Round 11 Results
Friday Night saw the highly favoured Sydney University Bombers taking on the depleted Bondi Shamrocks at Mahoney Park. With the Bondi Shamrocks fielding three new players to the game, it was a brave performance from the Irish keeping Sydney University to 1.5 in the first quarter. However a change of tactics by Coach Krissie Steen saw the Sydney Uni Bombers able to exert experience in the game to kick 3.5 for the 2nd quarter. The Shamrocks decided to "run and carry" in the 3rd quarter to combat the picket fence and won the quarter 1.2 to 1.1 but ran out of energy in the final quarter as the Bombers over ran them to record a solid 50 point win for their Club President Libby "Fish" Sadler 50th game with four goals to Amelia Dever Kavanagh. The Irish team tried hard to win their game for Annie Rose Phillips in her 50th game with two years spent with the Bombers and two years with the Irish but sadly it wasn't to be. The final score was Sydney University Bombers 8.12.60 to Bondi Shamrocks 1.4.10. Those who did well for the Shamrocks were Kate Woodlands, Gillian Behan, Jennifer Ann-North, Sandra Ryan, Kellie Nolan and Danielle McCarthy whilst for the Sydney University Bombers were Renee Harrington, Libby Sadler, Una McKay, Kellie Thomson, Mel Khoury and Lara Creber.
Saturday saw the two new clubs slug it out down in Wollongong with the Wollongong Saints hosting the Macquarie University Bravehearts. With the battle of the potential wooden spoon, between the two sides, both clubs rapidly bought all their new and experienced players so that each team had 21 players to call upon. The first quarter saw Wollongong scoring the first goal and some inaccurate shooting scoring 1.5 before Mac Uni maximising their opportunities to score two goals to lead at the first break 2.1 to 1.5. However the Wollongong Saints were able to put their skills to the fore and stop the Mac Uni forward attacks at the half-back line and repel on the counter-attack for the rest of the game. The Saints were able to kick at least two goals in each subsequent quarter to record their second win of the season and their first home win of the season. Wollongong Saints 10.18.78 to Macquarie University Bravehearts 2.1.13. Those who performed well for the Bravehearts were Roxie Swart, Kerry Taylor and Leah Woldhuis. For the Saints - Hannah Strong, Yvette Heritage and Georgia Gregory performed well.
Saturday also saw Newtown take on Southern Power at Mahoney. A nine goal quarter by a fired up Breakaways set the tone for the match, the Power tightened up considerably in the second quarter. However the Breakaways were to be rampant and were able to score 30 goals for the match thus it was to be the Newtown Breakaways 30.18.198 to Southern Power 0.0.0. Natasha Devlin was the standout for the Breakaways whilst the always energetic captain Christine Coles was best for the Power. In the race for the Golden Boot, it looks like a two way battle between Krystle Thompson (Newtown) versus Belinda Pride (Balmain) after Krystle recorded a Jack Riewoldt like bag of 10 goals. My unofficial (unofficial only the Football Operations Manager has all the scoresheets) is Krystle on 54 goals and Belinda on at least 39+ goals so i think they are both even when all the records are reconciled.
In the Michelle Daley Shield Clash Balmain hosted Wests. Balmain jumped the gun to score 4 goals to 1 in the first quarter to set the pace. From there the Docker machine rolled onwards to outscore the Wolves in each quarter. The last quarter was the best for the Wolves as they were able to hold the Dockers goal-less as only one behind was scored in total between the two sides. Balmain were able to win a tight contest by 40 points to maintain their unbeaten spot on top of the ladder and win the Michelle Daley Shield for the first time as the Dockers. The end score was Balmain Dockers 9.10.64 to Western Wolves 3.6.24. I somehow feel that should Balmain beat Newtown in the Friday night match on July 16 at Jubilee, the house might as well be mortgaged on the title going to the first time in their history of SWAFL to Dockerland. (p.s. I don't own a house).
Round 12 Preview.
I will be in Canberra for the NSW Youth Girls Interstate Challenge (I'm the Under 15's coach) on Saturday so I will not be able to give you any SWAFL game description. Game scores will be published in the fixture results should clubs enter their results.
