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SYDNEY AFL ROUND 19 2011
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
It?s been a marathon season, but we?re coming to the business end. In Divisions Two, Four and Five, and the Under 18s Challenge, the home and away season is over and next weekend sees the start of the finals. For the remaining divisions, including Premier Division, there?s one more round to go before the playoff action. The Elimination Finallists have already been decided, but there is one more game to decide who takes out the minor premiership.
But although we?ve had a good idea for the last month how the finals will shape up, the games continue to be of importance, especially when finals-bound sides play each other. There?s the chance to fine-tune their lineups, build momentum, and gain a psychological hold over a potential finals opponent. Such a result was seen at Gore Hill Oval on Saturday, as North Shore took on Sydney Uni.
The Students went into the match in third position, the Bombers fifth. And it was the Students who had the better of the early proceedings, with three goals in the first five minutes and they were soon out to a 24-point lead. Driving the ball out of the centre, the Students were able to move the ball to the forward line with ease; and the Bombers barely got a possession in the early exchanges.
But the Bombers fought back as the quarter unfolded. It was an open and free-flowing game, and once the Bombers began to get some run around the ground, the attacking options quickly opened up. North Shore would score the next five goals, briefly taking the lead, before a Sydney Uni goal on the quarter time siren restored the lead to the Students.
The first quarter had been a 10-goal shootout, and the high-scoring nature of the game would continue in the second term, as eight goals were scored. The first seven of them would result in lead changes, in what had become an enthralling contest of constant momentum shifts. It was anyone?s guess how the game would unfold, with both sides committing their all in an entertaining contest. Finally it was the Bombers who would get consecutive goals, with Danny Roberts twice converting set shots, and the Bombers took a 10-point lead into the long break.
The third quarter saw some more entertainment, and the game looked set to be a thriller. The Students levelled the scores early in the quarter, before the Bombers scored three quick goals and threatened to run away. But a double to Matthew Clarke and a goal on the siren to Tim Barrett cut the margin to just three points at the last change.
The tension was in the air. Plenty of players from the Division One game for both sides had stuck around, and there was a vocal atmosphere around the ground. Although ladder positions would indicate this was a dead rubber, it didn?t feel like one. There was plenty of passion in this contest; and nervous moments as the ball travelled from end to end in eight scoreless minutes to begin the final term.
Finally it was North Shore who broke the scoring deadlock. Doug Hadden, recently promoted from the Under 18s, showed courage to back into two Student opponents and grab a mark 40 metres from goal; and then made no mistake with the kick. But within a minute the margin was back to two points. Adam Campbell was taken high 50 metres from goal, and made no mistake with the long range set shot.
Both sides have played in their share of close contests this year. Sydney Uni played in the only draw so far this season, while North Shore fell over the line in a few close contests. And with North Shore 4 points ahead at the 18 minute mark, this was another classic contest.
The game was up for grabs, but in the final minutes the arm-wrestle would go North Shore?s way. Seb Paynter gave the Bombers some breathing space, converting a set shot from a tight angle. Danny Roberts from the pocket played on and threaded the needle brilliantly for another goal. Dale Fitzgerald went long, and his shot just cleared the line despite the protests of the Student defenders that it was touched. And the icing on the cake came with seconds left on the clock, with Ron Wason kicking to a vacant goalsquare, where the ball sat up but Dale Fitzgerald was first to arrive and put through the easiest of goals.
North Shore?s final winning margin was 29 points, after a game that for much of the day looked set to be considerably closer. It was a game that had everything; plenty of acts of individual brilliance by players from both sides, some hard hits and heavy tackles, and constant swings of momentum with the game in the balance until the final minutes. In terms of standard of play, it was close to the best game so far this season.
And, on the eve of the finals, it was a good psychological boost for North Shore. The Bombers have had the wood on Sydney Uni, only lowering their colours to Uni once since the Students were admitted to Premier Division five years ago; and if they meet again in the finals, the Bombers will fancy their chances.
Dale Fitzgerald kicked four goals for North Shore in a best-on-ground performance, while Chris Murphy and Seb Paynter also had plenty of the footy. For the Students, Martin Rice and former Bombers James Brain and Josh Cole were among their best.
The match also marked a milestone, being umpire Anton Lewis?s 300th game in the Sydney AFL. Umpiring can be a thankless job, and plenty is asked of our umpires. Umpires run well over 10 kilometres in every game, never having the option to go to the interchange bench; and our game is unique among football codes in that the umpire is required to perform an act of skill with the ball, unlike other codes where the umpire or referee never touches the ball.
It?s easy in the heat of a game situation for an umpire to cop some criticism for the minority of decisions they get wrong, while the majority that they get right go un-noticed. But without the umpires, there would be no game; and although white line fever can get to players and supporters at times, the efforts of the umpires are appreciated by all in footy.
