Trial #2 sees the Blackwood Football Club face the Sacred Heart Old Collegians Football Club at Thebarton Oval (Aldi Arena) on Sunday the 25th of March 2018. Coming off Trial #1 against the Goodwood Saints, the Woods will be looking to further progressing skill and game plan developing learnt during Trial #1.
Whilst going down on the scoreboard in the first trial against Goodwood, their were plenty of positives to take from the game including getting game time into younger players. A Grade assistant coach Zac Grantham said after the game, “whilst we went down in the end we are much better for the run. We got everything we wanted to get out of the trial: match conditioning, some players playing in different roles and adapting very well.”
“It was also great to get some solid game time into younger players such as River Moore, Harry Bailye, Nathan Dunn and Jonah Duperouzel. All the younger players showed some great signs throughout the match and are pushing hard for spots come Round 1.”
Ethan Dinning sinks his left boot into the ball during the B Grade trial
Jonah Duperouzel gets a clearing kick away during the B Grade trial
The Game
Where: Thebarton Oval (Aldi Arena)
When: Sunday 25th of March 2018
Game times: B Grade – 3.50pm, A Grade – 5.30pm
Thebarton Oval (Aldi Arena)
The opponent – Sacred Heart Old Collegians
The opponent for Trial #2, the Sacred Heart Old Collegians, are currently playing in Division 2 of the Adelaide Football League. In the A Grade during 2017, SHOC finished the season in fifth position on the ladder making it to the first semi-final before being defeated by the PHOS Camden Football Club. In the B Grade, SHOC finished up as premiers defeating the Henley Sharks by 12 points in the Grand Final.
For the A Grade, they finished the 4th best team for attacking ability averaging 84.1 points per game. The Division 2 competition average points for 2017 was 74.7. In the defence end, SHOC averaged a misely 63.6 points against per match. This ranked them the 2nd best defence behind eventual premiers Henley (53.2 points against). The competition average not including SHOC was 76.9 points against per match.
In comparison, the Woods after the minor rounds averaged 89.8 points for per match (2nd in competition) and only 56.6 points against (2nd in competition). Overall the Hills Football League was a slightly higher scoring league across the season averaging 0.6 points more per match (151.8 to 151.2).
Blackwood points for average
SHOC points for average
Blackwood points against average
SHOC points against average
Players to watch from SHOC
Even though its a trial match, the players which might catch the eye for SHOC include:
Tristan Carcuro (#5)
The leading goal kicker for SHOC in 2017 kicking 55 goals from the 20 matches he played (2.75 per match). This figure saw him kick the most goals in the Division 2 competition across the season. It would appear that Carcuro is a key man for SHOC as the next best goal kicker for them kicked 18 goals (1.8 per match).
Ned Brooks (#20)
He was a key player for SHOC in 2017 playing all 20 matches and polling in the best players on 11 occasions (55.0%). His form in 2017 continued from 2016 where he played 12 A Grade matches kicking 7 goals and being named in the best players on 4 occasions.
Matthew Delmenico (#29)
Another key player for SHOC in 2017 being one of 6 players which played all 20 matches for the season. Across the 20 matches he kicked 9 goals and was named in the best players 10 times (50.0%).
Sacred Heart v Henley during Round 9
Sacred Heart v Henley in the Division 2 Reserves Grand Final
Final point
Get ready to run – Aldi Arena is one of the biggest fields in the Adelaide Football League. The former home of the West Torrens Football Club, it measures approximately 164 metres from goal to goal and 129m across the ground. In comparison U-Install-It Kitchens Oval is 153 metres by 120 metres. There’ll be some tired players come the final siren and at work on Monday morning.
