They've still got it! This was the buzz around Zeolla Park following North Mackay's emphatic victory over the Moranbah Bulldogs last weekend in Round 1 of the Manpower 2009 AFL Mackay Premiership Season.
The Saints, who started the season under a question mark following a changing of the guard, proved they still have the ability to inflict a big total, piling on a 165 point win over Moranbah. The 2008 Premiers had lost much of its dominant centre-line during the off-season, however their depth of players stepped out of the shadows to mark their own place in the AFL Mackay competition.
Newly appointed Assistant Coach and ruckman Andrew McMahon stood tall, winning the bulk of the ball, and assisting with some clever taps mid-play. Last seasons leading goal kicker, Craig Dowdell opened his account for 2009, kicking three goals for the match.
The Bulldogs were not to be outdone, with a gutsy performance in the face of adversity, and have also looked to improved their form since last season. With one of the classiest centre combinations in the competition, boasting 2008 Keg Player of the Year Tim Bone, Brendan Ridgely, Darren Semmler and new recruit Jaeben Royal, Moranbah kept the pressure on throughout the match, and should figure heavily in coming weeks on their home turf. North Mackay 6.3, 12.10, 19.14, 29.20 (194) def Moranbah 0.1, 2.3, 4.5, 4.5 (29)
The Eastern Swans continued their blistering form last season's finals series and pre-season carnival, with a convincing victory over the highly fancied Bakers Creek Tigers.
The Tigers came out with everything in the opening quarter, controlling much of the play in their forward half, but failed to convert possession into scoreboard pressure, kicking five behinds. Ben Drury and Matt Gartner combined well for Bakers Creek, to pass off to Johnny Vagg showing silky skills in the forward line.
The Swans responded strongly, kicking five goals of their own in the second quarter to go to the main break ahead. New recruit Leigh Stevens stood out for the Swans, as did rising star Matt Sondergeld and Brett Hoare.
The second half of the match failed to live up to the expectations built from the first, with the Tigers falling away under a mountain of Eastern Swans pressure. Ivan Walker continued his good form on goal, kicking four for the match, along with new Coach Dave Edwards and Phil Sanders chiming in with three each of their own.
In the end, the Swans ran out easy winners, leaving Bakers Creek goal-less in the final quarter, whilst piling on nine of their own. Eastern Swans 0.2, 5.7, 9.9, 18.13 (121) def Bakers Creek 2.5, 4.6, 5.6, 5.11 (41)
Reserves: Eastern Swans 20.5 (125) def Bakers Creek 4.3 (27)
The Mackay City Hawks made the long journey north for the second weekend in succession, hoping to improve on their last visit to the Whitsundays.
The match was a closely fought contest, with neither team taking advantage in the opening stanza, with the Hawks ahead by just a point at half time.
Ben Drew and Brett Pope among the best for Mackay City, with Grant Evans kicking four goals, a perfect match for Northern Territory recruit Desmond Haynes, who worked hard in the forward line and was rewarded with a six pointer for his efforts.
The Sea-Eagles edged ahead in the third quarter, with Matt Golonski chiming in with two goals, along with the classy Peter Bond and captain Mark Pollard, who kept the pressure on the Hawks backline to finish the match 23 points ahead. Whitsunday 4.2, 6.5, 12.9, 15.14 (104) def Mackay City 2.4, 6.6, 10.7, 12.9 (81)
Reserves: Mackay City 11.3 (69) def Whitsunday 10.8 (68)
Last Modified on 05/04/2009 19:40