Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
After a week off over Easter, we were back in action; and the round began with an ANZAC Day clash at Picken Oval.
Before the match, an ANZAC commemoration took place on the field. The ANZAC ode was read, wreaths were laid before the flag, which was lowered to half mast. The Last Post was played, and a minute’s silence. A well-run ceremony, appropriate for the day.
Lest we forget.
And then it was footy time, and the match was Wests hosting Pennant Hills. A match that promised plenty and delivered. The Magpies have high hopes of returning to finals action this year after an absence of several years, and have looked impressive early in the season. The visitors, Pennant Hills, can be relied on to be around when we get to the business end of the season. Although the Demons were favourites, there was plenty of support for the Magpies.
At quarter time, there was every hope that the Magpies could pull off the result. The Demons landed an early goal, but for much of the quarter they were forced on the defensive as the Magpies surged forward. The Demons were missing chances, while the Magpies made better use of theirs. A double from Joshua Zoppo spearheaded the Wests charge, as they kicked four goals to one to lead by 14 points at the first change.
A goal apiece to start the second quarter, and the Demons were getting frustrated; and they would have even more cause to feel that way when an off the ball free kick was paid against them when a mark had lined up a shot for a certain goal. But while the free kick may have killed Ranga Ediriwickrama’s shot at goal, it gave the Demons a spur to settle down and work their way back into the contest. A free kick to Theo Moraitis moments later saw a goal, the first of three in a row that saw the Demons overtake the Magpies and take a ten-point lead into the long break.
But if the Demons thought they would run away in the third term, they were in for a shock. Kyall Walford landed an early major for the Magpies. And had the home side made the most of the numerous chances they had early in the premiership quarter, the final outcome may have been different. Instead, they landed four behinds in a row before the Demons lifted; and when Ediriwickrama landed a shot at goal, the momentum shifted. It was the first of three in a row for the Demons, and even with a late Magpie goal, the Demons were 16 points ahead at the last change. 
The Magpies didn’t give up, throwing caution to the wind in the final quarter. It was a high-scoring shootout, as the Magpies attacked relentlessly, but in doing so left themselves exposed in defence. But for every challenge the Magpies made, the Demons had the answers. And with seven goals to five in the final term, the Demons ran out 29-point winners.
An entertaining, hard-fought game was played in front of an appreciative audience. The Magpie faithful on the eastern side were vocal all afternoon, and a healthy crowd were sprinkled around the ground. Both sides would have been happy with the standard of play, particularly the Demons who maintained their ladder position with a well-earned win. Lloyd Shepherd, Damian Dell’Aquila and James Dunn had worked relentlessly for the Demons; while Brenton Mumme, Yannick Milligan-Saville and Matt Round had been Wests’ best.
The remaining games of the Premier Division round were played on Saturday afternoon. At Village Green, St George moved into the top five with a hard-earned 20-point win over UNSW-ES.
The Dragons made the early front-running around the ground, but would find themselves frustrated on the forward line. Several behinds went through that should have been goals, but the Dragons did manage to find the big sticks three times while the Bulldogs could just once; and at quarter time the Dragons led by 15 points. The second quarter was more evenly contested, as the Bulldogs lifted their work rate around the ground and attempted to work their way back into the contest. But the Dragons were able to repel the Bulldog challenge; and after three goals apiece were scored in the quarter, the 15 point margin remained intact at half time.
The third quarter was similar to the second, as the Bulldogs threw everything at the Dragons; but every time they looked like getting back into the game, the Dragons had the answers. Four goals apiece in an entertaining quarter saw the margin at 18 points at the last change. It was another four goals to each side in the last term; and in the end, it was only the Dragons’ superior start that proved to be the difference between two sides that had matched it with each other for much of the day.
Karl Merson, Jesse Mudge and Chris Windle had been best for the Dragons. For the Bulldogs, the evergreen Troy Luff proved that even after all these years he still has what it takes to compete at the top level in Sydney with a six-goal haul in a losing side. Around the ground, Tom Heath, Jeremy Kiel and Ryan Plant picked up plenty of the ball for the Bulldogs.