UNSW-ES?s season will end next weekend, and they won?t be competing in the finals; but the Bulldogs pulled off the upset of round 19 when they claimed the scalp of finals-bound Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The first quarter was evenly-contested, and the Demons led by two points at the first change. And in the second quarter, the Demons took the ascendancy to lead by 12 points at the long break. Few would have anticipated the direction the game would take after the break.
But in the premiership quarter, the Bulldogs took control. Playing with plenty of spirit and determination, the Bulldogs snatched the initiative and ran through five goals for the quarter. But the Bulldog defenders were the stars of the show, holding the Demons scoreless for the quarter and at the last change the Bulldogs held a shock 21-point lead. And, having a sniff of victory, the Bulldogs weren?t letting go; and in a low-scoring final quarter the Bulldogs held the Demons out and then scored two late goals, the icing on the cake, to win the quarter.
The final margin was 29 points, the best performance by the Bulldogs this season. Hayden Nichols, Tom Heath and Richard Troon were listed as the Bulldogs? best, but it was a solid team effort; and a result that gives an indication that the young Bulldogs are heading in the right direction and will be a force in seasons to come. Jason Clarke, Tim Scoular and Daniel Witt were solid performers for the Demons; who had a few key players out but will be hoping to re-discover their best form by the finals.
The race for the minor premiership, and the vital week off, continues. Balmain, with the bye in the last round, needed a win over St George at Olds Park to remain in the hunt. And, although it wasn?t a totally convincing performance, the Dockers did enough to take the points with a 27-point victory.
The Dockers looked to build a big score early, but found stiff resistance from the Dragons, who found an answering goal every time the Dockers threatened to get on top. At quarter time, the Dragons held a shock two-point lead; but the Dockers took control of proceedings as the second quarter continued to lead by 18 points at half time.
But the Dragons weren?t going down without a fight. The Dockers would have been keen to assert themselves in the premiership quarter, but the Dragons put up a determined fightback to win the quarter. It wasn?t enough to regain the lead, and the Dockers still held a 16-point advantage, but it showed that this wasn?t going to be an easy win for Balmain. But the Dockers had enough of a buffer to ensure the Dragons wouldn?t threaten to upset them in the final term; and the final margin was 27 points.
Former Swans Jason Saddington and Nick Davis were again the focal points of the Balmain attack. Saddington finished with seven goals and Davis five; with Ben Taggart, Saddington and Tim Schmidt among Balmain?s best. For the tenacious Dragons, Nick Ryan was again a handy forward with six goals, and along with Paul Sain and Mark Graham were among their best.
East Coast Eagles also kept their hopes of the minor premiership alive, and did it in style, with a convincing 72-point win over Illawarra under lights at North Dalton on Saturday night.
The Eagles took control from the start, with seven first quarter goals to lead by 31 points at the first change, and after another seven-goal haul in the second term the lead was extended to 52 points at half time. And although the scoring slowed down in the second half, the game was already safe and the Eagles were untroubled as they cruised to an easy victory.
Stephen Doyle was unstoppable, with six goals in a best-on-ground performance. Jamie Vlatko contributed four goals, while Michael Johnston and Mike Beardsley were also prominent contributors. For the Lions, Jacob Brookfield made the most of his recent promotion from the under-18s with a strong contribution up forward with three goals from limited opportunities. Richard Oehme, Beau Black and Thomas Green were among Wollongong?s best.
For East Coast, the equation is simple. If they beat Wests, or even draw with them, at Bruce Purser next week, the minor premiership is theirs. But if the Magpies can upset the Eagles, Balmain will be seeded straight into the Second Semi-Final.
The round was completed on Sunday afternoon at Henson Park, as UTS took on Wests. And the Bats would break through for their second win of the season, coming from behind to defeat the Magpies by 28 points.
The Magpies raced out of the blocks, running through six goals in the opening quarter to lead by 22 points at the first change. The run of play was closer than that, especially in the second term, but the Magpies made every post a winner when it came to goal-scoring accuracy. All ten of Wests? scoring shots in the first half were goals, which was enough for them to maintain a 12-point lead at the long break.
But the game changed in the premiership quarter. The Magpies were held score-less, allowing the Bats back into the contest. The Bats wasted some chances, but a return of 3.6 for the quarter was enough to turn the deficit into a 12-point lead. And the Bats would go on with the job in the last quarter to ensure the win. Remarkably, the Magpies would not get their first behind until late in the game, but although they finished accurately, they failed to create enough chances to place the Bats under pressure.
Michael Atkinson, Tom Steinfort and Nicholas Haslam were among UTS?s best in what was a day to celebrate for the Bats. Promotion to Premier Division has been tough, but this win guarantees they will at least avoid the wooden spoon; and with a game against the winless Campbelltown to come in the final round, the Bats will be confident of their chances of finishing the season with a wet sail. On another disappointing afternoon for Wests, Matt Eurell kicked four goals while Stephen Hudson, Kyall Walford and James Watkins worked hard all afternoon.
