SYDNEY AFL ROUND 10 2010
Article and photos by Michael Shillito
The long weekend, planned as a weekend off, turned out to be another weekend of action for the majority of Sydney AFL players. With only the Premier Division games and a handful of others played on the weekend before, a round of catch-up fixtures in the other divisions was played. And among the Premier Division players, the rep squad travelled to take on the Victorian Amateurs while the Development squad had a successful trip to Wagga Wagga to take part in the NSW Regional Championships.
The weekend after the long weekend saw the Premier Division competition resume; and to the relief of everyone it was a week of sunshine that saw full rounds in every division take place.
It’s been an up and down season for St George. A slow start to the season was followed by a winning streak before two straight losses threatened to undo their good work. A young side with 20 local juniors in their best 22, a side rebuilding their list, the Dragons will be a team to watch in future seasons. But the task in front of them last weekend, as it was in the season opener, was to take on a red-hot Wests side. But this time the Dragons had the advantage of playing at Olds Park.
Winning the toss and running to the Forest Road end, the Dragons had a real dip early. Matt Eurell kicked the opening goal for Wests, but for the next 10 minutes the ball was camped on the St George forward line. Daniel Rixon got the goal back, marking one out 30 metres from home and kicking truly. But the Dragons were unable to get any more reward for effort, thwarted time and time again by Rohan Lilly. The Magpie number 1, drifting across the half-back line, was able to take goal-saving mark after goal-saving mark to repel the Dragon charge.
Finally on 15 minutes David Ryan forced a turnover, and went in short to an unmarked Michael Holmes. The Dragons had taken the lead, but it was to be short-lived. The centre break saw the ball move forward to Eid Kassem, who pounced on a loose ball and snapped truly. Daryn Creswell would put the Magpies in front shortly before the first change, with the Magpies holding a 7-point lead after what had been a good even contest.

But the second quarter saw the Magpies tighten the screws, and the Dragons were unable to keep up. It was low scoring, only three goals were scored, but weight of possession by the Magpies would keep the Dragons out of the contest. By half time the Magpies were leading by 26 points.
Into the premiership quarter, and the Dragons would need to get a run of goals going to get back into the contest. But instead it was the Magpies who made the front-running in the early stages of the quarter. Withers and Eurell both converted set shots from tight angles, while Absolum was too quick for the Dragon defenders to run into an open goal. Finally the Dragons got a goal, with Jon Shineberg receiving a free kick in front of the St George bench to the ironical cheers of the home fans. But the Magpies were on fire, Withers putting in a brilliant soccer goal and an opportunistic snap by Creswell.
The Magpies were well-drilled, and in strong form. The Linsen brothers were getting plenty of the ball, and Medair Kassem was also prominent. Up forward, Eurell, Withers and Creswell were able to shake off the attentions of their opponents and create scoring opportunities. By the last change the margin was out to 41 points; and although the Dragons worked hard to contain the damage in the last term there would be no way for the home side to get back into the contest.
The final margin was 55 points, the Magpies retaining their grip on a share of the ladder leadership. Matt Eurell kicked 5 goals and Daryn Creswell 4, while Marcus Linsen, Lynn Roehrig and Medair Kassem were among their best. For the Dragons, Jon Shineberg kicked 3; Blake Guthrie, Michael Holmes and Pat McBride being key performers. But despite the loss, all is not lost for the Dragons; with the result at Monarch meaning the Dragons are still only a game outside the top 5 and with still enough time to challenge for this year’s finals.
Pennant Hills had a chance to build a 2-game break between themselves and sixth-placed Campbelltown when the Demons travelled to Monarch to take on the Blues. But in this season of twists and turns, the pendulum took a swing towards Campbelltown as the Blues recorded a 14-point victory.

The Demons led by 7 points at half time, but were unable to kick a goal during the premiership quarter. At the other end, the Blues scored 3 goals, taking a 10 point lead into the last change. The final quarter was tense and tight, and although the Demons worked hard they could only manage one goal in the final term. And when the Blues scored what would be their only goal for the quarter, the game was safe for the home side.
