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SYDNEY AFL ROUND 10 2012 
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
A round of matches scheduled for the public holiday Monday would take us to the half-way point of this year?s home and away season. But heavy rain on Sunday saw Waverley Oval closed, with the UTS v Wests game switched to Henson Park.
But by getting in first with the change of venue, at least that game got to be played. Overnight rain and more wet conditions saw more venues closed on game day; and in the end, it was only Henson Park and Bruce Purser Reserve that remained open. The Illawarra v North Shore, Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES and Sydney Uni v Balmain games are postponed till later in the season.
The two games that did go ahead were played in extremely wet and slippery conditions. At Henson Park, a muddy centre square and puddles up and down the corridor made it difficult for the players; and the game would be a slog.
The Bats were kicking to the Sydenham Road end in the first quarter, but getting any distance out of kicks was near to impossible. The game in parts bore more resemblance to rugby union than footy, with packs forming around the ball, the ball eventually spilling free only for waves of players to again swarm around the ball.
Eventually the Bats got the ball forward, and Sam Way somehow managed to take a clean mark, despite the ball being as slippery as a cake of soap. He was only 20 metres from goal, but the kick was far from confident and the ball only just snuck between the big sticks.
Wests got the centre break and took the ball forward, and a soccer off the ground by Clint McGrath saw the scores again tied up. But goals would be a rare event, clean possessions even rarer. Players were kicking up water and mud, slip-sliding all around the ground. Keeping one?s footing was near to impossible, this was a game where only the super-mudlarks would be comfortable.
Off the field, a small crowd took shelter in the grandstand; while the majority chose to remain in the comfort of their cars, parked around the southern end of the ground. And as the clock ticked into time-on, the Wests drivers would have cause to toot their horns as the umpire awarded a free kick to Matt Eurell in the teeth of goal; while would give the Magpies a 5-point quarter time lead.
The Magpies had the upper hand early in the second term, when Roman Chowanetz crumbed a marking contest and stabbed the ball through from 20 metres to give them a 12-point lead. The Magpies had only won one game so far this season, and hopes began to rise of an upset.
But this was a slog. Marking the ball was out of the question, gathering and kicking it was difficult. At times players attempted to soccer it, but with the ball getting stuck in puddles, that wasn?t a viable option either. But eventually the Bats managed to get the ball forward, with waves of players chasing the ball downstream. Liam Flanagan faced little resistance from the Wests defenders, but plenty from the slippery ball, taking several juggles before finally somehow managing to hold on to an uncontested mark 10 metres out. The kick wasn?t convincing, but good enough. And in time-on, a free kick to Liam Gardiner gave the Bats the lead at half time.
The game was close, only three points in it at the break. But the ground was even more chopped up in the third term, and the rain was getting heavier. The Bats would manage only two behinds in the third term and the Magpies one, as getting clean possession was a challenge too hard.
Eventually in the final term, Joel Minichiello and James Caica scored goals, enough to get the Bats over the line. Matt Eurell kicked a second, to be the only multiple goal-kicker for the day; but it wasn?t enough for Wests. Eventually the siren sounded, giving the Bats an 11-point win; and relief for the muddied gladiators who finally had respite from the elements as they returned to the rooms.
Liam Flanagan, Daniel McFarlane and Luca Miceli underlined their mudlark credentials to be UTS?s best on the day; while the Magpies found gallant contributors in Tim Lambert, Brenton Mumme and Jarryd Polley.
Campbelltown have had their struggles in recent seasons, but the visit to Bruce Purser Reserve has held few fears for them. The Blues were the first team to defeat Sydney Hills Eagles there, and had only lost there once in their history. And in appalling weather conditions, the Blues kept that record intact as they broke through for their first win of the season, doing it easily with a 45-point win over the Eagles.
The Blues were creating plenty of chances early, and although their accuracy wasn?t always there, they kept the scoreboard ticking over. Three goals to one opened up a 15-point lead at quarter time, and as the conditions got even worse, the game became a low-scoring desperate scrap. There was only one goal scored in the second quarter, and with the Blues getting it, they found themselves with a shock 21-point lead at the long break.