North Shore 5.1 10.3 13.8 18.11 (119)
Sydney University 5.4 8.5 13.5 14.6 (90)
Goals : North Shore ? D Fitzgerald 4, T Strudwick 3, D Roberts 3, D Hadden 2, L Pryor, B Oliver, P Brackin, A Harry, R Wason, S Paynter. Sydney Uni ? A Campbell 3, M Clarke 3, T Barrett 2, S Crichton 2, B Mankarious, K Murphy, C Moller, N Lye.
Best : North Shore ? D Fitzgerald, C Murphy, T Strudwick, S Paynter, L Pryor, D Martin. Sydney Uni ? M Rice, J Brain, J Cole, B Mankarious, A Campbell, C Moller.
At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 3.0 5.3 10.6 12.12 (84)
Pennant Hills 3.2 7.3 7.3 8.7 (55)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? J Parmenter 3, B Woods 3, A Gulden 2, R Troon, O Sidlo-Jones, M Collett, T Garrett. Pennant Hills ? J Gourlay 2, L Bilbe, M Thomas, B Unwin, N Baglin, J Lewis, Brandon Jack.
Best : UNSW-ES ? H Nichols, T Heath, R Troon, M Collett, N McGann, B Woods. Pennant Hills ? J Clarke, T Scoular, D Witt, R Watts, A Duncan, Brandon Jack.
At Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
Balmain 4.0 10.2 12.7 17.8 (110)
St George 4.2 7.2 10.3 13.5 (83)
Goals : Balmain ? J Saddington 7, N Davis 5, M Edwins 3, T Luff, J Britton. St George ? N Ryan 6, D Napper 2, P Sain 2, T Addison, D Ryan, B Addison.
Best : Balmain ? B Taggart, J Saddington, T Schmidt, T Stevens, J Ryder, D Brian. St George ? P Sain, M Graham, N Ryan, S Wilsen, R Lombardo, M Milner.
At Olds Park, Saturday 13th August 2011.
East Coast Eagles 7.4 14.4 18.7 20.10 (130)
Illawarra 2.3 5.6 6.8 8.10 (58)
Goals : East Coast ? S Doyle 6, Jamie Vlatko 4, K McRedmond 2, B Ure 2, M Johnston 2, B Rogers, R Bilkey, L Stuart. Illawarra ? J Brookfield 3, R Price 2, K Ewen-Chappell, P Lake, A Barned.
Best : East Coast ? S Doyle, M Johnston, M Beardsley, P Vlatko, T Baker, Jon Vlatko. Illawarra ? R Oehme, B Black, T Green, J Brookfield, R Woodward.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
University of Technology 2.2 7.6 10.12 14.18 (102)
Western Suburbs 6.0 10.0 10.0 12.2 (74)
Goals : UTS ? D Lavender 3, S Way 3, A Davis 3, M Atkinson 3, M Trewhella, C Tolj. Wests ? M Eurell 4, B Mumme 3, R Miller 2, S Hudson, D Clout, D Cusick.
Best : UTS ? M Atkinson, T Steinfort, N Haslam, F Purcell, H McGregor, A Kymantas. Wests ? S Hudson, K Walford, J Watkins, R Barrett, M Lemme, J Morgan.
At Henson Park, Sunday 14th August 2011.
First Division:
UNSW-ES 9.6 (60) d Pennant Hills 7.12 (54)
Sydney Uni 13.15 (93) d North Shore 4.7 (31
Southern Power 13.12 (90) d Macquarie Uni 13.4 (82)
East Coast 20.12 (132) d Illawarra 9.0 (54)
UTS 13.11 (89) d Western Suburbs 7.9 (51)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (87.5, 254.02%), Southern Power (81.25, 170.11%), Sydney Uni (68.75, 119.50%), UTS (60, 107.61%), Macquarie Uni (58.82, 146.68%), East Coast (50, 122.83%), UNSW-ES (43.75, 71.58%), Pennant Hills (43.75, 71.13%), North Shore (37.5, 75.80%), Wests (12.5, 63.86%), Illawarra (6.25, 43.71%).
Second Division:
Balmain 12.8 (80) d St George 10.9 (69)
Penrith 17.14 (116) d Camden 2.5 (17)
Manly-Warringah 16.6 (102) d NorWest 3.12 (30)
Auburn 13.9 (87) d Moorebank 6.6 (42)
Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.9 (69)
Ladder (Final) ? Penrith (56, 216.89%), Holroyd-Parramatta (50, 151.43%), Sydney Uni (48, 135.14%), Auburn (48, 126.41%), Balmain (46, 121.54%), NorWest (28, 85.19%), Moorebank (20, 87.19%), Manly-Warringah (20, 75.49%), St George (20, 60.91%), Camden (4, 43.74%).
