SYDNEY AFL ROUND 8 2013
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
May had turned into June, autumn into winter. And the weekend saw the wintery weather arrive; as sunshine early on Saturday quickly faded into cloud. As the afternoon drew on, the heavens opened and the rain got heavier.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Sydney Hills Eagles played host to North Shore. The Eagles were yet to register a win in 2013, while the Bombers had only lost one game. It had the potential to be a mismatch; and the first quarter was exactly that.
The Eagles scored an early goal, but it would be their only one for the first quarter. Over the rest of the quarter, whenever the Eagles got the ball inside their 50 metre line, the ball was quickly rebounded back to the midfield. The Bombers had loose runners everywhere, and toyed with the Eagles as they ran the ball through minimal resistance. And on the forward line, there were plenty of goal-kicking options for the Bombers.
Seven goals to one for the quarter, and the Bombers held a 39-point lead at quarter time. The rain was getting heavier, but there was little in the first term to suggest it wouldn’t be a complete blowout.
But it wasn’t. The Eagles lifted after quarter time, and the rest of the game was more evenly contested. The surface at Bruce Purser was in top condition, but the ball was slippery and both sides struggled to get clean possessions. But the Eagles tightened the game up, putting the Bombers under pressure that wasn’t there in the first term.
Two goals to one for the term, and the Eagles had won the quarter. The Bombers were still 34 points in front, but after some heavy defeats in recent weeks, at least the Eagles had been competitive and put a top side under some pressure.
The Bombers still had a handy lead, and were never going to lose. But they were their own worst enemy in the third term, some wasteful finishing seeing the Bombers kick 2.6 for the quarter; and around the ground, they didn’t have the same drive as they showed in the first quarter. The under-manned Eagles were never a chance to win the game, but stopped the Bombers from getting the big percentage-booster they were looking for.
At the last change the Bombers were 42 points clear. With three goals apiece in the final term, the final margin was 44 points. A comfortable enough win for the Bombers, but when ladder positions are determined at the business end of the season, the Bombers could potentially regret that they didn’t boost their percentage by as much as they possibly could have.
Jared Shattock, Dale Fitzgerald and Zac Manley were North Shore’s best; while the Eagles received solid service from Tate Dimech, Joshua Duncan and James Regan.
In the opening round this season, Manly announced themselves as a Premier Division side to watch when they demolished Balmain at Henson Park. Saturday’s return game at Weldon Oval saw the Wolves repeat their dominance over the Dockers as they recorded an easy 90-point win.
Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, the Wolves got off to a flyer; with six unanswered goals seeing them 35 points ahead at the first change. The Dockers were stung into action, and scored two goals in the second term; but they were unable to stop the Manly juggernaut as the Wolves scored three to extend the lead to 43 points at the long break.
With their backs to the wall, the Dockers threw caution to the wind and went into all-out attack in the third quarter. The Dockers managed to score four goals for the quarter, putting some respectability on their side of the scoreboard. But the Wolves were also in the mood for all-out attack, sensing plenty of goals were on offer. With superior firepower on the forward line, the Wolves scored eight goals for the quarter.
A marathon quarter, with a total of 12 goals, kept the crowd entertained as the margin was extended to 65 points at the last change. The Wolves were cruising to victory, and a run of five goals to one in the last quarter was the icing on the cake, blowing the margin out to 90 points.
Thomas Farrelly was unstoppable on the Manly forward line, finishing with seven goals. Around the ground, Jack Lynch, Calum Johnston and Angus Buncle were ball magnets. On a difficult afternoon for Balmain, Selby Lee-Steere, Kristian Ericson and Daniel Lloyd continued to work hard.
Sydney University returned to the winning list on Saturday afternoon, but were never able to shake off the attentions of a persistent Campbelltown side who continued to fight against the odds all afternoon.
The Students took the lead early with three goals to one in the opening term to lead by 11 points at quarter time. The second term was higher scoring, as the Students found room to get their running game going on the spacious Monarch ground; but the Blues were able to come up with the answering goals to keep themselves in striking distance. Four goals apiece for the quarter, and the Students were ten points ahead at half time.
By the time the players emerged from the rooms after half time, the weather had deteriorated and ball-handling was difficult. Kicking a slippery, heavy ball long distances was all too hard; both sides were forced to play the ball short, and scoring dried up. There were just two scoring shots apiece in the third term; but the Students were able to make both of theirs goals, to lead by 15 points at the last change. And with the only goal in the final term, Sydney Uni’s final winning margin was 22 points.
It had been far from convincing for the Students, and the Blues had been tough opponents to shake all day; but in the end, the Students managed to get away with the points. Cameron Holmes, Glenn Smith and Fred Skulley had been Sydney Uni’s best. For the Blues, Dave Linsen, Bryce Joynson and Paul Green were tireless workers all afternoon.
After enormous wins in their last two games, Pennant Hills won their third game on the trot at the Village Green on Saturday afternoon. But the Demons were given a much closer run by UNSW-ES, with the Demons taking the game by 27 points.
The Bulldogs had the better of the early exchanges, with three goals to two in the first term to lead by four points at quarter time. But the second quarter saw the Demons step up a gear, taking the lead with a run of five goals to three to lead by 13 points at the long break.
The Demons have been in sensational form in the last few weeks, and continued that run in the third quarter. By then, the rain was coming down hard and it was tough getting the ball control that the Demons had used so effectively in recent weeks. But they still had enough class around the ground to score three goals to one in the third term to lead by 29 points at three quarter time. By then the sting had gone out of the game, and both sides scored three goals in a more evenly contested final quarter.
In the end, the Demons won by 27 points, their third win in a row; and with their impressive percentage, they move ahead of the Bulldogs on the ladder. Luke Bilbe continued his purple patch on the forward line with four goals, while Aaron Crisfield, Ben Unwin and Kieran Wright were prominent performers for the Demons. For the Bulldogs, Michael Towan contributed four goals while Hayden Nichols, Ryan Plant and Tim Widmer were among their best.
The lights were switched on at North Dalton Oval as Illawarra played host to Western Suburbs. The Magpies have been big improvers this year, while the Lions are still looking for their first win. And it would be a night to remember for Wests, as they dominated from start to finish to record their biggest win for years.
The Magpies started the game strongly, with seven goals to two in an attacking opening quarter to lead by 30 points at quarter time. But it was in the second term that the Magpies put on their best football. Getting possession with regularity and pumping it into the forward line with ease, the Magpies scored eight goals for the quarter while holding the Lions scoreless; leading by 84 points at half time.
The second half wasn’t quite so one-sided, as the Lions at least put up some resistance while the ground was getting heavier as the rain continued to fall. But with four goals to two in the third term, the margin was 97 points at the last change. And five goals to one in the final quarter saw the margin extended into three figures.
In the end, it was a 123-point win for the Magpies; and in a tight battle for percentage between several teams with a similar win-loss ratio, enough to keep the Magpies comfortably in the top five. Rory Miller was unstoppable in the forward line, finishing with 12 goals in a best-on-ground performance. Matt Eurell was also in sensational touch up forward to contribute seven.
Miller, Eurell and Brenton Mumme were listed as Wests’ best; but there were many Magpies who played strong games to lift them to their comprehensive win. For the Lions, Nathan Wright, Thomas Green and Mitchell Bates tried hard all night in difficult conditions.
By the time Sunday came around, the rain was even heavier and it was no surprise when the Sunday game at Olds Park between St George and UTS was postponed. It will be rescheduled for the wet weather round in July.
Premier Division will take a week off next week, but the top players will be in action with a series of Representative games over the long weekend.
Last Modified on 03/06/2013 09:34
