In 2000, the Sydney AFL was keen for local clubs to form alliances with AFL clubs. Baulkham Hills, as the club was then known, was one who picked up the idea and ran with it. And so the East Coast Eagles were born.
In the ten years that followed, players, coaches and home grounds have come and gone. But through the good times and the bad times, the partnership with West Coast has remained solid. 2009 was their greatest year, with Bruce Purser Oval finally giving them a ground to call their own and the Eagles lifting their first premiership cup. 2010 saw the clubs title defence start well with wins in their first two games, and round 3 saw the Eagles host Sydney Uni at Blacktown.
It was a Friday night game to enable West Coast officials to attend ahead of their clash with the Swans at the SCG on Saturday. And the night would mark the Eagles 10th birthday; with a function having been held pre-match to celebrate the occasion.
But after the celebrations were over, there was a game of football to be won, and Sydney Uni made it clear from the start that they had come to play. The Students were first to score a goal, when a kick by Elkington didnt make the distance but Andrew Kraefft was there to shark the crumbs and score.
This was to be a game of momentum swings, and East Coast would be the first to get a run going as they kicked the next three goals. Peter Dugmore centred to Jamie Vlatko for the first, before a second effort by Dugmore saw him swing around and score from a tight angle. And on 14 minutes, Damien Charleston capitalised on a scramble in the goal square and the Eagles looked to be on their way. But the Students regained the initiative with a long-range torp by Sam Crichton. Kraefft bombed a golden opportunity when he missed a sitter of a chance from 25 out, but a 50m penalty to Jack Lawson levelled the scores before Mark Egan led out to mark and put the Students in front on quarter time.
The Students were in the ascendancy in the early stages of the second term, but inaccuracy would cost them. Kraefft missed a couple of shots he should have kicked, and the Students were made to pay when Jamie Vlatko dribbled a goal through from the pocket. But when tempers flared on the flank in front of the grandstand, a 50 metre penalty to Alex Lee put the Students 7 points clear.
But the pendulum would swing again in the second half of the quarter. Peter Dugmore marked 20 metres out, and despite his kick having more height than distance it managed to cross the line. Ben Rogers found some space to tap an easy goal through; and although Dugmore found himself reported and sent to the sin bin, the Eagles continued their run when Charleston pounced on a loose ball to give the Eagles a 10-point lead at the break. And when Jamie Vlatko was the recipient of a silly free 30 metres out to kick the opening goal of the third term, it was looking like the Eagles were in a strong position.
But this was a game of shifting fortunes, and slowly but surely the tide swung again. The Students moved the ball forward, pressing for goal. But some poor finishing would frustrate the Students, who were putting on some good football but not getting reward for effort. Against the run of play Dugmore kicked his third to give the Eagles an 18-point lead, but the Students kept working hard.
And in the latter stages of the term, the weight of possession they had accumulated during the premiership quarter finally began to reap rewards. Adam McConnochie marked 30 metres out to give the Students their first goal for the quarter at the 17 minute mark. On 20 metres out, a bungled kick-in by Ben Physick sailed out on the full. It was a tight angle, but a sensational checkside by Alex Lee made it look easy. And a double by Sam Crichton gave the Students a 9-point lead at the last change.
The final term started well for the Eagles, when Mark Maher intercepted a chip across goal to score, but almost immediately Jamie Lawson replied for the Students. The Eagles were unlucky when a goal to Kristian Pearson was disallowed at the 6 minute mark; the Eagles remaining two goals short of victory.
And amazingly over the final 20 minutes of play, thats how it stayed. Time and again the Eagles tried to get into attacking position, only to turn the ball over on the half forward line. The Students were running down the clock, happy to defend their lead. The longer the quarter went, the more the Eagles looked spent and the two goals needed to reverse the result were not to come. The Students scored another point at the 15 minute mark and the Eagles got a point after the siren, but they would be the only scores for the final 20 minutes. And so the Students would take out the first upset of the season, and spoil the Eagles party.
