Woodville-West Torrens Football Club

Woodville-West Torrens

Names
Full name	Woodville-West Torrens Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Eagles
2016 season
Leading goalkicker	Michael Wundke (46)
Best and fairest	Jared Petrenko
Club details
Founded	1991
Colours	Blue, Green and Gold
Competition	South Australian National Football League
President	Kurt Slaven
Coach	Michael Godden
Captain(s)	Luke Thompson & Patrick Giuffreda
Premierships	3 1993, 2006, 2011
Ground(s)	Woodville Oval (capacity: 15,000)
	Thebarton Oval (capacity: 15,000)
Other information
Official website	www.wwtfc.com.au
Guernsey:

Woodville-West Torrens Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). It was formed in 1990 from an amalgamation of the neighbouring Woodville and West Torrens football clubs and played its inaugural game in 1991. Since 1993, the Eagles have played most of their home games at Woodville's home ground of Woodville Oval, having previously used Football Park. They also play two or three games per season at their pre-season base of Thebarton Oval, a ground which has six light towers that the club has upgraded in 2012 to allow night games at the ground for the first time since the 1983 Escort Cup Grand Final (a game won by West Torrens).

History

West Torrens had competed in the SANFL since 1897, while Woodville entered the competition in 1964.

Both sides struggled on the field throughout their respective existences. To 1990, West Torrens had won four premierships in eighty seven seasons, the last one being in 1953, and Woodville had not won a premiership or played in a grand final in twenty-seven seasons, usually being close to or on the bottom of the ladder.

Whispers had grown throughout SA football circles that a merger would save these clubs throughout the 1980s. In 1990, the imminent admission of the Adelaide Crows into the AFL placed both club's futures as separate entities in serious doubt, with West Torrens being technically bankrupt and Woodville realising that it would be very difficult to be competitive.

It was decided at the end of the season to merge the two sides as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, to play their home games at Woodville's home ground, Woodville Oval, and use the West Torrens Eagle emblem. The new club proved immediately competitive and won their first premiership in 1993.

Although officially formed in 1991, it was after the 1993 Premiership that many finally accepted the 'new' Eagles. In accepting the Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy for the first time for the Eagles (also the first time ever for Woodville, and the first time since 1953 for West Torrens), captain Peter Schwarz jubilantly proclaimed:

"This is a very sweet moment – the end result of two clubs that made a lot of tough decisions three years ago. This is for Woodville and for West Torrens. Now we are one club."

The club colours of blue, gold and green incorporate the club colours of West Torrens (blue and gold) and Woodville (green and gold). The Eagle logo of the West Torrens Football Club was adopted as the official emblem of Woodville West Torrens. It was also agreed that blue would be the primary colour of the merged club.

Premierships

After having merged only 3 years prior, Woodville-West Torrens managed to claim the Holy Grail of SANFL footy, The Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy, after a convincing 73-point victory over Norwood. It would, however, prove to be the Eagles only premiership success during 1994–2005 in which they lost 5 Grand Finals – 1994 to Port Adelaide and 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005 all to Central District. After losing yet another Grand Final to their arch rivals in 2005, the Eagles bounced back and got their first premiership in 13 years, and after 6 attempts, with a thumping 76-point victory over the Bulldogs. Prior to the game, the Eagles Cheersquad printed the words "Patience + Perseverance = Reward" onto the teams pregame banner, acknowledging the team's misfortunes in the past (especially to the Bulldogs) and how they would once again lift the trophy.

In 2011, The Eagles became the only club in the millennia to defeat Central District in two grand finals, with a thrilling 3-point win – 81 to 78 on 9 October 2011. The Eagles went in as the underdogs but coach Michael Godden (in only his second year with the team and in a senior coaching position) believed his Eagles could over come the Dogs.

All state ruckman Craig Parry was named the Jack Oatey Medalist for Best on Ground for 2011.

Godden became the third coach to win a Premiership for Woodville-West Torrens, following Bruce Winter (1993) & Ron Fuller (2006) and the second on his first attempt (Winter 1993).

