SYDNEY AFL ROUND 17 - We Have a Final Five
Article originally published on RedAndWhiteOnline.com

 

Going into Round 17, Campbelltown were two games clear of their nearest challengers and just one win away from returning to finals action. Victory over North Shore at Gore Hill Oval would see the Blues return to finals action in 2009. The victory would come, ensuring Campbelltown's finals participation; but to get there the Blues had to fight all the way in an entertaining and high-scoring game.

The Blues established a lead in the opening quarter and would not be headed again. It took 4 minutes for the Blues to open the scoring, when Luke Coughlan from a tight angle kicked to a contest in the square, from which Brenton McAllister ran through traffic to score. They could have doubled their lead after a clash between ruckmen Max Wilson and Ben Reid saw the Blues' number 2 given a free 45 out, but a handball to a player under pressure saw a turnover and the ball moved downfield for Lachlan Pryor to equalise. McAllister's second goal came on 15 minutes, when he received a free 45 out; but with no-one on the mark he was able to run in and score the easiest of goals. They pressed hard against the Bomber defence, and should have got their third when Shanan Kershaw was in the clear 40 metres out. Kershaw could have run in to goals, but blazed away and missed. But he made no mistake with a snap from the pocket, and when Dale Chivas outmarked 2 opponents to mark and goal the Blues were well set; and although Ben Attwood got one back for the Bombers, the margin was 15 points at the first change.

The Blues had attacked the ball better, shown better discipline and their forward line was showing signs of working together well to produce a winning score. And the second quarter saw a new attacking weapon unveiled on their forward line; as veteran Radlee Moller, out of retirement to play his first senior game for the year, swung into action. It was a quarter of fluctuating fortunes, Moller scoring twice in the early stages as the Blues raced to a 33-point lead. But then North Shore rallied with a run of 4 goals in barely 5 minutes and the margin was back to 8 points before Campbelltown steadied. The quarter finished as it started, with the Blues 15 points ahead - both sides had built momentum during the quarter, but neither were able to maintain their run.

It was a similar story during the third term. The Blues did the early attacking, but their first four scoring shots were all behinds. But fears in the Campbelltown camp that they may be letting the Bombers off the hook were eased when a cross from Kershaw found Yakimov on the edge of the square. In quick succession, McAllister and Moller were on the scoreboard, and the lead was out to 36 points. But, as was the case in the second term, a run of 4 unanswered goals to the Bombers saw them get back into the contest; the last of them coming from a 50m penalty to Jason Harry after some late attention from Ray Love. But Love wasted no time in redeeming himself by setting up a steadying goal to McAllister which stopped the Bomber momentum. In the middle two quarters, the Blues had kicked 10 goals to 9; a game of wild fluctuations, but the overall lead had only moved 8 points since quarter time.

There was little doubt the Blues had been a better side over the course of the day, but with the margin still less than four goals there was still an opportunity for the Bombers to steal the game. First goal would be crucial, and it went Campbelltown's way after a set shot from a tight angle by Luke Coughlan. But North Shore weren't ready to concede yet, Damian Casey and Brendan Fitzgerald in quick succession getting on the scoreboard. Mark Edwins had a golden chance for the Blues but missed; but a turnover from the kick in saw the ball spill to Chris Lees to give the Blues a 22-point buffer.

But there were more twists to come in this tale. Casey sprung to life with a 50m penalty goal, and just a minute later he set up Ryan Meldrum 30 metres out. And when Lachlan Pryor at 19 minutes gathered the ball, took a bounce and kicked truly from 40 metres, the margin was suddenly back to 4 points. From the centre break, a long bomb by Owen Love gave the Blues some breathing space; but as the clock ticked by the game remained in the balance, the ball travelling from end to end. But finally at the 28 minute mark, youngster Blake McCrossen found some space to kick the goal that would book the Blues their tickets to the finals.

The final margin was 10 points. Brenton McAllister kicked 5 for the Blues, while Radlee Moller, Owen Love and Dale Chivas all kicked 3; Mark Edwins and McAllister being among their best. But the important stat for the Blues was that they have an unassailable grip on the finals and will be a part of the playoffs. No finals for North Shore this year, but they were well served on the day by 4 goals from Damian Casey who was their best, 3 from Lachlan Pryor and by the pace of Ben Attwood who was among their best.

 

Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from the North Shore v Campbelltown match.