Third Division:
East Coast 23.17 (155) d North Shore 3.6 (24)
Southern Power 15.13 (103) d Macquarie Uni 7.2 (44)
UNSW-ES 16.12 (108) d Western Suburbs 3.4 (22)
UTS 17.10 (112) d Saints AFC 6.6 (42)
Sydney Uni 13.20 (98) d Campbelltown 8.5 (53)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? UNSW-ES (94.12, 264.73%), UTS (80, 166.58%), Sydney Uni (64.71, 122.41%), Southern Power (62.5, 113.82%), Saints AFC (56.25, 147.34%), Macquarie Uni (47.06, 109.04%), East Coast (37.5, 83.44%), Wests (31.25, 71.20%), Campbelltown (18.75, 47.63%), North Shore (6.25, 26.51%).
Fourth Division:
Penrith 16.16 (112) d UNSW-ES 5.6 (36)
NorWest 11.4 (70) d Manly-Warringah 10.6 (66)
Macquarie Uni 23.10 (148) d Auburn 6.0 (36)
Moorebank 12.10 (82) d UTS 9.8 (62)
Ladder (Final, Match Ratio) ? Penrith (86.67, 207.99%), Macquarie Uni (85.71, 145.30%), Moorebank (60, 113.99%), UTS (46.15, 110.43%), Holroyd-Parramatta (40, 93.80%), UNSW-ES (40, 80.51%), NorWest (38.46, 88.59%), Manly-Warringah (33.33, 78.24%), Auburn (20, 46.18%).
Fifth Division:
Southern Power 17.24 (126) d Macquarie Uni 3.1 (19)
Sydney Uni 9.8 (62) d Manly-Warringah 4.10 (40)
Saints AFC 17.19 (121) d Holroyd-Parramatta 6.6 (42)
Moorebank 16.13 (109) d Camden 8.6 (54)
Ladder (Final) ? Southern Power (68, 324.27%), Moorebank (48, 170.73%), Manly-Warringah (44, 112.45%), Sydney Uni (40, 130.67%), Saints AFC (36, 118.04%), Macquarie Uni (28, 103.09%), Camden (8, 51.37%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 22.48%).
Under 18s Premier:
Pennant Hills 20.5 (125) d UNSW-ES 9.6 (60)
St Ignatius Riverview 13.7 (85) d St George 6.7 (43)
Sydney Uni 8.9 (57) d North Shore 7.9 (51)
East Coast 23.6 (144) d Penrith 2.5 (17)
Western Suburbs 14.5 (89) d Illawarra 12.10 (82)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? East Coast (90.62, 226.61%), North Shore (71.88, 160.76%), Pennant Hills (68.75, 119.86%, Sydney Uni (64.71, 115.45%), St Ignatius Riverview (64.71, 113.41%), Illawarra (40.62, 100.81%), Wests (34.38, 78.30%), St George (26.47, 79.98%), Penrith (25, 57.16%), UNSW-ES (14.71, 51.05%).
Under 18s Challenge:
East Coast 14.8 (92) d Southern Power 8.4 (52)
Campbelltown 15.17 (107) d Holroyd-Parramatta 0.6 (6)
Moorebank 23.16 (154) d Mac Uni Kookas 5.6 (36)
Mac Uni Warriors 9.10 (64) d Balmain 7.10 (52)
Ladder (Final, Match Ratio) ? Campbelltown (100, 371.46%), Mac Uni Warriors (80, 167.83%), Manly-Warringah (60, 156.80%), Holroyd-Parramatta (53.33, 106.04%), East Coast (46.67, 85.60%), Southern Power (40, 104.96%), Balmain (40, 89.05%), Moorebank (25, 64.11%), Mac Uni Kookas (6.67, 18.89%).
NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES:
Premier Division (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 20th August
Monarch Oval ? Campbelltown v UTS (2:10pm)
Olds Park ? St George v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (2:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (4:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (4:10pm)
BYE ? Balmain
First Division:
Saturday 20th August
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (2pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (2pm)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v UTS (2:10pm)
BYE ? Macquarie Uni
Second Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Sydney Uni (3:30pm)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final - Auburn v Balmain (2:10pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 20th August
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Southern Power (8:30am)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Sydney Uni (10am)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (12pm)
Monarch Oval ? Campbelltown v UTS (12pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Macquarie Uni (2pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Macquarie Uni v Moorebank (1:15pm)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final ? UTS v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)
Fifth Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? First Semi Final ? Manly-Warringah v Sydney Uni (9am)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 20th August
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (10am)
Riverview First Field ? St Ignatius Riverview v Penrith (10am)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (10:30am)
Olds Park ? St George v Pennant Hills (12pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (7pm)
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Mac Uni Warriors v Manly-Warringah (11:15am)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final ? Holroyd-Parramatta v East Coast (10am)
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
It?s been a marathon season, but we?re coming to the business end. In Divisions Two, Four and Five, and the Under 18s Challenge, the home and away season is over and next weekend sees the start of the finals. For the remaining divisions, including Premier Division, there?s one more round to go before the playoff action. The Elimination Finallists have already been decided, but there is one more game to decide who takes out the minor premiership.
