A gloomy first Sunday of September dawned, the Maroochy RSL Club AFL Sunshine Coast Juniors show piece day, Grand Final Day for season 2010. Some overnight rain had simply settled the dust but we faced a humid start to the day with the threat of the heavens opening at any point.
Such threats were not going to deter the players of twelve teams participating from five clubs across the course of the day as Grand Final glory beckoned. The occasional morning shower didn’t hinder those boys with only eyes for the “sherrin” the show marched on at a frantic pace.
With five games down and reaching half time of the under 16 division 1 show piece game, the skies could no longer hold off and down it came. By this time it was past two thirty and most of the proceedings had been achieved with little interruption. Certainly the second half rain of the game tested player’s skills and as the score board indicated this is where the Caloundra Panthers players came to the fore running over a spirited Maroochydore Roos outfit.
With four clubs, Pomona, Glasshouse Hinterland, Maroochydore and Caloundra represented in Grand Finals by two or more teams certainly the crowd colour was dominated by Blue, Maroon, Green and Red with a healthy splattering of yellow. Further Yellow added by the Kawana Park club whom placed the only team outside of these four clubs into a final that being the under 14’s division 2 match and our closest game of the day.
Another colour that was prominent across the day but not conspicuous was Orange, the day having a full contingent of Umpires dressed in orange – Goal, Boundary and Field. In general even for the colour blind this group did a great job in officiating, and to Rohan, Bones, Adrian and their crew we give thanks for their service.
Of the six GF’s we saw all games as repeats of the second semi finals some two weeks earlier. Our GF match day results gave us three winners whom went direct to the GF, whilst the other three reversed the result of those two weeks back, those teams 12’s div 1 Maroochydore Green, Caloundra Panthers div 1 under 14’s and Pomona under 16’s of div 2.
From this mesh of results the old question of “is it best having the week off, or not” will still rage, rest or stay focused from one week to the next. Really what it does indicate as margins do from semis and GF’s is that the closeness of the tussles did have every team going into their GF’s with a solid belief of achieving the ultimate.
Under 12 Division 2
With an 8.45am start the Hinterland teams of Glasshouse & Pomona rolled into town, the Lions of Glasshouse awoke the earliest and the first quarter break saw them 16 points in front. The Demons got their scoreboard rolling in the second and again the same margin we had at the main break as both teams kicked 2.1.
The third quarter often termed the premiership quarter saw the Lions kick four majors to one and at the last break effectively had the game wrapped up. But not to give in the Dees fought this one out hard to outscore the victors in the last.
For Glasshouse Hinterland it was back to back 12’s div 2 flags, Nathaniel Doneman was adjudged the Best player on the ground and no doubt he had a proud dad on father’s day.
Glasshouse Hinterland 8.10.58 def. Pomona 4.4.28
Glasshouse Hinterland Goal Kickers: Kyle Bullard 3, Aiden McCombe 3, Zak Gleeson 1, Cooper McLaren 1
Glasshouse Hinterland Best Players: Nathaniel Doneman, Max Storer, Jacob Aherne, Zak Gleeson, Casey Isbel, Josh Lammeretz
Pomona Goal Kickers: Tom Daddow 2, Lachlan Brady 1, Dylan Kalin 1
Pomona Best Players: Jed Loveridge, Joshua Hennings, Luke Maymuru, Lachlan Brady, Tom Daddow, Dylan Kalin
Best on ground medallion: Nathaniel Doneman (Glasshouse Hinterland)
Under 12 Division 1
No doubt there was a huge weight of relief that floated off the shoulders of one coach with this game in the bag, the Green Roo had been dynamite for the first two thirds of the season then got a little lost at the business end. Caloundra had won straight through to the GF by eight points and with state players in Fullarton and Barnes well rounded by many others they were a very formidable team.
Down by seven points at the first break the Roos just ran and ran in the second and kicked four goals to one to take the ascendancy at the main break. A five goal to three second half giving the Roos a near to four goal win.
For the Panthers of Caloundra they had six goal kickers but really needed that multiple goal kicking forward who was for the Roos the difference in their Kayleb Murray who snared four majors. James Vincent also most dangerous with three as was BOG player Jason Kennedy who gave the Roos much drive and kicked two himself.
