Eagles clinical winners over Port

Eagles   103  defeated  Port Adelaide   42

Woodville/West Torrens have powered into their second successive Grand Final against Central District next week following a resounding 61-point victory against the Port Magpies in the preliminary final this afternoon.

In trying conditions, the Eagles broke-open after quarter time with 13 goals to three, finishing with an academic 15.13 (103) to 5.12 (42) win.

Not only does Port Adelaide's finals series for 2005 conclude on a frowning note, but the coaching career of John Cahill draws stumps for a final time. The Magpies legend coached his team to 10 flags over three-stints as coach in four decades.

However, it wasn't all gloom on the day as the Eagles progress to face the bench-mark of the last six years in Central District in the battle for the Thomas Seymour Cup - the SANFL Grand Final for 2005.

As he proved his value last week, Chris Knights was instrumental in the Eagles' triumph, providing run and forward drive with his game-high 30 possessions. Justin Cicolella battled hard all day in the clearance zones in collecting 29 touches, linked with Brett O'Hara in the ruck-duels.

Mark McKenzie set up Woodville/West Torrens in the first half with 18 possessions, while Bernie Vince, Gavin Colville and Rob Fiacchi all provided a spark in a dominating midfield outfit.

Magpies captain Tony Brown toiled hard all day as he battled on valiantly in the midfield and back flank, while former Swan James Meiklejohn and Power-listed player Jacob Surjan were potent in the ruck and midfield during the first half.

Port Adelaide bow out of the finals in straight sets after finishing the minor round in third position, but they are now set to be ultimate challengers next season under former player and new coach Tim Ginever.

In conditions best suited to ducks, it was the Eagles who posted the early win when they won the toss, closely followed by Fergus Watts marking and goaling after 30 seconds of game-time.

However, as expected, the match became an arm-wrestle. For the next 20 minutes, either side were unable to transfer the ball fluently and through the goal-posts accurately. The next eight scores were behinds - four to either side.

Though, ironically the 'drought' was broken when Eagles big-man Brett O'Hara marked and kicked truly from 40 out into persistent rain.

Two late goals to the Magpies through Brown and Matty Gates was enough to draw scores level at the first change.

Port Adelaide made it three on the trot when key forward Clive Waterhouse marked and booted his first for the afternoon - the Magpies taking the lead for the first time in the match.

Though, it was short lived, as Cicolella and McKenzie began to dominate in the centre for the Eagles and provide the forwards with sufficient delivery to bang on three goals to finish the quarter and hold a 13-point lead at the main break.

Two early misses in the third quarter to Port wasn't the promising start they were looking for and Chris Knights made them pay at the other end when he, with his first of 13 third-quarter touches, booted a goal.

Mark Passador snapped up his first major for the match, while Tim Inkster became the Eagles' eighth single-goal-kicker for the afternoon.

Bernie Vince put an end to that with his second, while 10-goal hero last week Fergus Watts marked and goaled on the siren to extend Woodville/West Torrens' seemingly match-winning lead to 35 points at the last change.

Julian Wait gave his side hope when he booted the Magpies within 30 points with a goal, but it proved to be too much as, through Cicolella, Knights and Colville, the Eagles jumped on top and grabbed a vice-like grip on the match.

Cicolella put the final nail in the coffin when he dodged and weaved through heavy traffic rather easily as he put through his first for the afternoon, as Woodville/West Torrens ran out with the last five goals of the game.

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