But although we?ve had a good idea for the last month how the finals will shape up, the games continue to be of importance, especially when finals-bound sides play each other. There?s the chance to fine-tune their lineups, build momentum, and gain a psychological hold over a potential finals opponent. Such a result was seen at Gore Hill Oval on Saturday, as North Shore took on Sydney Uni.
The Students went into the match in third position, the Bombers fifth. And it was the Students who had the better of the early proceedings, with three goals in the first five minutes and they were soon out to a 24-point lead. Driving the ball out of the centre, the Students were able to move the ball to the forward line with ease; and the Bombers barely got a possession in the early exchanges.
But the Bombers fought back as the quarter unfolded. It was an open and free-flowing game, and once the Bombers began to get some run around the ground, the attacking options quickly opened up. North Shore would score the next five goals, briefly taking the lead, before a Sydney Uni goal on the quarter time siren restored the lead to the Students.
The first quarter had been a 10-goal shootout, and the high-scoring nature of the game would continue in the second term, as eight goals were scored. The first seven of them would result in lead changes, in what had become an enthralling contest of constant momentum shifts. It was anyone?s guess how the game would unfold, with both sides committing their all in an entertaining contest. Finally it was the Bombers who would get consecutive goals, with Danny Roberts twice converting set shots, and the Bombers took a 10-point lead into the long break.
The third quarter saw some more entertainment, and the game looked set to be a thriller. The Students levelled the scores early in the quarter, before the Bombers scored three quick goals and threatened to run away. But a double to Matthew Clarke and a goal on the siren to Tim Barrett cut the margin to just three points at the last change.
The tension was in the air. Plenty of players from the Division One game for both sides had stuck around, and there was a vocal atmosphere around the ground. Although ladder positions would indicate this was a dead rubber, it didn?t feel like one. There was plenty of passion in this contest; and nervous moments as the ball travelled from end to end in eight scoreless minutes to begin the final term.
Finally it was North Shore who broke the scoring deadlock. Doug Hadden, recently promoted from the Under 18s, showed courage to back into two Student opponents and grab a mark 40 metres from goal; and then made no mistake with the kick. But within a minute the margin was back to two points. Adam Campbell was taken high 50 metres from goal, and made no mistake with the long range set shot.
Both sides have played in their share of close contests this year. Sydney Uni played in the only draw so far this season, while North Shore fell over the line in a few close contests. And with North Shore 4 points ahead at the 18 minute mark, this was another classic contest.
The game was up for grabs, but in the final minutes the arm-wrestle would go North Shore?s way. Seb Paynter gave the Bombers some breathing space, converting a set shot from a tight angle. Danny Roberts from the pocket played on and threaded the needle brilliantly for another goal. Dale Fitzgerald went long, and his shot just cleared the line despite the protests of the Student defenders that it was touched. And the icing on the cake came with seconds left on the clock, with Ron Wason kicking to a vacant goalsquare, where the ball sat up but Dale Fitzgerald was first to arrive and put through the easiest of goals.
North Shore?s final winning margin was 29 points, after a game that for much of the day looked set to be considerably closer. It was a game that had everything; plenty of acts of individual brilliance by players from both sides, some hard hits and heavy tackles, and constant swings of momentum with the game in the balance until the final minutes. In terms of standard of play, it was close to the best game so far this season.
And, on the eve of the finals, it was a good psychological boost for North Shore. The Bombers have had the wood on Sydney Uni, only lowering their colours to Uni once since the Students were admitted to Premier Division five years ago; and if they meet again in the finals, the Bombers will fancy their chances.
Dale Fitzgerald kicked four goals for North Shore in a best-on-ground performance, while Chris Murphy and Seb Paynter also had plenty of the footy. For the Students, Martin Rice and former Bombers James Brain and Josh Cole were among their best.
The match also marked a milestone, being umpire Anton Lewis?s 300th game in the Sydney AFL. Umpiring can be a thankless job, and plenty is asked of our umpires. Umpires run well over 10 kilometres in every game, never having the option to go to the interchange bench; and our game is unique among football codes in that the umpire is required to perform an act of skill with the ball, unlike other codes where the umpire or referee never touches the ball.
It?s easy in the heat of a game situation for an umpire to cop some criticism for the minority of decisions they get wrong, while the majority that they get right go un-noticed. But without the umpires, there would be no game; and although white line fever can get to players and supporters at times, the efforts of the umpires are appreciated by all in footy.
