SYDNEY AFL ROUND 15 2013
Article by Michael Shillito
Another weekend of Sydney footy, and in the run home to the finals, we had a cracker of a clash between two of the top finals contenders and one of the competition’s big improvers claim the scalp of the defending champions.
At Gore Hill Oval on Saturday afternoon, North Shore played host to Pennant Hills. The Bombers and the Demons were two of the clubs equal on top of the ladder; and the game was worthy of a top-of-the-table clash, played in front of a healthy crowd at North Shore’s past players’ day.
The two clubs have developed quite a rivalry in recent seasons, and have played finals against each other during the last three seasons. The Demons took the qualifying final against the Bombers last year, but in the opening round this season the Bombers turned the tables at Mike Kenny Oval.
But since then, the Demons have been in solid form, and went into this game on the back of a nine-game winning streak. And there was little in the first term that suggested the winning run was likely to come to an end. The Demons dominated proceedings at the opening, kicking the only three goals while holding the Bombers to just one point. With a 22-point quarter time lead, the Demons looked to be in control.
When the players took their places for the second quarter, it soon became clear that the Bombers were lifting their work rate, and taking the fight up to the Demons. Players who were quiet in the first term began to exert their influence. And slowly but surely the momentum began to swing the Bombers’ way. Four goals to two for the quarter reduced the margin to eight points at the long break.
The premiership quarter was an epic within an epic, as the Bombers and Demons tried in vain to escape from the defensive pressure of the other. Goals were hard to come by, two apiece for the quarter. It was an arm-wrestle, two evenly-matched sides vying for supremacy but coming up blank against the other’s pressure. Late in the quarter, the Bombers began to create chances, but a string of behinds prevented them from taking the lead; the Demons four points ahead at the last change.
But after a rousing address by Bomber mentor Jon Hayres, and the roaring approval of the past players who came into the Bomber huddle, the Bombers came out breathing fire in the last quarter. Three goals were enough to take the lead, and the tight defensive work of holding the Demons to just one point for the quarter ended any chances of the visitors regaining the initiative. Victory for the Bombers over the Demons was assured.
Daniel Roberts was in imposing form for the Bombers, getting on top of the Demon defence to score five goals. Around the ground, Sam Mason, Sam Carruthers and David Martin got plenty of the ball to keep the Bomber momentum going. For the Demons, Kieran Wright, Matt Thomas and Brant Jack were their best.
With the win, North Shore retain a share of the competition lead, while Pennant Hills drop a game behind but with still the best percentage in the competition. The Bombers and Demons have played off during the last three finals series, and it would be a brave call to suggest they won’t meet again at some point during the business end of this season.
It was an early start at Bruce Purser Reserve on Saturday, with Sydney Hills Eagles and Manly facing off at 11:30am as a curtain-raiser to a NEAFL clash. The Eagles have had a tough season at Premier Division level, winning just one game; while the Wolves were aiming to keep their share of the competition lead. But the Wolves found themselves under plenty of pressure early.
The Wolves squandered chances in front of goal in the first term, kicking an inaccurate 1.5 to lead by four points at the first change. But the Eagles persisted, keeping the Wolves under pressure and kicking four goals to three in the second term to see scores level at half time.
The Eagles were eyeing off the opportunity to pull off an upset, as they had matched it with the Wolves in the first half. But when the teams were in the rooms during the break, the Wolves regrouped; and the action in the second half was a marked contrast to what had happened previously. Now it was one-way traffic, as the Wolves outran and outmarked the Eagles to create scoring chance after chance.
The scoreboard was ticking over with regularity through the second half. Eight goals to two in the third term gave Manly a 35-point lead at three quarter time. And the floodgates would remain open through the last term as the Wolves ran through nine goals to three, extending the final margin to an imposing 71-point margin that didn’t look possible at half time.
Hayden Washington was the focal point of Manly’s second half attacking thrusts, finishing with four goals; while Jack Hawkins, Jacob Graham and James Behagg were the Wolves’ best. For the Eagles, William Bradley, Aaron Drinkwater and Damon Steer continued to persevere all day. This result, combined with Pennant Hills’ loss, restores Manly to top spot on the ladder in their dream debut season.