Maroochydore Green 10.6.66 def. Caloundra 6.7.43
Maroochydore Green Goal Kickers: Kayleb Murray 4, James Vincent 3, Jason Kennedy 2, Caleb Orr 1
Maroochydore Green Best Players: Jason Kennedy, Jake Warren, Kaden Barnewall, Kayleb Murray, Kell Gadsden, Jekodah Spears
Caloundra Goal Kickers: James Barnes 1, Daniel Reynolds 1, Lachlan Waldron 1, Mitchell Peat 1, Kane Reeves 1, Tom Fullarton 1
Caloundra Best Players: Mitchell Cheeseman, Tom Fullarton, Isaac Richardson, James Barnes, Mitchell Peat, Connor Smith
Best on ground medallion: Jason Kennedy (Maroochydore Green)
Under 14 Div 2
The final game on oval two was to be the days closest GF and judging from crowd participation certainly a well contested and appreciated battle – well done to both teams.
The Demons two weeks back lost to the Eagles of Kawana Park by some 45 points, but as scoring shots indicated that day, 14 to 9 certainly showed that the Demons were a closer team to the Eagles than that. As you can see the Demons kicked far greater when it really counted with 9.4, this no doubt due to the fantastic disposal skills of young Billy Mahony. Playing through the centre Billy has kicked five majors and as such earned himself the BOG medallion.
Pomona had a two point lead at the first break, then it was the Eagles taking ascendancy with a 12 point then 17 point lead at the next two breaks. But these Dees weren’t to just accept their fate there and then and with 3.2 to 1 straight in the last a grand finish all experienced.
Kawana Park 9.7.61 def. Pomona 9.4.58
Kawana Park Goal Kickers: Brent Morris 2, Connor Thomas 2, Nick Gordon 1, Zach Carlson 1, Will Kristelly 1, Dylan Menti 1, Evan Kraut 1
Kawana Park Best Players: Ben Glover, Tom Dignan, Adam Randall, Connor Thomas, Will Kristelly, Nick Gordon
Pomona Goal Kickers: Billy Mahony 5, Lachlan Brady 1, Michael Daddow 1, Thomas Kennedy 1, Riley Pilling 1
Pomona Best Players: Billy Mahony, Riley Pilling, Jesse Loveridge, Liam Hennings, Tom Hunt, Michael Daddow
Best on ground medallion: Billy Mahony (Pomona)
Under 16 Div 2
An unfamiliar start time of 9am had a few thinking “how will I get started”, one Pomona coach in particular wondering, but this didn’t stop two young teams of players rocking up pumped and ready for action from the first bounce. Scores at 3.2 a piece at the first break but then Pomona stirred, found a two goal lead at the second and furthered that to 17 points at the final break.
In fact a goal after the siren gave the Lions a real sniff and minds were cast back two weeks to their semi final where they came from three goals down to win by a goal – was there to be a repeat performance with still another twenty minutes of play time on the clock? A seven goal eight last quarter to the Demons who had far more run with a full interchange bench saw them sail home.
Pomona’s Jesse Lawrence sporting team coloured hair was adjudged the best on ground as he swept across half back and through the fields centre regions.
Pomona 19.16.130 def. Glasshouse Hinterland 11.4.70
Pomona Goal Kickers: Haydn Slater 3, Danny Taylor 2, Jabe Gerring 2, Nick Woolley 2, Nick Coombes 2, Brad Forbes 1, Michael Daddow 1, Jay Clark 1, Alex Mahony 1, Billy Mahony 1, Lochy Quinlan 1
Pomona Best Players: Jesse Lawrence, Jabe Gerring, Brad Forbes, Alex Mahony, Lochy Quinlan, Beau Stolberg
Glasshouse Hinterland Goal Kickers: Shane Rene, Tyron Steele, Wade Rouhan, Billy Bryant, Zachary Smith
Glasshouse Hinterland Best Players: Jhi Gillies, Brad Carnovale, Billy Bryant, Shane Rene, James Haydock, Zac Smith
Best on ground medallion: Jesse Lawrence (Pomona)
Under 14 Div 1
The Panthers jumped out of the blocks to give their Caloundra club a good quarter time lead of 21 points whilst the Roos of Maroochydore hadn’t troubled the scorer. But then in the second quarter the Roos found something and hammed in three goals and all felt “game on”.