UNSW-ES?s season will end next weekend, and they won?t be competing in the finals; but the Bulldogs pulled off the upset of round 19 when they claimed the scalp of finals-bound Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The first quarter was evenly-contested, and the Demons led by two points at the first change. And in the second quarter, the Demons took the ascendancy to lead by 12 points at the long break. Few would have anticipated the direction the game would take after the break.
But in the premiership quarter, the Bulldogs took control. Playing with plenty of spirit and determination, the Bulldogs snatched the initiative and ran through five goals for the quarter. But the Bulldog defenders were the stars of the show, holding the Demons scoreless for the quarter and at the last change the Bulldogs held a shock 21-point lead. And, having a sniff of victory, the Bulldogs weren?t letting go; and in a low-scoring final quarter the Bulldogs held the Demons out and then scored two late goals, the icing on the cake, to win the quarter.
The final margin was 29 points, the best performance by the Bulldogs this season. Hayden Nichols, Tom Heath and Richard Troon were listed as the Bulldogs? best, but it was a solid team effort; and a result that gives an indication that the young Bulldogs are heading in the right direction and will be a force in seasons to come. Jason Clarke, Tim Scoular and Daniel Witt were solid performers for the Demons; who had a few key players out but will be hoping to re-discover their best form by the finals.
The race for the minor premiership, and the vital week off, continues. Balmain, with the bye in the last round, needed a win over St George at Olds Park to remain in the hunt. And, although it wasn?t a totally convincing performance, the Dockers did enough to take the points with a 27-point victory.
The Dockers looked to build a big score early, but found stiff resistance from the Dragons, who found an answering goal every time the Dockers threatened to get on top. At quarter time, the Dragons held a shock two-point lead; but the Dockers took control of proceedings as the second quarter continued to lead by 18 points at half time.
But the Dragons weren?t going down without a fight. The Dockers would have been keen to assert themselves in the premiership quarter, but the Dragons put up a determined fightback to win the quarter. It wasn?t enough to regain the lead, and the Dockers still held a 16-point advantage, but it showed that this wasn?t going to be an easy win for Balmain. But the Dockers had enough of a buffer to ensure the Dragons wouldn?t threaten to upset them in the final term; and the final margin was 27 points.
Former Swans Jason Saddington and Nick Davis were again the focal points of the Balmain attack. Saddington finished with seven goals and Davis five; with Ben Taggart, Saddington and Tim Schmidt among Balmain?s best. For the tenacious Dragons, Nick Ryan was again a handy forward with six goals, and along with Paul Sain and Mark Graham were among their best.
East Coast Eagles also kept their hopes of the minor premiership alive, and did it in style, with a convincing 72-point win over Illawarra under lights at North Dalton on Saturday night.
The Eagles took control from the start, with seven first quarter goals to lead by 31 points at the first change, and after another seven-goal haul in the second term the lead was extended to 52 points at half time. And although the scoring slowed down in the second half, the game was already safe and the Eagles were untroubled as they cruised to an easy victory.
Stephen Doyle was unstoppable, with six goals in a best-on-ground performance. Jamie Vlatko contributed four goals, while Michael Johnston and Mike Beardsley were also prominent contributors. For the Lions, Jacob Brookfield made the most of his recent promotion from the under-18s with a strong contribution up forward with three goals from limited opportunities. Richard Oehme, Beau Black and Thomas Green were among Wollongong?s best.
For East Coast, the equation is simple. If they beat Wests, or even draw with them, at Bruce Purser next week, the minor premiership is theirs. But if the Magpies can upset the Eagles, Balmain will be seeded straight into the Second Semi-Final.
The round was completed on Sunday afternoon at Henson Park, as UTS took on Wests. And the Bats would break through for their second win of the season, coming from behind to defeat the Magpies by 28 points.
The Magpies raced out of the blocks, running through six goals in the opening quarter to lead by 22 points at the first change. The run of play was closer than that, especially in the second term, but the Magpies made every post a winner when it came to goal-scoring accuracy. All ten of Wests? scoring shots in the first half were goals, which was enough for them to maintain a 12-point lead at the long break.
But the game changed in the premiership quarter. The Magpies were held score-less, allowing the Bats back into the contest. The Bats wasted some chances, but a return of 3.6 for the quarter was enough to turn the deficit into a 12-point lead. And the Bats would go on with the job in the last quarter to ensure the win. Remarkably, the Magpies would not get their first behind until late in the game, but although they finished accurately, they failed to create enough chances to place the Bats under pressure.
Michael Atkinson, Tom Steinfort and Nicholas Haslam were among UTS?s best in what was a day to celebrate for the Bats. Promotion to Premier Division has been tough, but this win guarantees they will at least avoid the wooden spoon; and with a game against the winless Campbelltown to come in the final round, the Bats will be confident of their chances of finishing the season with a wet sail. On another disappointing afternoon for Wests, Matt Eurell kicked four goals while Stephen Hudson, Kyall Walford and James Watkins worked hard all afternoon.
