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SYDNEY AFL ROUND 13 2010. 
With the finals drawing ever closer, every game takes on a new importance. Every game could potentially shape the season, ensuring a club qualifies for the finals, or a position within the finals. Permutations are worked out, allowing scenarios of who can qualify where should any particular result happen. And so it was in Round 13; that although all the games were relatively one-sided, the destiny of this year’s finals may have gone some way to being shaped.
Top side Sydney Uni took on third placed North Shore on Saturday. Wet weather forced the game to be transferred from Gore Hill to Henson Park; but with the aid of some sand added to the centre circle, the Henson Park surface wasn’t too bad. There was nothing that the forwards on either side could object to early, as the match became a shootout.
From the opening minute, when Jesse Martin pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring for the Students, the opening quarter was a free-flowing, high-scoring affair. Goal for goal as the Students would score only for the Bombers to get a quick reply. The first term, a 33-minute, 13-goal affair, was an exhibition of attacking and entertaining football.
The Students, going into the match on the back of an 8-game winning streak, were high on confidence and backed themselves with their running game to get through every contest. The Bombers also rose to the challenge, finding the answers to the Students’ goals to trail by just 5 points at quarter time. The second quarter started in similar fashion, but late in the quarter the Students were able to string a run of goals together to run to a 30-point lead at half time.
Recovering from a 5-goal deficit at half time is never easy, but a high-scoring contest gave the Bombers a better chance than normal. And in the early stages the Bombers made a good fist of recovering from the deficit. A turnover from a kick-in gave Tom Hill a chance to snap truly. On 6 minutes, Tom Hill capitalised on a chance presented by a lucky free kick, with a pin-point delivery to a diving Nick Egan. Suddenly the margin was back within 3 goals, and could have got even closer, after a long bomb by Ben Attwood landed just short of the line but an unlucky bounce saw the ball sit up in the goal-square for the Students’ defence to clear it out of danger.
And that was the end of the North Shore revival, as the Students stepped up a gear and left the Bombers in their wake. Mark Egan, his head taped after a head clash in the first half, received the crumbs from a marking contest to snap truly from a tight angle. Tyson Roberts forced a defensive turnover to add another and restore the half-time advantage. And then it was the former Wollongong duo of Adam McConnochie and Clint Wells, with two goals apiece within a 10-minute time frame, that put the game out of North Shore’s reach. The quarter resulted in the Students adding 7 goals to 3 and leading by 56 points at the last change; a devastating burst that underlined the class of the Students that has taken them to ladder leadership.
The final margin was 60 points, a comprehensive win that ensures the Students would keep top spot on the ladder but one that sees North Shore drop to fourth place. Mark Egan and Alex Lee scored 4 goals apiece for the Students; while Lee, Richard Burrows and Adam McConnochie were among their best. For the Bombers, Nick Egan scored 5 and was North Shore’s best, while Jeremy Stiller and Pat Brackin were also prominent for the Bombers.
East Coast Eagles had a comfortable 77 point win over Balmain Dockers at Bruce Purser, but early in the contest the Dockers were keen to ensure there would be no repeat of the debacle at Drummoyne early in the season. The Dockers worked hard to stay in touch with the Eagles during the second quarter, finding replies to the Eagles’ goals to keep themselves in contention. Although the Eagles led by 29 points at the long break, the Dockers had worked hard in the first half.
But the second half was a different story, as the Eagles’ defence tightened and the Dockers’ forward structure broke down. The Dockers could only manage one scoring shot in the second half. The Docker defence worked hard to hold East Coast to 7 goals for the second half, but the lack of forward power meant they were unable to make any impact on the defict; and instead the margin blew out in the second half.
Daniel Spiteri was the top forward for the Eagles with a bag of 4 in a best on ground performance, while Steve O’Connor and Damien Bowles also got plenty of touches of the footy. Nick Davis kicked 5 of the Dockers’ 7, while Chad Fletcher and James Miller worked hard all day for Balmain.
The result sees the Eagles stay in second place, a game behind Sydney Uni but with a better percentage. But it also ended the Dockers’ mathematical finals hopes, the 9th season in a row in which Balmain will not be contesting the senior finals.
Pennant Hills lost to St George when the two sides clashed at Olds Park earlier in the season, and it was a closely contested battle early in the return clash at Ern Holmes on Saturday. The lead fluctuated during the first quarter, with the Demons leading by 2 points at the first change. But the second quarter was another story, as Pennant Hills made a breakaway and the Dragons had no answer. A run of 9 goals to 1 blew the half time margin out to 52 points, and although St George were more competitive in the second half the damage was done.
The final margin was 58 points, the Demons’ third win in a row while condemning the Dragons’ losing streak to be stretched to 6 games. Former premiership ruckman Alex Fraunfelter was the key destroyer up forward with a bag of 5 goals; but there were many Demon targets on a day when 13 Pennant Hills players got onto the goal scoring list. Kieran Wright, Jake Trestrail and Alex Goodall were Pennant Hills’ best; while David Ryan, Gavin Raper and Tim Addison were key contributors for the Dragons.
