RWO Game Day Thread - Round 1 - April 2-3

[Norris Lurker]

We're back for another season. After months of pre-season training, it's finally time to get back into it.

I'll put the fixtures for this weekend up when they're available. I don't think the fixture email's gone out yet, and Div 3 & both under-19s comps aren't up on SportingPulse at the moment.
But if you've got any game-day related information - fixture changes etc, here's the spot to put it up. And if you're club's running a special promotion (eg ladies day, past players day etc), give yourselves a plug.

Should be a warm season opener. Forecast is fine & 29 for Saturday, mostly fine and 27 for Sunday.

[Pekay]

That's torpy weather.

[Norris Lurker]

And now that the full fixture list is available, here it is:

Saturday 2nd April

Waverley Oval
10:00 UTS Bats (Clash Strip) v Western Magic Division One
12:00 UTS Bats v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Division Two
14:10 UTS Bats v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Premier Division

Weldon Oval
10:30 Manly Warringah Giants v St George Dragons Division Four
12:30 Manly Warringah Giants v St George Dragons U19 Division One
14:30 Manly Warringah Giants v St George Dragons Premier Division
17:15 Manly Warringah Giants v South West Sydney Division Two

Mike Kenny Oval - Top
11:00 Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles Division Three
13:00 Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles U19 Division 1
15:00 Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles Division One
17:00 Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles Premier Division
FORFEIT Pennant Hills Demons v South West Sydney Division Five

Mahoney Park
10:00 Balmain Tigers v Penrith Division Five
12:00 Balmain Tigers v Penrith Division Three
14:00 Balmain Tigers v Southern Power Division One

Monarch Oval
12:00 Campbelltown Blues v St George Dragons Under 19s Division Two
14:00 Campbelltown Blues v Holroyd Parramatta Division Three

University Oval (Macquarie University)
11:00 Macquarie University v Nor-West Jets Division Five
13:00 Macquarie University v Randwick City Saints Division Four
15:00 Macquarie University v St George Dragons Division One

Mortgage Choice Oval
12:00 North Shore Bombers v Holroyd Parramatta U19 Division Two
14:00 North Shore Bombers v Penrith Division Two

Gipps Road Oval
11:00 Sydney University v North Shore Division Four
13:00 Holroyd Parramatta v Sydney University Division Five
15:00 Holroyd Parramatta v Sydney University Division One

Trumper Park
8:30 UTS Bats v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Division Five
10:30 UTS Bats v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Division Four

Blacktown ISP
10:00 Western Magic v South West Sydney/Wests U19 Division Two
12:00 Western Magic v South West Sydney Division Four

Hannaford Oval
17:00 Wollondilly v Nor-West Jets Division Three

Harrington Park
9:00 Camden Cats v Campbelltown Division Five
11:00 Camden Cats v Southern Power Division Four
13:00 Camden Cats v Randwick City Saints Division Two
15:00 Camden Cats v South Coast Thunder U19 Division One


Sunday 3rd April

Henson Park
9:30 Sydney University v UNSW/ES Bulldogs U19 Division One
11:30 Sydney University v Western Suburbs Division Two
17:00 Sydney University v Western Suburbs Premier Division


To anyone on here who is playing, coaching or officiating in 2016; all the best. Here's hoping for an awesome season.

[Pekay]

Geez a forfeit already? Army issues Colesy?

[tara]

Geez a forfeit already? Army issues Colesy?

a bit of that but a lot are still playing bloody cricket

[justabaraker]

The selected teams are out, and it looks to me like Baulko have controlled the damage pretty well. Reed, Stubbs, O'Connor and Merson have moved on, but most of their key players are to play tomorrow...Emery, Browning, Anderson, the Vlatko's, Gemmell, McConnell, Kruger.
After all they have gone through up at Purser, I'm thinking that's a good effort.

No sign of Behagg, Hebron, Baron-Hay, Veale in the striped blazers...what has become of them after all the conjecture on this forum ?

[Norris Lurker]

No sign of Behagg, Hebron, Baron-Hay, Veale in the striped blazers...what has become of them after all the conjecture on this forum ?

I think they're all playing for the Swans magoos this week.

[justabaraker]

I think they're all playing for the Swans magoos this week.

Yes, I see now. Thanks. Norris, this is why the Sydney AFL is paying you the big bucks.