But again that premiership quarter beckoned and five majors to zip effectively saw the GF dream a nightmare for the Roos. Caloundra Panthers run and carry with Suncoast Power players of Warren, Hendo, Winen, D-D, Francis with many other Panthers partners in crime just was relentless in this business quarter. Young Daniel Henderson who made everything of every possession was adjudged Best on Ground in a fine display.
The Maroochydore Roos fought this game out with 3 goals to one in the last, but still a 29 point victory sparked a very satisfied Panther result.
Caloundra Panthers 10.14.74 def. Maroochydore Roos 6.9.45
Caloundra Panthers Goal Kickers: Jamen Warren 3, Lachlan Broadstock 2, Tom Hedley 2, Daniel Henderson 2, Aidan Sharp 1
Caloundra Panthers Best Players: Jamen Warren, Joshua Winen, Ben Francis, Tom Patton, Lachlan Broadstock, Jasper Duane-Davis
Maroochydore Roos Goal Kickers: Nicholas Paterson 2, Harrison Kerr 2, Joshua Keleher 1, Nathan Reidy 1
Maroochydore Roos Best Players: Baiden Howard, Tom Buckle, Ace Jacobsen, Scott Sinclair, Clancy Miller
Best on ground medallion: Daniel Henderson (Caloundra Panthers)
Under 16 Div 1
This game was played in two halves – a dry half then a wet half.
The skills of both sides coupled with plenty of run and endeavour were testimony to the desire and self belief both teams came into this game with.
Twenty goals on the board at the main break; well spread for Caloundra whilst for the Roos their competition leading goal kicker was again the main avenue for the Roos, eight in all he got of his teams fourteen.
Early in the third quarter goals were still achievable, the Roos getting the first after the big break giving them a 20 point lead had many wondering. But then a change came over proceedings, the Panther found another gear and they added six goals in a stanza that saw the rain that threatened most of the day set in – the game became a slog as the sherrin began to it soak up.
We headed into the last quarter with a nine point lead to Caloundra, rain most steady by now, anticipation still at fever pitch as 29 minutes of slog proceeded a Caloundra win. Two goals five to the Panthers against one goal three to the Roos gave Caloundra a 17 point win but this never without a fair dinkum hard fought game of Aussie Rules footy – well done to all concerned.
A player who always gives his all whether playing for club or our representative teams in Aidan Sauvage was adjudged BOG. An honorary mention is given to Billy Mason of the Roos who kicked eight majors to really give his team a focal point in attack, one or two others hitting the big post.
Caloundra 17.12.114 def. Maroochydore 14.13.97
Caloundra Goal Kickers: Mitchell Habgood 3, Jye Perry 3, Hayden Matthews 3, Clancy Breed 2, Aidan Sauvage 2, Elliot Escott-Kenny 1, Keagan Hoskin 1
Caloundra Best Players: Sam O’Brien, Mitchell Habgood, Aidan Sauvage, Jye Perry, Matt Rutzou, Hayden Matthews
Maroochydore Goal Kickers: Bill Mason 8, Michael Hooper 2, Nick Selman 2, Lachlan Bone 1, Griffin Douglass 1
Maroochydore Best Players: Lachlan Bone, Elliott Heath, Michael Hooper
Best on ground medallion: Aidan Sauvage (Caloundra)
We also extend our special thanks to Alby Hancock and Adam Croxton who kept time, the Leagues Management Committee members for their days administration and of course our hosts the Maroochydore JAFC.
Well that’s it for another year, I trust all players enjoyed the experience of their junior footy, and we certainly look forward to their return in 2011. To those 132 players of 1994 birth thanks for being a part of Junior AFL footy and we wish you all the best moving forward, many clubs are looking to start or continue fielding under 18 teams in 2011 so we encourage you to stick with the game and your mates.
Last Modified on 05/10/2010 12:47