Pennant Hills now find their hold on 5th place stronger, with a healthy break over 6th-placed Campbelltown. And it’s a break the Demons may need, with a difficult run home in which they still have matches against all of the top 4 teams still to come. It’s still mathematically possible for St George to qualify for the finals; but they need to not only win all their remaining games but also for Pennant Hills to lose all their remaining matches.
In a round of one-sided matches, the match between Campbelltown and Wests was the most lopsided of them all. The Blues were held to a single goal for the game, as the red-hot Magpies dominated proceedings from start to finish. With a midfield that consistently got first use of the footy, plenty of targets up forward, and a miserly backline that other teams find hard to penetrate, the Magpies were far too good for the hapless Blues.
A 161-point margin was a reflection of the total Wests dominance. Matt Eurell kicked 6 goals for Wests, Daryn Creswell scored 5 and Eid Kassem contributed 4. Few if any Magpies lowered their colours to their Campbelltown opponents on the day, with Brenton Mumme, Kris Cochrane and Eid Kassem among their best. On a dirty day for the Blues, Marty Rodoreda and Ben Yakimov kept trying hard all day.
Wests are now in third place, a win behind Sydney Uni and with a better percentage, although their percentage is inferior to East Coast’s. But importantly for the Magpies, the combination of this win and North Shore’s loss had put the Magpies into the double-chance position; not only a game ahead of the Bombers, but the size of their win has seen the Magpies’ percentage overtake North Shore’s. Campbelltown, after a 3-game losing streak, are now 3 games out of the top 5 and with a poor percentage; and needing to act quickly to keep their mathematical finals hopes alive.
The only game that had no impact on finals calculations was at North Dalton, where Wollongong hosted UNSW-ES. And it was the Bulldogs who finally brought their 8-game losing streak to an end, and did it in style with a 102-point victory. The Bulldogs started strongly to lead by 25 points at the first change; but it was in the second quarter when the fate of the game was sealed. A run of 9 goals to 1 extended the half time margin to 70 points, and from there it was a matter of playing out time in the second half.
Veteran Bulldog forward Brad Abbott scored 10 in a best on ground performance, while Leigh Lavery contributed 4 goals, and Max Collett and Ben Woods were also among UNSW-ES’s best. For Wollongong, Ken Ewen-Chappell and Sam Dowling were among their best. Neither team is in finals contention, but the Bulldogs’ win lifted them off the bottom and now Wollongong find themselves at the wrong end of the ladder.
Sydney University 7.0 13.3 20.7 24.10 (154)
North Shore 6.1 8.3 11.5 14.10 (94)
Goals : Sydney Uni – M Egan 4, A Lee 4, J Martin 3, T Roberts 3, A Turco 3, A McConnochie 2, C Wells 2, A Kraefft 2, T Barton. North Shore – N Egan 5, T Hill 2, D Casey 2, P Brackin 2, L Pryor, J Harry, E Davis.
Best : Sydney Uni – A Lee, R Burrows, A McConnochie, C Wells, D Mitchell, S Sloane. North Shore – N Egan, J Stiller, P Brackin, B Clarke, R Meldrum, T Hill.
At Henson Park, Saturday 10th July 2010.
East Coast Eagles 4.3 10.7 13.12 17.19 (121)
Balmain Dockers 1.1 6.2 7.2 7.2 (44)
Goals : East Coast – D Spiteri 4, S O’Connor 3, D Steer 2, D Bowles 2, P Dugmore 2, P Vlatko 2, B Rogers, Jon Vlatko. Balmain – N Davis 5, J Whyte, W Sullivan.
Best : East Coast – D Spiteri, S O’Connor, D Bowles, Jon Vlatko, M Beardsley, R Silvester. Balmain – C Fletcher, J Miller, R Bates, T Schmidt, N Davis, J Farrell.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Pennant Hills 3.4 12.7 16.11 21.11 (137)
St George 3.2 4.3 8.6 12.7 (79)
Goals : Pennant Hills – A Fraunfelter 5, N Campbell 3, J Lewis 2, T Angel, P Barnes, L Bilbe, J Trestrail, R Dawe, J Clarke, K Wright, B Jack, R Gourlay, D Dell’Aquila. St George – T Addison 2, R Talbot 2, J Shineberg 2, P Sain 2, B Addison, D Napper, D Ryan, S Wilsen.
Best : Pennant Hills – K Wright, J Trestrail, A Goodall, J Gourlay, B Jack, A Fraunfelter. St George – D Ryan, G Raper, T Addison, S Wilsen, S Demir, P Sain.
At Ern Holmes Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Western Suburbs 3.2 11.7 18.11 26.15 (171)
Campbelltown 0.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 (10)
Goals : Wests – M Eurell 6, D Creswell 5, E Kassem 4, C Lees 3, B Absolum 2, B Mumme 2, D Watkins, K Cochrane, M Linsen, T Lambert. Campbelltown – M Moore.
Best : Wests – B Mumme, K Cochrane, E Kassem, D Creswell, M Eurell, M Kassem. Campbelltown – M Rodoreda, B Yakimov, D Wolfe, C Fretwell, D Chivas, J Brazill.