The weather conditions were terrible, the ground a mudslide. But the Sydney Hills hopes were being washed away not by the weather but by the relentless tackling and spirit of the Campbelltown side. The Blues, having struggled for so long, had a sniff and weren?t letting go. And the third quarter was a Campbelltown triumph, as they scored five goals for the quarter while holding the Eagles scoreless.
By the last change the margin was out to 51 points, and although the conditions were barely playable, the Blues were only too happy to stay out in the rain and soak up the spoils of victory. After a winless season in 2011, it?s been a long wait for the Blues to finally record another Premier Division win; but finally after so long the day has arrived.
On a day when goals were at a premium, Shane Doherty?s three majors were worth their weight in gold. Hamish Sherwood, Bryce Joynson and Marcus Linsen were among Campbelltown?s best. For the Eagles, Alex Foxall, Matthew Eastman and Josh Shephard were tireless performers all day.
At the half-way point of the home and away season, UNSW-ES and Pennant Hills remain on top with seven wins; the clash to determine top spot at this stage of the season postponed. UTS has joined them on seven wins, but the Bats have played 10 games, two more than the Bulldogs and Demons.
Behind them, North Shore have six wins and Balmain five, but the Bombers and Dockers have only played seven games and so have games in hand. St George also has five wins, but have played eight games to get them, and the Dragons have an inferior percentage to the Bombers and Dockers. North Shore and Balmain play each other next week, which will create a potential opening for St George to enter the top five, as long as they win their game against Wests.
Behind St George is a two-game break before Illawarra and Sydney Hills, who have both win three games out of nine. Then is another two-game break before the bottom three of Sydney Uni, Wests and Campbelltown; but the Students have a game in hand over the Magpies and Blues.
UTS 1.5 3.8 3.10 5.12 (42)
Western Suburbs 2.4 3.5 3.6 4.7 (31)
Goals : UTS - J Minichiello, J Caica, J Gardiner, L Flanagan, S Way. Wests - M Eurell 2, R Chowanetz, C McGrath.
Best : UTS - L Flanagan, D McFarlane, L Miceli, S Way, T Steinfort, J Spragg. Wests - T Lambert, B Mumme, J Polley, S Hudson, J Lear, C McGrath.
At Henson Park, Monday 11th June 2012.
Campbelltown 3.6 4.7 9.7 10.8 (68)
Sydney Hills Eagles 1.1 1.4 1.4 2.11 (23)
Goals : Campbelltown - S Doherty 3, J Van Luenen 2, P Green 2, L Coughlan, B Wharton, B Martin. Sydney Hills - A Moeller, J Shephard.
Best : Campbelltown - H Sherwood, B Joynson, M Linsen, M Hogan, D Fraser, B Wharton. Sydney Hills - A Foxall, M Eastman, J Shephard, D Killworth, J Gordon, E Okunbor.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Monday 11th June 2012.
Illawarra v North Shore ? postponed.
Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES ? postponed.
Sydney Uni v Balmain ? postponed.
Division One:
All matches postponed.
Division Two:
Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Manly-Warringah 7.6 (48)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? UNSW-ES (88.89, 187.56%), Sydney Uni (88.89, 140.19%), Balmain (77.78, 113.03%), Manly-Warringah (55.56, 135.03%), Moorebank (44.44, 110.92%), St George (44.44, 109.98%), NorWest (44.44, 85.64%), Camden (33.33, 88.57%), Illawarra (22.22, 87.78%), Auburn (0, 27.61%).
Under 18s One:
All matches postponed.