Matthew Moore kicked 4 for the Blues, a strong return up forward in a low-scoring game. Ben Yakimov, Ryan Bottin-Noonan and Matthew Keys were among their best. For Pennant Hills, Damian Dell’Aquila, Cameron Smith and Jake Trestrail were solid performers. Campbelltown join Pennant Hills on 20 points, with only the Demons’ superior percentage keeping them in the top 5.
Ladder leaders East Coast Eagles maintained their grip on top spot after a 55-point win over UNSW-ES at the Village Green on Saturday. In a bizarre first half, readers of the scorecards who didn’t know better would think a gale was blowing to one end; but it was nothing more than the swing of momentum shifts. The Eagles kicked 6 unanswered goals in the first term, before the Bulldogs lifted with a 7 goals to 3 burst in the second.
The third term was lower scoring, the Eagles kicking 2 goals to 1 and holding a 20 point lead at the last change. But the floodgates opened in the last quarter, as the Eagles ran away with the contest with 6 goals to 1 for the term.
Jamie Vlatko again showed the form that has made his such a gun in his first year of Sydney footy, with a 9 goal haul. Jamie Vlatko, Jon Vlatko and Ryan Silvester were among the Eagles’ best. For the Bulldogs, Leigh Lavery scored 4 while Troy Luff, Angus Robson and Aaron Bantoft played good games for the Bulldogs. The Eagles remain top of the ladder, but it’s a different story for the Bulldogs; the losing streak continuing and hopes of another finals appearance are in jeopardy unless they can quickly turn their fortunes around.

North Shore returned to the winning list with a 49-point win over Wollongong at North Dalton on Sunday. The Lions had a dip early, and scores were level at quarter time. But the Bombers got on top in the second quarter with 6 unanswered goals; and another 6 in the third quarter would follow until the Lions could finally stop the rot. By then the margin had blown out to 70 points; but to Wollongong’s credit they continued to work hard in the final term, winning the quarter to salvage some respectability.
On a day when 12 Bombers got on the goalscorers’ list, Evan Davis was the top scorer with 3, while Lachlan Pryor, Brendan Fitzgerald and Jeremy Stiller were among their best. For Wollongong, Daniel McClure scored 3 goals, while Jeremy Daniher, Barron Hansen and Ken Ewen-Chappell were prominent performers.
For the Bombers, the result ends a run of indifferent form and keeps the Bombers two games clear of 5th placed Pennant Hills. But it was another disappointing day for the Lions, who are still looking for their second win for the season to get them off the bottom of the ladder.
The TV game at Blacktown saw Sydney Uni stay in third place when the Students recorded their second 100+ points win over Balmain for the season. There were only two goals in it at the first change, but the Students asserted themselves in the second term. A run of 7 goals to 2 in the second term saw the lead extend to 38 points at the long break.
The Dockers went into the match on a 2-match winning streak, but the second half saw a return to the dark days of early in the season as the Students took complete control. The Students scored 13 goals in the second half compared to 2 for the Dockers before a scoreless final term.
The Students shared the goals around, 15 of their number getting in on the goalscoring action; Adam McConnochie leading the way with a bag of 5. Tim Barton, Jordan McIntyre and David Mitchell were getting plenty of the ball for the Students. For the Dockers, Nick Davis scored 4 while Tim Young and Colin Brown were among their best.
Western Suburbs 3.2 6.4 12.7 15.12 (102)
St George 2.1 2.2 4.4 7.5 (47)
Goals : Wests – M Eurell 5, D Creswell 4, B Absolum 3, M Withers 2, E Kassem.
St George – J Shineberg 3, S Wilsen, M Holmes, D Ryan, D Rixon.
Best : Wests – M Linsen, L Roehrig, M Kassem, R Lilly, D Linsen, B Mumme.
St George – B Guthrie, M Holmes, P McBride, D Ryan, A Herne, R Craig.
At Olds Park, Saturday 19th June 2010.
Campbelltown 3.2 4.3 7.4 8.9 (57)
Pennant Hills 1.2 5.4 5.6 6.7 (43)
Goals : Campbelltown – M Moore 4, M Keys, L Coughlan, M Edwins, O Love.
Pennant Hills – N Bills 2, B Jack 2, N Campbell 2.
