Round 1 Post-Match Analysis and Discussion

[Norris Lurker]

Doesn't look like Balmain's new signings have got off to the start they wanted. But it looks like Sydney Uni may be the real deal in 2010.
North Shore started strongly. Wollongong put up a fight for an hour or so, but the Bombers too good in the end.
And a full program throughout the divisions - a few interesting results, maybe a few surprises.

Anyone at the games? What were your thoughts?

[Mahatma]

im proud to say the saints AFC got of to a good start winning over mac uni 213 to 39.
big day for our new club well done to everyone involved.

[Mug Punter]

Doesn't look like Balmain's new signings have got off to the start they wanted. But it looks like Sydney Uni may be the real deal in 2010. Anyone at the games? What were your thoughts?

It's going to be one hell of a long season at Dockerland. All three grades comprehensively pumped. We've heard it all before but if that is all they are going to get from the tens of thousands of dollars they have shelled out then that mob are in serious trouble. Complete and utter disarray would be an approriate description...

Bascially they were completely and utterly played off the paddock by a Student outfit that is by no means the finished article. Sure they should play finals footy but to me they are stil a work in progress and the Tigers will certainly play some more physical and ruthless outfits and if they drop their heads and players start to leave the sinking ship then this could get very ugly.

For the students the new kid from Wollongong (Mcconnochie) was by far the best player on the field - skilllful, fast and courageous. As a team they were very skillful and quick but I think that more hardened bigger bodied teams like they Eagles and North Shore will probably be a bit too physical at the pointy end.

Balmain were simply atrocious. Saddington tried hard and you could tell he'd played AFL but by no means will he dominate this league. Similarly Davis was all class with limited opportunities and awful service but suffice to say his workrate has not increased since his AFL days (plus an extra 10kgs slowing him down) so you can't build a side around him - having said that he'd dominate this league if he was with a decent club. Schmidt was pretty much invisible play-wise but not physically as he has porked up and is slow slow slow - seems sad that the proceeds of a 100+ year old bowling club are being wasted on mercanaries like this. There were a couple of other fat blokes running around who are also probably on big whacks. The sad thing is that if they didn't have Davo and Saddo they would probably have been pumped by 300 today - the only time they looked even semi-competitive was a brief 5 - 10 minute spell in the second quarter and those two were in all the goals.

Best thing for this mob to do would be to drop down a division NOW. Put their junior development plans into reality and rebuild the right way from the ground up. Stop wasting money on quick fixes and build something of substance. It's a superb ground down there and the developments facility side looks brilliant. I just hope they have a club by the time it is all finished.....

BIGSHOW, I hope you haven't spent all that money you plunged on them at $21 to win the flag.....

[Mug Punter]

im proud to say the saints AFC got of to a good start winning over mac uni 213 to 39.
big day for our new club well done to everyone involved.

Congratulations!

[Rafters]

I waltzed down memory lane yesterday & walked down to Mona to watch my original club Auburn play against my beloved Goannas. Was over the moon that they are playing on the main ground at Mona - a quality ground for footy playing & viewing. Definitely good enough for finals footy. Seeing the Kassems running around again for Auburn was great. It was sad seeing the demise of old redlegs 20 years ago considering the amount of quality juniors the club produced including the Kassems, Shaun Edmunds, Damien Pearce, Glen Page (yes this was his first club!), Bradley Coutts & co. Hard to believe that we would regular beat Baulko back then in SFA Div II yet that club has now gone to the pinnacle in Sydney footy (I suppose Parra did in 1990/91 with the nucleus of Redlegs players). Unlike public perception Auburn were very disciplined yesterday and played a good style of footy even though a number of players never played the game before. IMHO, the AFL's multi-cultural program (which Auburn is a proto-type) will reap dividends for the community. Also a reasonable crowd for a 4th division game. I left the ground with a smile on my face & must admit an itch to play again.

PS The irish community will be playing Gaelic Football & hurling at Mona Park no 2 every Sunday during winter after Auburn council forced a move in grounds for season 2010. With free entry it will be a good day out to wtch both codes & all of the different cultures & accents. There are a number of Irish now playing in the Sydney AFL, including the Bondi Shamrocks in the SWAFL, which is great to see.

[bustamove]

WOW!
Balmain havent changed one bit. What a suprise. Agree totally with mug punter on this one.
Drop down a div instead of getting pumped by 100's of points each week. Start a fresh and start winning some games.
Their draw is horrible and by the looks of things they wont get a chance to win until rd 7 against the lions...
Its going to be a long hard season for the blokes down at shockerland..

[The Student]

So, I heard Nick Davis was yellow carded late in the match for punching a Uni boy off the ball. Good effort - that's the type of leadership they would be looking for down there at Balmain. Still, it's probably lucky we got them this early in the season before they've had time to gell - maybe next time they'll get within 20 goals?

[Mug Punter]

WOW!
Balmain havent changed one bit. What a suprise. Agree totally with mug punter on this one.
Drop down a div instead of getting pumped by 100's of points each week. Start a fresh and start winning some games.
Their draw is horrible and by the looks of things they wont get a chance to win until rd 7 against the lions...
Its going to be a long hard season for the blokes down at shockerland..

