Storm Win a Thriller In one of the closest contests of the season the Northern Rivers Storm overcame a spirited fight back from The Coomera Magpies to win the Gold Coast AFL Juniors Division 2 Grand Final on Sunday by 3 points. Leading by 4 goals at the first break the Storm shot out of the blocks with determined and highly skilled football. The midfield was terrific and continually drove the ball forward to the Storms tall forwards, Max Bain Jones and Brendan Blake and their mobile smaller players who swooped on every loose ball. Brendan Prull and Corey Wright used pace and skill, in equal measures, to outclass Coomera's running players. With the wind at their backs in the second term, Coomera slowly but surely worked themselves into the game with some tough football. The Storm however were strong in defence with Angus Graham spoiling many of Coomera's forward thrusts and Brock Phyland playing strongly at full back. Again the midfield of Liam Stafford, Jake Hayes, Ahri Tallon and Connor Sanders, dominating the centre clearances all day, provided plenty of opportunities for the forward line that used the ball very efficiently. The third quarter saw the game tighten up considerably with Coomera coming out strongly after the major break. Their running players were now working much harder and their forwards started playing in front. Unable to convert goals, which has been a problem for them all year, they wasted much of the opportunities created by a much more determined midfield and allowed The Storm to maintain their lead. Late in the third quarter, one of the Storms best players, Angus Graham was taken from the field after a very ugly shepherd and played no further part in the game. With some serious reshuffling, the Storm started the final quarter a little under-maned and playing into a freshening breeze. Again Coomera attacked the centre clearances like a team that was destined to record their first Grand Final victory but almost every time they did the Storm back line worked hard to repel their efforts. Regardless of some fine efforts the Storm could not hold out a stronger Coomera forward set-up and the final siren sounded with score all tied up. Two 5-minute terms were now to decide the winner of what was an epic battle of two teams that finished first and second after the completion of the home and away rounds. In a ten-minute passage of desperate, frenetic play by both teams the lead changed four or five times. Whenever Coomera looked like taking the game away from the Storm they fought back with some brilliant running play from Corey Wright and absolute determination from Matt Lodge, Nick Davis and Brad Deleaney. With less than two minutes to play the Storm found themselves 3 points down and really under the pump. Coomera were very tight in defence and there looked little chance of the Storm finding any avenue to goal. With what would prove to be the Storms last thrust forward Matt Lodge showed just how desperate the Storm were by putting his head over a fierce contest, was crudely tackled and awarded a free 20 metres out on a slight angle. He kicked truly to give the Storm a 3-point lead that would remain when the final siren sounded. Final Scores: Northern Rivers Storm 13.7.85 def Coomera Magpies 11.16.82 Best Players: Jake Hayes, Corey Wright, Liam Stafford, Angus Graham, Brendan Prull, Conner Sanders, Ahri Tallon, Matt Lodge. For further details contact Ean Jones 0429 200 506
Last Modified on 04/03/2011 18:46