Round 3 Preview – Blackwood vs Torrens Valley

Blackwood face 2016 grand finalists, the Torrens Valley Lions in Round 3 of the Hills Football League this upcoming Saturday afternoon.

Having met in the 2016 Preliminary Final, the Woods were beaten by the Lions by 10 points in a tight game at Echunga Oval.

Since joining the Hills Division 1 competition in the season of 2011, the sides have met on 14 occasions including 4 times in 2016. The win-loss ratio from these 14 games currently sits at 5 wins to the side from Blackwood and 9 wins to the Mountain Lions of the Torrens Valley. Of the four games last season, Blackwood came away with the chocolates on one occasion recording a narrow victory in the qualifying final at Hahndorf running out winners 10.9.69 to 8.15.63.

In the corresponding fixture at Blackwood Hill Oval last season, Blackwood started slowly being down 1.2.8 to 8.1.49 at quarter time. After fighting hard to get back in the game, the Woods ultimately lost by 4 points when the final siren sounded. On that day Phil Hopton kicked 4 goals.

Daniel Bennetts and Kurt Thompson compete for an aerial ball in the 2016 Preliminary Final

Both sides will be confident after having the weekend off and will come out all guns blazing. It should be a cracking game to watch.

Some statistics to take into the game include:

Attacking prowess

It should be an attacking game of football with both sides in the top 3 for average points scored.

Blackwood rank 3rd for “points for” averaging 89 points for per game. This is +2 points on 2016. (They ranked 3rd in 2016).
Torrens Valley rank 1st for “points for” in the league averaging 118 points for per game. This is +22 points on 2016. (They ranked 2nd in 2016).
Blackwood kicked 227 minor round goals in 2016 (an average of 12.6 per match). This compares with Torrens Valley who kicked 252 goals. (An average of 14.0 goals per game).
To date in 2017, Blackwood average 13.0 goals per game whilst Torrens Valley average 17.5 goals.

Defensive rocks

Both sides sit inside the top 5 for lowest average scores against per game.

Blackwood rank 3rd best for lowest “points against” averaging 65 points against per game. This is +1 from 2016. (They ranked 4th in 2016).
Torrens Valley rank equal 5th on “points against” allowing on average 81 points against per game. This is +18 from 2016. (They ranked 3rd in 2016).
Blackwood conceded 163 goals in 2016 (an average of 9.1 per game) compared to Torrens Valley who conceded 165 goals (an average of 9.2 goals per game in 2016).
To date in 2017, Blackwood have conceded on average 10.0 goals per game whilst Torrens Valley have conceded 12.0 goals per game.

Combined positive or negative

This statistics works with combining the above two and taking the average points against per game away from the average points for per game. After the end of 2016 both sides ranked inside the top 3, with Blackwood finishing +23 (3^rd) and Torrens Valley finishing +33 (2^nd). In 2017:

Blackwood has a differential of +24 (+1 since 2016 and +24 since 2015) to sit in 4^th position.
Torrens Valley has a differential of +37 (+4 since 2016 and +19 since 2015) to sit equal 2^nd with Uraidla.

Other statistics

Both sides tend to be fast starting. Blackwood won 61% of first quarters last season whilst Torrens Valley won 59%.
Leading at quarter time could be the difference. Of all the games both sides lost in 2016, 63% of games Blackwood lost they trailed at quarter time. This compared with Torrens Valley where 80% of games they lost resulted from them having a scoreboard deficit at quarter time.

Haydn Kenny does the team thing and looks to shepherd Torrens Valley player Tom Wachtel and skipper Kurt Thompson makes a break for it

It is poised to be a big match as both sides look to stamp their early authority on the season with early victories. The match gets underway from 2.30pm.

Hope to see you all there!