The Blackwood Football Club wasn’t immune to heart break over the weekend, with the B-Grade and Junior Colts falling short of the ultimate prize suffering defeats in their 2017 Hills Football League Grand Finals. We recap the matches below.


B Grade

After finishing the minor rounds in top position, the B Grade made it through the Grand Final after recording a 30 victory over Onkaparinga Valley in the Preliminary Final. The side entered the game full of confidence after defeating the Magpies two out of three occasions throughout the season. With the wind blowing strongly in the first quarter the Woods starting kicking towards the scoreboard end of the venue. The breeze played a havoc on the skills of both sides with either able to register a major in the first period. When the quarter time siren sounded the Woods trailed 0.0.0 to 0.3.3.

The second quarter was much like the first stanza with neither able to really get their game perfect. Two goals were scored during the term unfortunately both were scored by Hahndorf. Blackwood had their chances throughout the quarter failing to register a major, kicking 3 behinds. When half time came out, Blackwood trailed by 13 points.

Blackwood coach Adam Pope attempted to fire his players up during the main break suggesting they had not put in all the hard work for nothing. These words appears to have an impact on the players in the premiership quarter with Blackwood having majority of the ball in their forward half. Ben Papps worked his way into the game during the quarter kicking two majors to help pull the margin back to 6 points at the final change.

The Woods started the quarter winning their fair share of the ball but were unable to capitalise on their chances. As the quarter ticked by the game got out of reach of the Woods as Hahndorf kicking the sealing goal of the match in the middle period of the term. A long range late goal to Bailey Badcoe gave the Woods a glimmer of hope but their just was simply not enough time as the Woods trailed by 9 points when the final siren sounded.

Sam Fotheringham was judged best player for the Woods with his numerous clearances around the midfield. Other players to receive acknowledgement were Paul Magarey, Nathan Dunn, Troy Edwards and Bailey Badcoe.


Junior Colts

Finishing the minor rounds undefeated the junior colts had a slip up in the second semi-final. After bouncing back in the Preliminary Final against Hahndorf the side went into the Grand Final confident they could beat the Mt Lofty side. Blackwood made an inaccurate start in the opening quarter kicking four behinds to 2.2.14 for the Devils.

Firing his players up at quarter time, coach Steve Jaffer urged his players to start working harder and the game would fall their way. Kicking 1.1 to 0.0 in the second quarter the Woods trailed by three points at the main break. In the premiership quarter the Woods made their biggest push of the match controlling the ball for long periods. With Mt Lofty defending well the Woods could only manage 1.3.9 for the quarter. Mt Lofty scored a major in the term to remain in front at the final change.

Unfortunately for the junior colts, Mt Lofty got on top in the later quarter coming home with a wet sail kicking 5 goals to 1 to run out 27 point winners. The best players for the Woods were Bailey Black, Josh Cock, Blake Higgins, Henry Smith and Noah Brown.


Summary

Whilst it was a bitterly disappointing result for both the B Grade and Junior Colts, all players should be proud of the performances they put in during the season and finals series. You have all been successful in so many ways and the Blackwood Football Club is proud of what you have achieved for Season 2017.

#honourthecolours