josh Taylor coming into the side. Kicking against the breeze in the opening term, Blackwood make a great start kicking three opening quarter goals. The first came through Matt Tuck who was able to get out the back of the contest on the outer side and run the ball into an open goal. When Jak Baldissera repeated the effort on the near side  and Tuck kicked his second for the term, the Woods had already kicked as many goals as the previous weekend in the opening term.

Anderson stated the Woods had played a good opening term but had to continue to bring the effort in the second. “We broguht some good attack at the ball and the opposition in that term, we must continue to bring that sustained effort in this quarter.” LIke the first quarter, the team which was kicking against the breeze kicked more goals in the term. The Demons began to get ontop around the midfield which allowed them to have repeat entries inside the forward 50. With Blackwood losing key defender Matt Waldron to a leg injury, Brad Jones was moved onto Joel Aish. The home side kicked three majors in the term through Chad O’Sullivan, Dylan Ribbons and Joel Aish to turn the quarter time deficit into a lead at the main break. The Woods were able to score one goal in the term through Ben Macreadie who was looming dangerous up forward.

The third term was going to be a critical one in determining the outcome of the match. Blackwood got the first goal of the term through Matt Tuck to draw the margin back level. THe Demons then stepped on accelerator to extend the margin to three goals through #, Ribbons and Riley Williams,. Just on three quarter time, key Blackwood forward Phil Hopton received a free kick in the pocket. Snapping the ball across his boy after the siren, Blackwood drew the margin back to 15 points at the final change. Echunga were quiet displeased walking back to the huddle having through Hopton had played on whilst having his shot on goal.

Anderson urged his players to dig deep in the final term being down to only one fit player on the bench. With Lucas Herbert getting on top in the ruck contests the Woods were able to win the midfield in the final term and have repeated entries inside the forward 50. Having loomed large up forward all game, Ben Macreadie then lit the game up in the final quarter kicking four major to rip the heart out of the Demons. Receiving a free kick from a David Liston infringement, he kicked straight to close the margin closer. From the next forward entry, Macreadie took a contested mark against Demons defender Haydn Pocock much like the previous free against Liston and kicked straight. Two further goals to Macreadie, and further goals Baldissera, Bricknell and Hopton saw the Woods completely dominate the final term to run out 27 point winners when the final siren sounded.

Scott Bricknell was named best player for the Woods having numerous possessions across the half back line in the absence of fellow defender Kurt Thompson. Other players to feature in the better players were Jake Atkinson, Ben Macreadie, Liam McCarthy and Herbert as the victory pushed the Woods into fourth position on the ladder.

Final scoreboard

Blackwood 3.2 4.4 6.6 13.10 (88)

Echunga 2.1 5.3 8.7 9.7 (61)

Goal scorers – B Macreadie 5, M Tuck 3, J Baldissera 2, P Hopton 2, S Bricknell

Better players – S Bricknell, J Atkinson, B Macreadie, L McCarthy, L Herbert

Other HFL Results

B Grade – Blackwood 7.12 (54) defeated Echunga 5.5 (35)

Senior Colts – Blackwood 25.14 (164) defeated Echunga 1.1 (7)

C Grade – Blackwood 20.11 (131) defeated Milang 8.5 (53)

Junior Colts – Blackwood 5.4 (34) defeated by Mt Lofty 9.11 (65)

Mini Colts – Blackwood 10.14 (74) defeated Echunga 1.2 (8)

Open Womens – Blackwood 4.2 (26) defeated by Ironbank Cherry Gardens 4.7 (31)

Under 16 Girls – Blackwood 6.5 (41) defeated Onkaparinga Valley 1.1 (7)

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