Round 17: Woods felled by the Pies

Round 17 of the Hills Football League saw the Blackwood Football Club suffer its second loss of the season, this time at the hands of the Hahndorf Football Club who recorded a 28 point victory. In the process the Magpies picked up the 2017 Division One A-Grade Courier Cup, their third successive Courier Cup.

Entering the clash, the Woods were looking to bring up their first victory at the Pine Avenue venue since 2013 when they defeated the Magpies by 18 points under a David Benson coached side. Both sides entered the clash sitting one or two in the competition in most statistical categories. Blackwood made three changes to the side with Ryan Anderson, Haydn Kenny and Jan Warbout returning to the side, whilst Hahndorf brought in Nick Ingram and Josh Wittwer who had returned from the Adelaide Crows SANFL side.

Blackwood has the first small victory of the match winning the coin toss and kicking up the hill towards the clubroom end of the venue. They made the immediate jump with Michael Minuzzo receiving an initial free kick at the centre bounce. The ball was moved forward to Adam Ridley to marked and handballed to James Catford who converted to 50 metres on the run only 21 seconds into the match. The contest was a tough battle early with neither side able to get any clear space around the contest. As the quarter rolled on the home side began to control the play recording numerous forward 50 metre entries.

Hahndorf power-forward Darcy Hourigan brought up his first goal for the match in the sixth minute. Hourigan has been a wonderful acquisition for the Magpies kicking 259 goals for the club since the start of the 2015 season. Hahndorf controlled the middle period of the quarter but were unable to convert missing several easy set shots. When Blackwood moved the ball forward in the 21st minute, Mark Reynolds was able to snap on his left foot to see the Woods take the lead despite only recording five inside 50s compared to the fourteen for Hahndorf. Hahndorf captain for the day, David Hankin was able to score a second for the Magpies late in the quarter to see them take a four point lead into the quarter time interval.

Nick Homburg comes under pressure as Levi Grigg watches on

Matt Waldron spoils the ball from Hahndorf forward Darcy Hourigan

The second quarter was much like the first term with both sides applying tremendous pressure to the player in possession of the ball. It was a defensive game with neither side able to get a score for the opening five minutes. Blackwood forward Ryan Dijksman missed a snap shot in the sixth minute to give his Woodsmen the lead. With both sides structuring up well behind the ball, the ball bounced between forward fifties for much of the quarter. The only goal of the quarter came through Dijksman in the tenth minute as the ball got over the back of the pack and he was able to run into an open goal. When the half time siren blew, the visiting Woods lead by the slimmest of margins, 3.3.21 to 2.8.20

Despite trailing at the main break, Hahndorf were leading the inside 50 count twenty-five to fourteen but were only scoring 40% of the time they entered through some excellent defensive work of Blackwood. The so called premiership quarter started in a bad way for the Hahndorf side with tall defender receiving a yellow-card in the opening minutes for an indiscretion behind the play on Blackwood Phil Hopton. Having an extra man would’ve been a help to the Woods as they pressed forward early in the quarter. With Scott Purling holding the ship down back, the Magpies to the foot on the accelerator. Blackwood had the ball plenty of times coming out of the back line but could only turn the ball over as Hahndorf has set up well behind the ball. Goals to Dylan Matsen, James Tripodi and Darcy Hourigan had the Woods trailing 24 points at the final break.

Daniel Bennetts losing his footing at the wrong time

Jan Warbout competes in the ruck

Blackwood coach Damien Salievic urged his players to lift the start of the final term with the match their to be won if they could start controlling the midfield. Whilst Craig Smith for Hahndorf remained calm urging his players to continue what they had been doing for most of the game. Things didn’t go well at the start of the quarter for the Woods with Hourigan kicking his fourth for the match in the fifth minute. The game came back to life in the next five minutes with Blackwood kicking two quick goals through Daniel Benson who had returned to the ground after a big hit in the third quarter and Hopton who kicked his first for the day. With the game in the balance, power forward Hourigan once again bobbed up in the pocket taking a strong contested grab. He went back and converted his fifth for the match, giving a big celebration to the Blackwood supports over the fence who were giving him some friendly advice during his run up. Hourigan booted his sixth goal of the match after the final siren to see the Magpies run out 28 point winners and claim their third successive courier cup.

For Blackwood the better players featured Nick Homburg who has had an excellent season since moving up the hill from West Adelaide, defenders Daniel Bennetts and Brad Jones, Ryan Dijksman and Michael Minuzzo who gained plenty of touches around the midfield.

Steve Woods appears to be tackled whilst not in possession

Ryan Anderson looks to get a handball away whilst Brad Jones watches on

Summary

Overall whilst the margin was 28 points, this was an arm wrestle of the game. Hahndorf had the ball in their forward half for more of the game but Blackwood were able to stay in the game through some excellent defending despite having key players out of the side. Weight of numbers eventually became too much for the Woods with Hahndorf able to capitalise, mostly thanks to the boot of Hourigan. Coach Salievic wasn’t disappointed with the effort after the game saying his side battled hard for most of the game. He suggested “we must go away, recover well and work on the areas which we failed in the game including our disposal.”