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- Photos Courtesy of Sophie Cross
Travelling up the Kings Highway this afternoon things did not look too good. Scudding showers and a howling wind gave promise to an uncomfortable afternoon watching a mud fest. What a surprise to arrive at Manuka to pleasant sunshine, a gentle breeze and a reasonable attendance. I arrived to the tune of the Belconnen theme song, their reserves having just scored a narrow win in the curtain raiser.
Cricket square aside, the ground looked to be in good condition. In actual fact the thick grass was totally sodden and very slick underfoot, and the cricket square was an inch of thick mud over a hard base ? perfect for mudsliding and not much more.
Allison and co selected a very interesting team. All the serial fringe players were left out, leaving three year veteran Brabazon as the senior citizen of the team. Counting O?Dwyer and Smith as full listed players the Swans took the field with seven listed players, five rookies and two scholarship players. The top ups were nearly all Tuggeranong juniors. The Swans had only beaten Belconnen once in four or five tries this season, (courtesy of Nick Davis) and went into the game as rank outsiders.
In the first quarter the form book appeared correct. Belconnen were winning a lions share of the contested possessions and ruck clearances and applying heavy pressure to the Swans. It was not helpful that the Swans were (as usual) trying to play dry weather footy in the greasy conditions. Belconnen were converting their contested ball wins and turnovers into scores via crisp short passing. Swans forays forward were few and far between, their only scores coming when Currie marked an intelligent pass from top up Foster to goal from 40 out on an angle and Matty O?Dwyer, who broke away on the far wing and kicked a brilliant long goal on the run. Four goals two to two straight at quarter time, things not looking too good.
The Swans picked up their game at the start of the second and the ball went from and to end without score to either side for a good period. The Swans best chance came when Mocca beat a couple and got free inside the 50, but tried one turn too many on the ice rink and came to grief. Finally The ?Van brought off a terrific smother and re gather, with the Belconnen players all going the wrong way he passed to young Nathan Gordon. After some hesitation whether to go for it or pass off he eventually drilled the goal from 25 out on an acute angle. Mocca then took a strong grab but hit the post from 40 out. Currie had a good chance, but his shot fell short. Then Cheese and Matty set up Kalina who missed a sitter. Gordon took a nice mark but missed everything. All that went to waste deep in the quarter when there were no Swans to oppose the Belconnen crumber in front of the pack and he snapped an easy goal. The half time margin remained at 14 points.
Immediately after the long break, Belconnen went in for the kill. For the first ten minutes of the quarter I did not once see the ball go into the Swans forward line. From several gilt edged opportunities in this time the Pies managed 1-5. When the Swans finally got into attack it was via a good contested mark to Orreal. Mocca was mugged in the contest from Jake?s long kick and he goaled from the square. Belconnen?s momentum was broken, and after Currie missed his long shot the ?Van took a great mark on the lead and goaled from 45. Who said this kid cannot kick!! Soon after the teams swapped 50 metre penalties. Belconnen missed the easy shot from theirs, but the kick from the Swans 50 was marked by Mocca in the square for a goal, reducing the margin to 10 points. But as they did in the second quarter, Belconnen got a reply at the death; this time via a rubbish free when one of their men ducked into a tackle and got the high contact call.
Sixteen points the diff at orange time. Despite their dominance for long periods of the quarter Belconnen could only muster 2-8 while the economic Swans kicked three straight. Nevertheless, they had every right to be confident, in the second semi they blew the Swans away in the final term when the workload on the twelve listed men caught up with them.
