SYDNEY AFL ROUND 1 2014
Article and photos by Michael Shillito
The off-season is over, and footy is back. After pre-season training and trial games, this weekend was time to get the real footy under way. Balmain and Illawarra dropped down to Div 1 for 2014, cutting Premier Division to ten clubs; the right number for each team to play each other twice in 18 rounds.
The season opened on 29th March, the earliest start date in living memory. But it wasn’t too early for the wintery rain. Substantial falls during the week, and again on Friday night, saw several grounds closed. With other venues unavailable, there were plenty of games through the divisions that had to be postponed. But the five Premier Division fixtures went ahead, each having plenty of interest and talking points.
University pride was on the line at Trumper Park, as UTS hosted UNSW-ES on what has become a traditional season opener. There was added spice in this contest, with former Bats’ coach Daniel Lynch defecting to the Bulldogs over the off-season.
The defences were tight during the early exchanges, and only three goals were scored in the opening quarter. Two of them went the Bulldogs’ way, giving them a seven point lead at the first change.
In the second term the Bats’ game plan looked to be falling nicely into place. The Bats wasted little time in taking the lead in the second term, and with a run of four goals to one had opened up a 12-point lead at the long break. It was four goals to two in the third term, with the Bats also missing plenty of kickable chances at goal.
Leading by 26 points at the last change, the momentum running their way, only the staunchest Bulldog optimist or the gloomiest Bat pessimist could possibly have foreseen how the pendulum would swing in the last quarter. When the teams emerged from the huddle, it was the Bulldogs who found their stamina, digging deep and working their way back into the contest.
It wasn’t always pretty, and at times they made it hard for themselves as shots at goal sailed wide. But the defence was magnificent, holding the Bats to just two behinds for the final quarter. And at the other end, although they had to scramble to do it, the Bulldogs managed to conjure up four goals, enough to take the lead in the dying minutes and holding on for a remarkable three-point win.
Ryan Plant, Jeremy Kiel and David Batten were listed as the Bulldogs’ best; but it was a solid all-round team effort to salvage a win that looked out of their reach in the third quarter. For the Bats, Justin Kenna, Joshua Maddox and Liam Flanagan gave sterling service all day.
Two teams with hopes of playing finals this year after missing out in the last few years played off at Picken Oval when Western Suburbs were at home to Campbelltown.
The Magpies weren’t far off the finals pace last year; and had recruited well over the off-season, including several ex-Balmain players who were keen to continue playing Premier Division. The Blues had finished 2013 with a wet sail, and were hoping to build on that momentum as the new season started.
But it didn’t take long for it to be clear that this was going to be a one-sided contest. From the start, the Magpies asserted themselves, piling on the pressure and striking key blows on the scoreboard. Five goals to one in the opening quarter saw the Magpies lead by 23 points at the first change; and five unanswered goals in the second term saw the margin blow out to 54 points at half time.
There was little doubt the Magpies would easily prevail when the teams emerged from the rooms for the second half. But Wests were far from finished, and with plenty of scoring chances opening up they kept the scoreboard ticking over. At the other end, the Blues ended their goal drought and did manage three for the quarter, but they were rare moments of respite from the relentless Magpie juggernaut. With six goals to three for the quarter, the margin was out to 70 points at the last change.
With five goals to two in the last quarter, a dominant day for the Magpies was complete, with the final winning margin being 90 points. Twelve Magpie players got themselves onto the goal-scoring list, but Brenton Mumme had the game wrapped up with a six-goal return. Around the ground, Leigh Conway, Mumme and Lindsay Scown were among their best. For the Blues, Hamish Sherwood, Aidan Bell and Jeconiah Peni kept persevering through a tough afternoon.
After winning the premiership in their first season in Premier Division, it was a new-look Manly side that travelled to Kelso Oval to take on St George in the first game of their title defence. For the first time, the side from the Northern Beaches were taking the field under the Giants name. But, even with a new identity, the relentless drive that took the team to dizzying heights last year was still there.
The Dragons had drawn with Manly at Olds Park on the eve of last year’s finals, but there were signs even early on that they weren’t going to snatch any premiership points this time round. From the start, the Giants were controlling proceedings around the ground, and there were plenty of avenues to goal. Six goals to three in the opening term opened up a 20-point quarter time lead; and after a run of four goals to one in the second, the lead was 43 points to the Giants at the long break.
It wasn’t the start to the season the Dragons were hoping for; but they rallied in the third quarter, working hard to stop the Giants’ run. And it was working well during the third term, as the Dragons managed four goals to one, cutting the margin to 23 points at the last change and giving themselves just the slightest sniff of getting back into the contest.
But hopes of a miracle comeback for St George would come to nothing, as the Giants regained the ascendancy in the last quarter. With four goals to two, the final margin was 33 points, a comfortable enough first round result and one which keeps Manly’s hopes of going back to back as strong as ever.
Brayden Fowler spearheaded the Giants’ charge with five goals, while Thomas Thurgarland, Harrison Koch and Angus Buncle were prominent around the ground. Harrison Green, Thomas Green and Alex Wynn worked hard all day for the Dragons.
The NEAFL competition also started this weekend; but with Sydney Uni having the bye in the opening round of the NEAFL and having a near full list to choose from, the Students fielding a relevantly strong side for their clash against North Shore at Henson Park on Saturday evening.
Goals were hard to come by early, as the ground was still slippery after the wet week. But the Students got the early jump, with three goals to one to lead by ten points at the first change. After an early Uni goal in the second quarter, the Bombers fought back with the next three goals to take the lead. But the lead would be short-lived as the Students hit back with the last two goals of the quarter to lead by eight points at half time.
