Jack Toft
Years ago
ABA Finals Action - Week 2
Women:
Eagles-West @ Wayville Waterworld
There's a reason why a team goes 8-1 at home and Wayville has certainly been a house of pain for visiting teams with an average of 21 as the winning margin for the Eagles at home this season. With the Lightning playing most of their WNBL games there, let’s hope the house of pain continues.
West have been beaten twice by the Eagles this season and face a third thumping by a team who has been playing head and shoulders above most others. No disection on Court 1 this week, but the Eagles should swoop and snatch the first GF spot. Bring a snorkel in case of rain.
Sturt-Tigers @ Pasadena
Tigeresses have been the fairy tale in the women’s program but face an uphill battle from 5th position. Don’t know when the last time was someone won ABA from 5th. The Redlegs did it in the SANFL in 1984 - still remember Norwood Oval rocking that night. The Sabres have not dominated the Tigers this season and with a win to each team, the Sabres have the split by a mere point. Sabres grow an extra leg at home and will be hard to beat, but while there’s a chance, don’t underestimate the sharp claws of the Tigeresses.
Rumour going around is that if the Tigeresses do reach the GF, Boti will take off the world-renowned mo! Tigers hungrier.
Men:
West-Sturt @ Port Misery
The place should be rocking on Saturday night with a GF spot on the line. Westies are fresh and the Sturt boys will need to leave their handbags at home if they want to book the first spot in the GF. Finals time winners need to have Bear Grylls type grunt and determination. This means drinking your own urine from a rattlesnake skin bladder. Sturt may be the more technical and clever team on paper, but the Westies boys have got a bit more grunt for my liking. (I assume Brad is back) The ability of rookie coach Paul Bell will be tested in this game. Think fast Paul, no time to chew fingernails. Westies by 2 in a bruisefest.
Norwood-Eagles @ Mars
A final quarter foulfest from the Flames couldn’t get the lead back from the Sabres and so will face the Feagles at Mars. The fairy tale threepeat is on the minds of the boys and Norwood face the embarassment of two strikes and you’re out. This is Norwood’s game to lose, not Eagles game to win. The Eagles will face a tough fight at Mars, but need to get an early lead to force a tight game. Rupert is a cunning coach, so don’t expect he will give up until the final siren. He's got plenty of tricks in his toolkit. Coops to swat basketballs like Burke and Wills swatting flies in the dusty outback. Norwood by 4, dreams of three-peats alive for another week.