Best : Campbelltown – B Yakimov, R Bottin-Noonan, M Keys, D Chivas, M Edwins, J Edwards.
Pennant Hills – D Dell’Aquila, C Smith, J Trestrail, A Crisfield, J Clarke.
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 19th June 2010.
East Coast Eagles 6.5 9.7 11.10 17.15 (117)
UNSW-ES 0.4 7.6 8.8 9.8 (62)
Goals : East Coast – Jamie Vlatko 9, P Dugmore 3, M Goodey 2, S O’Connor, B Physick, R Silvester.
UNSW-ES – L Lavery 4, T Luff 2, X Brennan, A Rodrigues, A Duthie.
Best : East Coast – Jamie Vlatko, Jon Vlatko, R Silvester, E Kruger, K Pearson, M Goodey.
UNSW-ES – T Luff, A Robson, A Bantoft, B Abbott, X Brennan, B Woods.
At Village Green, Saturday 19th June 2010.
North Shore 2.4 8.8 14.10 15.15 (105)
Wollongong 2.4 2.5 3.6 8.8 (56)
Goals : North Shore – E Davis 3, N Egan 2, A Lowes, T Strudwick, B Fitzgerald, P Brackin, B Attwood, R Grigg, L Pryor, Z Manley, L Clancy, B Youlten.
Wollongong – D McClure 3, S Dennis 2, M Thomson 2, S Morgan.
Best : North Shore – L Pryor, B Fitzgerald, J Stiller, N Egan, E Davis, C Murphy.
Wollongong – J Daniher, B Hanson, K Ewen-Chappell, M Thomson, D McClure, T Bartlett.
At North Dalton Oval, Sunday 20th June 2010.
Sydney University 5.2 12.4 19.5 25.12 (162)
Balmain Dockers 3.2 6.2 8.2 8.2 (50)
Goals : Sydney Uni – A McConnochie 5, A Lee 2, T Barton 2, D Mitchell 2, J Lawson 2, M Thompson 2, J McGuirk 2, M Higgins, T Elkington, J McIntyre, M Egan, B Mankarious, N Barton, A Turco, S Crichton.
Balmain – N Davis 4, N Fosdike 2, A Azhar, J Howard.
Best : Sydney Uni – T Barton, J McIntyre, D Mitchell, T Elkington, B Mankarious, J McGuirk. Balmain – T Young, C Brown, C Bolt, J Farrell, R Bates.
At Blacktown Olympic Park, Sunday 20th June 2010.
| Played
| Won
| Draw
| Lost
| For
| Agnst
| Pts
| %age
| Strk
|
East Coast Eagles
| 10
| 8
| 0
| 2
| 1,219
| 610
| 32
| 199.84
| W4
|
Western Suburbs
| 10
| 8
| 0
| 2
| 990
| 656
| 32
| 150.91
| W3
|
Sydney University
| 10
| 8
| 0
| 2
| 1,139
| 761
| 32
| 149.67
| W6
|
North Shore
| 10
| 7
| 0
| 3
| 1,120
| 660
| 28
| 169.70
| W1
|
Pennant Hills
| 10
| 5
| 0
| 5
| 808
| 717
| 20
| 112.69
| L1
|
Campbelltown
| 10
| 5
| 0
| 5
| 806
| 974
| 20
| 82.75
| W1
|
St George
| 10
| 4
| 0
| 6
| 710
| 935
| 16
| 75.94
| L3
|
UNSW-ES
| 10
| 2
| 0
| 8
| 713
| 1,057
| 8
| 69.43
| L6
|
Balmain
| 10
| 2
| 0
| 8
| 658
| 1,448
| 8
| 45.44
| L1
|
Wollongong
| 10
| 1
| 0
| 9
| 669
| 1,044
| 4
| 64.08
| L3
|
Results from the other divisions are for both this week and the long weekend’s catch-up fixtures:
First Division:
Manly-Warringah 12.8 (80) d Macquarie Uni 7.16 (58)
Wollongong 16.6 (102) d East Coast 10.11 (71)
UNSW-ES 9.11 (65) d Western Suburbs 7.9 (51)
North Shore 9.14 (68) d Pennant Hills 4.4 (28)
East Coast 9.6 (60) d UNSW-ES 8.6 (54)
UTS 16.9 (105) d Pennant Hills 4.5 (29)
Macquarie Uni 20.18 (138) d Western Suburbs 2.7 (19)
Sydney Uni 8.7 (55) d Manly-Warringah 5.6 (36)
North Shore 15.21 (111) d Wollongong 7.6 (48)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Manly-Warringah (88.89, 171.36%), UTS (80, 243.79%), Sydney Uni (80, 151.29%), Macquarie Uni (70, 159.29%), North Shore (60, 135.40%),
East Coast (40, 93.83%), Pennant Hills (30, 63.91%), Wollongong (20, 60.17%), Western Suburbs (20, 45.20%), UNSW-ES (11.11, 52.19%).