The Eagles became the first side to win the Premiership from a Qualifying Final loss since Sturt did so in 1976, and the only club in the competition to have won Premierships in each of the last 3 decades.

In 2015 the Woodville West Torrens Football Club celebrated their 25th season in the SANFL, and dominated the competition in U/18s, Reserves and League, taking out each Minor Premiership (the only club to ever do so) dropping just 4 games across all 3 grades throughout the minor round season. The league team with a 16-2 record from their 18 games.

Each club progressed straight through to their respective Grand Finals, and the Reserves completed a remarkable undefeated season (first team to do so since West Torrens in 1919) to take out their 8th flag. Unfortunately the League team were dealt with 3 major season ending injuries in their 2nd Semi Final victory, ripping out their engine room including Magarey Medal Runner-up and eventual 2015 Club Champion Angus Rowntree, as well as number 1 ruckman Marc Borholm and former Reserves Magarey Medalist Angus Poole.

It proved too much to cover for the Eagles in the Grand Final, falling short to West Adelaide by 30 points. The U/18s also lost their decider.

It was a bitterly disappointing end for Michael Godden and his men after a near perfect season, cruelled by injury at the final hurdle.

Player Development

In 2011, a study commissioned by the AFL identified Woodville-West Torrens as the most effective developer of AFL talent in the country.^[1] From 1998–2010, the Eagles had 19 selected at the AFL Draft including Matthew Pavlich, Nathan Bock, Brian Lake, Matthew Stokes, Bernie Vince and Jay Schulz.

Club details

Formed:	1990
League History:	SANFL League 1991–
Colours:	Blue & Green with Gold Eagle.
Nickname:	The Eagles.
Current Coach:	Michael Godden
Current Captain:	Patrick Giuffreda & Luke Thompson (2015)
Home Ground:	Woodville Oval (1992–)
Alternative Facilities:	2 or 3 night home games per year are played at Thebarton Oval (Former home of West Torrens) which is also the club's pre-season base.
Previous Grounds:	Football Park (1991–1992)

Club Song

The Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Song is called "We're the might flying Eagles" and is sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of The Republic"

(Verse)

We're the mighty Eagles
And we always battle through
The mighty flying Eagles
Wearing Gold and Green and Blue
Sound the Siren, turn us loose
And watch the Feathers fly
And you'll see what we can do

(Chorus)

We're the mighty flying Eagles
We're the mighty flying Eagles
We're the mighty flying Eagles
In Gold and Green and Blue

(Home Run)

In Gold and Green and Blue

Coaches

1991–1992 – Neil Balme
1993–1997 – Bruce Winter *
1998–1999 – Mark Mickan
2000 – Paul Hamilton
2001–2009 – Ron Fuller *
2010 – Michael Godden *

italics current coach

Premiership Coach

Captains

1991–1994 – Peter Schwarz *
1995–2000 – Andrew Rogers
2001–2006 – Gavin Colville
2007 – Justin Cicolella *
2008–2011 – Mark McKenzie *
2012 – Luke Powell
2015 – Patrick Giuffreda & Luke Thompson

italics current captain
* Premiership Captain (Justin Cicolella was acting captain for the 2006 Premiership)

Woodville-West Torrens 2016 playing list


1 Nick O'Brien 2 Matthew Appleton 3 Luke Jarrad 4 Matthew Raymond 5 Jared Petrenko 6 Michael Wundke 7 Nick Hayes 8 Phil Raymond 9 James Boyd 10 Chris Hall 11 Jarred Allmond 12 Andrew Ainger 13 Marc Borholm 14 Jack Gaffney 15 Angus Rowntree 16 Lachlan McGregor 17 Jackson Press 18 Jarrad Redden 19 Luke Thompson		20 Tom Whittlesea 21 Nathan Batley 22 Jake Summerton 23 Brett Ellis 24 Sam Rowland 25 Aseri Raikiwasa 27 Sam Lodge 28 Harrison Jolly 29 Matthew Goldsworthy 30 Brad Wilson 31 Ethan Haylock 32 Jack Hayes 33 Scott Lewis 34 Rhys Woods 35 Joe Sinor 36 Nicholas Yarran 37 Cameron Giles 38 Jack Elsworthy 39 Jack Firns		40 Luke Hayes 41 Lachlan Smith 42 Based Baqeri 43 Damien Cardone 44 Jake von Bertouch 45 Patrick Giuffreda 46 Giles Ellis 47 Joseph Heinjus 48 Daniel Minney 50 Jake Westbrook 51 Luke Hoare 52 Angus Poole

