SYDNEY AFL REPRESENTATIVE - Sydney AFL Dishes Out Capital Punishment
This article originally published on RedAndWhiteOnline.com.

 

Exciting times have come upon football in Sydney. A new stadium at Blacktown is close to completion, and on Saturday it hosted a representative fixture between Sydney AFL and AFL Canberra. The two leagues had met twice previously in recent years, with Canberra taking the game on both occasions; but the tables were to be turned as the Sydney league took out a well deserved 24-point victory.

It was the Canberrans who started the stronger, and it took just a few minutes for them to race to an early lead. Tall forwards Dean Roulstone and Andrew Ainger were looking dangerous, outmarking the Sydney defenders for early goals to go to a 26-point lead; a lead that could have been greater were it not for some courageous body-work by Lloyd Shepherd, who threw himself into a smother and ended up the worse for wear. Sydney had tall forward marking options as well, but Gus Seebeck's radar was letting him down in the early stages; the big Eagle having three missed set shots before finally getting a ball through the big sticks late in the quarter.

Canberra held a 20-point lead at the first change, but it was a case of inaccuracy letting Sydney down; both sides having had 5 scoring shots for the term. But the second quarter saw the Sydneysiders getting their game going. Seebeck's second goal came from a free for holding, but Ainger on the lead made a quick reply. Charlie Richardson from the 50m line found Seebeck in the square, but a free to Ryan Quade saw the quarter-time margin restored.

But Sydney were not to be denied, a run of 3 goals cutting the margin back to within a kick. Matt Withers was paid a free for holding the ball 15 metres out and made no mistake, and just a minute later Kieran Wright played on from just inside 50 to add another. Gus Seebeck on the lead marked and kicked his 4th as the clock ticked into time-on. Canberra scored a late goal to steady the ship, which ensured they would take an 8-point lead into the rooms at half time.

The third term saw Canberra have a golden opportunity for first goal denied. From the centre break, the ball was taken by Ainger, but the mark was disallowed and a free kick to Ron Wason awarded. Sydney ran downfield and scored a behind, then a bungled kick-in found Sam Rutland 25 metres out to cut the margin to a point. A set shot to Kieran Wright saw Sydney hit the front for the first time, the run of play now favouring Sydney. The bounce of the ball also seemed to be running Sydney's way, a Canberra shot that looked likely to bounce through instead sat up to allow Wason an easy clearance.

Roulstone got one back against the run of play for Canberra to put the visitors back in front, but that was to be short-lived as Kieran Wright's second for the quarter restored the Sydney lead before a running Declan Donohue added another, one of the few goals to that point in time to come from general play rather than a set shot. A free to Mark Egan set up Shane Ryan to score again and Sydney were out to a 3-goal lead. Canberra made a brief fightback late in the quarter through Chad Gibson and Matthew Dean, but a free to Jason Coulloupas 25 metres out on the three quarter time siren gave Sydney a 12-point lead at the last change.

A scent of an opportunity for an upset was in the air, but first goal of the last quarter would be important. The longer the quarter went, the more critical the goal would be. Both sides had opportunities to score it, but shots went wide or failed to make the distance. But the crucial goal would, after 13 minutes, go Sydney's way with a mark by captain Alistair Richardson 50 metres out followed by a magnificent long goal. Matt Carey on the run added to the advantage 2 minutes later, pumping the air with his fist after scoring the goal that would make the game safe. Kieran Wright's fourth goal was the icing on the cake, and despite a late goal by Ainger this was Sydney AFL's day.

The final margin was 24 points, a historic win for Sydney AFL. Gus Seebeck and Kieran Wright each kicked 4 goals for Sydney, while Jason Coulloupas won the best-on-ground medal and Sydney were also well served by Matt Carey and Matt Withers. For AFL Canberra, Andrew Ainger had been effective with 4 goals, while Jordan Longmore and Aaron Bruce were among their best.

 

Conventional wisdom has always stated that AFL Canberra is a stronger competition than Sydney AFL, and although one rep game result won't change that, it does provide some indication that the gap is narrowing. Stronger junior numbers than have been present in the past are producing a greater selection of senior players. The AFL Scholarship program, linking many of Sydney AFL's strongest players with AFL clubs, will further enhance their development; players who don't end up joining their AFL club will be the next generation of star players in the Sydney AFL. The quality of Sydney's grounds has always been an issue, but progress is being made on that front. The Blacktown stadium will be a great venue for showpiece games, while new grounds such as Bruce Purser Oval and redevelopment of grounds like North Dalton have provided better standard facilities for our players than have been there in the past.

 

Sydney AFL   1.4   6.6   12.9   15.12 (102)

AFL Canberra   5.0   8.2   11.3   12.6 (78)

Goals : Sydney - G Seebeck 4, K Wright 4, S Rutland, S Ryan, J Coulloupas, D Donohue, A Richardson, M Carey, M Withers. Canberra - A Ainger 4, D Roulstone 3, R Quade 3, M Dean, C Gibson.

Best : Sydney - J Coulloupas, M Carey, M Withers, C Richardson, J Duncan, K Wright. Canberra - J Longmore, A Bruce, N Clarke, D Roulstone, J Tutt, A Ainger.