Second Division:
NorWest Jets 20.17 (137) d UNSW-ES 5.5 (35)
St George 7.14 (56) d Balmain Dockers 7.8 (50)
Holroyd-Parramatta 15.12 (102) d Manly-Warringah 7.3 (45)
Southern Power 23.15 (153) d Camden 3.5 (23)
St George 15.12 (102) d Manly-Warringah 6.4 (40)
UTS 13.15 (93) d Balmain Dockers 6.8 (44)
NorWest Jets 10.14 (74) d Camden 4.7 (31)
Sydney Uni 11.8 (74) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.9 (69)
Southern Power 26.18 (174) d UNSW-ES 5.8 (38)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Southern Power (100, 315.14%), UTS (90, 198.35%), Holroyd-Parramatta (70, 142.88%), Sydney Uni (60, 109.53%),
NorWest (50, 123.90%), Camden (33.33, 53.63%), St George (30, 82.04%), Balmain (30, 61.67%), Manly-Warringah (22.22, 60.22%), UNSW-ES (10, 46.08%).
Third Division:
Macquarie Uni 12.21 (93) d Pennant Hills 5.3 (33)
East Coast 16.8 (104) d Holroyd-Parramatta 7.6 (48)
Southern Power 17.15 (117) d Campbelltown 4.2 (26)
Moorebank Sports 13.7 (85) d Penrith 6.5 (41)
Moorebank Sports 17.9 (111) d UTS 9.9 (63)
Campbelltown 12.14 (86) d Pennant Hills 5.10 (40)
Sydney Uni 10.21 (81) d Holroyd-Parramatta 8.4 (52)
Southern Power 16.16 (112) d Macquarie Uni 4.9 (33)
Penrith 12.7 (79) d East Coast 5.4 (34)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Moorebank Sports (90, 256.58%), Penrith (70, 176.24%), Southern Power (70, 140.45%), UTS (60, 139.51%),
Macquarie Uni (60, 115.47%), East Coast (55.56, 128.41%), Campbelltown (40, 64.23%), Sydney Uni (22.22, 53.16%), Holroyd-Parramatta (20, 42.74%), Pennant Hills (10, 45.44%).
Fourth Division:
Saints AFC 9.8 (62) d UNSW-ES 7.13 (55)
Manly-Warringah 20.19 (139) d Holroyd-Parramatta 2.3 (15)
Moorebank Sports 12.14 (86) d Penrith 2.2 (14)
Camden 9.8 (62) d Southern Power 3.6 (24)
UTS 16.4 (100) d Mac Uni Warriors 11.8 (74)
NorWest Jets 10.6 (66) d Sydney Uni 5.10 (40)
Auburn 26.19 (175) d Mac Uni Kookas 3.4 (22)
Saints AFC 15.10 (100) d UTS 9.10 (64)
Sydney Uni 22.21 (153) d Holroyd-Parramatta 5.2 (32)
Mac Uni Warriors 15.19 (109) d Southern Power 4.5 (29)
NorWest Jets 10.5 (69) d Camden 6.8 (44)
Moorebank Sports 24.22 (166) d Mac Uni Kookas 1.3 (9)
Penrith 8.5 (53) d Manly-Warringah 5.13 (43)
Auburn 12.13 (85) d UNSW-ES 10.5 (65)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Auburn (100, 349.45%), Mac Uni Warriors (70, 263.95%), Moorebank Sports (70, 255.59%), Saints AFC (70, 190.02%),
Penrith (70, 91.73%), Manly-Warringah (66.67, 193.99%), UTS (50, 140.60%), Sydney Uni (50, 114.79%), NorWest (50, 69.68%), Mac Uni Kookas (33.33, 34.44%), Southern Power (22.22, 60.64%), Camden (22.22, 54.18%), UNSW-ES (20, 50.06%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 12.47%).