Representative Matches
Victorian Amateur FA 15.18 (108) d AFL Sydney 8.13 (61)
Sydney AFL Development 19.9 (123) d Farrer FNL 14.11 (95)
ACT Women 9.5 (59) d NSW Women 2.9 (21)
AFL Canberra 17.12 (124) d NAIAFA 14.12 (96)
AFL Riverview 17.11 (113) d Black Diamond AFL 7.14 (56)
For further reports, check out our RWO feature on the rep matches:
Sydney AFL Rep Footy 2012
NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold)
Premier Division:
Saturday 16th June
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v UTS (2:10pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Balmain (2:30pm)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v St George (2:30pm)
BYE ? Illawarra
Division One:
Saturday 16th June
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Southern Power (10:30am)
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (12pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (12:30pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (2:30pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah
Division Two:
Saturday 16th June
Pioneers Park ? St George v Camden (11:30am)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Balmain (12pm)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
Mona Park ? Auburn v Moorebank (2:10pm)
Sunday 17th June
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
Division Three:
Saturday 16th June
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Moorebank (8:30am)
Trumper Park ?UTS v Blacktown (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Southern Power (2:10pm)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Division Four:
Saturday 16th June
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (10:30am)
Trumper Park ? UTS v Macquarie Uni (10:30am)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Gosford (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Manly-Warringah (12:30pm)
Division Five:
Saturday 16th June
Trumper Park ? UTS v Moorebank (8:30am)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Penrith (10am)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v Camden (12pm)
BYE ? Saints AFC.
Under 18s One:
Saturday 16th June
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (8:30am)
Mike Kenny Oval - Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (10am)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v St George (12:30pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v St Ignatius Riverview (4:45pm)
BYE ? Illawarra, UNSW-ES.
Under 18s Two:
Saturday 16th June
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Balmain (8:30am)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v Saints AFC (10am)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Moorebank (10am)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah.
Women:
Saturday 16th June
Mona Park ? Auburn v Western Wolves (10am)
North Dalton Oval ? Wollongong v Penrith (11am)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Trumper Park ? UTS Shamrocks v Newtown (2:30pm)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v UNSW Stingrays (4:10pm)
BYE ? Balmain.
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito
A round of matches scheduled for the public holiday Monday would take us to the half-way point of this year?s home and away season. But heavy rain on Sunday saw Waverley Oval closed, with the UTS v Wests game switched to Henson Park.
But by getting in first with the change of venue, at least that game got to be played. Overnight rain and more wet conditions saw more venues closed on game day; and in the end, it was only Henson Park and Bruce Purser Reserve that remained open. The Illawarra v North Shore, Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES and Sydney Uni v Balmain games are postponed till later in the season.
The two games that did go ahead were played in extremely wet and slippery conditions. At Henson Park, a muddy centre square and puddles up and down the corridor made it difficult for the players; and the game would be a slog.
The Bats were kicking to the Sydenham Road end in the first quarter, but getting any distance out of kicks was near to impossible. The game in parts bore more resemblance to rugby union than footy, with packs forming around the ball, the ball eventually spilling free only for waves of players to again swarm around the ball.
Eventually the Bats got the ball forward, and Sam Way somehow managed to take a clean mark, despite the ball being as slippery as a cake of soap. He was only 20 metres from goal, but the kick was far from confident and the ball only just snuck between the big sticks.
Wests got the centre break and took the ball forward, and a soccer off the ground by Clint McGrath saw the scores again tied up. But goals would be a rare event, clean possessions even rarer. Players were kicking up water and mud, slip-sliding all around the ground. Keeping one?s footing was near to impossible, this was a game where only the super-mudlarks would be comfortable.
Off the field, a small crowd took shelter in the grandstand; while the majority chose to remain in the comfort of their cars, parked around the southern end of the ground. And as the clock ticked into time-on, the Wests drivers would have cause to toot their horns as the umpire awarded a free kick to Matt Eurell in the teeth of goal; while would give the Magpies a 5-point quarter time lead.
The Magpies had the upper hand early in the second term, when Roman Chowanetz crumbed a marking contest and stabbed the ball through from 20 metres to give them a 12-point lead. The Magpies had only won one game so far this season, and hopes began to rise of an upset.
