Seniors
Missing a few significant names from 2007 - Harris, Fulton, Fenner, Drake, to name a few, the seniors kicked off the season at 6.00pm Saturday night, on Zillmere's dung heap, which was in better nick than usual but softish underfoot. At this time of the day most of the boys would normally be enjoying a quiet one or three with, or searching for, loved ones. Nevertheless, seven players made their debut for the Cats, along with Shaun Hart, and Noodles Tindall resumed his career at Broadie after a season in the BAFL. Notable absentees included Howard, Rolfe, Skrinis and Trew.
Both teams were up and about early with goals on the board 2 mins in. The contest was fast and entertaining with our smaller brigade supplying plenty of the pill into the 50m circle. Eaton and Zorko were prominent with the latter copping plenty around the stoppages, while Hamish Dick was displaying thought and endeavour with effective handballs and smothers. Halfway through the stanza a nonsense 50m penalty to Zillmere resulted in a goal to even up the scores. A promising attack featuring Andrews, Beattie and Noodles was repelled, and unfortunately Noddles went down to play no further part in the game. Goal for goal through good work by Stewart and a red time major by Zillmere resulted in Broadie down by 6 points at the first break. Red time goals were to become a feature of the opposition's play for the the evening.
Ben Walters started up front and, after a poster by Lobb, notched a sausage roll off a mark. Some sure ball handling between Andrews to Dick to Carroll to Walters to Derrick was marred by a lost opportunity in front. It was starting to become difficult under the lights to pick up individuals on the far side, but we think it was Spencer who marked well at half back to launch another attack, and again Spencer, the umpires' friend, receiving 50 metres to push the ball into attack. Unfortunately our ball handing and foot skills seemed to deteriorate, particularly inside 50, and we couldn't convert. A lot of pressure behinds had team high performance coach Goughy working overtime with rotated players. At the same time Zillmere was more efficient from their fewer opportunities and crept ahead with accurate shots on goal. Dick was awarded a free kick - his opponent reported for what appeared to be a love tap to the comic cuts - from which he found Ben Walters. Stalk was busy as a focal point and was both hero and villain - he took a screamer reminiscent of his Dad at the Punt Rd end only to miskick and miss his second easy shot on goal. The final minutes of the quarter was a game for speedsters as the ball rebounded from end to end. Zillmere broke the drought and brought up twin calicos twice in red time within 10 secs. They went into the long break 19 points up. Zillmere 9 4 to Broadie 5 9. Inaccuracy was costing us and what run and carry movement of the ball there was appeared wasted with poor finishing.
Players appeared determined in the third quarter. A missed opportunity for us followed by a 50m penalty for them for mouthing off (?), which put Myles dead in front in the goal square (Myles, who was a targetted recruit for us eventually slotted 7 for the game). We replied from a Spencer and Zorko combination to keep within reach. Umpires were letting it go under greasy conditions due to light rain and we seemed to have most of the available possessions, but again poor ball handling and disposal let us down. A free kick to Lobby and a resultant goal got us to back to the half time margin with 7 minutes to play. Red time goals were denied this quarter with some disciplined play by Lyons around the ball, and Dick and Eaton running out the quarter. Harty saw plenty of positives and there was feeling within the group that we might still get up.
Unfortunately Zillmere opened their account first - always difficult to mind grapple with that in a final quarter and you are behind. Nonetheless Mitch Andrews, in the very best of Jack Dyer fashion, beat three little fellas to force the ball up to Jesse Derrick who let himself down with inaccuracy. Dick was clever in finding Clough who brought up a much needed goal, and Roundy to Derrick to Zorko resulted in Tinker's fourth. Seventeen points down and plenty left. Despite a fifth for Tinker, Zillmere finisihed the stronger with another report and 3 in red time - all over red rover. Zillmere 16 15 111 d Broadie 11 14 80
Goals: Zorko 5, Lobb 2, Clough 2 and one each to Walters and Dienjes
Best: Dick, Walters, Zorko, Lyons, Lobb, Andrews, and Stewart (Keeping in mind we had trouble seeing individuals on the far side wing)
Redlands away next week. They went down by almost 100 pts to Labrador and we would expect a win but we have work to do on the track, not the least of which is to learn not to give away 6 red time coffee scrolls.
