RWO Game Day Thread - Round 5 - April 30-May 1

[Norris Lurker]

Saturday 30th April

Monarch Oval
9:00 Campbelltown Blues v South West Sydney/Wests U19 Division Two
11:00 Campbelltown Blues v South West Sydney Women?s Division One
13:00 Campbelltown Blues v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Division Five
15:00 Campbelltown Blues v Wollondilly Knights Division Three

Gipps Road Oval
9:00 Hol Parramatta Goannas v Western Magic U19 Division Two
11:00 Hol Parramatta Goannas v Balmain Tigers Division Three
13:00 Hol Parramatta Goannas v UTS Bats Division Five
15:00 Hol Parramatta Goannas v UTS Bats Division One

Weldon Oval
8:30 Manly Warringah v Camden Cats Division Four
10:30 Manly Warringah v Camden Cats Division Two
12:30 Manly Warringah v Sydney University U19 Division One
14:30 Manly Warringah v Sydney University Premier Division
17:15 Manly Warringah v Wollondilly Knights Women?s Division One

Mortgage Choice Oval
10:30 North Shore Bombers v Southern Power Division Four
12:30 North Shore Bombers v Western Suburbs Division Two
14:30 North Shore Bombers v Western Suburbs Premier Division
17:15 North Shore Bombers v UNSW/ES Bulldogs U19 Division One

Bensons Lane Oval
14:30 Nor-West Jets v Balmain Tigers Division Five

Mike Kenny Oval
11:00 Pennant Hills Demons v Nor-West Jets Division Three
13:00 Pennant Hills Demons v Southern Power Division One
15:00 Pennant Hills Demons v Camden Cats U19 Division One
17:00 Pennant Hills Demons v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Premier Division

Greygums Oval
8:30 Penrith v Camden Cats Division Five
10:30 Penrith v East Coast Eagles Division Three
12:00 Penrith v UTS Bats Women?s Division One
14:30 Penrith v UTS Bats Division Two

Olds Park
9:00 St George Dragons v North Shore Bombers U19 Division Two
11:00 St George Dragons v East Coast Eagles 19 Division One
13:00 St George Dragons v East Coast Eagles Division One
15:00 St George Dragons v East Coast Eagles Premier Division
17:30 St George Dragons v South West Sydney Division Four

Sydney University Oval 1
11:00 Sydney University v Pennant Hills Demons Division Five
13:00 Sydney University v UNSW/ES Bulldogs Division Four
15:00 Sydney University v South West Sydney Division Two
17:00 Sydney University v Power Wolves Women?s Premier Division

Village Green
12:30 UNSW/ES Stingrays v Auburn Giants Women?s Premier Division
14:30 UNSW/ES Bulldogs v Randwick City Division Two

BISP Oval 2
10:00 Western Magic v Pennant Hills Women?s Division One
12:00 Western Magic v Randwick City Division Four
14:00 Western Magic v Balmain Tigers Division One

North Dalton Park
12:00 Wollongong Saints v Newtown Breakaways Women?s Division One


Sunday 1st May
University Oval (Macquarie Uni)
9:00 Macquarie University v South West Sydney Division Five
11:00 Macquarie University v UTS Bats Division Four
13:00 Macquarie University v Sydney University Division One
15:00 Macquarie University v Newtown Breakaways Women?s Premier Division

[unconfuseme]

Another big day for the Dragons at Olds, with all five teams at home and a feature being the clash of two of the Premier Division heavyweights, Dragons v Eagles!

However, it hasn't gone unnoticed that the Div 4 "Clash of the Titans" ... Dragons v tara's mob ... gets the headline billing as the "Saturday Nite Lites" extravaganza gains momentum as the "must be seen at" Sydney AFL Event!

... Scoreboard Hill tickets will be at a premium, and should be booked in advance ... thermal underwear is recommended!

[justabaraker]

... Scoreboard Hill tickets will be at a premium, and should be booked in advance ... thermal underwear is recommended!

Bugger the thermals, make sure you bring protective earmuffs and B/S repellent to minimise the unwanted noise.

[unconfuseme]

Gee that's harsh justa ... and I think they were ready to offer you a season ticket at "mates rates" ... the intent was to have you enhance the culture on the hill, and nurture the young blokes with some pointers on clever, humorous sledging and positive reinforcements, especially for opposition players when they clearly do their best, but narrowly fail to achieve their goals.

[saviour01]

Harsh... but fair. Pretty sure our hill only found a voice after watching Manlys supporters in their first year up. I personally only took to sledging after attending an away game at Picken where everyone copped it. Some good players go to @@@@ once the banter starts....