A Saturday night game at North Dalton pitted Illawarra against St George. The Lions are yet to record a win in 2013, while the Dragons are in the pack of teams at the top of the table. On paper it looked a mismatch; and the Dragons would face minimal resistance in recording a comfortable 65-point win.
Keen to snuff out any hopes of an upset result early, the Dragons kicked four goals to one in the opening term to lead by 17 points at the first change. The second quarter would follow a similar pattern of play, as the Dragons never let the Lions mount any form of sustained challenge; and by half time the Dragons were 41 points clear.
The Lions were staring down the barrel of another hefty defeat. But in the third term, they managed to match it around the ground with the Dragons. Avenues to goal that were closed in the first half began to open as the game was far more evenly contested than the more lopsided first half. It was four goals apiece for the quarter, as the Lions salvaged something more respectable on the scoreboard.
But the Dragons were back on top in the final quarter, as they cruised to another comfortable win. Five goals to two in the final quarter extended the final margin to 65 points, keeping the Dragons easily in their share of the competition lead and stretching their winning streak to eight games. Blake Guthrie, David Lycakis and Dominic Killworth were best for the Dragons. On another tricky evening for the Lions, Chris Hally-Burton, Jeremy Daniher and Blake Hogarth kept working hard.
Before the season started, UTS were one of the competition favourites. The season hadn’t gone to plan, with a six-game losing streak seeing the Bats crash out of finals contention. But at Waverley Oval on Saturday afternoon, the Bats gave a glimpse of what might have been when they accounted for a disappointing Sydney Uni side by 82 points.
Getting the jump from the start, the Bats blasted the Students out of the contest in the opening term with six unanswered goals, leading by 37 points at quarter time. The Students had been stunned by the first quarter onslaught, but stopped the UTS flow in the second term. The Bats were able to come up with some answers to prevent a full-blown Sydney Uni comeback; and although the Students won the quarter, they were still 31 points in arrears at the long break.
Like the second term, the third term saw the Students attempt to work their way back into the contest, only to be thwarted when the Bats came up with the answering goals to retain their advantage. With three goals to two, the Bats were 40 points ahead at the last change. And the last quarter was a procession, as the Bats enjoyed their resurgence and put in their best performance of the season. Six goals, while holding the Students scoreless, extended the final margin to 82 points.
Mitchell Hall, Tom Zilm and Hayden Clark were ball magnets for the Bats, driving the ball forward for the home side with regularity. It was a great day for the Bats, but too late to salvage any finals hopes. For the Students, Peter Hughes, Cameron Holmes and Gabriel Robbie were best. But it was a chance that got away.
It was a glorious sunny Sunday at Henson Park, with Balmain at home to Western Suburbs. Neither team are in finals contention and it turned out to be a non-event with Balmain forfeiting during the first quarter which is now under investigation from the league.
Since the halfway point of the season, one notable feature of 2013 has been a turnaround in Campbelltown’s fortunes. After years in the lower reaches of the ladder, and a slow start this season, the Blues have turned the corner in recent weeks. And on Sunday at the Village Green, the Blues revival continued as they claimed the scalp of defending premiers UNSW-ES.
Fortunes fluctuated through an evenly-contested first term, with the Bulldogs having more scoring shots but the Blues being three points ahead at quarter time. The second quarter was a high-scoring shootout as both sides attempted to put scoreboard pressure on their opponents; but it was the Blues that successfully put the pressure on. Five goals to three for the quarter saw the Blues 13 points ahead at half time.
The Blues have been flying high on in recent weeks, with coach Neil Brunton having instilled a confidence in his charges that wasn’t there early in the season. And in the premiership quarter they would extend their lead, undaunted by the challenge of an away trip to the defending premier. With five goals to two for the quarter, they led by 29 points at the last change. And with the momentum running strongly their way, they would go on with the job, running out another memorable win.
The final margin was 37 points, the Blues’ fifth win in the last six rounds. Cameron Desmond, Taran Etto and Bryce Joynson were prominent around for the Blues. The Bulldogs were well served by the efforts of Hayden Nichols, Peter Kefalas and James Pascoe; but their second loss on the trot sees them drop two games behind the leading pack of teams.
Last Modified on 06/08/2013 11:47