 

News of the result at Gore Hill will be particularly deflating for Sydney Uni, who were hoping for a Campbelltown loss to keep their finals hopes alive. The Students had done their part of what had been needed to qualify, with a comprehensive 87-point win over Wollongong, but the other result hadn't gone their way. Better accuracy early had given the Students a 17-point lead at the first change, and the game was taken out of the Lions' reach in the second term when a six goals to one quarter saw the lead extended to 49 points at the long break. From there the result of the game was never in doubt, and the Students continued to work hard in the second half; hoping for a turnaround when their next score update from Gore Hill would come through. It wasn't to be, but although the Students will not be competing in the finals they at least enjoyed a solid win in this game. Mark Egan kicked 4 for the Students, Ben Mankarious, Alex Lee and Andrew Kraefft each kicking 3; while Kraefft and Nick Barton were among their better players. For Wollongong, Adam McConnochie and Jeremy McInnes were prominent around the ground.

Western Suburbs ensured they would capture the double-chance in the finals after the Magpies completed a 48-point win over Balmain Dockers at Drummoyne. The Dockers put up a brave fight early, matching it with the higher-ranked Magpies in an even first half and still only 16 points behind at the last change. But the pressure of the Magpies finally took its toll in the last quarter as Wests pulled away, an 8 goals to 3 final term extending the margin to 48 points after for much of the day the result looked set to be considerably closer. Troy Cole, Matt Eurell and Ben Absolum each kicked 3 for the Magpies, while Brenton Mumme and Lynn Roehrig were among their best. For the Dockers, the result ensured they would get the wooden spoon for 2009; but Nick O'Brien with 3 goals and Janis Blums gave them good service.

 

UNSW-ES ensured the fate of the other double-chance position would remain in their own hands after the Bulldogs upset minor premiers East Coast Eagles by 41 points at Bruce Purser Oval. The Bulldogs raced out of the blocks with a five goals to one opening quarter, leading by 27 points at the first change; and after an even second term the result was put beyond doubt after a six goals to four third term. Brad Abbott kicked 7 for the Bulldogs and Rising Star nominee Kieran Emery 3, while Ben Woods and Max Collett were among their top ball-winners. For the Eagles, the proposed celebrations for Gus Seebeck's ton had to be put on hold for another week as his tally of 4 goals brought him to 97 for the season. Jack Dimery and Mark Skuse were among their best.

 

On an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon at Olds Park, Pennant Hills kept themselves in the hunt for the double-chance when the Demons defeated St George by 28 points. An explosive second term saw the Demons run in 10 goals to one and lead by 51 points at the long break. The game was looking safe, but the Dragons had other ideas, a run of 5.5 to 0.1 seeing the margin cut to just 17 points at the last change and the game was still there to be won. But that was as close as the Dragons would get, as Pennant Hills steadied in the last term to take out the match. Matthew Carey and Nick Campbell each kicked 4 for the Demons, while Cameron Smith and Mitch Aitken were prominent around the ground. For the Dragons, Scott Richmond kicked 3 and was their best while Scott Do Canto also played a strong game in his Premier Division debut.

 

One round remains before the finals. East Coast Eagles have the minor premiership wrapped up. Wests will be in the qualifying final.
The other double-chance berth is still up for grabs, the pivotal games being Sydney Uni v UNSW-ES at Sydney Uni No 1 and Wests v Pennant Hills under lights at Blacktown in next weekend's Match of the Round. The Bulldogs will make the double-chance unless they go down to Sydney Uni and Pennant Hills beat Wests. The team that doesn't make the double-chance will face sudden death finals action, and will take on Campbelltown in the elimination final.

 

Campbelltown   4.6   9.9   14.14   19.18 (132)

North Shore   2.3   7.6   11.9   18.13 (121)

Goals : Campbelltown - B McAllister 5, R Moller 3, D Chivas 3, O Love 3, C Lees, L Coughlan, S Kershaw, B Yakimov, B McCrossen. North Shore - D Casey 4, L Pryor 3, B Attwood 2, A Marsh 2, J Brain 2, R Wason, M Carpenter, R Meldrum, B Fitzgerald, J Harry.

Best : Campbelltown - M Edwins, B McAllister, O Love, C Lees, D Chivas, B Yakimov. North Shore - B Attwood, D Casey, L Pryor, T Strudwick, R Meldrum, S Carruthers.

At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 15th August 2009.

 

Sydney University   5.3   11.7   16.13   22.20 (152)

Wollongong   2.5   3.6   7.9   9.11 (65)

Goals : Sydney Uni - M Egan 4, B Mankarious 3, A Lee 3, A Kraefft 3, T Ley 2, T Young 2, C Walsh 2, D Archer, M Thompson, J Leary. Wollongong - J Weavers 2, J Mahony 2, R Price 2, D McClure, L Favetta, K Ewen-Chappel.