UTS get into it too.

[Norris Lurker]

So in Premier Division, Manly are finally on the board in 2016 after a big win over Sydney Uni. East Coast edged out St George in a thriller. North Shore's Family Fun Day saw the Bombers too good for Wests, with plenty of entertainment for the kidlets. And Penno's season continues to gain momentum as they accounted for UNSW-ES. And plenty of action through the divisions.

Were you at any games over the weekend? What were your thoughts?

[unconfuseme]

The Dragons got a "wake up call" from a classy, slick and intense Eagles in the first quarter at Olds. The Eagles pounced on every skill error from the lethargic Dragons, and were lethal on the rebound. They hardly missed a target, converted at 100% (7 goals 0) and for much of the quarter looked like a NEAFL team playing against amateurs (oh that's right!). The Dragons managed to scrounge a couple of goals through the determination of Xavier Stevenson, but missed some chances too. They somehow managed 2.3 and the 27 point deficit almost seemed to flatter the home side. Browning's on ballers were having a feast at his feet, providing plenty of clearances, and the quarter time siren couldn't come quick enough for the Dragons.

From all accounts, the quarter time "chat" from coach Mudge would have peeled paint, and it clearly had the desired effect. The Dragons came out breathing fire, and a clean clearance and a quick goal gave them much needed confidence. Their intensity returned, and they matched the Eagles around the ground, and in fact did a little more to reduce the deficit to 22 at the major break and it was "game on".

The 3rd quarter was like a Jekyll and Hyde transformation. The Dragons mids, led by Merson, Guthrie and Martin, started to dominate, Coenen and Kenny provided run, and Ryan, playing more up the ground all created opportunities up front. Not only did they hold the Eagles to nil, but they created many scoring opportunities. But for the efforts of the Eagles defence, and some panic, and poor execution, the Dragons could well have set up a winning lead at the final break. They managed a 2 goal 5 return and with momentum, the 5 point deficit seemed a minor hurdle, and what looked an unlikely victory earlier in the day, looked a reality.

The final quarter was a classic of intense football, with the Eagles stealing themselves for the big effort needed to stem the run that the Dragons had going. Neither side could take full advantage of their opportunities, both kicking 1.3 for the term, as the Eagles clung on for a great 5 point win 10.6.66 to 8.13.61, and again stamped themselves as the benchmark for this competition.

For the Eagles, Browning was a winner in a major ruck contest, as well as defensively, and Kieran Emery was a tower of strength, evidenced by the fact that the Dragon's talls went goalless.

For the Dragons, it was the one that got away, but with plenty of positives to take away, and plenty of lessons to be learnt.

[Norris Lurker]

Great report Unconfuseme. Sounds like a cracker of a game between two teams likely to be thereabouts at the business end of the season.

[unconfuseme]

Yep, it certainly was enthralling Norris, high pressure football, lots of twists and turns, and could have gone either way. I doubt there is another team in the comp that could have conceded 7 straight in the first quarter to the Eagles, and not been beaten by 10 goals, let alone give themselves a chance to win it.

Apart from something unforeseen, they will both be thereabouts again this year ... not so sure about the on field officials though, unless they find some form, read a rule book, and stop watching so much TV ... just like the Dragons, maybe they can have a look at the replay and see where they went wrong! ... as far as I'm aware, two hands in the middle of the full forwards back is still a free kick even late in the last quarter when things are close ... just an impartial observation

[unconfuseme]

PS: The reports received about the Scoreboard Hill Crowd were very encouraging ... may have had something to do with the fact that the Div 4 Game was AFTER Prems, so they were in the warm up area (beers in hand) when the heat was on in the closing stages.

For justabaraker's information, the ECE Div 1 boys, who moved to the eastern side of the ground, behind their bench, DID give their best impression of a bunch of "westies" when things started looking grim for the Eagles ... but they lacked polish to be fair, and will improve with the outing!

[justabaraker]

Of the 11 Eagles named as goal kickers or better players, only three joined the club in the NEAFL era - the other eight are dinky-die Baulko kids.
Hate that !!

[unconfuseme]

They are all very good players justabaraker, so I hope they are all on the same money as the mercenaries demand!

FYI, the Dragons are STILL all paid the same ... $0, and they all pay their own rego fees of $450 every year ...

[Norris Lurker]

For those waiting on this week's report, I'll have it up later today. Was in Melbourne for a family event yesterday & didn't get anything done; working my way through it today.

[Norris Lurker]

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