But this was a slog. Marking the ball was out of the question, gathering and kicking it was difficult. At times players attempted to soccer it, but with the ball getting stuck in puddles, that wasn?t a viable option either. But eventually the Bats managed to get the ball forward, with waves of players chasing the ball downstream. Liam Flanagan faced little resistance from the Wests defenders, but plenty from the slippery ball, taking several juggles before finally somehow managing to hold on to an uncontested mark 10 metres out. The kick wasn?t convincing, but good enough. And in time-on, a free kick to Liam Gardiner gave the Bats the lead at half time.
The game was close, only three points in it at the break. But the ground was even more chopped up in the third term, and the rain was getting heavier. The Bats would manage only two behinds in the third term and the Magpies one, as getting clean possession was a challenge too hard.
Eventually in the final term, Joel Minichiello and James Caica scored goals, enough to get the Bats over the line. Matt Eurell kicked a second, to be the only multiple goal-kicker for the day; but it wasn?t enough for Wests. Eventually the siren sounded, giving the Bats an 11-point win; and relief for the muddied gladiators who finally had respite from the elements as they returned to the rooms.
Liam Flanagan, Daniel McFarlane and Luca Miceli underlined their mudlark credentials to be UTS?s best on the day; while the Magpies found gallant contributors in Tim Lambert, Brenton Mumme and Jarryd Polley.
Campbelltown have had their struggles in recent seasons, but the visit to Bruce Purser Reserve has held few fears for them. The Blues were the first team to defeat Sydney Hills Eagles there, and had only lost there once in their history. And in appalling weather conditions, the Blues kept that record intact as they broke through for their first win of the season, doing it easily with a 45-point win over the Eagles.
The Blues were creating plenty of chances early, and although their accuracy wasn?t always there, they kept the scoreboard ticking over. Three goals to one opened up a 15-point lead at quarter time, and as the conditions got even worse, the game became a low-scoring desperate scrap. There was only one goal scored in the second quarter, and with the Blues getting it, they found themselves with a shock 21-point lead at the long break.
The weather conditions were terrible, the ground a mudslide. But the Sydney Hills hopes were being washed away not by the weather but by the relentless tackling and spirit of the Campbelltown side. The Blues, having struggled for so long, had a sniff and weren?t letting go. And the third quarter was a Campbelltown triumph, as they scored five goals for the quarter while holding the Eagles scoreless.
By the last change the margin was out to 51 points, and although the conditions were barely playable, the Blues were only too happy to stay out in the rain and soak up the spoils of victory. After a winless season in 2011, it?s been a long wait for the Blues to finally record another Premier Division win; but finally after so long the day has arrived.
On a day when goals were at a premium, Shane Doherty?s three majors were worth their weight in gold. Hamish Sherwood, Bryce Joynson and Marcus Linsen were among Campbelltown?s best. For the Eagles, Alex Foxall, Matthew Eastman and Josh Shephard were tireless performers all day.
At the half-way point of the home and away season, UNSW-ES and Pennant Hills remain on top with seven wins; the clash to determine top spot at this stage of the season postponed. UTS has joined them on seven wins, but the Bats have played 10 games, two more than the Bulldogs and Demons.
Behind them, North Shore have six wins and Balmain five, but the Bombers and Dockers have only played seven games and so have games in hand. St George also has five wins, but have played eight games to get them, and the Dragons have an inferior percentage to the Bombers and Dockers. North Shore and Balmain play each other next week, which will create a potential opening for St George to enter the top five, as long as they win their game against Wests.
Behind St George is a two-game break before Illawarra and Sydney Hills, who have both win three games out of nine. Then is another two-game break before the bottom three of Sydney Uni, Wests and Campbelltown; but the Students have a game in hand over the Magpies and Blues.
UTS 1.5 3.8 3.10 5.12 (42)
Western Suburbs 2.4 3.5 3.6 4.7 (31)
Goals : UTS - J Minichiello, J Caica, J Gardiner, L Flanagan, S Way. Wests - M Eurell 2, R Chowanetz, C McGrath.
