http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2009/09/14/Eastern-Swans-final-AFL-Whitsunday/
"Unbelievable!" This was how Eastern Swans coach, Dave Edwards described his team’s performance to win the 2009 Manpower AFL Mackay premiership against all odds over the Whitsunday Sea-Eagles on Saturday.
Swans fans turned out en-mass to their home ground at Rogers Oval for the season decider, as an air of anticipation surrounded the ground following earlier wins in the day by the Swans in the junior ranks. Not to be outdone, the Sea-Eagles who were competing in both the Reserve and Senior grades bolstered the crowd numbers to over 1500 for the match, transporting in three bus-loads of supporters.
The “Illawong Doctor” was in, however the stiff breeze as blowing directly across the ground, favouring neither team, with the wind behind those kicking for goal from the beach side flank of the ground.
The match swung into the Swans favour from the opening bounce, with a smart tap on by ruckman Shane Atkinson to set up Heath Browns’ opening goal within the first 30 seconds of the match. Aaron Sondergeld soon followed suit, with a classy goal from broken play to put the Swans ahead by two goals in as many minutes.
Through some inspired match-ups, the Swans remained camped in their attacking zone, with Sondergeld slotting another goal from a tight angle, and Dave Edwards posting his solitary major for the match, putting his side ahead by four unanswered goals midway through the first quarter.
A rattled Whitsunday regained their composure, to wrestle back control of the match as Sea-Eagle’s captain Mark Pollard converted for the team’s first goal. Nick O’Reilly and Daniel Nestor also registering on the score-sheet, as the Swans ground out the quarter to remain 4 points ahead at the first break.
A heavy knock to key Whitsunday playmaker Paul Branchflower saw him start the second quarter at full-forward, leaving his MJ Miller medal winning on-ball skills left wanting from the Sea-Eagle centre-line engine room.
The match travelled from end to end, with both teams defending grimly. Matt Sondergeld broke through first for the Swans to extend the lead, followed by Mark Svaikauskas and Stuart Buckley who battled hard for their goals.
Whitsunday pegged back the Swans, with goals of their own through Brendan McGrath and Brent Loughnan, going to the main break trailing by less than 2 goals.
The Whitsunday backline kept the Swans subdued in the third quarter, with a solitary goal to Terry Bailey against the run of play. The Sea-Eagles swarmed in their attacking zone, and were met by the strength of the Eastern Swans backline of Dean Hartley, Lauchlan Jamieson and Phil Andrews.
The best-on-ground performance by back-man Hartley being the difference in the final wash-up, as numerous attacking raids by the Sea-Eagles were thwarted, with McGrath kicking the only Whitsunday major for the quarter. A master-stroke by Swans coach Edwards rushed key players Ryan Usher, Sam Miller and the perennial Ivan Walker back into defence to stem the Sea-Eagle attack.
At the final break, the Swans were ahead by just 9 points, but were buoyed by the vocal crowd to lift their effort to seal the match. Both teams were surrounded by supporters in their respective huddles, as both coaches made impassioned pleas to battle out the remaining 20 minutes of the season.
The Eastern Swans continued the intensity they’d shown all match to want the football more than their opponents. At each contest the Swans picked themselves up off the ground and attacked the football, ensuring they remained in possession.
Through some clever running play, Matt Sondergeld found room to put through his second goal for the match, taking the Swans ahead by 3 straight kicks. Brett Hoare controlled traffic through the centre, aided by Dan Day, Ryan Haynes and Adam McGaffin to deliver onto Ryan Singleton to post the second for the quarter.
Ben Culey, Chris Leeson, and 16-year-old Sam McCann all played their part to defend the onslaught thrown at them by Whitsunday in the dying minutes. The Sea-Eagles coming within 8 points of snatching victory in the last minutes, with a late goal to Matt Galonski, before going down by 9.
After the match, credit was paid to the inspirational coaching of Dave Edwards, who ran rings around his opponents with clever match-ups and a match preparation that gave his team the self belief to lift them to take on the unbeaten minor premiers at the top of their game.
The premiership is the first for the club since 1998, and was even sweater for 200 gamer Ivan Walker, who played in that last Premiership. Celebrations continued long into the night, and for the remainder of weekend, as the Swans look to season 2010 with renewed confidence.
AFL Mackay Chairman Steve Johnstone congratulated Eastern Swans on their win, "The other winners were the volunteers and supporters who worked tirelessly to make the day a true success for Australian Football in Mackay".
North Melbourne AFC Chief of Football, Donald McDonald who attended the match as a special guest ahead of the League, was also impressed with the standard of football on display, which "epitomised the heart and soul of country football".
Eastern Swans 4.2, 7.4, 8.5, 11.6 (72) def Whitsundays 3.4, 5.5, 6.8, 9.9 (63)
It was a bitter afternoon, and a long bus ride home for the Sea-Eagles, who also lost their Reserve Grade clash to the ever-green Mackay City Hawks.
The Hawks took control of the match comfortably, with David Johnstone kicking 3 goals for the match. Heath Thiele was adjudged best-on-ground, with Matt Harris considered best Under 21 player, kicking 2 goals for the match.
Mackay City 3.3, 5.6, 7.9, 10.9 (69) def Whitsundays 3.0, 4.3, 5.6, 7.6 (48)
Last Modified on 14/09/2010 11:16