Aspley proved just how close the new NEAFL competition is by upsetting Labrador by 32 points in a closer game than the final margin suggests at Graham Road today. No more than two goals separated the sides for most of the day. When Aspley skipped 22 points clear in the second term, Labrador hit back hard, and did likewise at the start of the final quarter.
The Hornets goalled twice in 60 seconds in the last five minutes of the third quarter to open a 23-point lead at the final break, but two goals in the first two minutes and three by the five-minute mark of the last quarter saw the Tigers back within five points and with all the momentum. Aspley let slip a 16-point lead at the same venue against Broadbeach three weeks ago with five minutes to play, and led Gold Coast by a point with eight minutes to play leading into the bye before falling apart.
This time they simply willed themselves to win, with every player lifting to play his part in five unanswered goals and claim a 16.13 (109) to 11.11 (77) triumph. “That’s a nice feeling because the thing we’ve been working on as a group is how we work as a group,” said Hornets coach Russell Evans. “We’ve shown glimpses of it all year and controlled games up until a point and then allowed the opposition to get over the top of us. “Today our boys showed a fair bit of courage to keep going - I was proud of them with the way they stuck to their structures and game plan.
Aspley showed no hangover from last week’s bye, bouncing out of the blocks with 4.1 to 2.3 in the opening term. Key forwards Declan Bevan and Adam Hughes were outstanding, while the defensive unit move the ball slickly down the ground. Wrigley and Davey were prominent for the Tigers, who looked in trouble when Aspley moved 22 clear halfway through the second term.
Trent Knobel and the returning Aaron Shattock moved into the middle with immediate effect, Rick White and Matt Jones came into the game strongly, and Mat Clarke gave plenty of run off half-back. At the same time, Matt Davis was knockout out and sent to hospital after courageously diving onto the ball into oncoming traffic, while the impressive Sam Stavenuiter dislocated an elbow in a tackle.
Despite Davey constantly winning the centre clearances, the Aspley defence stood firm through the third quarter, with Aspley gaining the ascendancy each time Bevan went to pinch-hit in the ruck. The Tigers broke down badly across half-forward as the ever-reliable Robbie Copeland, young guns Michael Hutchinson and Brendan Colch, and gutsy half-back Jeff Teale repelled most forays. Wrigley moved onto the ball at the start of the final term and Shattock went to full-forward with positive results.
With the game in the balance, Aspley lifted their intensity to a new level, with Teale, Tom Falconer and Mitch Scholard making several key one-touch plays with the wet, muddy ball. Just as importantly, the hard-working Brendan Page and James Brain took exceptional strong one-on-one marks to goal. Copeland, the cool, calm and collected Steve Brittain were outstanding in defence for most of the day, Matt Shir, Reece Toye and Jamie Sheahan won important contested ball, James Linton provided a spark with his skill in the wet, and Hughes and Bevan were critical with five goals between them.
For the Tigers, Gerard Moore had some purple patches in the ruck and took some outstanding marks around the ground, Michael Talbot was courageous and skilful in defence, Shane Paterson constantly put his body on the line and Jason Howard was dangerous scouting the packs up forward with three goals.
Last Modified on 14/11/2011 19:49