Both teams are now on 2 wins and 1 loss from their first three games. Sam Crichton scored 3 goals for the Students, while former Wollongong players Adam McConnochie and Clinton Wells were among their best. For the Eagles, Dugmore and Jamie Vlatko each kicked 3 while Charleston and Physick worked hard all night.
North Shore maintained their unbeaten run in 2010, while St George are still looking for their first win of the season, when the Bombers took out a convincing 85-point win over St George at Gore Hill on Saturday. In an open and free-flowing game, the Bombers ran through 8 goals in the first quarter to get off to a flying start, and the Dragons never looked like getting back into the contest. With 49 scoring shots to 19, the Bombers could potentially have won by even more; but the win was big enough to propel the Bombers to the competition lead.
It was a day when North Shores new faces stood up and announced themselves as a key part of the Bomber resurgence in 2010. Luke Slater kicked 8 goals, while Jeremy Stiller, Russell Grigg and Chris King were among their best players. For the Dragons, Bryce Addison put up a big fight up forward, and even with limited opportunities in a badly beaten team still recorded a bag of 7 goals to ensure the Dragons could still record a reasonable score.
Another team unbeaten in 2010 is Wests, after the Magpies took out a comprehensive 85-point victory over Balmain Dockers at Henson Park. The Magpies blew the Dockers off the park in the first quarter, kicking six goals to one to lead by 29 points at the first change. The Dockers played some better football in the second and terms, but poor kicking prevented them from making any impact on the deficit, and the Magpies led by 38 points at three quarter time. But the final quarter was a blowout, Wests run of 8 unanswered goals a display of a team with high hopes of challenging for the 2010 title clicking into gear.
Matt Eurell was again a star up forward for the Magpies with 8 goals, bringing his season tally to 18, while David Clout and Ben Absolum scored 3. Absolum, Matt Eurell and Marcus Linsen were among their best. In another disappointing day for Balmain, Nick Davis scored 4 goals; while Tim Schmidt and Andrew Clark tried hard all day.
Campbelltown recorded their second win in a row while ensuring Wollongong would remain winless so far this season. But it was a close call, and heartbreaking for the Lions with two losses in a row by less than two goals. The Blues dominated in the opening quarter with four unanswered goals, but the Lions hit back in the second term to take the lead shortly before the long break. The second half was goal for goal, with the Lions leading by 3 points at the last change; but the Blues took the lead in the last quarter and held the Lions out to record an important 10-point win.
In a low-scoring game on the massive Monarch ground, Shanan Kershaw scored 3 goals; while Ryan Bottin-Noonan, Owen Love and Martin Rodoreda were among their best. For the Lions, Jeremy McInnes scored 3 from limited opportunities, while Jeremy Daniher and Sam Dowling were key contributors.
UNSW-ES had their first win of the season, and Pennant Hills their first loss, when the Bulldogs came from behind to record a 17-point win in a high-scoring contest at Village Green on Saturday. The Demons struggled with inaccuracy early, but led by 13 points at quarter time and 16 points at half time. The third quarter was a shootout, with each side scoring six goals, but the margin at the end of the quarter was the same 16 points as when it started.
But the momentum of the game swung sharply in the last quarter. The Bulldogs form and confidence which had deserted them in the opening two round returned, and goal scoring options were plentiful. With seven goals to two, the Bulldogs took the lead and finished full of running; and the mood around the club will be taking a turn for the better.
Brad Abbott kicked 5 goals for the Bulldogs and Leigh Lavery 4, while Oscar Sidlo-Jones, Tom Betlehem and Peter Kefalas were among their best. Nick Campbell kicked 5 for the Demons, while Jake Trestrail, Luke Bilbe and Brant Jack were solid contributors.