North Shore 5.1 10.3 13.8 18.11 (119)
Sydney University 5.4 8.5 13.5 14.6 (90)
Goals : North Shore ? D Fitzgerald 4, T Strudwick 3, D Roberts 3, D Hadden 2, L Pryor, B Oliver, P Brackin, A Harry, R Wason, S Paynter. Sydney Uni ? A Campbell 3, M Clarke 3, T Barrett 2, S Crichton 2, B Mankarious, K Murphy, C Moller, N Lye.
Best : North Shore ? D Fitzgerald, C Murphy, T Strudwick, S Paynter, L Pryor, D Martin. Sydney Uni ? M Rice, J Brain, J Cole, B Mankarious, A Campbell, C Moller.
At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 3.0 5.3 10.6 12.12 (84)
Pennant Hills 3.2 7.3 7.3 8.7 (55)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? J Parmenter 3, B Woods 3, A Gulden 2, R Troon, O Sidlo-Jones, M Collett, T Garrett. Pennant Hills ? J Gourlay 2, L Bilbe, M Thomas, B Unwin, N Baglin, J Lewis, Brandon Jack.
Best : UNSW-ES ? H Nichols, T Heath, R Troon, M Collett, N McGann, B Woods. Pennant Hills ? J Clarke, T Scoular, D Witt, R Watts, A Duncan, Brandon Jack.
At Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
Balmain 4.0 10.2 12.7 17.8 (110)
St George 4.2 7.2 10.3 13.5 (83)
Goals : Balmain ? J Saddington 7, N Davis 5, M Edwins 3, T Luff, J Britton. St George ? N Ryan 6, D Napper 2, P Sain 2, T Addison, D Ryan, B Addison.
Best : Balmain ? B Taggart, J Saddington, T Schmidt, T Stevens, J Ryder, D Brian. St George ? P Sain, M Graham, N Ryan, S Wilsen, R Lombardo, M Milner.
At Olds Park, Saturday 13th August 2011.
East Coast Eagles 7.4 14.4 18.7 20.10 (130)
Illawarra 2.3 5.6 6.8 8.10 (58)
Goals : East Coast ? S Doyle 6, Jamie Vlatko 4, K McRedmond 2, B Ure 2, M Johnston 2, B Rogers, R Bilkey, L Stuart. Illawarra ? J Brookfield 3, R Price 2, K Ewen-Chappell, P Lake, A Barned.
Best : East Coast ? S Doyle, M Johnston, M Beardsley, P Vlatko, T Baker, Jon Vlatko. Illawarra ? R Oehme, B Black, T Green, J Brookfield, R Woodward.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 13th August 2011.
University of Technology 2.2 7.6 10.12 14.18 (102)
Western Suburbs 6.0 10.0 10.0 12.2 (74)
Goals : UTS ? D Lavender 3, S Way 3, A Davis 3, M Atkinson 3, M Trewhella, C Tolj. Wests ? M Eurell 4, B Mumme 3, R Miller 2, S Hudson, D Clout, D Cusick.
Best : UTS ? M Atkinson, T Steinfort, N Haslam, F Purcell, H McGregor, A Kymantas. Wests ? S Hudson, K Walford, J Watkins, R Barrett, M Lemme, J Morgan.
At Henson Park, Sunday 14th August 2011.
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First Division:
UNSW-ES 9.6 (60) d Pennant Hills 7.12 (54)
Sydney Uni 13.15 (93) d North Shore 4.7 (31
Southern Power 13.12 (90) d Macquarie Uni 13.4 (82)
East Coast 20.12 (132) d Illawarra 9.0 (54)
UTS 13.11 (89) d Western Suburbs 7.9 (51)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (87.5, 254.02%), Southern Power (81.25, 170.11%), Sydney Uni (68.75, 119.50%), UTS (60, 107.61%), Macquarie Uni (58.82, 146.68%), East Coast (50, 122.83%), UNSW-ES (43.75, 71.58%), Pennant Hills (43.75, 71.13%), North Shore (37.5, 75.80%), Wests (12.5, 63.86%), Illawarra (6.25, 43.71%).
Second Division:
Balmain 12.8 (80) d St George 10.9 (69)
Penrith 17.14 (116) d Camden 2.5 (17)
Manly-Warringah 16.6 (102) d NorWest 3.12 (30)
Auburn 13.9 (87) d Moorebank 6.6 (42)
Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.9 (69)
Ladder (Final) ? Penrith (56, 216.89%), Holroyd-Parramatta (50, 151.43%), Sydney Uni (48, 135.14%), Auburn (48, 126.41%), Balmain (46, 121.54%), NorWest (28, 85.19%), Moorebank (20, 87.19%), Manly-Warringah (20, 75.49%), St George (20, 60.91%), Camden (4, 43.74%).
