DARREN MONCRIEFF
Saturday 5 February 2005
THE AFL Indigenous All-Stars have made it a hat-trick of wins over AFL clubs after the 2005 side turned on a sensational display to claim the Sir Doug Nicholls Cup by defeating a gallant Western Bulldogs by 28 points, 12.19 (91) to 10.3 (63), at Marrara Oval in Darwin tonight.
In front of a modest crowd of around 8,500, the All-Stars provided value for money tenfold. Michael Long's pre-clash declaration that the game would be 'showtime' for Indigenous footballers certainly lived up to that billing. The All-Stars' superior foot-speed, ball control, overall fitness and attack on the ball proved the difference in the seasonally humid conditions at Marrara.
The game has also put beyond further doubt the question of Indigenous footballers' supposed softness. A number of legitimate big hits were meted out to the Bulldogs by the All-Stars, notably a classic Byron Pickett bone-cruncher in the first quarter.
Other singular highlights of the night were when Allan Murray pulled in a spectacular high mark, Eddie Sansbury's brilliant goal from the boundary line after roving the ball from a pack and the around-the-ground brilliance of Daniel Wells and Daniel Motlop. For his efforts, Wells was awarded the Polly Farmer Medal as best-on-ground.
All-Stars coach Michael McLean, soon to take up the top job at Redland Bombers in the QAFL this season, said that part of the win could be attributed to our people's culture.
"The brotherhood," he said. "All the players are close to each other as people and that was shown out there tonight. I never doubted th boys' passion and pride."
New Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, in his first official game as coach of the Dogs, said he was impressed with the All-Stars control of the ball.
"They are a very talented side," he said. "They're first touch (with the ball), they don't fumble and they've got exquisite skills."
The momentum of the game shifted the All-Stars' way in the second half with the result decided late in the final quarter. Up until that time, the game was either side's with neither able to gain the ascendency. The lead changed countless times throughout the middle stages of the match and the relatively close result has added to the concept's future appeal.
McLean complemented his squad with three players from the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). The All-Stars were up against a Bulldogs side with the majority of its first-choice players taking the field, including star players Luke Darcy, Chris Grant, Rohan Smith, Brad Johnson and Daniel Bandy. McLean was nevertheless astute with his on-field rotations and makeshift key positional changes.
Utility Murray, positioned in unfamiliar terrain at full-forward, led the goal kicking with three majors. He was joined by live-wire forward and hometown hero Aaron Davey (2) and Troy Cook, Michael Johnson, Harry Miller, Justin Murphy, Sansbury, Wells and Dion Woods (1 each).
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 28/03/2012 23:49