SYDNEY AFL GRAND FINAL 2013
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
The One Day in September had come around. A long season had come down to one game, the premiership on the line. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon at Blacktown; two tribes going to war, only one would emerge with the spoils.
For Manly, 2013 had been a remarkable season. Promoted to Premier Division, the Wolves immediately made an impact as they started the season with an impressive winning streak. The minor premiership followed, and a win in the Second Semi final saw them make it through to Sydney footy’s biggest day. But there was one more mountain to climb before they could claim the perfect season.
Their opponents were Pennant Hills. The Demons had to get there the hard way, finishing fourth after the home and away season and getting through three sudden-death finals to get there. But the Demons had the experience in the big games, a team that’s made the finals ten years in a row and picked up a couple of flags along the way.
The contest promised to be a cracker, and it didn’t disappoint.
The teams lined up for the national anthem, then took their places. But the opening bounce was anti-climactic, the whistle blowing while the ball was in the air; and a free kick paid, William Brassil putting the Wolves into attack.
But there were signs of nerves from Manly early on. They were getting plenty of the ball, and dominating general play; but some shots at goal were missed that would normally have been kicked. Tim Wales managed an early goal for Pennant Hills, but it would be their only inside-50 in the first ten minutes of the game. But the Demons still had the lead, with the Wolves managing only five behinds for their efforts.
Eventually Lachlan Kilpatrick found the big sticks to get Manly’s first goal, and Ryan Wearne would add another a few moments later. Finally reward on the scoreboard for their dominance around the ground, momentum looking to be running Manly’s way.
But this would be a game of twists and turns, and the Demons found a way back into the contest. A nice run by Matt Thomas down the wing sent the Demons into the attacking zone, and a free kick saw Brant Jack get on the scoreboard. And when Ranga Ediriwickrama landed a booming shot from outside the 50 metre line, the Demons took an unlikely two-point lead into the quarter time break.
The breeze, blustery and blowing towards the pocket at the railway end, had favoured the end the Wolves had kicked to in the first term. The Wolves had dominated around the ground, struggled to get a score on the board, the floodgates then threatened to open but the Demons pegged them back. And with the teams changing ends in the second term, the roles would be reversed.
This time it was Pennant Hills’ turn to run out to a handy lead. A mark by Matt Carey and a free to Luke Bilbe were helpful to the Demon cause. A 50 metre penalty enabled Tyrone Armitage to get one back for the Wolves, but momentum was running the Demons’ way. And leading the way was the pace and skill of Ranga Ediriwickrama; who left the desperate defenders of Manly in his wake as he landed a double to put the Demons out to a 19-point lead.
The Demon faithful in the grandstand were in voice, as the chance to build an imposing break over the Wolves was scented. But it wasn’t to be, as the Wolves lifted in the closing stages of the quarter. A soccer off the ground by Thomas Thurgarland and a grubber by Anthony Robertson cut the margin back to eight points at the long break.
By the time the teams returned to the field for the third term, the shadows were lengthening and the lights had been turned on. The Manly contingent in the crowd, who had set themselves up on the northern hill for the first half, moved to the northern end of the grandstand for the second half. And what a racket they made in the early stages of the third quarter, as another change in the momentum of the game saw the Wolves take the upper hand in the contest.
Robert Hart was on the scoreboard within seconds of the restart, going long from the pocket in front of the scoreboard. Jack Lynch launched himself in the air to pull down a speckie in the square. And when Eric Burke went long and straight, the half-time deficit had been turned into a ten-point lead.
The Wolves were on top, and the Demons were unable to even get an inside-50 until the 20 minute mark of the quarter. They could have built the lead up even more, but Robertson slammed a shot into the post and then Hayden Washington fumbled a marking attempt 30 metres from goal. Connor Pettersson ran into an open goal but was brought down with a brilliant tackle from behind.
The Demons were on the ropes, unable to get the ball forward. But the Wolves were unable to find a knockout blow. And in the dying stages of the quarter, the Demons finally got the ball into the forward line, for Matt Carey to show great strength in a marking contest to pull down the ball and kick an important goal. It had been one-way traffic around the ground, but the Wolves had only a six-point lead to show for it at the last change. With the Demons coming home with the wind, would it be enough?
The final quarter started, and for ten nerve-wracking minutes, the scoreboard wouldn’t move. The ball was bottled up in the centre, neither side able to penetrate the grim defence of the other. The crowd watched, enthralled at the desperate contest that was unfolding in front of them. People known for their calmness in times of crisis were trembling like leaves as the deadlock prevailed for minute upon minute. People riding every kick, every mark, every tackle; and there were plenty of tackles as neither side could find room to move.
