HUMMOCKS-WATCHMAN is through to its first grand final in 11 years after it stunned Balaklava by three goals in Saturday’s Adelaide Plains A-grade football preliminary final at Mallala Oval.
The Eagles had beaten Mallala by 19 points in the first semi-final a fortnight ago, while the Peckers lost to Two Wells in the second semi-final by seven points a week ago.
After a tight tussle early on, Balaklava got off to the perfect start with Shane Moss kicking the opening goal of the game.
However, that was cancelled out by Eagle Nathan Studham just seconds later, who then followed up with his second to give his side a five-point lead.
Henry Wright and Nathaniel Lloyd then goaled for Hummocks-Watchman and Balaklava respectively, and the former led by three points at quarter-time.
The Eagles dominated the second quarter, but didn’t have much to show for it as they kicked 2.6 to two behinds.
Studham booted his third, while Jordan Bailey got on the scoreboard as Hummocks led by 19 points at half-time.
Having failed to take advantage of their domination in the second term, the Eagles began to lose control of the contest.
Jason McPharlin got on the scoresheet, as did Sam Michael who cut the margin to seven points.
Wright goaled to steady the ship, but another late major to Michael meant the Peckers were within four points at the final change.
Despite Balaklava entering the quarter with momentum, it was the Eagles who drew first blood in the final stanza.
Wright slotted his third and then followed up with his fourth to open up a 17-point lead.
Reece Rudduck then put the game beyond doubt with another goal, which secured the Eagles’ first grand final berth since their 2008 premiership.
Post-match, Eagles coach Josh Gould was delighted to secure a spot in the big dance.
“It was really good,” he said.
“They’d beaten us a few times this year.
“We played our best game for the year.”
Despite not taking control of the contest in the second and third quarters when the match was up for grabs, Gould said he was still confident in his charges at three-quarter-time.
“I was confident, we knew they’d come back at us in that third quarter,” he said.
“They’re a good team, obviously.
“It was just a matter of standing up to what they threw at us.”