An equal career best four goals from Matt Tuck has helped the Woods record a 12 point victory over the Echunga Demons. The win was the second of the season for the Woods and the fifth win in a row against the side from Echunga.

Speaking post-match coach Scott Prebble said it was pleasing to see everyone in the side contribute to the team performance. “We played a great team game this match. Like everyone it is a hard at this time with covid and injuries but all players who took to the field today played to our game we got the result.”

The Woods made five changes from the previous week with Ben Wender making his A Grade debut whilst Daniel Benson, Caleb Dearman, Luke Evans and Matt Waldron coming into the side. For Evans, it was a remarkable effort being a late call up for his second A Grade game with his debut coming back in Round 18 of 2012.

Mark Reynolds looks to kick the ball down the field

The visitors won the toss but decided to kick up the slope against the breeze in the opening term. Both sides looked to move the ball quickly in the opening period as it bounced between forward 50 arcs. It took until the Matt Tuck caught Josh Sargent holding the ball. Using the wind to his advantage he curled the ball through the middle much to the delight of the home crowd. The Demons got the instant reply through Lachlan Bates winning a one-on-one contest in the goal square to snap truly. Tuck asserted himself on the game once again kicked the next two goals. Moving the ball long, River Moore was able to find Tuck loose out the back for the easiest of goals. When the Woods won the next centre clearance, the ball was driven deep into the 50 with Tuck pushing off his opponent to take a mark directly in front of the goals to kick the third of the term and help the Woods take a two-goal lead into the first break.

Mark Reynolds raised the opening major of the second quarter early on. Winning the ball from the stoppage, Reynolds found himself with a paddock of space on the outer wing. Moving forward with leg speed he took one bounce and kicked straight over the goal umpire. When captain Ryan Dijksman kicked a long range left foot shot the Woods were up and running with all the momentum. The Demons held strong and some easy misses on goals saw them stay in touch in the middle period of the quarter. Mack Wenske was able to kick the second of the term for the Demons via a coast-to-coast goal. Recruit Brad Agnew kicked the ball long to find Wenske in space for an easy left foot conversion. A late set shot conversion to Cam Bates saw the sit at three goals at the major break.

With a strong breeze blowing down the ground the Woods looked to step on the accelerator in the so-called premiership quarter however the Demons looked to counter, and they did. Kicking the next two goals through Nathan Ellis and Lachlan Bates drew the margin back to two goals against the breeze. The Woods then swung the momentum again with Dijksman and Faehrmann kicking their second goals whilst Ben Adams and Luke Evans kicked their first A Grade goals for the Woods much to the delight of the players. When the three-quarter time siren blew the Woods lead by 4 goals but faced a difficult quarter against the breeze.

With one final rev up from their coach, the Demons looked to make an early impact in the term. It was the Woods however who got the momentum with Matt Tuck kicking his fourth of the match through a craft crumb and snap. Late goals to Bates and Vanzetta drew the margin back, but time simply ran out as the Woods held on for a 12 point victory.

Captain Ryan Dijksman was named best player for the Woods kicked two majors and gaining plenty of disposals in the midfield. Other players to catch the eye of the coaching staff were Tuck, ruck Jan Warbout, Jaxin Faehrmann and Rhys Sporn whilst for the Demons Tate Giadresco provided continual