Things did not look much better when immediately after the recommencement an unknown (and inexperienced) Swan fell for the old trick of handballing to the call without looking. The recipient, Belconnen 12 strolled in for the easiest of goals. The Swans got the goal back straight away, they won the centre clearance and O?Dwyer passed to the Butcher. He was crudely hammered after taking the mark and goaled from the square after the 50 was applied. Swans straight back in attack again, a golden chance went begging when Braba delivered a hospital handball. Belconnen appeared to be tiring and going on the defensive a little, they are pinged for deliberate OOB. The resultant kick is brilliantly marked by Gordon in the square for another goal.Belconnen could have gotten the goal straight back, they forced a turnover and broke free but kicked poorly again. From the kick in the Swans pass crisply down the ground and the Butcher takes the contested mark 20 metres out on an angle ? and converts. Sixteen minutes in, less than a kick in it. After Beconnen have another miss, Nick Smith is caught with the ball, dispossessed and Belconnen get it back out to two goals. Soon after a long Belconnen snap takes it to 13 points with 10 to go. Not to be denied, the Swans forced the ball downfield, in a scrimmage following a throw in Gordon handballed to Mocca who goes the checkside and goals. Belconnen then take the ball forward, desperate defence holds them out, the ball is scrambled out to an unmarked Crusher just short of the centre. Forty four years on he recreates Gabbas run ? four perilous bounces on the greasy turf, but unlike Gabba he settles 35 out and does the business!! Belconnen look tired, game opening up and only 1 point the diff. The Swans repelled another attack and sweep the ball forward to Gordon at half forward. Can he be the hero? Hemmed in close to the boundary his shot on the run just misses. Scores level 26 minutes in ? all the other quarters have been 28 or less. The ball goes frenetically from and to end, chances for both teams stopped by desperate defence. At 29 minutes Belconnen have one last chance, a low pass skims forward. In his play of the day Columbo read the play and used his pace to beat his man to the ball, he delivered it immediately to Braba. With no time left he bombed it forward where the Butcher takes a strong contested mark 40 out on an angle. He will kick from 45. SIREN!!!!! Heart in mouth ? we have seen the Butcher earn his name by kicking shots like this almost sideways, we have also seen him kick them. He does not hesitate, goes straight in and hits it sweetly. Just misses, grazes the post, but who cares. The kids have pulled it off!!!!
Amongst all the celebration ( and the Skull earns the title for most exuberant) one had to feel just a bit sorry for Belconnen. They had dominated for long stretches led all day, 24 shots to 15 and they went down on the last kick of the day. Collectively they were totally shattered.
Who were our heros?
Well the midfield was beaten for long periods of play, so I was very surprised to see Nick Smith awarded BOG, plus Braba and Bruce named in the best. Smith got plenty of it, but his disposal was not great. Sorry, Nick, the only award I would have given you was for most mud on the jumper. When I looked at my list of best it was a very even call. With the midfield beaten for three quarters, I looked to the guys who kept the Swans in the game with limited opportunities.
Jessie White: Played CHF and occasionally on ball. Led strongly, missed a few grabs (very greasy) took plenty of others, covered more ground than Bourke and Wills. Won his position nearly all day.
Dan Currie: Whilst beaten early on in the ruck, always dangerous up forward and creative in tight. Look forward to next year.
Jake Orreal: The improvement in this kid has been simply amazing. Again, beaten early in the ruck but marked and led well, kicked a nice goal and brilliantly created another for Gordon. Keeper!!
Nathan Gordon: I am drooling over this kid. Terrific contested marks. Kicked 2 goals, could easily have got four or five.
Peter Faulks: Had a frustrating day, his direct opponent did not do much because with a top-up playing back pocket beside him the Belconnen forwards split and always kicked to the bloke on the rookie. However Columbo really stood up when the pressure was on at the death.
Barlow and Brabazon: Both these guys had pretty ordinary games for the first three quarters, but were instrumental in the last quarter fightback. Barlow is still too soft, Braba still suspect when under pressure..
Matty O?Dwyer: Smith got a bit more ball, but Matty was far more destructive when he got it. Besides kicking a great goal, he was responsible for several telling forward fifty entries.
Skull Murphy: Tried his guts out all day, but struggled with the conditions.
Bruce: Reasonably busy in midfield, another who won plenty but disposal and decision making not the best.
Butcher Beckmans: Quiet for three quarters, brilliant contested marking in the last.
Terlich: Quiet game, hardly sighted.
Bottin- Noonan: Couple of terrific grabs, can?t wait for him to fill out.
A brilliant day. So glad I decided to go.
SYDNEY SWANS - 11.4-70
BELCONNEN MAGPIES - 9.15-69
SYDNEY SWANS
Goal Kickers: D. Currie 3, M. BECKMANS 2, N. Gordon 2, J. WHITE 2, J. Orreal, M. O''DWYER
Best Players: N. SMITH, P. FAULKS, R. BRABAZON, A. BRUCE, N. Gordon
ORB?s Best: White, Currie, Orreal, O?Dwyer, Gordon.
BELCONNEN MAGPIES
Goal Kickers: L. JEFFREY 3, P. RAADTS, J. JENNINGS, C. ILETT, D. Pahl, C. YORK, G. Underwood
Best Players: R. TURNBULL, S. Henning, A. BENNETT, P. RAADTS, L. Rhodes, N. BARTON
Team before the game
Allison and Smith accepting the CUP
Allison and Smith hold the CUP aloft.
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