Round 13: Can we tame the Tigers?

Round 13 of the Hills Football League sees the Blackwood take on Lobethal at Windy Hill. To date in Season 2017 both sides are having polar opposite seasons with Blackwood currently second on the ladder with eight wins and two draws whilst Lobethal are anchored in ninth position with eleven straight losses.

Previous encounters

Looking back at the the previous encounter between sides in Round 4 of 2017, Blackwood kicked eight goals to none in the opening quarter to eventually run out 109 point winners. Phil Hopton had a day out in front of the big sticking booting four goals whilst Scott Bricknell was named best a field. Read the full match summary here: Blackwood maul the Tigers.

Since 2006 the sides have met on eleven occasions at Blackwood Hill Oval. Blackwood holds a good record against the traveling Tigers, winning eight of the 11 games. The full results from the previous 11 matches are as follows:

2016: Blackwood 9.15.69 defeated by Lobethal 10.10.70

2015: Blackwood 13.6.84 defeated Lobethal 10.11.71

2014: Blackwood 5.1.31 defeated by Lobethal 15.10.100

2013: Blackwood 11.17.83 defeated Lobethal 9.20.74

2012: Blackwood 12.3.75 defeated by Lobethal 18.6.114

2011: Blackwood 19.13.127 defeated Lobethal 16.7.103

2010: Blackwood 8.5.53 defeated Lobethal 2.9.21

2009: Blackwood 25.21.171 defeated Lobethal 3.8.26

2008: Blackwood 25.17.167 defeated Lobethal 2.4.16

2007: Blackwood 8.17.65 defeated Lobethal 5.3.33

2006: Blackwood 11.5.71 defeated Lobethal 8.13.61

Fact: From these 11 games Blackwood lead Lobethal by 307 points. The combined total from them is: Blackwood 146.120.996 to Lobethal 98.101.689.

Steve Woods take a strong overhead mark in Round 8 of 2014

Troy Edwards looks to evade in Round 8 of 2014

Season 2017

To date in Season 2017 both sides have recorded complete opposition seasons. Blackwood currently sit second on the ladder averaging 98 points for. This compares with Lobethal who are sitting in ninth position averaging 62 points for. This ranks them in equal eight position with the Mt Lofty Football Club as the lowest scoring sides.

Both side also having polar opposite defences with Blackwood only averaging 61 points against per game compared with 131 points against for Lobethal. This results in Blackwood having a differential of +37 and Lobethal having a differential of -69. This means Blackwood are leading Lobethal by 106 points before the game gets under way.

Looking back further Lobethal have been the side which had declined the most from 2016 scoring 28 less points whilst conceding a massive 80 points more per game. To put it in further perspective (keeping in mind we have only completed 12 rounds in 2017) since 2006 there have only been eight teams to have had worse season statistically in terms of differentials. They are as follows:

1st: 2008: Lobethal -112 differential

2nd: 2011: Bridgewater -111 differential

3rd: 2009: Lobethal -91 differential

4th: 2008: Bridgewater -85 differential

5th: 2008: Birdwood -84 differential

6th: 2007: Birdwood -82 differential

7th: 2016: Echunga -75 differential

8th: 2006: Bridgewater -76 differential

9th: 2017: Lobethal -69 differential

Mark Reynolds has a shot on goal in Round 17 of 2014

Paul Magarey gets a kick away as Luke Nitchske closes in Round 17 of 2014

Other statistics in 2017

Quarters won

Blackwood has won 65% of quarters they have played by an average margin of 19.6 points. This ranks second in the competition to date, behind Hahndorf who has won 86% of all quarters played by an average margin of 20.3 points

This compares to Lobethal who have only 18% of quarters they have played in 2017. This is the lowest percentage of any side in the competition. The next closest side is Mt Lofty who has won 30% of the quarters they have played.

Fact: Of the 40 quarters the Woods have played in 2017, they have kicked at least three goals in 68% of them. This compares with Lobethal who has kicked three goals in only 32% of quarters. The HFL average across 2017 is 52%.

Goal kicking

From the opening 12 rounds the Woods have kicked a total of 140 goals and 136 behinds. This results in an accuracy of 50.7%. This compares to Lobethal who have kicked 85 goals and 105 behinds. This results in an accuracy of 44.7% and is the lowest shooting accuracy in the HFL in 2017. The Hills Football League average across all nine sides in 2017 is 50.6%.

Accuracy declining across the HFL: As seen in the below graphs show sides have declined in terms of shooting accuracy in the 2017 season. Blackwood has fallen from 53.4% whilst Lobethal has fallen from 56.6%. This mirrors the decline in the Hills Football League with the average accuracy falling from 53.0%. The only sides to have improved in 2017 are Mt Lofty and Uraidla Districts.

Blackwood: 2016 shooting accuracy

Lobethal: 2016 shooting accuracy

Hills Football League: 2016 shooting accuracy

Player to watch

Matthew Brockhouse (#9) – The defender is a reliable figure down back for the side from Lobethal. Of the nine matches he has played in 2017 he has been in the best players on six occasions.

Tim Jenkin (#17) – The hard running midfielder is one of the competitions best on his day. Since 2014 he has played 69 matches, being names in the best players on 44 occasions. In these three seasons, he has gathered a total of 50 Mail Medal votes finishing in the top three in all years. A player which must be stopped.

Luke Nitchske (#21) – The midfielder is another vital cog of the Tigers side. He has played 56 matches since 2014 being in the players on 43 occasions. This includes in seven of nine matches in 2017, the most of any Lobethal player.

Steven Huxter (#26) – The undersized player is a combative player for his size. He throws his body around is plays a key role for the Tigers. Of his ten matches in 2017 he has been named in the best players on six occasions.