In SWAFL Super Saturday - League Leaders Balmain Dockers take on the Macquarie University Bravehearts at Drummoyne Oval. With first place taking on 9th place, things in theory might not look pretty for the Bravehearts but i think Mac Uni will make the Dockers work hard for their points. The Mac Uni girls are having fun and that's what footy is all about in essence.
Sydney Uni get the rare opportunity to have a game on their main campus as they host the Western Wolves in the match of the round on Oval No. 1. With teams in 3rd and 4th place respectively, it's important to consolidate their positions and apply pressure on Newtown and Balmain. The Bombers although not spectacular last week, were solid enough to get the job done. It'll be interesting to see the midfield matchups with Melissa Bibby and Kate Lawson in fine form for the Wolves and Una McKay, Emma Yuen and Mai Nguyen all available for the Bombers. It'll be a close game for sure!
At Mahoney, Bondi get a rare afternoon game as they host the Power. With their interim coach Lisa Roper coaching the Under 18 Youth Girls down in Canberra, Kellie Nolan looks best placed to coach the side for the day. Bondi took a lot of positives from their makeshift team which played against the Uni Bombers and with potentially a full list available will be keen to get back in the winners circle. They host the Southern Power who will no doubt provide stout resistance against them but will keenly miss the presence of 17 year old Jessica Purcell who has really matured this year as their half-back flank. Jessica is also down in Canberra and will be pushing for NSW/ACT Selection in the Under 18'S Youth Girls National Championships in Melbourne. The Power will be keen to restore some pride after a big loss to the Breakaways last week. This is a do or die effort which determines that the loser can kiss any mathematical chances of finals participation goodbye, so it's a must win match.
The final match of the day is 2nd placed Newtown taking on 5th placed UNSW-Easts Stingrays. The Stingrays need to win the matches above their ladder position if they want to make a finals impact whilst the Breakaways will be keen to remain close to league leaders Balmain. Key to the Stingrays is to see who is available to play for them - if they are able to call on their quality players, the Breakaways will know they are in for a heck of a match. The Breakaways after scoring 198 points in the previous match could potentially gorge themselves on another banquet of goals.
In development news I attended a Sydney South / Illawarra region High School Girls Football finals for the area on Monday (like the Paul Kelly Cup for boys) where teams played 9 a side with only 3 forward players able to kick goals. (a bit like Recreational Football without the turnover rule). There is some genuine talent coming through the ranks, if we can attract and retain these future players. The AFL Regional Officer for Sydney South Mick Clift is hopeful of starting a Youth Girls AFL competition in the Sutherland Shire Region starting in September for about 6 weeks on Sunday mornings. So if you want to see the future stars of tomorrow and maybe your potential teammates - stay tuned.
Race to the Finals Assessment
The ladder has Balmain out in front with an enviable 702% on 40pts and with two more wins to the promised land to assure themselves of definitely a finals position. Newtown are hot on their heels on 621% on 36 pts. From there it's an 8 point gap to Sydney Uni on 235% on 28 pts. Wests are a game behind on 24 pts on 142 pts. Easts are another 8 point gap on 16pts on 104%. Bondi and the Southern Power are each on 12pts with a superior % separating the two. Wollongong are on 8pts and Mac Uni yet to open their 2010 account.
Looking realistically I think Macquarie University, Wollongong are out of the race of the finals for 2010. One more loss by Bondi or Southern Power will kill their finals chances which makes this weekend's round a do or die effort by both club.
The Stingrays will need to win the rest of their matches and hope for other results to go their way to force their way into the top 4. The teams that won't make the finals still have an important role in focusing for the future as well as continuing to build some team continuity. Last year St George Dragons tripped up the Sydney University Bombers at Oval No. 1 in the 2009 upset of the season and derailed the Bombers finals campaign by a match.
For the Sydney University Bombers and the Western Wolves, their aim is to maintain their finals place and try to aim up for a top two chance for the double chance in the finals. For the Newtown Breakaways and the Balmain Dockers, effectively spots 1 and 2 are the same except for ego of the minor premiership and bragging rights. This is because both spots are the same with the double chance. Of course maintaining their spots with hungry teams on their heels is their main priority!
So with around 7 rounds to go, everything is still to play for.
Last Modified on 27/06/2010 20:40