Honours

SANFL Premierships:	3	1993, 2006, 2011
South Australian Night Series Winners:	2	1993, 1994
SANFL Minor Round Premiership:	6	1993, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2016
Stanley H. Lewis Memorial Trophy:	5	1993, 2000, 2013, 2015, 2016
SANFL Grand Finals:	10	1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2016
SANFL Finals Appearances:	22	1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
SANFL Reserves Premierships:	8	1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2015
SANFL Under 19's Premierships:	3	1996, 1998, 2000
SANFL Under 18's Premierships:	2	2012, 2013
SANFL Under 17's Premierships:	4	1993, 1998, 1999, 2000

League placings

1991 – 4th
1992 – 3rd
1993 – Premiers
1994 – 2nd
1995 – 8th
1996 – 4th
1997 – 7th
1998 – 6th
1999 – 3rd
2000 – 2nd
2001 – 2nd
2002 – 4th
2003 – 3rd
2004 – 2nd
2005 – 2nd
2006 – Premiers
2007 – 3rd
2008 – 6th
2009 – 4th
2010 – 3rd
2011 – Premiers
2012 – 5th
2013 – 4th
2014 – 5th
2015 – 2nd
2016 – 2nd

Fos Williams Medallists

Presented to best on ground for South Australia in a State match

2012 – Adam Grocke (representing South Australia vs Western Australia)

Jack Oatey Medallists

Presented to best on ground in an SANFL Grand Final

1993 – Steven Sziller
2006 – Hayden Skipworth
2011 – Craig Parry

Reserves Magarey Medallists

1992 – Jason Sziller
1996 – Jason King
2003 – David Newett
2012 – Angus Poole
2015 – Matthew Appleton
2016 - Jake Comitogianni

Tomkins Medallists (U/19's)

1997 – Adam O'Hara
1999 – Greg Chapman
2008 – Shane Harris

McCallum-Tomkins Medallists (U/18's)

2013 – Paul Ventura

Bob Lee Medallists

Presented to best on ground in an SANFL Reserves Grand Final

2001 – Brett O'Hara
2004 – Luke Spehr
2013 – Byron Sumner
2014 – Sam Martyn
2015 – Ethan Haylock

Alan Stewart Medallists

Presented to best on ground in an SANFL U/18's Grand Final

2012 – Matthew Appelton
2013 – Malcolm Karpany

Ken Farmer Medallists (SANFL Leading Goalkickers)

Scott Morphett: 99 goals (1991)
Mark Passador: 74 goals (2006)
Michael Wundke: 63 goals (2014)

Bob Quinn Medalists

Presented to best on ground in an ANZAC Day match (Grand Final replay)

2005 – Luke Powell
2006 – Mark Passador
2016 – Jared Petrenko

R.O. Shearman Medalists

Presented to best SANFL player as voted by League coaches

2000 – Gavin Colville
2006 – Justin Cicolella
2016 – Jared Petrenko

Best and Fairest

1991 – Scott Morphett
1992 – Robert Pyman
1993 – Andrew Rogers
1994 – Jason Sziller
1995 – Andrew Rogers
1996 – Andrew Rogers
1997 – Steven Hall
1998 – Nick Pesch
1999 – Gavin Colville & Adam Pearce
2000 – Gavin Colville
2001 – Gavin Colville
2002 – Justin Cicolella
2003 – Justin Cicolella
2004 – Gavin Colville
2005 – Mark McKenzie
2006 – Mark McKenzie
2007 – Leigh Treeby
2008 – Mark McKenzie & Luke Powell
2009 – Mark McKenzie
2010 – Justin Cicolella
2011 – Mark McKenzie
2012 – Angus Rowntree
2013 – Phil Raymond
2014 – Scott Lewis
2015 - Angus Rowntree
2016 – Jared Petrenko

