This coming Saturday the 27th of May will mark 1,807 days, 43,368 hours or 2,602,080 minutes since the Blackwood Football Club has defeated the Uraidla Districts Football Club at Uraidla Oval. We aim to break this duck when we travel to Uraidla for Round 7 of the Hills Football League.
The match up sees a second versus third encounter with both sides refreshed after the weekend off due to the Interleague. It will be a highly anticipated clash for both sides with Blackwood looking to maintain their unbeaten start to 2017 whilst Uraidla will be looking to maintain their record over the Woods and keep in touch with the top two.
Previous encounters
Since 2006 the sides have met on 26 separate occasions with Blackwood winning ten matches and Uraidla winning sixteen matches.
In more recent times, since the grand final of 2011 when Uraidla fought back from 29 points down at three quarter time, they have held a strangle hold over the Woods with Blackwood only winning two out of the 10 matches they have played together.
This Saturday will be 1,807 days since we have last defeated Uraidla at their home ground. To put it in perspective Julia Gilard was prime minister of Australia, the I-phone 4 was the latest phone on the market, it was the GWS Giants first year in the AFL and the Australian dollar was $1.01 USD. The win on June 16th 2012 saw the Woods run out 27 point winners with Troy Edwards being awarded 3 mail medal votes by the umpires.
Previous 10 outings at Uraidla Oval:
2016: Blackwood 5.7.37 defeated by Uraidla 7.16.58
2015: Blackwood 8.5.53 defeated by Uraidla 10.12.72
2014: Blackwood 6.9.45 defeated by Uraidla 14.9.93
2013: Blackwood 12.5.77 defeated by Uraidla 23.8.146
2012: Blackwood 11.4.70 defeated Uraidla 5.13.43
2011: Blackwood 10.6.66 defeated by Uraidla 12.15.87
2010: Blackwood 11.9.75 defeated Uraidla 7.13.55
2009: Blackwood 12.8.80 defeated Uraidla 10.12.72
2008: Blackwood 14.9.93 defeated Uraidla 11.6.72
2007: Blackwood 11.4.70 defeated by Uraidla 15.15.105
2006: Blackwood 19.11.125 defeated by Uraidla 10.11.71
Season 2017 statistics
Attack
Blackwood are the second best scoring side in the competition to date averaging 110 points per game. To put this in perspective this is 23 more points per game than 2016 and 45 more points for per game than 2015.
When compared to Uraidla, they average 91 points per match in 2017. They are scoring 24 more points a game compared to 2016 and 31 points more than 2015. For 2017, they are statistics the most improved scoring side in the Hills Football League.
Defence
Blackwood have the second best defence in competition in 2017 conceeding on average 57 points per game. They have improved compared to 2016 conceding 7 less points a game and 8 less points than 2015. When compared with Uraidla, they are conceding on average 60 points per game in 2017. This is 2 points less than 2016 but 5 more points than they conceded on average in 2015.
Differential
In terms of differential Blackwood are +53 in 2017 whilst Uraidla are +30. This ranks both sides 2nd and 3rd in the competition to date.
A interesting note, since 2006 to make the grand final sides average a differential of +45. The sides which have made it to the big dance on average score 103 points whilst conceding only 59 points per match.
Currently only two sides average more than 103 points per game in 2017 (Hahndorf & Blackwood) whilst three sides average 59 or less points per game (Hahndorf, Blackwood & Mt Barker).
Key statistics
A spread of goal kickers will be important. Of the top 4 goal kickers for both sides, Uraidla’s kick 61% of all the goals they have kicked whilst for Blackwood the top 4 goal kickers have kicked 51% of all goals. For 2016, to make the grand final sides the top 4 goal kickers averaged 61% of the teams goals.
Starving opportunity at goal is important. Statistically since the start of 2016, when Uraidla win they have numerous opportunities in front of goal in the first half. If Uraidla have more than 10 shots on goal if the first half they more often than not go onto win the game. This is the case in 2017 where in their wins they have had 13, 13, 11 and 17 shots in the first half.
For Blackwood this statistic is the same, since the start of 2016, if they have less than 10 scoring shots in the first half, they have lost every game. In 2017, the Woods have had 11, 17, 25, 10 and 17 scoring shots in the first half of the opening 5 games.
The key players to watch for Uraidla
Nick Amato: Moved to Uraidla from North Adelaide in 2017 and has made an immediate impact being in the best players for all five matches and kicking 11 goals.
Riley Hayes: Was recruited to Uraidla from Sturt and North Adelaide in 2017. He is another recruit who has made an immediate impact kicking 7 goals and being in the best players on all 5 occasions.
Tom Kluvanek: The swingman has played some games for Sturt and the Adelaide FC in the SANFL in previous seasons. He has kicked 55 goals and been in the best 18 times in the 52 games he has played since 2014.
Travis Oakley: Been the leading goal kicker for Uraidla where he has kicked 128 goals in 62 games since 2014.
Nathan Remnant: Played at Uraidla since 2011 biding his time during their successful periods. He has become a key player in the midfield where since 2014 he has been in the best players in 48% of games including in 15 for 20 games played in 2016.
Michael Tudor-Tsourtos: The damaging left footer is a key link man for the Uraidla side who look to get the ball into his hands. He has been in the best players on 38% of games played since 2014.
See you at the football #honourthecolours