Sydney University 4.3 5.6 9.14 10.15 (75)
East Coast Eagles 3.3 7.4 9.5 10.8 (68)
Goals : Sydney Uni S Crichton 3, J Lawson 2, A Lee 2, A Kraefft, A McConnochie, M Egan.
East Coast P Dugmore 3, Jamie Vlatko 3, D Charleston 2, B Rogers, M Maher.
Best : Sydney Uni A McConnochie, C Wells, A Kraefft, J Martin, A Hawkins, M Thompson.
East Coast D Charleston, B Physick, R Bilkey, E Kruger, M Beardsley, S Ryan.
At Blacktown Olympic Park, Friday 23rd April 2010.
North Shore 8.4 12.12 17.20 23.26 (164)
St George 5.2 8.3 10.5 12.7 (79)
Goals : North Shore L Slater 8, L Pryor 4, A Lowes 3, D Casey 2, A Lord, T Strudwick, B Attwood, J Harry, A Harry, T Hill.
St George B Addison 7, S Wilsen, D Taylor, T Cole, T Addison, N Smith.
Best : North Shore J Stiller, L Slater, R Wason, R Grigg, B Fitzgerald, C King.
St George B Addison, D Donohue, D Taylor, S Klein, J Whyte, M Holmes.
At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 24th April 2010.
Western Suburbs 6.2 10.4 12.8 20.12 (132)
Balmain Dockers 1.3 3.8 5.12 5.14 (44)
Goals : Wests M Eurell 8, D Clout 3, B Absolum 3, A Eurell 2, K Cochrane, D Watkins, J Barret, S DArcy.
Balmain N Davis 4, A Clark.
Best : Wests B Absolum, M Eurell, M Linsen, T Lambert, D Cusick, J Barret.
Balmain T Schmidt, A Clark, N Fosdike, N Davis, A Azhar, J Boyd.
At Henson Park, Saturday 24th April 2010.
Campbelltown 4.5 5.5 9.8 12.13 (85)
Wollongong 0.3 5.10 9.11 10.15 (75)
Goals : Campbelltown S Kershaw 3, O Love 2, M Edwins, N Hudson, F Brown, M Rodoreda, J Brazill, J Bottin-Noonan, B Yakimov.
Wollongong J McInnes 3, J Daniher 2, K Ewen-Chappell 2, S Dennis 2, L Favetta.
Best : Campbelltown R Bottin-Noonan, O Love, M Rodoreda, F Brown, C Fretwell, C Jordan.
Wollongong J Daniher, S Dowling, S Dennis, J McInnes, B Black, D Goodley.
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 24th April 2010.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 3.0 6.2 12.5 19.10 (124)
Pennant Hills 4.7 7.12 13.15 15.17 (107)
Goals : UNSW-ES B Abbott 5, L Lavery 4, J Parmenter 3, A Gulden 3, T Betlehem 2, C Jourdain, A Robson.
Pennant Hills N Campbell 5, N Wright 3, L Bilbe 2, N Bills 2, B Jack, A Brawn, D DellAquila.
Best : UNSW-ES O Sidlo-Jones, T Betlehem, P Kefalas, E Shaw, L Lavery, X Brennan.
Pennant Hills J Trestrail, L Bilbe, B Jack, N Campbell, K Wright, D De Looze.
At Village Green, Saturday 24th April 2010.
