An 11 goal to three second half has helped the Blackwood Football Club to its ninth win of the season and see the side take some solid momentum into finals next weekend.

Speaking post-match Blackwood coach Scott Prebble said it was pleasing to see the side finish of the season with a solid performance. “We didn’t play the way we would have liked too in the first half. To the players credit, they turned it around in the second half and the results came on the scoreboard.”

“We will take some confidence into next weekend knowing anything is possible. Onkaparinga Valley are a good football side in some great form, we must bring our very best.”

The Woods made two changes with Jak Baldissera and Moe Milsom returning to the line-up in the place of Jordan Cock and Zac Venning. With the Raiders needing a 122-point victory to jump the Woods on percentage, it was a long ask. Despite this they came to play kicking the opening goal of the match. The ball got over the back to find Daniel Gonzales loose in the square to kick an easy goal. The Woods got their first major of the match through ruck Jan Warbout who clunked a contested mark at the top of the square. With both sides looking to move the ball quickly both sides went goal for goal with Patrick Hillard getting a goal for the Woods whilst William Bryars kicked a goal for the Raiders.

Trailing by 2 points at the first break, the Raiders kicked the opening major of the second quarter through speedy forward Jamie Drew who was able to mark and play on from the top of the 50. Blackwood skipper Ryan Dijksman got the instant reply through a set shot conversion. With skill errors impacting the Woods, the Raiders were able to capitalise with Drew kicking his second goal for the quarter. When the half time siren blew, the Raiders had turned the deficit into an eight-point advantage.

Sam Venning puts his Bridgewater opponent under pressure

After some stern words of advice at the half time break, the Woods came out firing in the third quarter kicking two early goals. Youngster Mat Tee was able to take advantage of a crumbing ball in the goal square to kick his first of the match. When 2020 mail medallist Matt Tuck hit the scoreboard, the Woods had hit the lead. Getting their trademark run and carry, the Woods were making it count on the scoreboard kicking another three majors.

Jaxin Faehrmann kicked an opportunistic major from long range as the ball split loose from a ball up. Shortly after, Tee entered the game again. With the Raiders looking to turn defence into attack, Tee intercepted the handball and snapped the ball straight over the goal umpires’ hat to raise the voice of the large Woods supporter group. When Tee bobbed up again shortly after to kick his third for the quarter, the Woods were suddenly up and about leading by 19 points the final change.

Jaxin Faehrmann looks to move the ball down the field

With their season over at three quarter time, the Raiders didn’t throw in the towel giving it one last crack to secure the victory. Rune Gilfoy hit the scoreboard from an acute angle set shot. When leading goal kicker Gonzales dribbled one through from the right forward pocket the margin was back to single digits. Blackwood dug deep once again going on a six-goal unanswered run. Tuck got the ball rolling for the Woods kicking a long-range goal from the next centre bounce. Rhys Sporn and Tee then kicked two goals each whilst skipper Dijksman snapped his second of the match in red time to secure a 48-point victory at the final siren.

Midfielder Daniel Benson was named best player for his tireless efforts in the middle part of the ground, with Daniel Bennetts, Eduard Van Den Berg, Tee and Oscar Hodge catching the praise of the coaching panel being awarded in the best players.