[saviour01]

3/4 time at weldon. 4.6.30. to 11.11.77

[Norris Lurker]

Well, the season is now under way. For some, there's the relief of a first-up win, for others the realisation there's more work to do. But premierships aren't won in the first round.

Were you at any games today? What were your impressions? Who's going to do well, who's going to struggle?

[saviour01]

Looks like randwick might struggle in div 4.

[Pmcc2911]

There are a few crazy percentages n the lower divisions after round 1

[justabaraker]

Well, the season is now under way. For some, there's the relief of a first-up win, for others the realisation there's more work to do. But premierships aren't won in the first round. Were you at any games today? What were your impressions? Who's going to do well, who's going to struggle?

We went to see Baulko v Penno in the GF rematch and unfurling of the flag. Wow, Baulko looks scary. As I wrote previously, they have retained the core of last year's team and they look pretty determined to do well this year. Best by my reckoning were Anderson, McConnell, Emery and Gemmell. John Vlatko went off in the first quarter with some sort of soft tissue injury.
I thought Penno was ok but nothing better than that. Came good in the second half when it was all decided but were cruelled by seven 50 meter penalties, mostly at the Baulko end, that resulted in a lot of Baulko goals. Last year, it seemed that discipline was Penno's strength, but not last night.
Be warned, all who are to take on Baulko this year.

[unconfuseme]

The Dragons have had a busy off season, and with the work, logistics and "leap of faith" required to field 2 new teams (u/19 Div 2 and Div Four) a good start was always important to give them momentum into what could be a long season.

With the added challenges of first round away games at opposite ends of Sydney, they couldn't have had a better start!

The 19's Div 2 side travelled to Monarch Oval and enjoyed a good win against the Blues (good to see them fielding a competitive side too). All credit to the work and vision that Andrew Wynn and the other hard working committee members and volunteers have put into the Dragon's Academy, and nice that the AFL finally saw the light and allowed them to field this team. The outcomes will not only be positive for St George, but for the code.

At the other end of the age spectrum and on the other side of town, the "new" (mostly recycled, but with plenty of brand newbies to the game as well!) Div 4 side were able to wear down a well drilled Manly Wolves in a good quality contest. Played in great spirit, the result was always in the balance, with the home side getting to within a kick late in the final quarter. Special mention must go to the back 6, led by Panda, who has certainly lost none of his silky skills or athleticism during his hiatus from the game Big pat on the back for new coach Tom Cleary (with massive assistance from the Preso), and not just for the win. The first challenge was met by getting 20 guys + support staff to Weldon Oval at 9:30 am for a game of footy on such a beautiful sunny Saturday. The second challenge was introducing them all to each other, and most of them knew one another's name by the end of the game!!! Tom has assured everyone he will be leading the way on the training track for the remainder of the season, with fitness the major goal. Well done Tom!

Building on that early success, both the u/19's Div 1 and Premier Division sides enjoyed dominant wins, and at the end of the day, the Dragons had made a major statement as a club, with a very rare "clean sweep" at Weldon Oval, in the far northeastern reaches of GWS territory (good grief!).

This sets up for a massive Round 2 Home Day at Olds Park next week, featuring all 5 teams, and the inaugural "Sunday Nite Lites" under the brand new floodlighting system.

Punters should get a good night's sleep Saturday - u/19's Div 2 kick off the day at 9:00am and the day will culminate with the u/19's Div 1 who have the honour of christening the new lights with a 5:30pm bounce.

The Premier Division fixture (3:00 pm) will be a cracker, matching the Prelim Finalists of the past 2 years, Dragons v reigning Premiers, Penno Demons.

The Dragons will be keen to atone for their nail biting 3 point loss in the penultimate game of the season last year, and The Demons will be looking to get back into winning form. This game promises everything, and is certain to challenge the Div 4 battle (11:00 am v UTS Bats) for top billing on Sunday. From what I am hearing, AFL TV are still undecided about which of those games they will be covering, and who could blame them!

So, footy fan or not, if you are anywhere in the vicinity on Sunday after church, you will be nowhere if you don't get yourself down to Olds Park ... Do Yourself a Favour!!!

[Norris Lurker]

This week's RWO Wrap of the weekend action is now online.