| Played
| Won
| Drawn
| Lost
| For
| Agnst
| Pts
| %age
| Strk
| North Shore
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 398
| 191
| 12
| 208.38
| W3
| Western Suburbs
| 3
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 373
| 185
| 12
| 201.62
| W3
| East Coast Eagles
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 332
| 171
| 12
| 194.15
| L1
| Sydney University
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 363
| 267
| 8
| 135.96
| W1
| Pennant Hills
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 276
| 206
| 8
| 132.52
| L1
| Campbelltown
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 225
| 275
| 8
| 81.82
| W2
| UNSW-ES
| 3
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 200
| 332
| 4
| 60.24
| W1
| Wollongong
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 177
| 254
| 0
| 69.69
| L3
| St George
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 197
| 396
| 0
| 49.75
| L3
| Balmain
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 164
| 425
| 0
| 38.59
| L3
|
|
First Division:
Macquarie University 12.8 (80) d North Shore 12.7 (79)
Manly-Warringah 20.18 (138) d Western Suburbs 3.5 (23)
Pennant Hills 16.6 (102) d UNSW-ES 6.8 (44)
UTS 20.14 (134) d Wollongong 3.3 (21)
Sydney Uni 11.6 (72) d East Coast Eagles 3.7 (25)
Ladder Manly-Warringah (12, 201.44%), UTS (8, 246.49%), North Shore (8, 216.79%), Sydney Uni (8, 203.70%), Macquarie Uni (8, 94.95%),
Pennant Hills (8, 94.31%), East Coast (4, 108.95%), Wests (4, 42.45%), UNSW-ES (0, 35.83%), Wollongong (0, 35.08%).
Second Division:
UTS 12.66 (88) d Holroyd-Parramatta 12.8 (80)
NorWest Jets 20.10 (130) d Balmain Dockers 4.6 (30)
Camden 8.8 (56) d UNSW-ES 6.10 (46)
Manly-Warringah 12.7 (79) d St George 9.8 (62)
Southern Power 13.11 (89) d Sydney Uni 10.5 (65)
Ladder Southern Power (12, 270.49%), UTS (12, 185.71%), NorWest (8, 186.17%), Sydney Uni (8, 186.17%),
Holroyd-Parramatta (8, 111.69%), Camden (8, 103.62%), Manly-Warringah (4, 70.00%), UNSW-ES (0, 65.45%), St George (0, 45.88%), Balmain (0, 25.65%).
Third Division:
Moorebank Sports 16.13 (109) d Pennant Hills 6.8 (44)
UTS 17.21 (123) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.7 (31)
Campbelltown 12.4 (76) d Macquarie Uni 11.8 (74)
Southern Power 10.6 (66) d Sydney Uni 8.8 (56)
Penrith 13.10 (88) d East Coast 9.3 (57)
Ladder Moorebank Sports (12, 358.62%), Penrith (12, 284.96%), Macquarie Uni (8, 154.61%), UTS (8, 149.04%),
Southern Power (8, 108.18%), Campbelltown (8, 85.48%), East Coast (4, 152.12%), Sydney Uni (0, 45.45%), Pennant Hills (0, 44.37%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 12.40%).
Fourth Division:
UTS 25.19 (169) d Holroyd-Parramatta 3.2 (20)
Saints AFC 19.11 (125) d UNSW-ES 3.7 (25)
Manly-Warringah 22.25 (157) d Mac Uni Kookas 2.2 (14)
Sydney Uni 12.18 (90) d Southern Power 10.17 (77)
Moorebank Sports 14.6 (90) d NorWest Jets 8.4 (52)
Auburn 25.14 (164) d Penrith 4.1 (25)
Mac Uni Warriors 20.19 (139) d Camden 1.10 (16)
Ladder Mac Uni Warriors (12, 648.15%), Auburn (12, 526.25%), Saints AFC (12, 377.06%), Moorebank Sports (12, 313.00%),
UTS (8, 203.92%), Manly-Warringah (8, 166.67%), Penrith (8, 77.73%), Sydney Uni (4, 85.65%), NorWest (4, 71.78%), Mac Uni Kookas (4, 29.08%), Southern Power (0, 40.33%), Camden (0 38.37%), UNSW-ES (0, 25.85%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 14.03%).