It took a free kick to break the deadlock, and Ranga Ediriwickrama put his fourth goal through the big sticks to level the scores. And with that goal, another momentum shift; and this time it was the Demons on top. A quick-fire pass by Matt Carey set up Brant Jack; and at the 16 minute mark, Carey went for goal himself to open up an 11-point lead.
Day had turned into night, and the Demons looked to have the edge in what had been an absorbing struggle. The noise from the grandstand became even more intense. It may not have been the biggest crowd in the recent history of AFL Sydney Grand Finals, but it was certainly the noisiest.
But there was one more twist in this tale, one more comeback. Lachlan Kilpatrick sparked the comeback, bending a shot over his shoulder. And at the 20 minute mark, Eric Burke went long and bounced the ball towards the goal. It took the umpires conferring to confirm the ball had crossed the line without being touched, but the goal was awarded and the Wolves had regained the lead by a point.
There was still time for the Demons to snatch the lead back, and they gave it their best shot. But the Wolves’ defence was equal to the task, and there was no way for the Demons to get through. The clock was ticking, the Demons desperate, but the winning goal would not come. And when the Wolves ran forward in the dying seconds, and Tyrone Armitage chipped the ball to Jack Lynch who put the goal through, the game was safe.
Moments later, the siren rang, and the fairytale was complete. In their first season in Premier Division, Manly Wolves were premiers.
Lachlan Kilpatrick, Harrison Koch and Connor Pettersson were best for Manly, while Pennant Hills had been well served by the efforts of Aaron Crisfield, Damian Dell’Aquila and James Dunn. It had been a cracking contest, a twisted tale of shifting fortunes. But it was the Wolves who were holding the last layer of the premiership parcel when the music stopped.
On the ground, in the moments after the siren rang, the agony and the ecstacy were on display just metres from each other. Pennant Hills players slumped to the ground, devastated by the empty feeling of having come so far but fallen short. It had been a valiant performance by the Demons, who had proven themselves to be worthy opponents. But players were inconsolable, barely able to summon the strength to stand up.
Nearby, Manly people were embracing in the sheer joy of what they had achieved. The players and coaches. Players from other divisions. Past players. Supporters. They’re all part of it, and they were all sharing the moment of jubilation. A massive huddle of maroon-clad people, as the club song was loudly and proudly sung.
Lachlan Kilpatrick was awarded the Podbury Medal as best on ground. The players received their medals. And then coach Leigh Brain and captain Tyrone Armitage received the premiership cup, launching wild celebrations among the Manly faithful. In their first season in the top flight, they had achieved the improbable dream.
Manly Warringah 2.7 5.9 8.12 11.14 (80)
Pennant Hills 3.2 7.5 8.6 11.6 (72)
Goals : Manly – L Kilpatrick 2, E Burke 2, J Lynch 2, T Thurgarland, T Armitage, A Robertson, R Hart, R Wearne. Pennant Hills – R Ediriwickrama 4, M Carey 3, B Jack 2, L Bilbe, T Wales.
Best : Manly – L Kilpatrick, H Koch, C Pettersson, J Lynch, E Burke, J McDonald. Pennant Hills – A Crisfield, D Dell’Aquila, J Dunn, K Wright, T Wales, M Thomas.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2013.
Division One Grand Final:
Southern Power completed a dominant season in Division One, and did it in style, with a comprehensive 85-point win over UNSW-ES in the Grand Final.
The Power squandered chances early, but the volume of chances created compared to the Bulldogs was enough to open up a 17-point quarter time lead. But the Power asserted themselves strongly in the second term, with a run of seven goal to two blowing the margin out to 47 points at the long break.
The game was effectively over as a contest by half time, and there was no way back for the Bulldogs in the second half. So tight was the Power defence that the Bulldogs could only manage one behind for the second half. All the Power had to do was play out time, and three unanswered goals in each of the last two quarters was enough to turn a comfortable result into a blowout.
Southern Power had been easily the top side in Division One this season. A well-drilled senior team, they showed themselves throughout the season to be clearly superior to the Premier Division reserves teams they found themselves up against on most occasions.
But the result was a disappointment for the Bulldogs, and especially for veteran Troy Luff. Now 43 years old and no longer playing Premier Division, it was the eleventh Grand Final that the former Swan and dual Phelan Medallist has played in his illustrious career; but the premiership continues to elude him.
Alan Fritsch was awarded the best on ground medal, while Adrian Enright and Rod Craig were also prominent performers. Michael Ensor, Chris Jourdain and Fletcher Rowe were the Bulldogs’ best.
Southern Power 3.6 10.6 13.9 16.9 (105)
UNSW-ES 1.1 3.1 3.2 3.2 (20)
Goals : Southern Power – J Wilson 4, A Fritsch 4, D Wild 3, B Kenny 2, D Turner, T Smith, S Brierty. UNSW-ES – N Angel, T Nagthen, R Farrelly.