At Blacktown Olympic Park, Saturday 25th July 2009.

 

Click here to see Harboursport's photo gallery from this match.

 

First Division:

UTS 13.7 (85) d Sydney University 7.8 (50)

 

Second Division:

Southern Power 14.11 (95) d UTS 6.8 (44)

Sydney Uni 12.21 (93) d Manly-Warringah 7.10 (52)

 

Third Division:

Southern Power 11.4 (70) d UTS 8.16 (64)

 

Fourth Division:

UNSW-ES 14.14 (98) d UTS 3.10 (28)

 

Under 18s Premier:

North Shore 27.9 (171) d Campbelltown 2.0 (12)

St Ignatius Riverview 15.6 (96) d Western Suburbs 5.10 (40)

St George 17.7 (109) d UNSW-ES 1.8 (14)

 

THE RUN HOME

When the competition resumes after the rep game, challengers North Shore and Sydney Uni play each other, while Campbelltown take on third-placed UNSW-ES. If the Blues were to go down, the winner of North Shore v Sydney Uni would take their place in the top 5; with the UNSW-ES victory also guaranteeing the Bulldogs a finals berth. St George remain a mathematical chance, but being 2 games behind and with a poor percentage will need to win all their remaining games and depend on a complex string of other results to go their way.

 

In Premier Division, the remaining matches for the teams still in contention are:
East Coast Eagles (48, 185.01%) - Balmain (Bruce Purser), St George (Olds Park), UNSW-ES (Bruce Purser), Wollongong (North Dalton).

Western Suburbs (42, 164.67%) - St George (Olds Park), UNSW-ES (Village Green), Balmain (Drummoyne), Pennant Hills (Blacktown).

UNSW-ES (40, 124.57%) - Campbelltown (Monarch), Wests (Village Green), East Coast (Bruce Purser), Sydney Uni (Syd Uni No1).

Pennant Hills (32, 133.37%) - Wollongong (North Dalton), North Shore (Ern Holmes), St George (Olds Park), Wests (Blacktown).

Campbelltown (28, 83.74%) - UNSW-ES (Monarch), Wollongong (Monarch), North Shore (Monarch), St George (Olds Park).

Sydney University (24, 95.95%) - North Shore (Gore Hill), Balmain (Drummoyne), Wollongong (Syd Uni No1), UNSW-ES (Syd Uni No1).

North Shore (24, 86.72%) - Sydney Uni (Gore Hill), Pennant Hills (Ern Holmes), Campbelltown (Monarch), Balmain (Gore Hill).

St George (20, 70.52%) - Wests (Olds Park), East Coast (Olds Park), Pennant Hills (Olds Park), Campbelltown (Olds Park).

 

NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES (Lurker's Kiss of Death in bold):

Saturday 1st August

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

Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)

Bruce Purser Oval - East Coast Eagles v Balmain (4:10pm)

Sunday 2nd August

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

 

First Division:

Saturday 1st August

Bruce Purser Oval - East Coast Eagles v UTS (12pm)

Gore Hill Oval - North Shore v Sydney University (12pm)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v Pennant Hills (12pm)

Pittwater No 6 Oval - Manly-Warirngah v UNSW-ES (2:30pm)

Sunday 2nd August

Olds Park - St George v Western Suburbs (12pm)

 

Second Division:

Saturday 1st August

Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v UTS (12pm)

Pittwater No 6 Oval - Manly-Warringah v Macquarie Uni (12:30pm)

Bruce Purser Oval - East Coast Eagles v Balmain (2pm)

Harrington Park - Camden v Southern Power (2:10pm)

St Pauls Oval - Sydney University v Holroyd-Parramatta (2:10pm)

 

Third Division:

Saturday 1st August

Village Green - UNSW-ES v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)

Ern Holmes Oval - Pennant Hills v Macquarie Uni (2pm)

Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Moorebank Sports (2:10pm)

Greygums Oval - Penrith v UTS (2:10pm)

Soouthern Power has the bye.

 

Fourth Division:

Saturday 1st August

Pittwater No 6 Oval - Manly-Warringah v Macquarie Uni (10:30am)

Bensons Lane - NorWest Jets v Moorebank Sports (12pm)

Greygums Oval - Penrith v UTS (12pm)

Harrington Park - Camden v UNSW-ES (12pm)

St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)

 

Under 18s Premier:

Saturday 1st August

Gore Hill Oval - North Shore v St Ignatius Riverview (10am)

Monarch Oval - Campbelltown v UNSW-ES (10am)

North Dalton Oval - Wollongong v Pennant Hills (10am)

Bruce Purser Oval - East Coast Eagles v Balmain (7pm)

Sunday 2nd August

Olds Park - St George v Western Suburbs (10am)

 

Under 18s Challenge:

Saturday 1st August

Pittwater No 6 Oval - Manly-Warringah v Macquarie Uni (8:30am)

Bruce Purser Oval - East Coast Eagles v Moorebank Sports (10am)

Greygums Oval - Penrith v Pennant Hills (10am)

St Pauls Oval - Sydney Uni v Holroyd-Parramatta (10am)

Southern Power has the bye.