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SYDNEY AFL PRELIMINARY FINAL - The Straight Sets Curse Strikes Again
Photos and articles by Michael Shillito
At the business end of the season, winning momentum is everything. Since 2002, no team that has lost a final has bounced back to win the next week. In 2003 St George finished in the top 2 but crashed out of the finals in straight sets. Likewise UNSW-ES in 2004, Pennant Hills in 2005 and 2007 and Wests in 2006. With the final 5 being introduced this season, St George went out in 2 games in the first 2 weeks; while minor premiers UNSW-ES had tasted defeat in the second semi and would need to beat East Coast Eagles, who had come up from the elimination final, to qualify for the grand final.
The warmer weather arrived for the weekend, with a hot day on Saturday before the rain came on Sunday. Heavy rain before the game and early in the contest made for slippery conditions; and even after the rain stopped the sticky conditions tested the fitness of the players. And it was the Eagles who made the early front-running. Jon Vlatko was first to get on the board, outmarking a pack 20 metres out on the slightest of angles. A free to Gus Seebeck from a virtually identical angle got another; and when coach Glenn Garner marked 40 metres out to add another, the Eagles had got out to a 20-point flying start.
The Bulldogs gradually got themselves back into the contest, without looking convincing. Nick O'Brien on the run scored the Bulldogs' first, before slipping over while attempting to high-five a team-mate. The next forward thrust saw David Coupe and Stephen Pech spoil each other; but they soon lifted their intensity, with Coupe and Sutton getting on the board to level the scores. Ticking into time-on, Seebeck's second was cancelled out by Troy Luff being in the perfect position to receive the crumbs; and the Eagles held a narrow 2-point lead at quarter time.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with the Eagles getting out to a lead but the Bulldogs pegging them back. But the UNSW-ES comeback in the second quarter was better, with Brad Abbott on a tight angle steering through his 89th goal for the season. Coupe set up Ben Sutton 30 metres out to put the Bulldogs in front; and Sutton received a 50 metre penalty on the half-time siren gave them an 8-point lead at the long break.
The first half had been an even and entertaining contest, with both sides creating attacking opportunities and plenty of momentum swings to keep the scoreboard ticking over. But the premiership quarter would see a devastating burst that would turn the game on its head and set up a match-winning break. By now the rain had ceased and the sunshine had come in. And the Eagles had further reason to brighten their mood when finals specialist forward Adam Byerlee swung into action. Byerlee scored 6 against St George last week, and his 3 goals in the third term played a key role in getting the Eagles back in front. All 3 came from marks, the third a spectacular acrobatic effort while the Eagles forwards were finding room to move on the forward line. A running effort from Michael Sankey and a 50m penalty to Jon Vlatko extended the lead.
UNSW-ES desperately needed a spark to get back into the contest; but it took Luke Jarjoura three attempts to try to provide it. From a centre break, Jarjoura went for a 70m torp but missed. A borderline free kick within range produced another point; but finally after pouncing on a scrap in the forward line it was third time lucky. But time in the third term was getting away, and when Ryan Smyth produced a double during time-on the Eagle lead had blown out to 30 points at the last change. It had been a devastating quarter, 8 goals to 1, and what had looked to be an even contest at half-time had been turned into a procession.
If the Bulldogs were to have any hope at all of getting back into the contest they needed the first goal of the last quarter; and they were to achieve this when Brad Abbott was unable to work through traffic in the goal square but went backwards to Jon Bradfield. But the Eagles almost instantly got it back when Byerlee from the pocket slammed another one through; and his 6th not long afterwards ended the contest. The Eagles were to look ahead to next week's grand final, while the Bulldogs could only play out time and contemplate what might have been. To compound a dismal second half for the Bulldogs, Blair Oliver found himself sin-binned shortly before the end of the game.
The Eagles won the match by 45 points, and for the second year of the last 3 it will be a Pennant Hills v East Coast Eagles grand final - hopefully the weather and conditions in 2008 will be better than last time! Adam Byerlee finished with 6 goals in a best on ground performance, while Michael Sankey and Gus Seebeck scored 3.
For the Bulldogs, Ben Sutton with 3 was their only multiple goal-scorer. It was a disappointing second-half fadeout for the Bulldogs, the latest victims of Sydney AFL's straight-sets curse. But for coach Terry Mudge and the Bulldogs team it had been a successful season, coming from 6th in 2007 to the minor premiership this year. Brad Abbott's 89 goals was the highest individual total for many years. Sam Rutland earned himself a Rising Star nomination, while Abbott, Max Collett, Angus Farling and Luke Jarjoura had all earned selection in the 2008 Team of the Year. And with their under-18s team taking out the Challenge Cup premiership undefeated, earning a likely promotion to Premier Cup for 2009, the supply of promising young talent to the Bulldogs looks set to continue into the future.
