2008 Grand Final Wrap-up
With heavy rain hitting Sydney, Mahoney Park was picturesque with it’s beautiful drainage working wonderfully. SWAFL and all it’s players must say thanks to Marrickville Council and it’s works department for putting in a beautiful system. On the other hand the outfield which didn’t have the drainage was as boggy as the Somme Battlefield in World War I. With the NSW AFL sending it’s representative and Mayor of Marrickville Council Dimitrios Thanos there for the ceremonial coin toss between Captains Margarita Obien (Wests) and Natasha Devlin (Balmain) it was now 80 minutes of football to go in season 2008 – only one Premiership on the line in the big decider.
Before I’ll start I’ll like to commend the supporters for their marquees and the run through Banners although I'm disturbed at Wests one, which almost tripped or decapitated half the team with their electrical tape banner!
1st Quarter: With Wests kicking towards the Brickwall end and Balmain (Golf Course), Balmain opened the scoring in the Grand Final with a behind. Kaya Lyons kicked the first goal from a snap 25m in front to open Wests scoring. With heavy rain still occurring, skill levels weren’t as strong understandably and thus both teams were involved in many ground contests for the ball. At times the match was reduced to rebound footy as players didn’t make the required leads. Karla Spilarewicz (Balmain) was effective on the wing and made some nice bumps.
Wests 1.0.6 Balmain 0.1.1
At quarter time – Coach Darren (Dockers) urged his Dockers team to be a bit more effective with the ball as they had dominated possession and reminded his team of being front and centre at every ground contests. And just like every game since Round 1 said by every coach in SWAFL; he asked his team to talk – communicate. Seriously being a coach myself – you’ll think the players we are in charge of might have worked this out by now!
2nd quarter: With the game all to play for, a massive bump by Wests had made Balmain Captain Natasha Devlin hobble temporarily. Belinda Pride, full-forward for the Dockers had some tough chances in the second quarter and kicked 1.2 from a free from a holding the player call. Whilst on the other hand Marie “Irish” Keating kicked her 97th goal and it was a beauty even Lance “Buddy” Franklin – 2008 AFL Coleman Medallist would have had to admire. Basically from the right half-forward flank, Marie ran 30m around the curve of the oval touching the ball on the ground twice before drilling home truly.
Wests 2.1.13 Balmain 1.3.9
With both teams enjoying the sheds for the second time this season, it was time to enjoy a sausage sandwich.
3rd quarter: Balmain continued to apply pressure with possession and position on the field but the resolute Wests defence held them at bay. In fact the first scoreless quarter of the 2008 SWAFL season occurred with both sides unable to score or unwilling to concede a score. Sinead Coakley playing fullback on Balmain Docker Full-forward Belinda Pride made some tough choices in numerous vital one-on-one contests knowing that a slip would certainly result in a score.
At 3rd quarter time, Wests Coach Jason King in his most intense speech for the season asked his backs to commit to keeping Balmain scoreless and his centres to stop letting Balmain have all the possession.
Wests 2.1.13 Balmain 1.3.9
4th quarter: In the final quarter Belinda Pride grubbered for a behind off the ground. Balmain received a 50m penalty for the ball not being returned on the full but failed to capitalise to score. One more behind was scored by Balmain. Balmain were on the verge of attack and captain-courageous for Wests made a vital tackle on Alison Parkin which was crucial.
Balmain surged in attack throwing everything at the kitchen sink for the elusive goal. The crowd sensing the desperation of the players urged each side on, groaning or exclaiming with delight each mark made/spoiled or dropped or the umpire’s decision. Tremendous nail-biting stuff indeed!
In the last two minutes, the ball was in the Balmain forward 50m zone but one pass that wasn’t quite accurate meant that Wests were able to clear the ball to the relative safety of the middle meant that when the final siren sounded, Wests despite not scoring a point in a half of football had escaped to win by two points in the closest grand final ever!
Wests 2.1.13 Balmain 1.5.11
Conclusion: It was a great match by both teams. Balmain persisted with the handball in the wet and I guess you have to be accurate on the chest or arms with wet handballs otherwise it’s going to result in ground contested ball. Balmain Dockers had their chances possession-wise but this year have been the biggest improver in terms of leg-speed compared to the other 5 SWAFL Clubs. Coach Darren Morrow and President Tracey Kick should be congratulated for being only one kick away from being premiers in their first grand final. I’m sure the Docker Ladies now they know what it feels like to be so close, yet so far from the Promised Land will be hungrier for 2009.
For Wests, congratulations on your third premiership. With Coach Jason King being in his first year of coaching the Western Wolves, the Wolves have show a harder edge and a more direct attacking policy as well as employing one of the best wall strategies on kick-ins. With a mixture of experience and youth the Wolves were the benchmark for 2008 and will be definitely be the team to beat in 2009. Unfortunately Marie Keating didn’t reach the century of goals (not for lack of trying!) but I’m sure will give it a red-hot go in 2009.
Best on Ground was judged by the umpires and a split decision meant two match balls were given to Melissa Bibby (No. 30 – Wests) and Natasha Devlin (No. 2 – Balmain).
Goals: Wests Kaya Lyons 1, Marie Keating 1. Balmain: Belinda Pride 1
We’ll see you ‘all at the Paddington RSL for the Best and Fairest count on Friday Night. Who will win the equivalent of the Brownlow? Who will be Rookie of the Year and who will be in the SWAFL team of 2008? All those answers and more on Friday Night.
The 2008 Runners- Up - Balmain Dockers (Grand Final Team)
2 |
Natasha Devlin - (C) |
4 |
Sherelle Moore |
5 |
Christina Matthews |
6 |
Natalie Morgan |
9 |
Kylie Maxwell |
10 |
Maggie Jenkins |
13 |
Kate Walsh |
14 |
Peta Hemphill |
15 |
Kathryna Kobzan |
16 |
Sarah Christie |
17 |
Kate Fitzsimmons |
19 |
Jill Thomas |
20 |
Lynda Rowan |
22 |
Amelia Barrett |
24 |
Leigh Clancy |
26 |
Cassandra Donald |
28 |
Alison Parkin |
29 |
Janene Thorpe |
33 |
Jodi Radmore |
37 |
Olivia Hall |
38 |
Karla Spilarewicz |
42 |
Kate Goggins |
45 |
Belinda Pride |
85 |
Hayley Warren |
The 2008 SWAFL Premiers - Western Wolves (Grand Final Team)
21 |
Margarita Obien - (C) |
1 |
Shelley Bates |
3 |
Amanda Read |
4 |
Christine McDonald |
6 |
Michaela Ekman |
7 |
Emma Brown |
9 |
Jules Bernstein |
10 |
Cynthia Dufaut |
11 |
Bree Calderwood |
12 |
Cara Connaire |
14 |
Sarah Stone |
15 |
Rachel Mercer |
16 |
Coby Pearce |
18 |
Sinead Coakley |
20 |
Kaya Lyons |
22 |
Natalie Barber |
23 |
Lisa Roper |
24 |
Heidi Wiedner |
25 |
Kerryn Fiebig |
26 |
Nicole Kriz |
27 |
Elspeth Banks |
28 |
Marie Keating |
29 |
Trish Muller |
30 |
Melissa Bibby |