Some interesting results came from last weekend’s action with Lock bouncing back into some strong form with a big win over Cougars, an Undermanned United Yeelanna did enough to get over the previously unbeaten Tumby Bay on the Blues home deck and Elliston did a demolition job on Eyre United at Minnipa running out big winners in a lop-sided contest.
Eagles coach Reece Francis would have been happy to walk away with the 2 points after his side lost several key players with illness leading into the top of the table clash against Tumby Bay, and they had enough class through the experience of Maxfield, Carr, (3 goals up forward), Breed and Crettenden to get over the Blues who were also missing some key personnel, namely Miller, Hartwig and Lebrun. The win has given the Eagles some breathing space at the top of the ladder to remain undefeated while Tumby Bay has slipped from top spot to third after the weekends defeat. They face another tough contest this week against an emerging Elliston Districts side who despite some injury concerns are looking like a genuine contender in season 2022.
The Roosters were simply too classy for Eyre United in what was a one-sided contest all day running out 149-point winners with the Saints having no answer to the class of Elliston Districts across all positions on the ground. Recruit Tom Gibson looks a class act up forward booting a game high 7 goals with his kicking a highlight, Lachy McInnis was outstanding again, and Matt Williams is a bull in the midfield. Despite the one sidedness of the game, it was played tough and hard with several spot fires breaking out, but players were quick to get back on with the task at hand. The Roosters have quality across all positions, a dangerous offensive set up and their defence is as tough as they come and look to be playing well as a collective back 6. Chris Dunn battled hard for his side as did the Forrest boys, Gale, Betts and Liddell. The win has elevated the Roosters to 2nd spot on the ladder and if they can record another win against Tumby Bay this weekend, they set themselves up nicely for the double chance leading into the mid-season Mortlock break.
In the final game Lock continued the miserly start to the year for Cougars producing a dominant and outstanding second half of football to overrun a disappointing Cougars outfit to win by 56 points. A strong cross wind at Cummins Oval made clean footy difficult with the first half a genuine arm wrestle and Lock leading by just the 1 goal at half time. The game took a dramatic turn in the second half with the Roo’s taking compete control through Trav Beard and Blaze Kay with Beard booting 3 goals off his own boot as they piled on 6 goals and kept Cougars scoreless for the quarter. To Cougars credit they were able to reset and stem the bleeding in the last, but still only managed to kick just the 1 point against a discipline Lock defence and midfield that gave their opponents nothing. Cougars look a far cry from the side that dominated the competition last season and coach Matty Stokes has plenty of work to do to get his side back in to some form which will be helped by the return of some key players in coming weeks.
They face a must win game against Ramblers this week in the local derby – it’s a long way back from 0 and 5, so a win is imperative to keep them in the hunt for a spot in the finals. The Roo’s will take some confidence in to their game against ladder leaders United Yeelanna, but with the likes of Watson, Norton, Steve and Matt Crettenden and Ben Carr to name a few likely to return, coupled with the Eagles Nest that is the “Kooplex”, it’s difficult to see the Eagles unbeaten run being halted. Much interest will centre on the Elliston Districts v Tumby Bay game that will give a good indication of where the Blues sit with their form to date this year solid, while the Roosters are building and will relish the opportunity to face another top 4 contender.
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