The Blackwood Football Club has moved through the 2017 Division One A Grade Hills Football League Grand Final after a twenty point victory over the Uraidla Districts Demons on Saturday afternoon at Balhannah Oval. The win sees the A Grade play off in the big dance for the first time since 2011.
After a disappointing match against Hahndorf in the semi-final the weekend before, the Woods looked to bounce back quickly with a solid week on the training track. Making two changes to the selected line up, the Woods brought in Jake Atkinson and Mark Reynolds to replace Daniel Bennetts and Levi Grigg For the Uraidla Districts Demons, they recorded a tough victory over Mt Barker in the cut-throat semi-final and only made one change with Jase Pridham coming into the selected twenty one for young-gun James Richards.
Balhannah Oval has been a happy hunting ground for the Woods over the previous seasons whilst Uraidla has struggled in recent seasons losing to the Onkaparinga Valley Bulldogs on multiple occasions. The Woods came into the game confident having defeated the Demons only two weeks beforehand in the Qualifying Final and made the initial play in the opening part of the first term kicking towards to the western end of the venue. Some uncharacteristic skill errors moving the ball inside the forward 50 saw the side unable to gain a score in the opening thrusts forward. As often happens in football, Uraidla Districts moved the ball down the other end of the ground to score the first goal of the match in the third minute. The game was then an arm wrestle for the next twelve minutes with neither side able to score a goal as the pressure was applied as expected in a Preliminary Final. With the Demons tackling hard, Blackwood was only able to score two behinds until Ryan Anderson came into the game in the sixteenth minute. The Woods were able to move the ball with speed and skill down the ground to result in Anderson kicking a goal on the run much to the delight of the travelling Woods supporters. Additional goals to Matt Tuck and Ryan Dijksman either side of twenty minutes saw Blackwood take a fourteen point lead in the first change.
Scott Bricknell has one of many kicks for the day
Jess Watchman does his best to hold onto the ball
Coach Damien Salievic was a pleased man at the first change commenting on how his side were applying great pressure to their opposition and were taking the game on when they came into possession of the ball. Once again the side from Uraidla got the initial goal at the start of the quarter with Billy Gepp popping up to kick his first of the match. With centre half forward Tom Kluvanek working his way into the game, the Demons were finding their form. Blackwood was holding strong through captain Kurt Thompson and Brad Jones stopping numerous forward 50 entries. As a good side would do, the Woods held the tide for the opening part of the quarter and then counter attacked when they had the chance in the eleventh minute. Moving the ball up the outer side wing, the ball found its way into Jess Watchmans arms. A mistimed shot a goal fell to Phil Hoptons grasp where he was able to convert truly and restore the quarter time lead of 14 points. When Jess Watchman and Tuck scored two more majors, the Woods were right on top of the inaccurate Demons leading by 22 points at the main break. Second quarters have been strong for the Woods winning eight of ten against top 5 sides this season.
Lucas Herbert competes in the ruck
Phil Hopton celebrates with teammates after a goal
Making a good start was critical for both sides as they came out onto the ground after the break. In the so called ‘premiership quarter’ whoever won the scoreboard battle in this period was more than likely going to win the game. Like the opening two quarters the Demons got the first goal in the third minute through 2017 Mail Medalist Nick Amato. The Woods were making some poor errors coming through the half back line and this was giving the Demons the momentum at the start of the third quarter. Defending for their lives the Woods managed to not concede a goal for the ten minutes they were under the pump in the defensive 50. When they were able to finally beat the press of the Uraidla side in the fifteenth minute they found themselves in a three-on-one battle deep in the pocket. In front of a large contingent of supporters the ball snuck over the back of the contest to Michael Minuzzo who managed to find space to waltz unto the goal square and kick his sides seventh goal of the match. The Woods had all the momentum and got the next centre break. Kicking the ball inside 50 it found Ryan Dijksman who bobbed up to kick his second of the match. A late goal to veteran Paul Richards kept the Demons in the hunt at the final break with Blackwood leading by the same twenty-two point margin they had at half time.