The third quarter would follow a similar pattern to the second, with the Bombers closing the gap before the Students steadied. It was a low-scoring quarter, just two goals apiece, and as the teams went into the three quarter time huddle, the eight point lead to the Students remaining intact.
Again in the last quarter, the Bombers would emerge full of running, and it didn’t take long for them to get within striking distance of the lead. But the Students again steadied to kick five goals to three for the quarter and complete the win.
Ryan Bottin-Noonan kicked four goals for the Students, while Kelvin Barnes, Ben Fitzpatrick and Matthew Powys were ball magnets around the ground. Selby Lee-Steere, Nick Foster and Jack Campbell were North Shore’s best.
North Shore had matched it around the ground against a NEAFL-standard opponent, and produced more scoring shots. But the Bombers were unable to make the most of their chances, and would leave the venue disappointed and fuming.
Sunday at Blacktown No 2 saw Pennant Hills take on Sydney Hills Eagles. Fine but humid conditions greeted the players, and the Demons would quickly shake off the disappointment of a loss in last year’s Grand Final as they would comfortably take the points against the Eagles.
The Demons would keep the scoreboard ticking over quickly in the opening term, getting the jump on the Eagles with a run of four goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 20 points at quarter time. The second quarter would be similar, four goals to two and a lead of 28 points at half time. Every time the Eagles would challenge, the Demons had the answers; and there was never any realistic prospect of the Eagles getting themselves back into the contest.
It wasn’t always one-way traffic. There were times when the Eagles would control the ball for several minutes, even managing a few scoring shots. But the Demons were never out of the contest for too long before again finding a way to re-assert themselves. It was nothing fancy or dramatic; just Pennant Hills doing what they usually do, efficiently working around the ground and getting the job done. Five goals to three in the third quarter saw the lead stretch to 44 points.
The sting had gone out of the game in the last quarter, and the Eagles were able to salvage some respectability on the scoreboard, winning the quarter with four goals to one to cut the final margin to 27 points. But it was the Demons’ day, and four points to open the season.
Daniel Preen scored four goals for the Demons, while James Dunn, Damian Dell’Aquila and Seb Parker were influential around the ground. For the Eagles, Marc Dragicevic, Stephen O’Connor and Joshua Cass worked hard all afternoon.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 2.4 3.6 5.8 9.15 (69)
University of Technology 1.3 5.6 9.10 9.12 (66)
Goals : UNSW-ES – D Batten 2, D Preece 2, T Widmer, J Foote, E Kiel, R Farrelly, C McKinlay. UTS – T Sundburg 2, R Kirkhope 2, K Mehta, J Madsen, T Nixon, S Tregoning, A Baker.
Best : UNSW-ES – R Plant, J Kiel, D Batten, T Heath, C McKinlay, T Widmer. UTS – J Kenna, J Maddox, L Flanagan, T Sundberg, T Zilm, K Mehta.
At Trumper Park, Saturday 29th March 2014.
Western Suburbs 5.1 10.3 16.4 21.7 (133)
Campbelltown 1.2 1.3 4.6 6.7 (43)
Goals : Wests – B Mumme 6, J Zoppo 3, N Scarfo 2, M Linson 2, S Pearson, S Hudson, L Scown, A Eurell, P Maxwell, L Conway, T Williamson, C McGrath.Campbelltown – M Edwins 2, J Etto 2, J Van Leunen, C Gordon.
Best : Wests – L Conway, B Mumme, L Scown, M Round, L Sands, P Wilmot.Campbelltown – H Sherwood, A Bell, J Peni, S Kershaw, A Sneddon, T Etto.
At Picken Oval, Saturday 29th March 2014.
Manly-Warringah 6.3 10.9 11.10 15.12 (102)
St George 3.1 4.2 8.5 10.9 (69)
Goals : Manly – B Fowler 5, A Robertson 3, T Armitage 2, C Pettersson 2, H Washington, L Kilpatrick, T Thurgarland. St George – D Donohue 3, J Saddington 2, K Merson 2, S Wilsen 2, J Mudge.
Best : Manly – T Thurgarland, H Koch, A Buncle, J Brain, C Pettersson, B Fowler. St George – H Green, T Green, A Wynn, K Merson, D Killworth, S Wilsen.
At Kelso Oval, Saturday 29th March 2014.
Sydney University 3.1 6.2 8.2 13.4 (82)
North Shore 1.3 4.6 6.6 9.12 (66)
Goals : Sydney Uni – R Bottin-Noonan 4, M Powys 2, E Smith 2, G Smith 2, M Krochmal, J Derickx, A Turco. North Shore – J Monk 3, J Campbell 2, P Codling, J Saunders, M Varjavandi, D Fitzgerald.
Best : Sydney Uni – K Barnes, B Fitzpatrick, M Powys, M Rawlinson, M Wilson, S Sleigh. North Shore – S Lee-Steere, N Foster, J Campbell, M Adamson, D Hadden, J Monk.
At Henson Park, Saturday 29th March 2014.
Pennant Hills 4.4 8.5 13.10 14.12 (96)
Sydney Hills Eagles 1.2 3.7 6.8 10.9 (69)
Goals : Pennant Hills – D Preen 4, T Edmonds 2, S Wray 2, L Shepherd, A Goodall, D Dell’Aquila, B Urwin, D Smith, T Wales. Sydney Hills –M Dragicevic 3, S O’Connor 2, K Ewen-Chappell 2, D Steer, D Costello, A Savage.
Best : Pennant Hills – J Dunn, D Dell’Aquila, S Parker, T Moraitis, A Goodall, D Smith. Sydney Hills – M Dragicevic, S O’Connor, Joshua Cass, A Savage, N Crowe, A Drinkwater.
At Blacktown International Sportspark No 2, Sunday 30th March 2014.
Last Modified on 31/03/2014 09:50
