A reminder that the below is a presentation by Lancelot Yu,
whose personal views in this article may not necessarily be the same as SWAFL's.
In the very early game at 8:30am, the Macquarie University Bravehearts set their alarms to when the sun arose, to make the drive across Sydney to Taren Point located in the Sutherland Shire to play the Southern Power. As part of Ladies Day at Southern Power, the women's team were invited to be the leading game to kick off the events. Game description is provided by both sides. With both teams looking for their first win after loses in Round 1, the
game started with a torrid first quarter and the defensive lines
holding their own and keeping the game really tight. As the game
progressed, the cetreline of both teams clicked into gear, providing
great action between half back and half forward lines. Mac Uni said that their defensive lines did a great job on the day sticking to the opposition well but the Power got some
good kicks and passes to get to goal. Finally Southern
Power, with a string of experience returning for the game, got into
action and put some points on the scoreboard. With Ash McClure,
Christine Coles and Dom Groom providing good attacking feed to the
forwards, the Power slowly drew away to win well whilst for the Bravehearts Roxie Swart and Thea Margalit who were both U/18 players did marvellously well. End score Southern Power 9.7.61 to Macquarie University Bravehearts 2.0.12
P.S. Our support also goes out to Charlotte Crosby from the Power who
badly broke her leg in multiple places. Get well soon !!
In the first of the three games at Mahoney, Bondi Shamrocks hosted Newtown Breakaways. The previous two games had been blowouts by ten goals to Newtown in each of the games and the Shamrocks were determined for history not to let history repeat itself. In contrast the Breakaways were confident having seen off the Wolves in a tough match in the season opener. And it proved to be for history to repeat itself as the Breakaways exerted their will on the game from the opening bounce for which the Shamrocks could not valiantly recover. For the Shamrocks Annie Phillips, Louise Slevin and Carol Breen tried hard and for the Breakaways Natalie Redford, Kyrstle Thompson and Natasha Devlin stood out. End score was Newtown 14.13.97 Bondi 1.0.6
In the second game of the day at Mahoney, Balmain Dockers had their season opener scratch match against the Wollongong Saints who had forfeited. Last week the Dockers were on canteen duty and observed the other 8 teams run around whilst the Saints learnt a footballing lesson at the hands of Sydney University. The spirit amongst the Saints was determined to improve on last weeks efforts across the board. Thanks to the Bondi Shamrocks for loaning some players to Wollongong for a run around. The Wollongong Saints scored their first unofficial score (a behind) in SWAFL competition.
In the third and final game at Mahoney, both undefeated teams met each other with new season favourites Sydney University Bombers taking on UNSW-Easts Stingrays. Stingrays were aiming for back to back victories which was last recorded in the 2005 or 2006 season whilst the Sydney University Bombers were determined to stretch their % just a little bit further! And it proved to be for the Sydney University who blew out the opponents from the opening quarter. Best for the Uni Bombers were Marie Keating, Belinda Michalk, Emma Yuen, Kristy Williams and Mel Khoury whilst for the Stingrays, the defence tried hard all day led by Sarah Court, Nadine Miller and Jenna Linehan. End score was Sydney University 17.17.119 to UNSW-ES Stingrays 1.1.7
Golden Boot News
So far Marie Keating (Sydney University) has been terrorising the opponents backline to score 23 goals in two games. With more games than ever before we could project a century of goals breaking the old record set in 2008 of 97 goals by Marie as well.
Round 3 Preview
Round 3 sees everyone consulting their GPS Nav-man and Googlemaps to go to North Dalton Park (Thomas Dalton Park on Googlemaps), Fairy Meadow as the league promotes women's football in the Illawarra Region. Maps are also on the SWAFL Website.
Directions
Once you are on the F6 Freeway, follow the highway to Wollongong, take the Mt Ousley road exit at the bottom of the hill, turn left at McDonalds, right at Elliots Rd, left at Carters Lane which veers onto Pioneer Road and the stadium is on your right. The beach is on the other side of the oval for teams interested in an immediate recovery session so feel free to bring your towels and swimmers. In the interests of a friendly environment, you probably might want to organise a carpool within your clubs.
By public transport, catch South Coast Line trains from Central to Fairy Meadow Station which is a 800m walk. Walk down Elliots Road to Carters Lane, turn left and you can see North Dalton Park from there.
Match preview - It's rivalry round!
The first game at 10am at North Dalton Park is the clash of the round as the rivalry continues between Newtown Breakaways hosting Balmain Dockers. Memories amongst the Dockers are still fresh from last year, so it will be safe to say they are keen to play Newtown. Both sides come in with the Breakaways undefeated and the Balmain Dockers facing a scratch match against Wollongong, so the onus is on the Dockers to figure out where they lie in the competition. The head to head record is: Newtown 13 wins, Balmain 3 wins and 1 draw.
The second game at 12 noon is between the UNSW-ES Stingrays hosting Macquarie University. Intellectual bragging rights are at stake as these two clubs who officially play each other for the first time. Last year the Macquarie University Bravehearts in their development game had their best performance against the Stingrays and are keen to repeat it again. The Stingrays look forward to bringing their fast speedy attack into play on the wide spaces of North Dalton Park. With both sides coming off a defeat, both teams are keen to get back in the winners column today.
The third game at 2pm is the traditional ANZAC fixture between the Western Wolves hosting the Bondi Shamrocks. For the Bondi Shamrocks this could be an emotional game being the 150th football game of President Lisa "Kiwi" Roper who played all but two of her seasons at the Wolves. The Shamrocks come in off their game against Newtown positive at the lessons from the drubbing in the previous game while the Wolves have been physically refreshed having had the bye last weekend. I think the key to winning will be the team who dominates the middle and uses the wings most effectively with the wide open spaces available at North Dalton Park. The head to head record between the two clubs is two wins to the Wolves but the margin has been four goals at the most.
The fourth game at 4pm is at dusk consisting of the regional rivalry between the Shire vs the Gong. New clubs the Wollongong Saints (and canteen duty) take on the Southern Power. Last week the Power played an entertaining game against the Macquarie University Warriors to win comfortably whilst the Saints emerged out of the Dockers game beaten but unbowed. With the first ever home game for the Saints in the Illawarra Region, the Saints will be fired up to put a win in their account.
The Wollongong Saints working with the Illawarra AFL are heavily promoting these games to all local junior AFL clubs especially the Youth Girls Football League as an exhibition of womens football, so please remember at all times you are ambassadors of the league.
Sydney University have the bye.
A reminder that the above has been a presentation by Lancelot Yu, whose personal views in this article may not necessarily be the same as SWAFL's.
Last Modified on 20/04/2010 11:34