SYDNEY AFL ROUND 7 2013
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
During the week, the heavens opened; and some matches through the divisions were postponed and moved. But by the time the weekend came around, the sun had returned; and although some grounds were heavy, overall the round of footy was played in decent conditions.
By the time Sunday came around, the grounds had dried out considerably. There was nothing wrong with the conditions at Weldon Oval, other than a slightly swirling breeze. But the match between Manly and St George turned out to be a scrappy, low-scoring slog.
The Wolves had enjoyed a dream start to their debut season in Premier Division, undefeated at the top of the ladder. Their visitors, St George, came into the game in winning form having won four on the trot before this match.
There was little in the start to excite the fans of open, free-flowing footy. Both sides struggled to get clean possessions as both sides scrapped and tackled, denying the other any run as the game went through long runs of ball-ups, throw-ins and bumps. One goal apiece for the opening quarter saw the Wolves leading by a point at the first change. But the Wolves gained the upper hand during the second term, two goals to one putting them six points to the good at the long break.
It hadn’t been pretty to watch. Not just because of the physical nature of the game, but both sides found the skill level below the standard they would normally expect as they turned the ball over and struggled to find any targets up forward. With the only goal of the premiership quarter, the Wolves opened up a 15-point lead at the last change.
And as the three-quarter time siren sounded, the tensions built up with three quarters of physical football spilled over, tempers flared as the two teams launched into a melee.
The Dragons had been well short of their best all day, but had fought and scrapped to frustrate the ladder leaders for three quarters. But they were unable to maintain that through the last quarter, as finally the Wolves found space to run through and open the game up. Players who had done more tackling than gaining of possessions finally began to get their hands on the ball as the Wolves got on top. Four goals to one in the final quarter extended the final margin to 31 points.
The Wolves had won ugly, but they had won. And with the win, they retain top spot on the ladder. Harrison Koch, Ryan Wearne and Calum Johnston had been best for the Wolves. For the Dragons, Tim and Bryce Addison and Ryan Bennett continued to work hard all afternoon.
The wet week had forced the closure of Waverley Oval, with UTS’s match with Campbelltown on Saturday afternoon shifted to Blacktown International Sportpark. The Bats went into the game as favourites, but had to wait three quarters to shake off the attentions of a determined Campbelltown before they could claim the points.
The Bats were struggling to find their goal-kicking radar in the first half. Missing chance after chance, they scored a frustrating 3.9 for the first half; chances they would regret as the Blues made better use of their lesser opportunities in the second term to turn their quarter time deficit into a one point lead at half time.
It was three goals apiece in the third term, as the Blues were proving to be more than a match for the Bats. As the teams went into their groups at three quarter time, with the Blues three points ahead, they had hopes of pulling off the win. But in the final quarter, the Bats quickly took the lead and went on with the job; and with a run of five goals to one stretched the final margin out to 23 points.
It hadn’t been a game that reached any great heights; but the Bats had done enough in the final quarter to take the points. Tom Zilm, Jacob Prince and Harry Whiting were prominent ball-winners for the Bats; while the gallant Blues had been well served by the efforts of Dave Linsen, Bryce Joynson and Alphonse Jambarufo.
Pennant Hills are in a purple patch of form, and after their demolition of Illawarra last week, the Demons put on another relentless performance to complete a 151-point result against Sydney Hills Eagles in a twilight clash at Mike Kenny Oval.
Again, the Demons took control from the start with six unanswered goals to lead by 38 points a quarter time. And although the Eagles broke their duck in the second quarter, they would spend most of the second term on the defensive as the Demons drove the ball into their forward line with regularity to score eight goals for the term and lead by 83 points at the long break.
The Demons were on a roll, and there would be no relief for the Eagles in the third term as the Demons slammed on another nine goals to two; blowing the margin out well into three figures. The game was safely and comprehensively won and the Demons eased off in the last term, but still won the quarter.