James Catford and Nick Homburg rap up an opponent
Daniel Benson just gets a kick away in time
Both sides were up and about at the final change with the Demons saying “this will be the toughest thirty-minutes of football for the season.” Whilst Blackwood were buoyed by their loud supporter base to continue to run and play their game style. In a repeat of the first three quarters, the Woods conceded the first goal in the third minute. Uraidla kicked the ball long inside 50 to a one-on-one battle between Brad Jones and Nick Amato. Amato managed to use his body to edge Jones under the ball resulting in the ball getting over the back and causing him to kick a joe-the-goose goal from the square. Blackwood replied instantly from the next play, turning the ball over from the centre clearance, swift ball movement up the outer wing resulting in Anderson coming into possession of the Sherrin. Looking into his opponents eyes, Anderson turned on the accelerator dodging around him and kicking a goal on the run much to the delight of every person associated with Blackwood at the venue. With the supporters sensing the Woods were marching onward to victory the Woods managed to hold strong for the next ten minutes. Blackwood scored two more goals for the match with Minuzzo and Dijksman finishing off the game to see the Woods record a twenty point victory and move into the big dance next weekend.
For the Woods, the betters players were Scott Bricknell who had multiple possessions across the half back line, Steve Woods who controlled the air whenever the ball went forward for Uraidla, Minuzzo and Nick Homburg who were dominate midfielders gaining multiple possessions and skipper Kurt Thompson who provided his usual class in the defensive end.
Blackwood defenders aim to spoil the ball on the goal line
Nick Homburg looks to crumb the pack
Summary
Overall, the Woods were able to play their game for longer periods of the match and come away with the win. Just like the qualifying final, the Woods were able to win the midfield and give their forward the first look at the football. Being able to get on the outside of the Demons for the second game in a row, the Woods were too fast and had to much skill for the counterparts and like the ladder positions ended up at the completion of the minor rounds, the top two sides have found their way into the grand final. Coach Damien Salievic was a happy person in the rooms after the match saying, “we have worked hard since November last year to achieve this goal.” He summarised to the players “to soak up every moment of the game this weekend. You’ll get calls and messages from friends and you’ll see blokes watching at training. You don’t play in these games every year so enjoy it!”
Haydn Kenny kicks the ball down the field
Blackwood players celebrate a goal
Other results
B Grade
Blackwood 8.12.60 defeated Onkaparinga Valley 4.6.30
After losing the Courier Cup match between the sides in Round 14, the Woods had a point to prove in this game. With the game on the the line at three quarter time, Ben Papps lifted his game in the final twenty minutes to finish the match with a four goal haul to see his side record a 30 point victory. Jacob McCarthy was awarded as best player for his tireless efforts around the midfield, whilst Troy Edwards, Matt Thomas, Nathan Dunn and Bailey Badcoe were also acknowledged.
B-Grade action
B-Grade action
Senior Colts
Blackwood 12.12.84 defeated Onkaparinga Valley 4.3.27
Having gone down in a nail-biter to Hahndorf in the semi final, the side bounced back in emphatic fashion recording a fifty-seven point victory. Luke Bogle was named best a field with three majors and countless possessions, Jackson Pole for his defensive efforts, Harry Bailye and Tom Brown for their presenting and work across half forward and Ethan Dinning who did not lose a contest across the half back line all game.
Senior Colts action
Senior Colts action
Junior Colts
Blackwood 9.6.60 defeated Hahndorf 3.6.24
Having suffered their first defeat of 2017 in the semi-final, the side had a chance to redeem themselves against Hahndorf, a side who has won the previous eight Hills Football League Junior Colts premierships. Only trailing by eight points at half time, the Woods showed their class kicking five goals to none in the second half to run out thirty-six point winners. Mitch Robertson kicked five goals for the match whilst Bailey Black contained his outstanding form being named best player.
Junior Colts action
Junior Colts action
Mini Colts
Blackwood 2.1.13 defeated by Onkaparinga Valley 4.1.25
Having defeated the Onkaparinga Valley side in the qualifying final by three points, the side went into the game full of confidence. Trailing by eleven points at three quarter time, the Woods made a strong push in the last quarter. Having most of the ball, the Woods were unable to move the ball forward to score the two winning goals required going down by two goals when the final siren sounded. Eddie Bok kicked one of two goals for the Woods whilst Will Torode received was named in the best players for eleventh time this season.
Mini Colts action
Mini Colts action
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