Round 12 – The run home

Round 12 of the Hills Football League has arrived. After two weekends of rest, the Blackwood Football Club travels to Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Torrens to play the Torrens Valley Lions. The round 12 clash poises to be a good match with the Woods currently second on the ladder with seven wins and two draws, whilst the Lions are currently fourth with six wins and four losses.

Previous encounters

Tracing back to our Round 3 encounter with the Valley Lions, we recorded an 84 point victory set up by a 7 goal to 1 second quarter. On that day back in April, Ryan Dijksman, Phil Hopton and Adam Ridley all kicked three goals whilst Steve Woods was named best on ground. Read the full match report here.

Looking further into history, since 2011 when the Valley Lions made the step up to the Division 1 competition, there have been 15 matches between the clubs, with Torrens Valley winning nine and Blackwood winning six. Of the 15 matches, six of them have been played away with four at Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Pleasant and two at the Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Torrens which Saturdays match will be held.

Of the two matches at Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Torrens, both sides have won one, with the last game played between the sides occurring in Round 5 of 2013. The results from the two matches played between the sides at Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Torrens are:

2011 – Blackwood 26.6.162 defeated Torrens Valley 13.12.90

2013 – Blackwood 11.8.74 defeated by Torrens Valley 17.13.115

Interesting fact: Of the four matches played at Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Pleasant, Torrens Valley has won all four. This means that the Blackwood Football Club has only beaten Torrens Valley at either of their home ovals since 2011.

Flashback from 2013: Lucas Herbert gets first hand on it in the ruck

Flashback from 2013: Brad Jones gets a handball away

Season 2017

As the 2017 season draws towards the last third of the season. The statistics show clear trends about each side which correspond to their positions on the ladder.

To date, Blackwood has the second best attack in the league scoring 96 points on average per match compared to Torrens Valley who rank fourth scoring 81 points per match. The Woods have increased their scoring output by 9 points on 2016 whilst Torrens Valley have decreased scoring 15 less points on average compared to 2016.

In defence, Blackwood have conceded 542 points at an average of 60 per match to rank third best defence, whilst Torrens Valley have conceded 854 points at an average of 85 per match to rank fifth best defence. The Woods have slightly improved in this area conceding 4 less points compared to 2016 whilst Torrens Valley are leaking 22 more points.

These two combined result in Blackwood having a differential of +36 (ranking at number 2) compared to Torrens Valley who have a differential of -4 (to rank number 6). When differential is compared to ladder position, the Woods sit in second position, the same ranking as their differential whilst Torrens Valley rank fourth with a differential ranking of 6.

Other statistics

Players used

To date Blackwood have used 30 players compared to Torrens Valley who have used 31. Both sides sit below the Hills Football League average of 32 players used. 43% of the Woods players have played every game compared to 39% for Torrens Valley. Both clubs sit well above the Hills average of 32%. This suggests that they have had settled sides across the opening period of the season.

Key note: Only 7% of players for Blackwood have been in the best players greater than 50% of games they have played. This shows that different players are performing each week making Blackwood a very even team.

Quarters won

Of all quarters the Woods have played across their opening nine matches, they have won 64% of them. This compares to Torrens Valley who have won only 40%. The best quarters for the Woods are the 1st and 3rd quarters winning 67% of them. Whilst for Torrens Valley their best quarters are their first and fourth quarters winning 50% of all played.

Key note: Torrens Valley tend to struggle after quarter time, winning only two from ten second quarters played in 2017.

Goal kickers

A variety of goal kickers is an important facet of modern football. It allows sides to stretch the opposition defence if more than a couple of players can kick goals. Statistics show that of the 124 goals kicked by the Woods in 2017, 55% (lowest percentage in HFL) have come from their top 5 goal kickers. This compares to 74% (equal highest percentage in HFL) of the 117 goals kicked by Torrens Valley coming from their top 5 goal kickers.

Key note: 33% of all goals kicked by Torrens Valley in 2017 have come from the boot of key forward John Boras. This has increased by 25% compared to 2016 suggesting they are looking for him more when they enter the forward 50 metre arc.

Players to watch

John Boras (#5) – The power forward currently sits second on the goal kicking with 39 goals from 10 games. He has been a prolific goal kicker since joining the Lions in 2015 kicking 191 goals in 50 games. This is 28% of all goals kicked by Torrens Valley since 2015.

Tate Giadresco (#17) – The dashing midfielder is a key link for the Lions providing dashing run and line break kicks from the contest. Having played 32 matches since the start of 2016 he has been in the best players on 41%. He is in great form in 2017 being in the best players in six out of ten matches culminating in representing the Eastern zone at the country championships being named in the team of the tournament.

Brad Hunter (#21) – The hard-nosed midfielder with a raking left boot, Hunter has been in the best players 48% of matches played since the start of 2016. This ranks him at equal highest with Kurt Waterman as being the players named in the best players on the most occasions. In 2017 he has only played six matches and kicked four goals.

Braedon Renshaw (#23) – The swingman is a key player for the Lions providing an ability to play at either centre half back or centre half forward. He has been in the best on 31% of matches since 2016 kicking 48 goals. In 2017 he has played all ten matches, being in the best players on 5 occasions and kicked 13 goals with two big bags of five and four in the last three games.

Kurt Waterman (#20) – One of the most influential players for the Lions floating across the half back line and wing, he looked to take intercepting marks from the oppositions forward players. Using his speed and long kick he looks to propel the Lions into attack. He has played 31 matches since the start of 2016 being in the best players 48% of the time.

Daniel Bennetts and Kurt Thompson fly for the ball

Jacob McCarthy attempts to break clear of Braedon Renshaw

Where is Hughes Construction Oval – Mt Torrens

Final Thought

Wax up the skis. The Mt Torrens venue has a 3 metre difference from the northern to the southern goals. This is second biggest sloping venue in the Hills behind Arkaba Oval which has a 10 metre difference goal to goal.