June had turned into July, the weather cold but fine as Round 11 of Premier Division was played on Saturday.
The football world was in a melancholy state over the weekend. It was Blue Sock Round, with many teams wearing blue socks and supporting the work of Beyond Blue in tackling depression and anxiety. And the shock of the passing of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh cut deep, even in Sydney. At some games a minutes’ silence was held, at others scarves were put out and other commemorations held.
But the show goes on, and there was a big round of footy to be played. A round with plenty of local derbies and rivalries. And in Premier Division, a round with no upsets; although some underdog teams put the fight up to their more fancied rivals.
The big rivalry on the north was played under lights at Gore Hill Oval, with North Shore playing host to Manly. When the two sides had played at Blacktown earlier in the season, the Bombers were held to a single goal. This time round there was no such capitulation by the Bombers; but the end result was still a comfortable win for the Giants.
Around the ground, there wasn’t that much to separate the two sides early on. The Bombers were showing some resistance early, and were finding ways to get the ball into their forward 50 and create attacking chances. But the Giants had the answer to any challenges the Bombers would create; and although the stats in general play in the first term would have been similar, the Giants had four goals to two to show for their efforts, and a ten point lead at quarter time.
The Bombers were within a kick of the Giants early in the second quarter, but that was as close as they could go. The Giants were relentless, contesting every possession. Day was turning into night, a full moon rising and bringing the Wolves out. Time and again the Giants put the Bombers under the pump; and a quarter of three goals to two saw them leading by 17 points at the long break. Not an insurmountable margin, but a comeback never looked likely.
But the Bombers did lift early in the third. An early goal gave them a sniff, a hope they could maybe make a run like they did against Pennant Hills last week. But within a minute the Giants had the goal back, and the chance was gone. For much of the quarter, it was play where more ground was gained by both sides from the frequently-awarded 50 metre penalties than through general play. The Bombers worked hard; but the difference between a rebuilding team and a team in their golden era was all too apparent as the Giants had all the answers and more. Four goals to two extended the margin to 33 points at the last change. 
The game was safely won, and the margin wouldn’t change during the final quarter. The sting had largely gone out of the contest, the Giants firing a few goals early in the quarter then happily sitting back with the cue in the rack as the Bombers salvaged a few late in a quarter in which each side ended up with four goals.
In the end, the final margin was 33 points. For the Giants, it was a routine sort of win in a game they were expecting to get the points; not one of their classic performances but it didn’t need to be, and the win was never seriously in doubt. Up forward, Daniel Dickerson made the most of a rare appearance in Premier Division to finish with five goals, while Brayden Fowler also contributed five goals to the Giants’ cause. Around the ground, Connor Pettersson, Max Carter and James Brain made prominent contributions.
For the Bombers, the loss was disappointing; but their effort was far removed from some of their early-season defeats. Pat Codling, John Gray and Sam Carruthers picked up plenty of the ball during the evening; and after a mid-season change in the coaching lineup, new Bombers’ mentor Damian Whittle has something to work with in the remainder of this season.
The battle for the north-west was played at Kanebridge Oval, with top spot on the line as East Coast Eagles were at home to Pennant Hills. But, after an even first quarter, the Eagles would take control for the remainder of the afternoon.
The first quarter saw the Demons take the fight up to the Eagles, and had they kicked straight they could have had the lead at the first change. But it would be a term of forward frustration for the Demons, with some kickable shots missing the target as an inaccurate return of 1.5 would be recorded on the scoreboard. The Eagles had fewer chances, but converted two of them to lead by three points at quarter time.
But as the teams emerged from their huddle for the second quarter, the Eagles had been revved up and lifted another gear. The Eagles haven’t lost since the opening round, and during the second term they put out an emphatic statement of premiership favouritism as they dominated the Demons around the ground and had no shortage of players who easily had the measure of their direct opponent. With five goals to two for the quarter, and a 23-point half time lead, things were looking comfortable for the home side. 
Around the ground, the Eagles were easily the better side again in the third term. But on the forward line, the Eagles were far from comfortable. At times their own worst enemies, shot after shot that should have been kicked sailed wide of the big sticks. An inaccurate 2.7 for the quarter was frustrating for the Eagles. But the backline ensured the Demons were unable to take advantage, some tight defensive work preventing the Demons from drawing twin flags from the goal umpires during the premiership quarter.
By three quarter time the Eagles’ lead was 39 points. But that number would blow out in the final quarter, as the Eagles’ re-discovered their mojo on the forward line while the midfield assumed control of the contest. It was a display of a team of premiership favourites at their imposing best, and the Demons were powerless to stop the Eagle juggernaut during the final term. A run of six goals to two for the quarter blew the final margin out to 61 points.
Scott Pierce and Jamie Vlatko spearheaded the Eagle charge to finish with four goals apiece; while Aaron Savage, Blake Anderson and Bryce Joynson featured prominently around the ground for the Eagles. With the win, a spot in this year’s finals is already mathematically guaranteed. It was a disappointing afternoon for the Demons; but Cameron Smith, Stephen Wray and Tom Edmonds continued to work hard all day.