The Magoos
A 3.40 start at Zillmere to take on the reigning premiers in the round 1 clash. With injuries still restricting a number of regular players the assignment was always going to be a tough one.
The ground was very unlike the normal hard under foot Zillmere, with overnight and morning rain ensuring a very soggy game. The game started out a very tight affair with the first goal not coming until the 13 minute mark of the first quarter. Zillmere showed the reason they were lat years premiers combining well through the mid field to apply a lot of pressure to our defensive six. Despite a terrific first quarter from Bart Webster and Spud Frawley the Eagles skipped away to a 17 point lead at quarter time.
Quarter Time Scoreline: Zillmere 3-1/19 to Broadbeach 0-2/2
The second quarter started at a frenetic pace with Zillmere running the ball strongly from their defence and hammering it inside 50 on numerous occasions. Some strong physical work from Tayler Rolfe and Spud could not stop the run of the Eagles. The lack of cohesion from many players not having played together before was already taking its toll. By the 10 minute mark Zillmere had slipped away to a 40 point lead. Almost as quickly as Zillmere skipped to the lead, our on ball brigade started to click into gear. Pat Evan took control and found terrific support from Zane Parker and Squiz.
Sam I"Anson and Josh Spider Lawrence started to win their share of ruck taps and the game became competitive. A couple of quick goals to Dan Cullinen saw the lead back to 31 at half time.
Half Time Scoreline: Zillmere 7-5/47 to Broadbeach 2-6/18
The half time message from Coach Boston was simple, control the football and don't waste the entries inside 50.
The third quarter saw most of the play in Broadbeach's favour without much scoreline success. Successive goals to Zillmere from midfield
turnovers saw the lead quickly back out to 40 points. Pat Evans was still pushing his team and leading from the front with some terrific play at the stoppages. Youngsters Rolfe and Josh Searl were going very well and Broadie Hatswell was showing some solid signs in his debut game
for the Cats. Mark Perkins was getting to the game with some solid tackling. Jackson Emblem moved into the centre and provide some drive at a time when Zillmere were threatening to break the game open. A couple of quick goals to Hatswell and Marcus Tippet before the final break brought the Cats back to within 6 goals.
Three Quarter Time Scoreline: Zillmere 10-6/66 to Broadbeach 4-6/30
With a six goal deficit Coach Boston threw caution to the wind and pushed a player forward creating a seven man forward line. This had immediate success with a quick goal. When Searly intercepted a Zillmere pass on their half back flank after a solid challenge from Spider,
Broadie Hatswell got a much deserved goal, and Zillmere started to feel a bit of pressure for the first time. Unfortunately two terrible umpiring decisions against Jacko and Searly for solid bumps, resulted in down field free kicks and goals and effectively doused the challenge being mounted by the Broadie boys. Another two turnovers in midfield and two more goals to Zillmere and the game was done.
Final Scoreline: Zillmere 15-7/97 to Broadbeach 7-6/48
A 49 point loss to start the season was not the start Bosto wanted however some good signs were noted at different intervals of the game. 9 Zillmere goals from Broadbeach turnovers proved very costly in the wash up.
The good: Average age of the team was slightly under 20
The bad: a 49 point loss first up
The ugly: Poor disposal creating turnovers
Best Players: Pat Evans, Tayler Rolfe, Bart Webster, Dan Frawley, Sam I "Anson, Brodie Hatswell
Goals: Cullinen 2, Tippet 2, Hatswell, Rolfe, and Hill 1 each
Last Modified on 27/11/2008 10:33