Bloods v Blues match report

In a tight and tough contest at Richmond Oval today the mighty Bloods secured, arguably, their best win of the season with a gutsy 4 pt win over the second placed Blues. Final score was WA 9.9, St 8.11.

Aaron Anderson came in for Hardy, the only change from last week. Hartlett had to have his hamstring strapped just before the start. Beech started on the ball, Webb at FF and when Hartlett gave away a free at the ten second mark of the game Sturt were already a goal in front. Westies, to their great credit fought back hard, kept Sturt goalless and, with goals to Beech, Webb, Fisher and Silverlock we went to the first break well up, 4.3 to 1.2. Beech even missed a couple close in and so the margin should have been more.

Not to be outdone Sturt took the game right up to Westies in the second but had some help from the umpires. Westies tactics were to shut down the Sturt run by playing tight, possession footy. Kurtze started to get on top of Nelson in the ruck and Sturt booted 3.2 to our 2.3 to leave us in front at half time 6.6 to 4.3.

The 3Q was more of the same with Sturt edging closer. We only scored one goal with a fine mark and kick to Webb. Schmidt incurred the wrath of the Sturt supporters with an off-the-ball incident and Hartlett was stirring things up down back. The margin at 3Q time was a single point, WA 7.8 to St 7.7 and the stage was set for a cracker of a finish.

By this stage Beech was playing most of his footy forward, taking some great marks and getting scoring chances. In this he was ably supported by Webb who had kicked a goal in each of the first 3Qs. Bricknell was also playing forward. Sturt did break free a few times and hit the front late in the game due to some fine work in the centre to Tambling and Beard playing forward. But it was Beech with 2 telling goals in this Q, the last putting us in front, who was the difference between 2 pretty even sides. When the siren went at the 24 min mark Sturt were in attack and we were defending grimly. Final score 9.9 to 8.11.

There were around 2200 hardy souls there today braving the cold. This was the first time this season that Sturt had been beaten by a side out of the 5. We have beaten the 2 top sides in the last few games and considering we lost the first 4 games our season has been on track since then.

Best for the Bloods was Beech with 4 of our 9 goals and some excellent marks. We are so much better with him playing forward. Webb did well with 3 and also took some strong marks. The rest were pretty even with Schmidt, 30 possessions, dominating the clearances, Tuck doing the tough things. Milne, Keough and Hartlett were all terrific down back. Homburg, Green, A Anderson, Stevens, Fisher, Silverlock, Birss, etc all did great work in what was a pretty even effort by a very determined bunch who never gave in and were desperate to win. Schiller was injured but came back onto the ground in the critical last Q.

The 2s were beaten 17.4 to 11.10 in a contest that was more even than the scores showed. Young Jess Watchman played forward and looks good. Ryan Anderson ran out the game well.

Just for the record, while this was posted I was in the clubrooms. Witnesses that I was not on a computer include testy, blacky and about a hundred other people.

I usually agree with your match day writeup B&R and always look forward to them. However today I must disagree with some of it.
1. Arguably our best win for the season? I would have thought the win over Port was better (even though I didn't see it as I won't watch the cheats )
2. Since round 4 our season has been on track. But we have not won an away game all season. Unless the SANFL is going to re schedule the finals to Richmond oval I would say we are way off track. (assuming we make them which is doubtful )
3. Hartlett was terrific down back. He nearly cost us the game with his undisciplined actions and needs to be told to control his temper. Hard at it is fine,stupid is not.
But still we will take the win.

Random thoughts.

1. Great to play attacking football all day and win.
2. Quick ball movement wins games.
3. Most entertaining game I have seen at West for a long time.
4. Great report Blackandredandblack.
5. Aaron Anderson played very well. Hard at it all day and can kick.
6. Good to see a couple of forwards kick some goals.
7. Harts is a very nice guy off the field.
8. Lost the hitouts but won the clearances. Nelson has really stepped up in the last few weeks.
9. Umpiring was interesting all day.
10. Should get some good players back after the bye.
11. Bring on the Bays.    

All played well I thought. Nice to see Aaron Anderson back in the league team

Good report
Good game.
Play better on a dead track.
Agree with comments ST.
Beech and Kirkwood (credit where due) must be in the mix for AFL in 2015. Ready made.
Hardness made up for what we missed in height.
They had fresher legs in the last qtr but we had the footy smarts that come from some accomplished footballers.
Great work who was ever managing the scoreboard..Harvey Norman must be delighted at how many times they were on the scoreboard after every score!!!!!
We have a bloody good list....most frustrating season ever!!!!!!!!

Harvey Norman deserve the scoreboard adverts - Gala Auction winning bidder

Great to catch up with a few boys from the 1994 Reserves premiership team today.

I ran water in that game and the boys had very much enjoyed themselves as the day wore on.

Very, very much enjoyed themselves   

Ordered a drink at the bar and ran into Jason Kerr, Dimitrios Steinert, Gerard Toohey, Steve Hamilton and several others

Good days, great blokes.

did harts really punch a sturt supporter at the northern end as someone has suggested on facebook?! what a legend!

No he didn't
He tapped the goal fence near them and they reacted
Nothing too it

nothing in it but they did have a go at me on the way out
poor loser I think

blacky wrote:nothing in it but they did have a go at me on the way out
poor loser I think

Michelle, the Masseur, copped some abuse 3/4 time when she went to the middle of the field.

greaser wrote:did harts really punch a sturt supporter at the northern end as someone has suggested on facebook?! what a legend!

 

Apparently one of there supporters said that Hamish Hartlett hit one of there supporters, he had to be reminded that Hamish doesn't play for West     Sore loser couldn't even get the right player let alone getting his facts right.

saw a couple of the rowdy sturt fans being removed by weslo which was pretty good.

Sturt fans couldn't believe the turn around from the unley game - They expected a big win so they could challenge for top spot - Now they have to hold on for 3rd

Go Bloods

greaser wrote:saw a couple of the rowdy sturt fans being removed by weslo which was pretty good.

They were probably a couple of the mob that didn't turn up at their games last year.

they were the ones

It should be said that the game plan was exactly the same as the week before.

The boys' work rate and skill execution was very much better.

Not quite
We played 6 forwards and we were much more mobile without hardy
Against the dogs we started with 5 forwards and one extra back

wolves wrote:Not quite
We played 6 forwards and we were much more mobile without hardy
Against the dogs we started with 5 forwards and one extra back

     

redandblack wrote:It should be said that the game plan was exactly the same as the week before.

The boys' work rate and skill execution was very much better.

Your a coach now and know the game plan.Why do we need a coach we have you.

Just happy that we won, Bundy.

You should try it, beats the alternative.

wolves wrote:Not quite
We played 6 forwards and we were much more mobile without hardy
Against the dogs we started with 5 forwards and one extra back

I think that might have been because Central started with one extra back, wolves?

Norwood also always play a spare defender,

I agree with you about Justin, But that was a selection issue, not a game plan issue. It eas a good selection decision, though, wasn't it?

I enjoyed the work rate increase this week. They're a gritty and competitive group, great to watch their commitment in games like this one. Makes it hard to reconcile with the effort and poor work rate the week before.

Very important win for the club though, wolves, would have made you happy.

redandblack wrote:It should be said that the game plan was exactly the same as the week before.

The boys' work rate and skill execution was very much better.

              
Nothing even close to the week before.
Forwardline with even numbers and quick ball movement.
Seven scoring shots in the first quarter.
The old game plan is dead. Long live the new game plan.