Usual disclaimer applies that the Author's views may not necessarily reflect SWAFL Official Opinion.
Round 10 saw 4 matches on Saturday.
First of all Newtown made the trip down the Mt Ousley pass to Wollongong. Last time it was a record score of 260 points and this time a revitalised Wollongong Saints were determined for history not to repeat itself. With Newtown fielding two representatives from the AFL High Performance Academy, it potentially could have been a long day for the Wollongong Saints but to their credit they tightened up and Newtown won the match Newtown Breakaways 19.18.132 to Wollongong Saints 0.0.0. Natasha Devlin did well around the ground while Krystle Thompson slammed home 8 goals. For the home team Hannah Strong had another excellent outing in the midfield and the rest of the team consistently improving.
At Mahoney, three matches were played. In Game One the Bondi Shamrocks took on the UNSW-Easts Stingrays. Bondi had a coaching turnover during the break, with Geoff Odgers deciding to pursue new interests and the team now determined to build on the foundations he had laid during his tenure. Interim coach Lisa Roper was now in charge. In contrast Easts would be missing a few of their stars absent in Melissa Breuker, Erin Burns and Courtney Gum and now it was up to the rest of the Stingrays to step up to the plate. Shamrocks fielding only 17 players shook off their usual lethargy to slam home the first two goals and were never headed for the rest of the match. Even the sin-binning of captain Kate Woodlands in the first quarter who is one of their chief
play makers failed to stop the Shamrocks momentum. In the 3rd quarter the Stingrays made a comeback with two goals to dominate 15 minutes of the 3rd quarter. However the Shamrocks kicked two goals in the last five minutes of the 3rd quarter to kill off any Stingrays momentum and in a surprise upset to many observers including myself it was Bondi Shamrocks knocking off the 5th placed team by 54 points. Bondi Shamrocks 10.9.69 to Easts-UNSW Stingrays 2.3.15. Those who did well for Bondi were many but included Paula Chalmers, Sandra Ryan, Annie Rose Phillips and Kerry Gammon. Those who did well for Easts were Jenna Linehan and Sarah Court. It was probably the Bondi Shamrocks best win in their short history. For the Stingrays, there are some positive signs but they need to recapture the momentum from the first half of the season if they want to keep pace with the final four or face the possibility of an unbridgeable gap.
In Game Two, Sydney University took on Balmain. Last time the Dockers jumped the fancied Bombers by 45 points and the Bombers during the week were using analysis on ways to improve. The result was the homework coming to fruition with the Bombers scoring five goals to two in the first quarter stunning the Dockers. However a champion team sometimes needs to be tested to see if they have the resilience to come back and it was to be the case for the Dockers as they used the wind (going towards the brick wall end) to score two goals in the second quarter. The third quarter could have spelt imminent disaster for the Dockers had to play one player short with Kate Fitzsimons sin-binned and the wind against them but they toughed it out to only have one goal scored by Amelia Dever in the last minute of the quarter. In the final quarter it was a see-saw battle as the lead flip-flopped between the Dockers and the Bombers but it was to be the Dockers who recorded a memorable victory Balmain Dockers 7.6.48 to Sydney University 6.5.41. This game was clearly the best game of SWAFL this season, showing great teamwork by both sides equally passionate about winning. Both sides can look to the future with confidence about a rematch in the semi-finals if they can reproduce this form consistently.
Last time I praised the Dockers, I neglected to mention their stingy defence so the following players can take a bow: Olivia Hall, Shelley Moore, Narelle Spangher, Liz Brett, Jaime
Warhurst, Ainslee Rodger, Donna Carson, Rachel Barger and Maggie Jenkins. The Dockers have only conceded 139 points after 9 rounds. The SWAFL total defensive record is 184 points in the home and away record (2001) or the
average of 15.666 by Newtown in 2003. Balmain will probably miss out on the opportunity to set up in a new cumulative record of 184 but for the average will need to work around 250 in the home and away this season to be the best statstical defence of all SWAFL history.
In Game Three, Southern Power took on Western Wolves. Back in Round five it was the Wolves by 64 points and could the Power pull out the win this time around. The Wolves came out to play using the wind in the first quarter to put through 4 goals and continued to score although at a slower pace at the rest of the game. With Christine MacDonald in charge of the board for this week, the Wolves showed skill across the field although they were made to work for it by a resolute Power defence. Those who did well for the Wolves were Cynthia Dufaut, Melissa Bibby, Kate Lawson and Michaela Eckman and for the Power they were Jenna Miller, Christine Coles, Dominique Goom and Bec Lucas. The end score was Western Wolves 9.11.65 to Southern Power 2.3.15.
The real ladder analysis after Round 10 is that Balmain continue their merry way with 36 pts and look a certainty for a finals position. Newtown are chasing hard waiting for a Docker stumble at 32 pts. Sydney University retain 3rd position at 24 pts. The Wolves are also on 24 pts in 4th. The gap to 5th is now 8 points where the Stingrays lie on 16pts. Bondi leaps to 12 pts and overtakes the Power on superior % who are now 7th. Wollongong remain 8th and Mac Uni are on 9th.
Round 11
Friday night sees the matchup between Sydney University and the Bondi Shamrocks at Mahoney. Last time it was a forfeit to Sydney University between the two sides. Bondi may look a touch vulnerable with some of their key players out on other duties and who knows another forfeit has to be a slight probability. Bondi's statstical chances of making the finals would be very slim if they lose this match. Despite last week's hiccup Sydney University looks to be operating smoothly to finish in the top four.
Saturday sees one game at Wollongong where Macquarie University make the longest road trip in SWAFL of 87 km one way to play the Wollongong Saints at University of Wollongong fields at 10am. Last time it was a close battle between the two sides going all the way to 3/4 time before the Saints triumphed in their first win. The Bravehearts will be very keen and pumped in this most winnable game for them.
The other two games at Mahoney on Saturday is the Southern Power taking on Newtown. Newtown look in pretty good form this season and the Power are improving but finding that the intensity of the season is causing a depletion of their playing ranks like the Shamrocks.
The last game and the match of the round is the Michelle Daley Shield game between the Western Wolves and Balmain Dockers. Previously the Shield was the highlight of the preseason carnival but it has been decided from now on that it will be held during the regular season between the two sides. It's been an eagerly desired prize between the two clubs and I expect the same for this match. Balmain go into this match favourites showing their undefeated form whilst the Wolves have found their momentum and are now stringing their wins together. We expect another classic game between the two sides.
Last Modified on 27/06/2010 20:02