Manly haven’t put a foot wrong in their title defence this season, and the Giant juggernaut was unstoppable at Weldon Oval as they raced their way to a whopping 137-point win over a disappointing UTS side on Saturday afternoon. 
The Giants were looking the better side early, and with four goals to one in the first term they led by 20 points at the first change. The Bats were barely hanging on, but they did manage two goals in the second term to briefly hold up the Giants’ charge. But the Giants had the answers every time, and with a run of five goals in the second term, it was a Manly lead of 41 points at half time.
But as one-sided as the first half was, it was nothing compared to the irresistible force that would emerge from the rooms for the second half. As the premiership quarter developed, the Giants were finding the goals with regularity, running rings around the Bats who were unable to do anything to stop the Manly charge. Nine unanswered goals in the third term blew the margin out to 100 points at three quarter time. And the Giants weren’t finished yet, with a run of seven goals to two blowing the final margin out to 137 points and the undefeated Giants’ percentage to astronomical levels.
Eleven Manly players drew twin flags from the goal umpires, but the focal point up forward was Brayden Fowler, who finished with seven goals. The Giants had winners all around the ground, but Connor Pettersson, Gareth Benbow and Wills Brassil were the best of the lot. For the Bats, Joshua Maddox, Frank Boland and Rawson Kirkhope kept trying hard; but the Bats were badly beaten. With no wins from four games and this game giving the Bats a major hit to their percentage, a season that promised much is already in serious danger of slipping away.
North Shore went into their match against Sydney Hills Eagles at Gore Hill on Saturday afternoon with one win from their first three games, and even that win hadn’t been convincing. The Bombers, a side with hopes of playing a prominent role in this year’s finals, needed a spark to kick their season into gear. And they got it in style with a comfortable 73-point victory over the winless Eagles. 
Getting off to a flying start, the Bombers looked in control through the early exchanges as they kept the ball camped on their forward line for much of the first term. Five goals to one in the first quarter saw the Bombers 27 points clear at quarter time. But the Eagles weren’t going to go down without a fight, and they lifted their game in the second term. Eagle players who had been quiet in the first quarter began to make an impact as the visitors fought back. The Hills team scored four goals to three in the second term, pegging the margin back to 21 points at the long break and with some hope of getting back into the contest.
But the home side steadied during the break, and came out running harder and faster in the third term, leaving the Eagles chasing them as the North Shore side rose up to premiership contender status for the first time this season. Five goals to two in the third term extended the margin to 44 points at the last change; and the Bombers’ victory was assured. And as the sun set and the lights took over in the final quarter, the Bombers put on their best football of the season to date with six goals to two to blow the final margin out to 73 points.
Matthew Clarke stood tall on the North Shore forward line to finish with four goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Lachlan Hayres and Jack Campbell also featured prominently. Jake Famularo kicked four goals for the Eagles, and along with Aaron Drinkwater and Josh Cutting was among the Eagles’ best.
Sydney Uni took their home game against Campbelltown to Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday afternoon; and the Students had a win in the west, their third for the season. But the Students were made to work hard for the win, as the Blues put up plenty of solid resistance.
An even contest around the ground in the first quarter saw both sides create plenty of opportunities; with the Students scoring three goals to two for a four-point lead at quarter time. The second quarter was an arm-wrestle, as two sides vied for supremacy around the ground but found their best efforts thwarted by their equally-matched opponent. There were three goals apiece scored in the second term, with the Student clinging to a one-point lead as the teams returned to the rooms at half time.
But the premiership quarter was pivotal to the outcome of the game, and it was the Students who stood and were counted when the game was there to be won. Lifting their work rate around the ground, and finding room to move up forward, the Students kicked away with six goals to two; extending their lead to 25 points at the last change. The Blues attempted to fight back in the final term, but the damage was done, and with four goals apiece in the final term, the three quarter time margin remained intact when the final siren sounded.
Adam Campbell contributed five goals to the Students and Evan Smith four; while around the ground, Campbell, Jack Caspersonn and Joshua Smith were among their best. Taran Etto, Nathan Lomas and Josh Bottin-Noonan worked tirelessly all afternoon for the Blues.
Last Modified on 28/04/2014 10:32
