HARBOURSPORT |
SYDNEY AFL FINALS
WEEK 2 - Eagles into Grand Final, Bulldogs Fight Back
Article and Photos
by Michael Shillito
We're well and truly into the business end of the 2009 season. Week 2 of the finals saw minor premiers East Coast Eagles make their third grand final in four seasons, while reigning premiers Pennant Hills' season came to an end.
Saturday's Second Semi Final was played at Bruce Purser Oval, with East Coast and Wests playing off for a grand final berth. The Eagles were coming into the game having had last week off, while the Magpies were in red-hot form after their big win over UNSW-ES in last week's Qualifying Final. It was a game that was sometimes tight, sometimes free-flowing and often controversial; especially during an emotion-charged third quarter.
A sub-plot through the game would be the quest for Gus Seebeck to become the first player in 10 years to score 100 goals in a Premier Division season. Seebeck went into the game with 97 for the season, and despite having an early set shot was unable to add to that tally during the first quarter.
It was first blood to Wests, as David Clout ran around from a tight angle before banging a goal through. But on 10 minutes, the Eagles had hit the lead, after Seebeck outmuscled two opponents to mark and quickly handballing to a running Ryan Smyth. Adam Byerlee extended the advantage after receiving a holding-the-ball free; but for much of the quarter the action was an arm-wrestle as the ball travelled from end to end. But time-on was to be the signal for the Eagles to step up the pressure, with Kristian Pearson having run from the backline to score the Eagles' fourth. Two more goals in the final minutes extended the lead to 25 points at the first change.
While for much of the game it had been an even struggle, the Eagles' greater ability to last the distance in each quarter had been critical. Three-goal bursts in time-on in both quarters accounted for six goals of the eight-goal margin. But Wests only needed to cast their minds back to the last time the sides clashed, at Henson Park in Round 13, to know that an 8-goal lead at half time didn't mean the game is safe yet.
Wests were playing their best football of the day, and a mark to Matt Eurell saw the margin cut to 36 points. The Eagles needed a steadier, and it came through Ben Rogers. Eurell on the lead got a quick reply and a centre break set up Minichiello, but Glenn Garner with a set shot kept the margin at 6 goals at the last change. Early in the last quarter the Magpies kept coming, with Fiddler and Eurell cutting the margin to 27 points before Mark Mendola landed the knockout blow that put the result beyond any doubt.
But the Eagles had one last piece of business to attend to, and at 20 minutes it came. Gus Seebeck marked at the edge of the square, went back and kicked his 100th for the season; to the congratulations of his team-mates and rapturous applause from the grandstand. It seemed somehow fitting that Seebeck had brought up the ton at Bruce Purser, a venue that he has proudly showcased as Eagles' President and dominated as their full-forward.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from the Second Semi Final.
Wests' opponents in the Preliminary Final will be UNSW-ES, after the Bulldogs bounced back from their horror performance in last week's Qualifying Final to overcome Pennant Hills by 20 points at Blacktown Olympic Park on Sunday.
A bright opening term by the Bulldogs, with 5 goals to 1 in the opening quarter, got them off to the start they wanted. Peter Kefalas opened the goal-scoring, a long-range speculator from Bradfield extended the advantage. A running Jay Lewis got one back for the Demons, but a double from Brad Abbott from the pocket in front of the scoreboard and some clever use of the advantage rule to find an unmarked Max Collett saw them open a handy lead.
A set shot from Beardsley gave the Bulldogs some breathing space, and at the 32 minute mark a soccer off the ground gave Brad Abbott his third after a lengthy period of consultation between the umpires saw the goal awarded. The Bulldogs held a handy 21-point buffer at the long break.
The final quarter saw the ball moved quickly onto the Demons' forward line. Jon Moraitis scored an early goal and suddenly the margin was back to 17 points and the Demons had a sniff. But a combination of wasteful finishing by the Demons and resolute defence by the Bulldogs, often moving numbers onto the backline, denied Pennant Hills any chance of getting closer. With numbers flooded on the Demons' forward line, occasionally the Bulldogs would make a break and counter-attack, but they were unable to land the knockout blow that would put the game beyond dispute. But as the clock continued to run, with no sign of a Demon revival in sight, it had become clear their premiership defence was over and that the Bulldogs had become the first Premier Division team since 2002 to bounce back after losing a final to win the next week.
Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from the First Semi Final.
East Coast Eagles 5.3 10.10 13.12 17.18 (120)
Western Suburbs 1.2 3.4 8.6 10.6 (66)
Goals : East Coast - G Seebeck 4, B Rogers 4, G Garner 2, L Stanford, K Pearson, M Mendola, R Smyth, S Ryan, A Byerlee, J Dimery. Wests - M Eurell 4, M Withers 2, A Fiddler, T Cole, J Minichiello, D Clout.
Best : East Coast - E Wilson, K Pearson, M Skuse, B Rogers, J Dimery, B Bourke. Wests - M Kassem, J Simpson, S Hudson, D Lambert, B Mumme, A Eurell.
Umpires - D Anderson, S Richardson, A Rutherford.
At Bruce Purser Oval, Saturday 5th September.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 5.0 9.5 11.7 11.13 (79)
Pennant Hills 1.4 5.8 6.14 7.17 (59)
Goals : UNSW-ES - B Abbott 3, J Bradfield 2, P Kefalas, T Luff, M Collett, S Pech, M Beardsley, B Woods. Pennant Hills - A Richardson 3, S Myers, J Moraitis, C Smith, J Lewis.
Best : UNSW-ES - M Beardsley, B Lewis, M Collett, A Gulden, A Henderson, S Rutland. Pennant Hills - A Crisfield, L Bilbe, B Jack, C Richardson, D Smith, K Wright.
Umpires - M Peck, M Gestier, P Barron.
At Blacktown Olympic Park, Sunday 6th September.
First Semi Final - Sydney University 12.12 (84) d Manly-Warringah 9.8 (62)
Second Semi Final - UTS 12.12 (84) d East Coast Eagles 4.5 (29)
Second Division
Preliminary Final - UTS 10.11 (71) d Southern Power 3.11 (29)
Third Division
Preliminary Final - UTS 6.15 (51) d NorWest Jets 5.12 (42)
Fourth Division
Preliminary Final - UNSW-ES 8.9 (57) d NorWest Jets 7.7 (49)
First Semi Final - Wollongong 8.11 (59) d East Coast Eagles 7.8 (50)
Second Semi Final - North Shore 9.9 (63) d St George 7.6 (48)
Under 18s Challenge
Preliminary Final - Southern Power 9.13 (67) d Penrith 7.11 (53)
NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES
Saturday 12th September
Div 2,3,4 & Challenge Cup Grand Final Day - Blacktown Olympic Park
8:15am - Under 18s Challenge Cup - Sydney University v Southern Power
10:20am - Fourth Division - Sydney University v UNSW-ES
12:40pm - Third Division - UNSW-ES v UTS
3:00pm - Second Division - Macquarie University v UTS
Sunday 13th September
Preliminary Final Day - Blacktown Olympic Park
10:00am - Under 18s Premier - St George v Wollongong
12:00pm - First Division - East Coast Eagles v Sydney University
2:15pm - Premier Division - Western Suburbs v UNSW-ES