Best : Southern Power – A Fritsch, A Enright, R Craig, S Brierty, D Wild, M Young. UNSW-ES – M Ensor, C Jourdain, F Rowe, E Hull, T Luff, R Pert.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2013.
Under 18s Division One Grand Final:
Pennant Hills didn’t finish empty-handed from Grand Final day, with their Under 18s getting up over UNSW-ES by three points in a thriller.
The Demons had finished minor premiers, and in the early stages of the match looked to be headed for a comfortable result. The first quarter saw the Demons looking dominant to lead by 19 points at the first change. But the quarter time break saw the Bulldogs regroup and spark into action in the second quarter. The Bulldogs got themselves on top, with a run of six goals to one for the quarter, turning the deficit into a 12-point half time lead.
The half time margin was quickly hauled in, and from there on the game was a thriller. Two teams that had been evenly matched were locked into an arm-wrestle, with just one point separating the teams at the last change.
Both sides had to dig deep in the last quarter. Scores were hard to come by, with just one goal apiece being scored. But the Demons managed to eke out enough behinds to fall over the line, just three points being the final margin.
A five-goal by Daniel Preen earned him the best on ground medal, while Nicholas Hey and Theo Moraitis also made key contributions to the Demon cause. For the Bulldogs, Taylor Preece kicked five goals; and along with Abe Davis and Ben Gordon was among their best.
Pennant Hills 4.4 5.6 9.6 10.10 (70)
UNSW-ES 1.3 7.6 9.7 10.7 (67)
Goals : Pennant Hills – D Preen 5, J Barty 2, R Pinker, C Luscombe, L De Vries. UNSW-ES – T Preece 5, A Cupido 2, A Davis, K Latham, J Erickson.
Best : Pennant Hills – D Preen, N Hey, T Moraitis, R Pinker, B Keough, N Mace. UNSW-ES – T Preece, A Davis, B Gordon, K Latham, J Foote, T Roos.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2013.
Under 18s Division Two Grand Final:
Not only did Manly take out the Premier Division title, but their Under 18s also tasted premiership glory with a comprehensive 121-point demolition of Holroyd-Parramatta in the Under 18s Div 2 Grand Final.
The Wolves wasted no time in asserting their authority, with eight goals in the opening quarter giving them a 47-point lead at the first change. The Goannas were forced into desperate defence, and held the Wolves to two goals for the second quarter, but could only score one themselves; the Manly lead being out to 56 points at half time.
A chance to win a Grand Final by a three-figure margin was scented, and the Wolves applied themselves to the challenge in the third term. Five unanswered goals blew the margin out even further to 93 points at the last change. And there would be no respite for the Goannas in the final term, as the Wolves celebrated in style with another five-goal haul in the final term.
The Wolves had winners all around the ground, but Jordan Rowland’s four-goal haul earned him the best player medal, ahead of Lachlan Behagg and Tom McCaffrey. For the Goannas, Arin Rickett, Jaryd Mayne and Harrison Keenan had been among their best.
Manly 8.5 10.10 15.18 20.24 (144)
Holroyd-Parramatta 1.0 2.2 2.3 3.5 (23)
Goals : Manly – J Rowland 4, M Bell 3, J Parker 2, T Cameron 2, C Morgan 2, G Burke 2, T McCaffrey, B Pierce, M Tarlinton, A Wearne, D Cantwell. Holroyd-Parramatta – H Keenan, S Smith, C Wolfe.
Best : Manly – J Rowland, L Behagg, T McCaffrey, G Burke, D Cantwell, M Bell. Holroyd-Parramatta – A Rickett, J Mayne, H Keenan, C Dewar, J Strahan, J Havey.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2013.
POSTSCRIPT
Another season of AFL Sydney is now behind us. For Manly, the spoils of victory. For Pennant Hills, the pain of defeat but the knowledge they are not far away from challenging for next year’s title. And for the remaining clubs, time to reflect and plan for how to come back a stronger team in 2014.
It’s been a season of highlights, lowlights and challenges. Each game has its own stories, and each player has had their own journey through the season. Some have gone up, some have gone down. Some have had to battle against injury or outside distraction, some have overcome enormous odds to achieve what they have in 2013.
With the season now over, it’s time for everyone in Sydney footy to take a well-earned break. But before we know it, pre-season training will be back and then preparations will be in full swing for the 2014 season. After the surprises and upsets of this year, we all wait with baited breath to see what will unfold next season.
Thank you to all the clubs, and everyone who has played for an AFL Sydney club in 2013. Thanks also to the umpires, and to the volunteers at every club who keep our competition going.
Last Modified on 24/09/2013 11:25