Matt Carey and Luke Bilbe were unstoppable on the forward line to finish with seven goals apiece, with Nick Campbell contributing four. Tom Angel, Nick Campbell and Kieran Wright were the three best of the many dominant Demons. For the Eagles, Aaron Savage, Tate Dimech and Lachlan Cox kept working all evening.
The Demons with this win enter the top five. They had been chasing after three early defeats, but the size of their last two wins gives them by far the best percentage on the ladder, which could be useful to them when finals positions are up for grabs later in the season.
A strong first half was enough for North Shore to return to the winning list and maintain second position, with the Bombers taking the game against Sydney University at Sydney University No 1 by 26 points on Sunday afternoon.
The Bombers have a good record against the Students in recent seasons, and hit the ground running to ensure that record would remain intact as they kicked five goals to two in the opening term to lead by 16 points at half time; and with four goals to two in the second, they were 35 points ahead at half time.
The Bombers had the Students on the ropes, and any hopes of a Student comeback in the third term were quickly laid to rest as they were barely able to penetrate the forward 50 metre line and were unable to score a goal for the quarter. But for all their strong performance around the ground, the Bombers were only able to get three goals to show for their efforts.
But the Bombers were 55 points ahead at the last change, and set for a percentage-booster. But they let that opportunity slip in the last term. The Students found a drive and an attacking flair that was nowhere to be seen for three quarters, as the Bombers eased up on the pressure they had exerted earlier.
A run of junk-time goals to the Students saw them finish with nine goals to four for the final quarter; and although the Bombers were never at any risk of losing the game, the lost opportunity to build their percentage could potentially come back to haunt them at the business end of the season.
Daniel Roberts kicked six goals for the Bombers, and Nick Todd four. Tom McMahon, Chris Murphy and Daniel Roberts were best for North Shore; while the Students found strong contributors in Glenn Smith, Max Carter and Callum Kennedy.
Saturday night at Henson Park saw Western Suburbs pull off something of an upset when the Magpies stunned defending champions UNSW-ES by ten points.
There were plenty of lead changes in an opening term in which each side scored four goals, and scores were level at the first change. Both sides were creating scoring chances, and the fluctuating fortunes would continue in the second term. With four goals to three for the quarter, the Magpies held the lead by three points when the teams returned to the rooms for the half time break.
When they returned for the second half, the game tightened up and the defences of both sides got on top. Goals were hard to come by, one apiece for the third term, with the Magpies four goals ahead at three quarter time.
The Magpies had a sniff of victory, and weren’t letting go. Playing as men inspired, they refused to surrender the lead; and although the Bulldogs tried hard to snatch the game, there was no way through. The Magpies scored three goals to two for the quarter, and hung on tight through the desperate final stages of the game to claim a remarkable win.
Rory Miller kicked five goals in a best-on-ground for the Magpies, while Brenton Mumme and Clint McGrath also picked up plenty of the ball. For the Bulldogs, Hayden Nichols, Joel Robbie and Matthew Rawlinson were among their best.
Henson Park was also a Sunday venue in Premier Division, with Balmain playing host to Illawarra. And it would be the home side who would emerge with the spoils, as the Dockers recorded their second win of the year with a 26-point win over the Lions.
It wasn’t looking a likely result early. The Lions, looking for their first win of the season, came out strongly and got off to a flying start with five goals to two for the first quarter. It was a 19-point lead to the Lions at the first change; and although the Dockers fought back in the second term with five goals to three, the Lions were still five points ahead at half time.
The game was in the balance, and two sides desperate for competition points scrapped and defended resolutely through the third quarter. But the Dockers would take the upper hand with two goals to one, taking the lead late in the quarter to hold a four-point advantage at the last change.
Their performance last week against Pennant Hills was an exception, but for most of their games this year the Lions have been competitive but unable to last the distance to take the competition points. And so it would prove again, as the Lions were unable to score a goal in the last quarter; with three unanswered goals for the Dockers enough for the home side to get the win.
Josh Cass, Selby Lee-Steere and Leigh Conway were Balmain’s best. For the Lions, coach Ken Ewen-Chappell led from the front to kick four goals and be their best, while David Goodley and Thomas Green also made important contributions.