But for 2008, just two teams remain - Pennant Hills and East Coast. Preliminary final day had been a day of fluctuating fortunes, and also of fluctuating weather. Within half an hour of the finish, while Sydney AFL devotees were on their way home, came bright sunshine, another wild storm and then a rainbow. But is it a pot of Demon or Eagle premiership gold at the end? All will be revealed at Henson Park next Saturday.
East Coast Eagles 4.4 6.9 14.9 18.14 (122)
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 4.2 8.5 9.9 11.11 (77)
Goals : East Coast - A Byerlee 6, M Sankey 3, G Seebeck 3, J Vlatko 2, R Smyth 2, S Ryan, G Garner. UNSW-ES - B Sutton 3, D Rampe, D Coupe, M Collett, N O'Brien, J Bradfield, B Abbott, T Luff, L Jarjoura.
East Coast play Pennant Hills in the grand final
Reserve Grade:
Sydney University 6.4 7.5 10.7 12.9 (81)
Pennant Hills 3.2 6.9 7.12 8.13 (61)
Goals : Sydney Uni - B Fletcher 2, C Walsh 2, R Wood 2, R Stokes 2, T Ly 2, M Stewart, L McWhirter. Pennant Hills - P McLaren 3, J Gaggin, S Myers, S Jones, M Hossen, N Low.
Sydney Uni play East Coast in the grand final
Under 18s Premier:
East Coast Eagles 2.1 6.5 6.8 10.13 (73)
Pennant Hills 1.4 4.8 5.11 5.13 (43)
Goals : East Coast - J Shephard 3, J Gordon 2, J Patira 2, M Power, B Carey, T Stubbs. Pennant Hills - C Smith, N Baglin, A Govender, K Fenaroli, R Green.
East Coast play North Shore Bombers in the grand final
First and Second Division, and the Under 18s Challenge Cup, had their grand final on Saturday. Switched at short notice to Mahoney Park, it was a marathon day of football with a thrilling conclusion.
First up was the Second Division grand final, where Pennant Hills went back-to-back when they took out a 35-point win over Sydney Uni Blue. The Under 18s Challenge Cup was taken out by UNSW-ES, completing an undefeated season when they accounted for Southern Sharks by 127 points. UTS defeated Manly-Warringah in First Division Reserves by 52 points to complete their three-peat. The senior game between the two clubs was a much closer affair, and when the Wolves hit the front late in the final quarter there were thoughts of an upset before the Bats steadied with 3 late goals.
First Division Seniors:
University of Technology 5.3 7.7 8.12 13.16 (94)
Manly- Warringah 1.0 6.5 7.10 11.12 (78)
Goals : UTS - A Thain 5, J Ryan 3, A Davis 2, M Atkinson, J Urban, J Aitken. Manly-Warringah - D McMillan 2, D Canham 2, M Dodds 2, M Webb, S Murray, B Brendan, A Whitelaw, T Armitage.
First Division Reserves:
University of Technology 4.3 8.7 12.8 17.12 (114)
Manly-Warringah 2.1 4.1 9.1 10.2 (62)
Goals: UTS - G Capozzi 6, M Cotton 4, P Taylor 2, J Gabrynowicz, R Henderson, S Cutlack, B Nitschke, T Paech. Manly-Warringah - N McDonagh 3, R Clack 3, B Andrews 2, P Horrell 2.
Second Division:
Pennant Hills 4.3 8.5 12.8 18.10 (118)
Sydney Uni Blue 3.1 5.3 8.4 13.5 (83)
Goals : Pennant Hills - M Hayman 5, G Hume 5, J Rakic 2, J Myers, P Randazzo, C Laing, R Laing, T Carruthers, R McCleland. Sydney Uni Blue - D Archer 8, A Cohen 2, D Owen, P Urizar-Climent, H Thomas.
Under 18s Challenge:
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 6.5 12.6 18.13 23.18 (156)
Southern Sharks 1.2 2.5 2.5 4.5 (29)
Goals : UNSW-ES - K Emery 6, A Henderson 4, L Williams 4, N Whitehead 3, C McKinlay 2, M Lewis, A Gulden, D Ward, C Jourdain. Southern Sharks - M Cairnduff, M Young, A Stacey, L Allen.
GRAND FINAL DAY FIXTURES:
Saturday 20th September at Henson Park
9:30am - Under 18s Premier - North Shore Bombers v East Coast Eagles
12:00pm - Reserve Grade - East Coast Eagles v Sydney University
2:30pm - Seniors - Pennant Hills v East Coast Eagles