Meanwhile at Picken Oval, Wests were hosting Sydney Uni. The Magpies had fought hard but been beaten in their last two starts, and again on Saturday they would put in a credible performance against a top-five side. But once again Magpie hearts would be broken as they would again fall on the wrong side of the scoreboard when the final siren sounded.
The Magpies were desperate and hungry, and showed that during the early exchanges as they got the jump on the Students in the first quarter. At times it was hard and physical, as the Magpies piled on the pressure and pressed forward at every opportunity. In a season where little has gone to plan for the home side, there was a lot to be hopeful about as they put on four unanswered goals in the first term to lead by 21 points at quarter time. 
Out-pressured and out-enthused during the first quarter, the Students knew they had to lift their work-rate in the second term. This they did, but it would be a slow burn to turn their fortunes around against a Wests side that had their tails up and momentum running their way. It took plenty of time during the second term before the Students could make any inroads into the deficit; and even after a four goals to two quarter, the University side still found themselves nine points in arrears as the teams returned to the rooms at half time.
The Magpies were still in front, but with the margin back to single figures, the game was far from safe. More moves up forward had to be made, more scoring chances needed to be created. And in the third quarter, this happened; but too few of those chances were to be capitalised on. A scoreline of 2.6 for the quarter was frustrating at a time when the Students were coming back hard. And as the quarter drew on, the Students had lifted around the ground; their fifth goal for the quarter putting Sydney Uni three points in front at the last change.
Wests had given it their all and led for all but the final moment of three quarters. But the momentum had swung, the Students were on top, and the Magpies had nothing more to give. And as the last quarter played out, the Students had the run of play and took advantage around the ground. Four goals to one in the final quarter was enough to wrap up a 23-point win; a margin that didn’t do justice to another fighting effort by the Magpies, but a margin that reflected the Students’ dominant final quarter.
Monty Krochmal, Allister Clarke and Alex Hawtin were best for the Students. Only half a game ahead of sixth just two weeks ago, back to back wins have opened the gap up to ten competition points. The Magpies were well served by four goals to Thomas Charles and efforts around the ground by Taran Etto, Josh Robinson and Josh Zoppo. But despite the recent vastly improved form, the Magpies still only have one win to show for their efforts this season; and although it’s still mathematically possible for them to make the finals, time is running out.
The eastern derby was a battle for university pride, as UNSW-ES took on UTS at the Village Green. It was a game between two sides currently outside the top five; but one that the Bats would enjoy as they snapped a three-game losing streak with a 28-point victory.
Goals would be hard to come by in the first quarter, as the two sides searched desperately for form and momentum that had eluded them in recent weeks. It was a battle of the defences early on, as time and again a series of turnovers and strong work by the respective backlines would hold each other out. But the Bats would find a way to goal when they needed two; and with three goals to one in the opening term would lead by 12 points at the first change.
After a low-scoring opening, the game opened up in the second term; and both sides would be able to find some run and free-flowing play that was impossible in the first. The scoreboard was ticking over more often, and the running midfielders finding the ball easier to get. But again the Bats would have the edge, not by much, but by enough to score four goals to three for the quarter and extend the lead to 17 points at half time. 
The Bulldogs haven’t won since Round 2, but being within three goals at half time, would have sensed an opportunity. But they needed to get goals on the board, so the attacking mindset of the second term would have to be continued in the third. But, although the Bulldogs did manage three goals during the third quarter, it wasn’t enough to stem the Bats’ tide as the visitors would score five in the premiership quarter. And with the margin extended to 28 points at three quarter time, it was clear to all at the ground that the Bulldogs would again fall short of victory.
And so it would prove, as they were unable to peg back the deficit in the final quarter. It was a quarter of even fortunes, four goals apiece, as the Bats had the answering goal to any challenge the Bulldogs would throw down and were able to comfortably cruise to a well-earned win.
James Howard finished with four goals for the Bats, and also provided the individual highlight of the day as he pulled down a spectacular high-flying mark that had the crowd in raptures. Around the ground, Jason Fleming, Kaizaad Mehta and Josh Maddox accumulated plenty of possessions to keep the Bats on top. The win sees the Bats leap-frog North Shore into sixth place, thanks to their superior percentage and having already had their second bye.
For the Bulldogs, Tim Cummins kicked four, and with Harry Annear and Tim Widmer persevered all day; but it was another result that didn’t go their way. With one win for the season to date, the Bulldogs are stuck on the bottom of the ladder and have no time to waste in getting a winning streak going to keep their mathematical finals chances alive.
Next week sees a potentially season-defining clash at Gore Hill Oval when North Shore takes on Sydney Uni. A win for the Students would see the finals race all but over and the gap between fifth and sixth virtually insurmountable; but a win for North Shore would get both the Bombers and UTS within striking distance.
Meanwhile Pennant Hills will return to their old stamping ground at Ern Holmes Oval for a clash with Manly. St George host East Coast, and if the Dragons can cause the upset will be in a position to put pressure for the double chance on the loser of the Ern Holmes clash. 
And at Trumper Park, UTS will be keen to build on this week’s momentum when they host Wests. UNSW-ES has the bye.
Last Modified on 06/07/2015 09:05
