WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens has held off a dramatic late Central District fightback to progress to the AAMI Talent League decider. In their preliminary final showdown at Coopers Stadium on Saturday, the Eagles led all day and won by six points to send the minor premiers packing in straight sets.

The victors set the tone with their patented pressure and surge style, putting Central District on the back foot both offensively and defensively. Tall forward Harvey O’Brien helped translate that to the scoreboard with three first-quarter goals to set up the buffer his side would defend all afternoon.

Despite trailing by 21 points midway through the final quarter, the Bulldogs fell just a kick short of snatching victory. Charlie Moss nearly reeled in a screamer which would have given him a shot to level the scores, before Jesse Paul‘s snap dribbled out of bounds in the dying seconds.

Woodville-West Torrens will go on to face Glenelg in the Grand Final on Sunday September 13 at Adelaide Oval. Both sides finished directly below Central District on the ladder with 11-7 records during the minor rounds. The Bulldogs were bundled out after claiming a superior 12-6 ledger.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.3 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 9.13 (67)
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 5.2 | 7.4 | 9.11 | 10.13 (73)

GOALS:
Central District: J. Ruchs 2, W. Cameron, C. Geister, T. Howarth, C. Moss, J. Paul, H. Semmler, B. Whimpress
Woodville-West Torrens: H. O’Brien 3, B. Karpany 2, K. Maddern, J. Marks, L. Marshall-Bates, J. Musci, W. Trengove

BEST:
Central District: T. Marrone, A. Pringle, J. Kotsano, J. Eime, B. Nicholls, C. Semmler
Woodville-West Torrens: Z. Lloyd, H. O’Brien, H. Rowe, H. Thyer, J. Frantz, R. Clemente

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#9 Tony Marrone
Midfielder | 177cm | 23/01/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 7 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Marrone’s lightning-quick hands and slick turn of foot made him one of the more dangerous midfielders afield on Saturday. Capable of accelerating out of stoppage or dishing off to allow teammates to do the same, he helped forge effective clearances – an area which his side dominated. The bottom-ager’s class and poise were noticeable in a high-pressure match, although a lapse in that department saw him concede a reversal free kick and 25-metre penalty late in the third quarter. He’ll now turn his attention to the National Futures game on AFL Grand Final day.

#11 Joel Kotsano
Midfielder | 176cm | 18/08/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 clearances

Kotsano was arguably the Bulldogs’ most important inside midfielder during the first half, fighting for possession and feeding it out effectively by hand. He burrowed in-and-under at stoppage and refused to be tackled, either bustling his way out of trouble or doing so with quick feet. The likes of Angus Pringle eventually took over in the second half, but Kotsano’s early work was notable.

#17 Angus Pringle
Midfielder | 181cm | 24/02/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 9 clearances

Pringle got better as the game wore on and proved central to his side’s clearance ascendancy alongside Marrone and Kotsano. He was clean and composed on the inside, dishing out 16 handballs among his 25 disposals with ample vision and efficiency. Pringle was able to improvise under pressure and kept his arms free at all times, allowing him to release teammates into space. The left-footer also delivered some clever kicks and found some ball on the outside, but thrived in the cut and thrust of stoppage battles.

#18 Jake Eime
Wing/Midfielder | 182cm | 29/07/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 10 inside 50s

With many of his side’s midfielders being handball-happy, Eime provided a key point of difference around the ground. Starting on the wing, his willingness to take the game on and put speed on the ball sometimes invited pressure, but also opened up some golden opportunities in transition. The Eagles did well to shut him down in the first half, with Eime finding less time to execute clean kicks, only for his craftiness to still win out. Having been targeted physically, he was shifted on-ball in the final term and got his own back with some searing score launches through the middle. He’s lightly framed but often shows up for the fight and is tenacious on the defensive end.

#29 Jack Gordon
Defender | 185cm | 05/01/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Gordon was part of Central District’s back six but spent plenty of time in the middle third where he joined in at stoppage. The strongly-built utility was prepared to fight for possession and feed it out to teammates, driving hard and low to do so. He wasn’t quite as expansive or damaging as a result but drove his legs well on one occasion and nearly scored. Gordon was also frequently sighted patrolling the last line of defence where he was a safe distributor by foot.

#33 Billy Nicholls
Defender | 190cm | 10/02/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Nicholls operated at a high intensity and was often the player to launch Central District forward out of defence. He took the game on with constant surges, often positioning high where he could intercept or latch onto an overlap handballs before driving the ball long. While he could have done with a little more composure at times, he gained a good amount of meterage with his kicks.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#4 Blake Karpany
Small Forward | 174cm | 27/06/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 goals

Karpany is a low-volume, high-impact type of forward whose class is evident with each touch. He popped up for a pair of quality goals on Saturday, using both sides of his favoured left foot to split the big sticks. Karpany’s second major was a terrific bit of forward craft, positioning front-and-centre before crumbing and snapping the ball through. His clean hands and agility served him well in his infrequent looks up the field, while he sucked his opponent in during the third quarter for a free kick reversal and 25-metre penalty. He’s silky at his best.

#6 Zack Lloyd
Midfielder | 170cm | 26/12/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 13 tackles, 5 clearances

While just about the smallest player afield, Lloyd certainly packed a punch. He set the tone with his hunt and pressure at stoppages, swarming the Bulldogs’ midfielders with tough tackling efforts. As any good small does, he also won possession with some flashy takes and spins while consistently being up for the scrap. He managed to attract several free kicks at the contest, whether that be through shutting down the opposition or drawing them into defensive errors.

#9 Hunter Rowe
Midfielder/Defender | 178cm | 16/03/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Rowe spent plenty of time as the Eagles’ sweeper at stoppages and played the role to perfection. He was consistently in position to receive handballs out the back and pump the ball forward with booming kicks, giving his side’s marking forwards every chance to take over. With all bar one of Rowe’s disposals being kicks, he gained plenty of quick meterage and personified Woodville-West Torrens’ surge style. He brought that same intent when shifted to defence, although perhaps could have taken a little more care when delivering the ball in transition.

#25 Hugo Thyer
Defender | 187cm | 22/07/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Thyer was an important defensive presence throughout the day, but well and truly elevated to help his side hold on in the fourth quarter. The bottom-ager made his presence felt aerially, chiming in with several strong spoils and clunking intercept marks across the last line. His vice-like hands overhead served him well not only when reeling in opposition kicks, but also as a solid kick-in target. He tends to play a little taller than his 187cm standing would suggest.

#26 Lachlan Marshall-Bates
Key Forward | 193cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal

Marshall-Bates had to wait his turn to impact with the likes of Harvey O’Brien and Jack Marks also occupying airspace inside 50, but he continued to present and compete. He presented full-chested and flew confidently at the ball, bringing it to ground at times and getting better at buttering up as the day wore on. He was willing to apply pressure and fight for secondary shots at goal, although slotted his lone major from a strong mark deep in attack during term two.

#27 Harvey O’Brien
Key Forward | 192cm | 15/01/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals

Taking his place among an array of tall targets up forward, O’Brien set himself apart early in the piece. His three opening quarter goals put Woodville-West Torrens on the front foot, making good on a trio of set sot opportunities before straying with plenty more similar chances thereafter. O’Brien’s work rate was terrific across the front half, making shrewd leads and gaining separation from his opponent to take several marks inside 50. He plucked the ball cleanly and could well have ended up with a big bag of goals in easier conditions.