Best : Sydney Uni - A Kraefft, N Barton, B Mankarious, M Egan, M Thompson, A Lee. Wollongong - A McConnochie, J McInnes, P Balding, D Goodley, M Hogan, R Price.

At Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 15th August 2009.

 

Western Suburbs   1.4   6.5   11.7   19.11 (125)

Balmain Dockers   1.5   5.5   8.9   11.11 (77)

Goals : Wests - T Cole 3, M Eurell 3, B Absolum 3, A Eurell 2, B Williams 2, S Hudson, M Withers, M Kassem, E Kassem, L Roehrig, M Linsen. Balmain - N O'Brien 3, B Jones 2, D Ryan, J Dickens, D Turner, M Bujch, J Mobbs, A Mitchell.

Best : Wests - B Mumme, L Roehrig, B Absolum, D Clout, B Bedwell, E Kassem. Balmain - N O'Brien, J Blums, B Jones, G Howe, J Miller, A Randell.

At Drummoyne Oval, Saturday 15th August 2009.

 

Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs   5.4   7.9   13.12   17.18 (120)

East Coast Eagles   1.1   3.2   7.3   12.7 (79)

Goals : UNSW-ES - B Abbott 7, K Emery 3, J Bradfield 2, R Underwood, M Collett, B Sutton, R Jones, M O'Regan. East Coast - G Seebeck 4, M Skuse 2, L Stanford 2, R Fitton, B Physick, J Vlatko, J Steer.

Best : UNSW-ES - B Woods, M Collett, D Coupe, M O'Regan, A Pech, K Emery. East Coast - J Dimery, M Skuse, R Fitton, L Stanford, J Steer, K Pearson.

At Bruce Purser Oval, Saturday 15th August 2009.

 

Pennant Hills   4.1   14.4   14.5   17.11 (113)

St George   4.3   5.7   10.12   12.13 (85)

Goals : Pennant Hills - M Carey 4, N Campbell 4, K Wright 3, A Richardson 2, C Smith 2, N Wright, L Bilbe. St George - S Richmond 3, T Addison 2, C Windle 2, D Carey 2, J Shineberg, P McBride, N Smith.

Best : Pennant Hills - C Smith, M Aitken, M Thomas, A Richardson, B Jack, N Campbell. St George - S Richmond, J Do Canto, A Cuthbert, D Carey, M Milner, T Addison.

At Olds Park, Sunday 16th August 2009.

 

First Division:

Sydney Uni 16.17 (113) d Wollongong 4.4 (28)

East Coast Eagles 12.6 (78) d UNSW-ES 8.8 (56)

Manly-Warringah 19.21 (135) d North Shore 4.4 (28)

UTS 16.18 (114) d Western Suburbs 6.7 (43)

Pennant Hills 25.10 (160) d St George 5.5 (35)

Ladder - UTS (68, 244.59%), Manly-Warringah (56, 203.68%), East Coast (48, 150.16%), UNSW-ES (44, 122.19%), Sydney Uni (40, 158.00%), Pennant Hills (28, 112.35%), Western Suburbs (18, 59.89%), Wollongong (18, 49.80%), North Shore (16, 65.14%), St George (4, 32.94%).

 

Second Division:

Balmain 17.15 (117) d Camden 9.9 (63)

Holroyd-Parramatta 23.16 (154) d Campbelltown 4.6 (30)

Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Manly-Warringah 6.11 (47)

UTS 32.13 (205) d East Coast Eagles 6.2 (38)

Southern Power 11.10 (76) d Macquarie Uni 11.9 (75)

Ladder - Southern Power (68, 405.13%), Macquarie Uni (60, 270.71%), UTS (48, 220.11%), Holroyd-Parramatta (48, 145.57%), Sydney Uni (40, 139.68%), Balmain (24, 75.91%), Manly-Warringah (16, 71.69%), Camden (16, 41.49%), East Coast (12, 34.57%), Campbelltown (8, 26.43%).

 

Third Division:

UNSW-ES 17.16 (118) d Pennant Hills 7.6 (48)

NorWest Jets 18.9 (117) d UTS 7.5 (47)

Southern Power 11.7 (73) d Macquarie Uni 8.7 (55)

Penrith 24.18 (162) d Holroyd-Parramatta 2.2 (14)

Ladder (Match Ratio) - UNSW-ES (93.33, 279.13%), NorWest Jets (93.33, 260.71%), UTS (66.67, 157.11%), Macquarie Uni (53.33, 137.05%), Moorebank Sports (46.67, 99.71%), Pennant Hills (37.5, 77.40%), Penrith (33.33, 75.15%), Southern Power (26.67, 56.53%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 18.02%).

