The Blackwood Football Club new era started with a tough 70 point loss against the Hahndorf Football Club at Blackwood Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking post-match, coach Scott Prebble said it was a game of two halves. “We were able to control a lot of ball in the first half playing the method we wanted to, but we didn’t make the most of opportunities going forward.”

“Hahndorf are a good side and their experience showed in the last quarter kicking seven goals to one. We will learn a lot from the game today and use that to grow and develop across the coming weeks.”

Taking the reins of the Men’s A Grade side for the first time, coach Scott Prebble named six players pull on the red and green for the first time in the A Grade with Lachlan Bahnisch, Caleb Dearman, Oscar Hodge, Alex Scott, Eduard Van Den Berg and Sam Venning debuting for the club.

Kicking with the aid of a strong breeze in the first quarter, the Woods controlled much of the play in their forward half. Some resolute defending from experienced Magpie players Kyle Cheney and Matt Jaensch saw the Woods unable to register a major despite a significant number of entries into the forward 50. The visitors were able to register the only major of the term with returning player Luke Roberts able to snap truly much to the delight of the travelling Hahndorf fans.

At quarter time the Woods trailed by seven points with new coach Prebble urging the Woods to continue to maintain pressure at the opposition, continue to be persistent with the game style and start to convert truly going forward. Listening to the words of advice, the Woods kicked the opening three majors of the term with start forward Joel Aish kicking straight from a set shot. When recruit Sam Venning found Aish out the back on a fast play, the Woods hit the lead much to the delight of the large home crowd in attendance. From the next centre bounce, the Woods pushed the ball forward with inside midfielder Daniel Benson finding space from 40 metres out to kick the Woods third major in quick succession. Hahndorf crawled their way back into the match with three late majors to take a 10-point lead into the major break.

Going against the breeze in the third term, the visiting Magpies stepping on the accelerator kicking 19 points to one for the term with Luke Roberts, Sam Williams and Jared Petrenko all kicking majors. Despite the lack of goals in the third term, the Woods were still in the game and matching it with the reigning premiers. When Evan Johnson kicked the opening goal of the third quarter, the Woods were back to within striking distance. However as good sides do, Hahndorf settled kicking the final seven goals of the match to eventually run out 70-point winners at the final siren.