Life Governors

The highest individual honour that is bestowed by the club

Club Records

South Australian Premiers: 3 – 1993, 2006, 2011
South Australian Night Series Winners: 2 – 1993, 1994
Home Ground(s): Woodville Oval (Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval) (1992–present), Thebarton Oval (Adelaide Airport Stadium) (2012–)
Former Home Ground(s): Football Park (AAMI Stadium) (1991)
Record Attendance: 42,719 v Norwood at Football Park, 1993 SANFL Grand Final
Record Attendance Minor Round: 15,126 v Port Adelaide at Football Park, 1994 SANFL ANZAC Day
Record Night Attendance at Thebarton Oval: 4,566 v Port Adelaide, Round 1, 2012
Most Games: 266 by Justin Cicolella (1998–2012)
Most Goals in a Season: 99 by Scott Morphett in 1991
Most Goals for the Club: 312 by Mark Passador (2003–10)
Most Goals in a Game: 12 by Andrew Taylor vs North Adelaide in 1994^[2]
Most Years as Coach: 9 by Ron Fuller (2001–09)
Most Premierships as Coach: 1 by Bruce Winter (1993), Ron Fuller (2006) and Michael Godden (2011)
Most Years as Captain: 6 by Andrew Rogers (1995–2000) and Gavin Colville (2001–06)
Most Premierships as Captain: 1 by Peter Schwarz (1993), Justin Cicolella (2006) and Mark McKenzie (2011)
Most Best & Fairest Awards: 5 by Mark McKenzie (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)
SANFL Ken Farmer Medallists: Scott Morphett (1991), Mark Passador (2006)
Highest Score: 30.14 (194) v North Adelaide in 1994
Longest Winning Run: 14 (1993–94 – last 7 games in 1993, first 7 games in 1994)
Longest Winning Run in a Season: 12 (2004)
Longest Losing Run: 8 (1997)

Team of Two Decades

WWT Team of Two Decades
B:	Luke Powell	Steven Hall	Peter Schwarz (c)
HB:	Andrew Rogers	Mark McKenzie	Jamie Tape
C:	Andrew Payze	Gavin Colville	Luke Jarrad
HF:	Scott Morphett	Ken McGregor	Timothy Inkster
F:	Adam Grocke	Mark Passador	Jason Sziller
Foll:	Paul Lindsay	Justin Cicolella (vc)	Steven Sziller
Int:	David Niemann	Wayne Weidemann	Nick Pesch

Coach:

Home Grounds

The Woodville-West Torrens Eagles first home ground was SANFL league headquarters Football Park in their inaugural season of 1991. In 1992 the new club moved permanently to the Woodville Oval (former home of the Woodville Warriors). Due to Woodville Oval also being the home of the Woodville Cricket Club who play in the South Australian Grade Cricket League, the Eagles use West Torrens' former home ground Thebarton Oval as their pre-season training base. Thebarton, which had lights installed for night games since the 1950s (the lights were upgraded in 2011–12), is occasionally used as an alternative playing venue for the club, with the team having played a handful of games at the venue since 2006.

Football Park (AAMI Stadium) (1991)
Woodville Oval (Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval) (1992—present)
Thebarton Oval (Adelaide Airport Stadium) (2006—present)

External links

References

South Australian National Football League clubs

Clubs	Adelaide Central District Glenelg North Adelaide Norwood Port Adelaide South Adelaide Sturt West Adelaide Woodville-West Torrens

Former clubs	Adelaide (I) Bankers Gawler Kensington Victorian North Adelaide (I) Royal Park South Park West Adelaide (I) West Torrens Woodville (I) Woodville (II)

Formerly affiliated clubs	Kapunda Willunga Prince Alfred College

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