Fourth Division:

NorWest Jets 7.11 (53) d UTS 7.10 (52)

Sydney Uni 23.8 (146) d Manly-Warringah 9.3 (57)

Penrith 17.18 (120) d Holroyd-Parramatta 5.4 (34)

UNSW-ES 10.16 (76) d Macquarie Uni 10.7 (67)

Moorebank Sports 22.14 (146) d Camden 4.3 (27)

Ladder - Sydney Uni (64, 305.99%), UNSW-ES (52, 173.39%), NorWest Jets (50, 251.40%), UTS (40, 168.93%), Manly-Warringah (40, 119.73%), Macquarie Uni (34, 128.03%), Moorebank Sports (28, 90.48%), Penrith (20, 64.09%), Holroyd-Parramatta (12, 33.96%), Camden (0, 13.47%).

 

Under 18s Premier:

Balmain 13.11 (89) d Western Suburbs 8.5 (53)

North Shore d Campbelltown - forfeit

East Coast Eagles 18.15 (123) d UNSW-ES 8.5 (53)

St George 9.11 (65) d Pennant Hills 4.7 (31)

Wollongong 15.14 (104) d St Ignatius Riverview 10.5 (65)

Ladder (Match Ratio) - North Shore (88.24, 311.94%), East Coast (85.29, 218.44%), St George (79.41, 226.63%), Wollongong (70.59, 126.72%), Pennant Hills (64.71, 208.68%), UNSW-ES (32.35, 76.48%), Balmain (29.41, 47.74%), St Ignatius Riverview (18.75, 52.83%), Campbelltown (15.63, 36.49%), Wests (11.76, 31.53%).

 

Under 18s Challenge:

Pennant Hills 10.14 (74) d East Coast Eagles 4.4 (28)

Sydney Uni 26.11 (167) d Manly-Warringah 3.1 (19)

Penrith d Holroyd-Parramatta - forfeit

Southern Power 16.15 (111) d Macquarie Uni 4.2 (26)

Ladder (Match Ratio) - Sydney Uni (93.33, 379.16%), Southern Power (86.67, 189.70%), Penrith (80, 251.08%), Moorebank Sports (60, 119.69%), Pennant Hills (60, 102.50%), East Coast (26.67, 80.68%), Macquarie Uni (20, 40.93%), Holroyd-Parramatta (13.33, 34.55%), Manly-Warringah (12.5, 33.40%).

 

NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (Lurker's Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 22nd August

Gore Hill Oval - North Shore v Balmain (2:10pm)

Olds Park - St George v Campbelltown (2:10pm)

Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney University v UNSW-ES (2:30pm)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v East Coast Eagles (6:10pm)

Blacktown Olympic Park - Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills (6:30pm)

 

First Division:

Saturday 22nd August

Gore Hill Oval - North Shore v UTS (12pm)

Olds Park - St George v Manly-Warringah (12pm)

Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney University v UNSW-ES (12:15pm)

Blacktown Olympic Park - Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills (4pm)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v East Coast Eagles (4pm)

 

Second Division:

Saturday 22nd August

St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni v UTS (12pm)

Gwawley Oval - Southern Power v Campbelltown (2:10pm)

Harrington Park - Camden v Manly-Warringah (2:10pm)

Bensons Lane - East Coast Eagles v Holroyd-Parramatta (2:30pm)

University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Balmain (6:10pm)

 

Third Division:

Saturday 22nd August

Gwawley Oval - Southern Power v Penrith (12pm)

Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Holroyd-Parramatta (12:30pm)

Village Green - UNSW-ES v UTS (2pm)

University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Moorebank Sports (4pm)

Pennant Hills has the bye.

Fourth Division:

Saturday 22nd August

St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni v UTS (10am)

Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Holroyd-Parramatta (10:30am)

Harrington Park - Camden v Manly-Warringah (12pm)

Village Green - UNSW-ES v Penrith (12pm)

University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Moorebank Sports (2pm)

 

Under 18s Premier:

Saturday 22nd August

Gore Hill Oval - North Shore v Balmain (10am)

Olds Park - St George v Campbelltown (10am)

Riverview First Field - St Ignatius Riverview v UNSW-ES (10am)

Blacktown Olympic Park - Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills (2pm)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v East Coast Eagles (2pm)

 

Under 18s Challenge:

Saturday 22nd August

Bensons Lane - East Coast Eagles v Holroyd-Parramatta (8:30am)

Sydney Uni No 1 Oval - Sydney Uni v Pennant Hills (9:45am)

Gwawley Oval - Southern Power v Penrith (10am)

University Oval - Macquarie Uni v Moorebank Sports (12pm)

Manly-Warringah has the bye.