Best : UTS - L Flanagan, D McFarlane, L Miceli, S Way, T Steinfort, J Spragg. Wests - T Lambert, B Mumme, J Polley, S Hudson, J Lear, C McGrath.
At Henson Park, Monday 11th June 2012.
Campbelltown 3.6 4.7 9.7 10.8 (68)
Sydney Hills Eagles 1.1 1.4 1.4 2.11 (23)
Goals : Campbelltown - S Doherty 3, J Van Luenen 2, P Green 2, L Coughlan, B Wharton, B Martin. Sydney Hills - A Moeller, J Shephard.
Best : Campbelltown - H Sherwood, B Joynson, M Linsen, M Hogan, D Fraser, B Wharton. Sydney Hills - A Foxall, M Eastman, J Shephard, D Killworth, J Gordon, E Okunbor.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Monday 11th June 2012.
Illawarra v North Shore ? postponed.
Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES ? postponed.
Sydney Uni v Balmain ? postponed.
|
Division One:
All matches postponed.
Division Two:
Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Manly-Warringah 7.6 (48)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? UNSW-ES (88.89, 187.56%), Sydney Uni (88.89, 140.19%), Balmain (77.78, 113.03%), Manly-Warringah (55.56, 135.03%), Moorebank (44.44, 110.92%), St George (44.44, 109.98%), NorWest (44.44, 85.64%), Camden (33.33, 88.57%), Illawarra (22.22, 87.78%), Auburn (0, 27.61%).
Under 18s One:
All matches postponed.
Representative Matches
Victorian Amateur FA 15.18 (108) d AFL Sydney 8.13 (61)
Sydney AFL Development 19.9 (123) d Farrer FNL 14.11 (95)
ACT Women 9.5 (59) d NSW Women 2.9 (21)
AFL Canberra 17.12 (124) d NAIAFA 14.12 (96)
AFL Riverview 17.11 (113) d Black Diamond AFL 7.14 (56)
For further reports, check out our RWO feature on the rep matches:
Sydney AFL Rep Footy 2012
NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold)
Premier Division:
Saturday 16th June
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v UTS (2:10pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Balmain (2:30pm)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v St George (2:30pm)
BYE ? Illawarra
Division One:
Saturday 16th June
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Southern Power (10:30am)
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (12pm)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (12:30pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (2:30pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah
Division Two:
Saturday 16th June
Pioneers Park ? St George v Camden (11:30am)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Balmain (12pm)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
Mona Park ? Auburn v Moorebank (2:10pm)
Sunday 17th June
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
Division Three:
Saturday 16th June
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v Moorebank (8:30am)
Trumper Park ?UTS v Blacktown (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Southern Power (2:10pm)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Division Four:
Saturday 16th June
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (10:30am)
Trumper Park ? UTS v Macquarie Uni (10:30am)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Gosford (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Manly-Warringah (12:30pm)
Division Five:
Saturday 16th June
Trumper Park ? UTS v Moorebank (8:30am)
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Penrith (10am)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v Camden (12pm)
BYE ? Saints AFC.
Under 18s One:
Saturday 16th June
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Penrith (8:30am)
Mike Kenny Oval - Pennant Hills v Sydney Hills (10am)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v St George (12:30pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v St Ignatius Riverview (4:45pm)
BYE ? Illawarra, UNSW-ES.
Under 18s Two:
Saturday 16th June
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Balmain (8:30am)
Bensons Lane ? NorWest v Saints AFC (10am)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Moorebank (10am)
Bruce Purser Reserve ? Sydney Hills v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah.
Women:
Saturday 16th June
Mona Park ? Auburn v Western Wolves (10am)
North Dalton Oval ? Wollongong v Penrith (11am)
Gwawley Park ? Southern Power v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Trumper Park ? UTS Shamrocks v Newtown (2:30pm)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v UNSW Stingrays (4:10pm)
BYE ? Balmain.