And it wasn't just the on-field vibe either, they seemed an absolute rabble generally.

Lots of old geezers seemingly in a state of shock at the result (clearly deluded in thinking they'd be competitive anyway) and plenty of Docker randoms carrying on a treat full of juice near the canteen. Didn't see any visible leadership around the joint at all. Certainly did not strike me one bit as a club we a clear vision of where they wanted to be.

[beameup]

Doesn't look like Balmain's new signings have got off to the start they wanted. But it looks like Sydney Uni may be the real deal in 2010.
North Shore started strongly. Wollongong put up a fight for an hour or so, but the Bombers too good in the end.
And a full program throughout the divisions - a few interesting results, maybe a few surprises.

Anyone at the games? What were your thoughts?

On a beautiful day at Henson Park St george put up a pretty solid effort against Wests. St G put up a pretty young team who worked had but just lacked some finess up front to finish off opportunies as they presented themselves or the score would have been even closer. The backmen toiled hard but the bigger bodies and hard running of Wests told in the end. St George definitely a lot more competitive than last year and Wests still have to demonstrate where they will end up.
Absolum got a stack of it and Withers good at times. For the Dragons Donohue, Richmond and all the young blokes were good. As their juniors continue to filter though they will end up with a very good team in the next couple of years.

[ShortHalfHead]

Saw a few games this weekend. Penno looked good against the blues who started the game with intensity but soon dropped off and don't look to be able to repeat last years effort of a finals berth. Div 1 saw a very well structured UTS side pretty well dominate Penno who put on some good passages of play only to fall short of scoring quite a few more goals with basic errors. In Div 3, Campbelltown relished in dropping a division with a good win after a great start. Penno might be in for a lean season at this level and Campbelltown will probably win a couple more than they lose. In Premier Cup, was sad to see a blowout with a well disciplined Penno thrashing Town, Both teams looked to have a full compliment of players. As Penno probably wont dominate the comp, Town are in for a very, very tough year.

On Saturday saw Penrith cause somewhat of a boilover in Div 3 when they beat last year premiers and promoted side, Sydney Uni by 12 goals. Many new faces in the youthful team with an average age of about 22 and a renewed enthusiasm around the club. Div four saw Penrith take a 10 goal win against last years Grand Finalists, Uni NSW. Good to see the "outer" clubs, Moorebank and Nor-West win both their games.

[Norris Lurker]

This week's RedAndWhiteOnline Sydney AFL wrap is now online - featuring pics and a match report from the Wests v St George match.

[The Student]

On Saturday saw Penrith cause somewhat of a boilover in Div 3 when they beat last year premiers and promoted side, Sydney Uni by 12 goals. Many new faces in the youthful team with an average age of about 22 and a renewed enthusiasm around the club.

I don't know if it was considered too much of a boilover at our end - you would hope Penrith would be capable of rustling up a 22 good enough to beat a fourth grade side who had never played together before. I think Uni will be mid table in this competition - possibly an outside chance for the finals.

[Pace To Burn]

Saw a few games this weekend. Penno looked good against the blues who started the game with intensity but soon dropped off and don't look to be able to repeat last years effort of a finals berth. Div 1 saw a very well structured UTS side pretty well dominate Penno who put on some good passages of play only to fall short of scoring quite a few more goals with basic errors. In Div 3, Campbelltown relished in dropping a division with a good win after a great start. Penno might be in for a lean season at this level and Campbelltown will probably win a couple more than they lose. In Premier Cup, was sad to see a blowout with a well disciplined Penno thrashing Town, Both teams looked to have a full compliment of players. As Penno probably wont dominate the comp, Town are in for a very, very tough year.

On Saturday saw Penrith cause somewhat of a boilover in Div 3 when they beat last year premiers and promoted side, Sydney Uni by 12 goals. Many new faces in the youthful team with an average age of about 22 and a renewed enthusiasm around the club. Div four saw Penrith take a 10 goal win against last years Grand Finalists, Uni NSW. Good to see the "outer" clubs, Moorebank and Nor-West win both their games.

I wouldnt be calling for the stretcher for us just yet, we were def not at full strength with at least 4 walk up first graders unavailable yesterday and a few others on a limited prep. Dont worry about Penno either they will be in contention

[ShortHalfHead]

I don't know if it was considered too much of a boilover at our end - you would hope Penrith would be capable of rustling up a 22 good enough to beat a fourth grade side who had never played together before. I think Uni will be mid table in this competition - possibly an outside chance for the finals.

Hard to rustle up a decent 22 when Sydney Uni raid our junior ranks with promises of fame and fortune. I actually thought you would have kept a core group of your premiership winning side from last year...and most of Penrith's side hadn't played together before either

[stellation]

So, I heard Nick Davis was yellow carded late in the match for punching a Uni boy off the ball. Good effort - that's the type of leadership they would be looking for down there at Balmain. Still, it's probably lucky we got them this early in the season before they've had time to gell - maybe next time they'll get within 20 goals?

What on earth did the Uni boy say to him? He is just about the last guy you'd ever hear of throwing a punch at someone.