Third Division:
East Coast 23.17 (155) d North Shore 3.6 (24)
Southern Power 15.13 (103) d Macquarie Uni 7.2 (44)
UNSW-ES 16.12 (108) d Western Suburbs 3.4 (22)
UTS 17.10 (112) d Saints AFC 6.6 (42)
Sydney Uni 13.20 (98) d Campbelltown 8.5 (53)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? UNSW-ES (94.12, 264.73%), UTS (80, 166.58%), Sydney Uni (64.71, 122.41%), Southern Power (62.5, 113.82%), Saints AFC (56.25, 147.34%), Macquarie Uni (47.06, 109.04%), East Coast (37.5, 83.44%), Wests (31.25, 71.20%), Campbelltown (18.75, 47.63%), North Shore (6.25, 26.51%).
Fourth Division:
Penrith 16.16 (112) d UNSW-ES 5.6 (36)
NorWest 11.4 (70) d Manly-Warringah 10.6 (66)
Macquarie Uni 23.10 (148) d Auburn 6.0 (36)
Moorebank 12.10 (82) d UTS 9.8 (62)
Ladder (Final, Match Ratio) ? Penrith (86.67, 207.99%), Macquarie Uni (85.71, 145.30%), Moorebank (60, 113.99%), UTS (46.15, 110.43%), Holroyd-Parramatta (40, 93.80%), UNSW-ES (40, 80.51%), NorWest (38.46, 88.59%), Manly-Warringah (33.33, 78.24%), Auburn (20, 46.18%).
Fifth Division:
Southern Power 17.24 (126) d Macquarie Uni 3.1 (19)
Sydney Uni 9.8 (62) d Manly-Warringah 4.10 (40)
Saints AFC 17.19 (121) d Holroyd-Parramatta 6.6 (42)
Moorebank 16.13 (109) d Camden 8.6 (54)
Ladder (Final) ? Southern Power (68, 324.27%), Moorebank (48, 170.73%), Manly-Warringah (44, 112.45%), Sydney Uni (40, 130.67%), Saints AFC (36, 118.04%), Macquarie Uni (28, 103.09%), Camden (8, 51.37%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 22.48%).
Under 18s Premier:
Pennant Hills 20.5 (125) d UNSW-ES 9.6 (60)
St Ignatius Riverview 13.7 (85) d St George 6.7 (43)
Sydney Uni 8.9 (57) d North Shore 7.9 (51)
East Coast 23.6 (144) d Penrith 2.5 (17)
Western Suburbs 14.5 (89) d Illawarra 12.10 (82)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? East Coast (90.62, 226.61%), North Shore (71.88, 160.76%), Pennant Hills (68.75, 119.86%, Sydney Uni (64.71, 115.45%), St Ignatius Riverview (64.71, 113.41%), Illawarra (40.62, 100.81%), Wests (34.38, 78.30%), St George (26.47, 79.98%), Penrith (25, 57.16%), UNSW-ES (14.71, 51.05%).
Under 18s Challenge:
East Coast 14.8 (92) d Southern Power 8.4 (52)
Campbelltown 15.17 (107) d Holroyd-Parramatta 0.6 (6)
Moorebank 23.16 (154) d Mac Uni Kookas 5.6 (36)
Mac Uni Warriors 9.10 (64) d Balmain 7.10 (52)
Ladder (Final, Match Ratio) ? Campbelltown (100, 371.46%), Mac Uni Warriors (80, 167.83%), Manly-Warringah (60, 156.80%), Holroyd-Parramatta (53.33, 106.04%), East Coast (46.67, 85.60%), Southern Power (40, 104.96%), Balmain (40, 89.05%), Moorebank (25, 64.11%), Mac Uni Kookas (6.67, 18.89%).
NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES:
Premier Division (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 20th August
Monarch Oval ? Campbelltown v UTS (2:10pm)
Olds Park ? St George v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (2:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (4:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (4:10pm)
BYE ? Balmain
First Division:
Saturday 20th August
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (2pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (2pm)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v UTS (2:10pm)
BYE ? Macquarie Uni
Second Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Sydney Uni (3:30pm)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final - Auburn v Balmain (2:10pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 20th August
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Southern Power (8:30am)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Sydney Uni (10am)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (12pm)
Monarch Oval ? Campbelltown v UTS (12pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Macquarie Uni (2pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Macquarie Uni v Moorebank (1:15pm)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final ? UTS v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)
Fifth Division:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? First Semi Final ? Manly-Warringah v Sydney Uni (9am)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 20th August
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Western Suburbs (10am)
Riverview First Field ? St Ignatius Riverview v Penrith (10am)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v North Shore (10:30am)
Olds Park ? St George v Pennant Hills (12pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Illawarra (7pm)
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 20th August
Henson Park ? Qualifying Final ? Mac Uni Warriors v Manly-Warringah (11:15am)
Sunday 21st August
Henson Park ? Elimination Final ? Holroyd-Parramatta v East Coast (10am)