Under 18s Premier:
North Shore 9.10 (64) d Pennant Hills 5.9 (39)
Sydney Uni 14.16 (100) d Campbelltown 2.1 (13)
East Coast 17.21 (123) d Wollongong 5.3 (33)
Western Suburbs 13.10 (88) d UNSW-ES 8.11 (59)
Sydney Uni 8.17 (65) d St Ignatius Riverview 7.9 (51)
Pennant Hills d Campbelltown – forfeit
East Coast 14.11 (95) d UNSW-ES 5.10 (40)
St George 14.5 (89) d Western Suburbs 6.8 (44)
North Shore 13.13 (91) d Wollongong 8.11 (59)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – North Shore (85.71, 169.30%), Sydney Uni (75, 212.15%), East Coast (71.43, 208.10%), St George (71.43, 116.18%),
Pennant Hills (66.67, 181.01%), St Ignatius Riverview (50, 127.52%), UNSW-ES (33.33, 75.77%), Western Suburbs (33.33, 70.16%), Wollongong (28.57, 73.07%), Campbelltown (0, 8.59%).
Under 18s Challenge:
Penrith 21.12 (138) d Moorebank Sports 3.10 (28)
Southern Power 14.8 (92) d East Coast 4.5 (29)
Manly-Warringah 14.11 (95) d Macquarie Uni 9.6 (60)
Southern Power 15.22 (112) d Macquarie Uni 1.2 (8)
Moorebank Sports 12.20 (92) d East Coast 9.2 (56)
Penrith 24.20 (164) d Manly-Warringah 1.4 (10)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Penrith (100, 888.04%), Southern Power (75, 187.18%), Holroyd-Parramatta (50, 117.99%), Manly-Warringah (50, 78.85%),
Moorebank Sports (33.33, 79.19%), Macquarie Uni (28.57, 41.75%), East Coast (22.22, 43.34%).
NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES (Lurker’s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 26th June
Ern Holmes Oval –
Pennant Hills v Wollongong (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval –
North Shore v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
Picken Oval –
Western Suburbs v Sydney University (2:10pm)
Bruce Purser Oval –
East Coast Eagles v St George (6:10pm)
Sunday 27th June
Blacktown Olympic Park – Balmain Dockers v
Campbelltown (2:10pm)
First Division:
Saturday 26th June
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v Wollongong (12pm)
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Picken Oval – Western Suburbs v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v Macquarie Uni (2pm)
Pittwater No 6 – Manly-Warringah v UTS (2:10pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 26th June
Bensons Lane – NorWest Jets v St George (12pm)
Pittwater No 6 – Manly-Warringah v UTS (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UNSW-ES (12:30pm)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Sydney Uni (2:30pm)
Sunday 27th June
Blacktown Olympic Park – Balmain Dockers v Camden (12pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 26th June
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v UTS (10am)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Penrith (12:30pm)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Sydney Uni (12:30pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 26th June
Pittwater No 6 – Manly-Warringah v UTS (10am)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Penrith (10:30am)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v Camden (12pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Mac Uni Warriors (12pm)
Bensons Lane – NorWest Jets v Mac Uni Kookas (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park – Saints AFC v Auburn (2:10pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 26th June
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v UNSW-ES (10am)
Picken Oval – Western Suburbs v Sydney Uni (10am)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v St George (4pm)
Sunday 27th June
Riverview First – St Ignatius Riverview v Campbelltown (10am)
Wollongong and Pennant Hills have the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 26th June
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Penrith (8:30am)
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Manly-Warringah (8:30am)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v Macquarie Uni (10am)
Moorebank Sports has the bye.