Under 18s Premier:
Western Suburbs 15.17 (107) d Balmain Dockers 7.6 (48)
Wollongong 21.13 (169) d Campbelltown 1.1 (7)
Pennant Hills 22.13 (145) d UNSW-ES 6.6 (42)
East Coast 15.11 (101) d St Ignatius Riverview 4.9 (33)
Ladder (Match Ratio) Wollongong (100, 324.86%), North Shore (100, 292.31%), Sydney Uni (66.67, 528.89%), Pennant Hills (66.67, 245.24%), St George (66.67, 133.08%),
East Coast (33.33, 136.57%), St Ignatius Riverview (33.33, 79.00%), Wests (33.33, 70.92%), UNSW-ES (33.33, 47.34%), Balmain (0, 40.60%), Campbelltown (0, 5.67%).
Under 18s Challenge:
Penrith 19.20 (134) d East Coast 3.1 (19)
Holroyd-Parramatta 20.13 (133) d Manly-Warringah 3.6 (24)
Macquarie Uni 11.11 (77) d Moorebank Sports 7.5 (47)
Ladder (Match Ratio) Penrith (66.67, 1215.79%), Holroyd-Parramatta (66.67, 204.84%), Manly-Warringah (66.67, 127.05%), Southern Power (33.33, 91.75%),
East Coast (33.33, 43.17%), Macquarie Uni (33.33, 38.19%), Moorebank Sports (0, 52.81%).
NEXT WEEKS FIXTURES (Lurkers Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 1st May
Drummoyne Oval Balmain Dockers v
East Coast Eagles (2:10pm)
Olds Park St George v
Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Sydney University v
North Shore (2:10pm)
Village Green
UNSW-ES v Wollongong (2:10pm)
Sunday 2nd May
Blacktown Olympic Park
Western Suburbs v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
First Division:
Saturday 1st May
Sydney Uni No 1 Sydney University v North Shore (12:00pm)
Village Green UNSW-ES v Wollongong (12:00pm)
Pittwater No 6 Manly-Warringah v East Coast Eagles (2:10pm)
University Oval Macquarie Uni v Pennant Hills (4:30pm)
Sunday 2nd May
Blacktown Olympic Park Western Suburbs v UTS (12:00pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 1st May
Drummoyne Oval Balmain Dockers v Southern Power (12:00pm)
Olds Park St George v UTS (12:00pm)
Pittwater No 6 Manly-Warringah v NorWest Jets (12:00pm)
Gipps Rd Oval Holroyd-Parramatta v Camden (12:30pm)
Sunday 2nd May
Village Green UNSW-ES v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 1st May
Gipps Rd Oval Holroyd-Parramatta v Campbelltown (12:30pm)
Ern Holmes Oval Pennant Hills v Sydney University (2:10pm)
University Oval Macquarie Uni v Penrith (2:30pm)
Rosedale Oval Moorebank Sports v Southern Power (6:10pm)
Bruce Purser Oval East Coast Eagles v UTS (7:00pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 1st May
Pittwater No 6 Manly-Warringah v NorWest Jets (10:00am)
Gipps Rd Oval Holroyd-Parramatta v Camden (10:30am)
University Oval Mac Uni Warriors v Penrith (12:30pm)
Mona Park Auburn v Saints AFC (2:10pm)
University Oval Mac Uni Kookas v UTS (2:30pm)
Rosedale Oval Moorebank Sports v Southern Power (4:00pm)
Sunday 2nd May
Village Green UNSW-ES v Sydney Uni (12:00pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Friday 30th April
Sydney Uni No 1 Sydney Uni v North Shore (7:30pm)
Saturday 1st May
Drummoyne Oval Balmain Dockers v East Coast Eagles (10:00am)
Olds Park St George v Pennant Hills (10:00am)
Village Green UNSW-ES v St Ignatius Riverview (10:00am)
Sunday 2nd May
Blacktown Olympic Park Western Suburbs v Campbelltown (10:00am)
BYE Wollongong.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 1st May
Gipps Rd Oval Holroyd-Parramatta v East Coast Eagles (8:30am)
University Oval Macquarie Uni v Penrith (12:30pm)
Rosedale Oval Moorebank Sports v Southern Power (2:00pm)
BYE Manly-Warringah.