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 6.3 15.5 20.7 23.10 (148)
Wollongong 2.2 3.7 4.11 5.16 (46)
Goals : UNSW-ES – B Abbott 10, L Lavery 4, C McKinlay 3, E Shaw 2, J Parmenter 2, T Luff, A Gulden. Wollongong – B Black, J McInnes, K Ewen-Chappell, M Daly, T Heath.
Best : UNSW-ES – B Abbott, M Collett, B Woods, A Gulden, T Garrett, P Kefalas. Wollongong – K Ewen-Chappell, S Dowling, N Kenny, B Black, R Oehme, M Thomson.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Black - Confirmed finallists
Green - Currently in the top 5 or 4.
Blue - Out of the finals currently, but still in mathematical contention.
Purple - Non-finallists
Red - If the season ended now, would be relegated.
First Division:
UTS 20.16 (136) d Western Suburbs 0.3 (3)
Manly-Warringah 15.12 (102) d East Coast Eagles 8.3 (51)
Macquarie Uni 13.7 (85) d Pennant Hills 4.6 (30)
North Shore 10.9 (69) d Sydney Uni 6.12 (48)
UNSW-ES 19.9 (123) d Wollongong 7.1 (43)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – UTS (84.62, 296.99%), Macquarie Uni (76.92, 169.18%), Sydney Uni (76.92, 167.45%), Manly-Warringah (75, 154.94%), North Shore (61.54, 137.74%), Pennant Hills (38.46, 74.61%), East Coast (30.77, 76.10%), Western Suburbs (23.08, 39.97%), UNSW-ES (16.67, 63.56%), Wollongong (15.38, 49.55%).
Second Division:
UTS 20.13 (133) d St George 4.6 (30)
NorWest Jets 15.7 (97) d Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42)
Holroyd-Parramatta 11.9 (75) d Camden 10.5 (65)
Sydney Uni 18.13 (121) d UNSW-ES 4.3 (27)
Southern Power 31.17 (203) d Balmain Dockers 0.0 (0)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Southern Power (100, 366.23%), UTS (92.31, 224.96%), Holroyd-Parramatta (76.92, 156.45%), NorWest (53.85, 129.93%), Sydney Uni (53.85, 98.47%), Balmain (38.46, 60.02%), Camden (33.33, 60.15%), St George (23.08, 69.49%), Manly-Warringah (16.67, 55.66%), UNSW-ES (7.69, 39.11%).
Third Division:
UTS 21.17 (143) d East Coast Eagles 3.2 (20)
Campbelltown 12.10 (82) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.6 (66)
Sydney Uni 17.21 (123) d Pennant Hills 6.8 (44)
Moorebank Sports 19.13 (127) d Southern Power 7.4 (46)
Penrith 19.15 (129) d Macquarie Uni 7.5 (47)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Moorebank Sports (84.62, 247.01%), Penrith (69.23, 183.94%), UTS (69.23, 159.91%), Southern Power (69.23, 136.02%), Macquarie Uni (61.54, 114.34%), East Coast (50, 102.60%), Campbelltown (38.46, 61.89%), Sydney Uni (33.33, 73.91%), Holroyd-Parramatta (15.38, 42.71%), Pennant Hills (7.69, 40.12%).
Fourth Division:
Moorebank Sports 11.9 (75) d Southern Power 5.2 (32)
NorWest Jets 11.11 (77) d Manly-Warringah 7.8 (50)
Mac Uni Warriors 17.14 (116) d Penrith 11.9 (75)
Camden 9.17 (71) d Mac Uni Kookas 3.10 (28)
UNSW-ES 16.8 (104) d Holroyd-Parramatta 5.0 (30)
Saints AFC 22.13 (145) d Sydney Uni 1.3 (9)
Auburn 21.10 (136) d UTS 10.2 (62)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Auburn (100, 335.00%), Moorebank Sports (69.23, 228.77%), Mac Uni Warriors (69.23, 207.51%), Saints AFC (69.23, 173.38%), Penrith (61.54, 98.28%), NorWest (61.54, 90.08%), Manly-Warringah (58.33, 162.40%), UTS (53.85, 138.48%), Sydney Uni (46.15, 95.85%), Mac Uni Kookas (33.33, 41.17%), UNSW-ES (30.77, 65.43%), Camden (25, 50.66%), Southern Power (16.67, 56.15%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 15.24%).
Under 18s Premier:
St George 7.10 (52) d Pennant Hills 8.3 (51)
UNSW-ES 9.10 (64) d Wollongong 8.6 (54)
East Coast Eagles 23.10 (148) d St Ignatius Riverview 1.3 (9)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – East Coast (80, 225.93%), North Shore (80, 196.87%), Sydney Uni (70, 194.11%), St George (70, 103.92%), Pennant Hills (63.64, 179.04%), St Ignatius Riverview (45.45, 115.52%), Western Suburbs (36.36, 68.09%), UNSW-ES (33.33, 69.65%), Wollongong (30, 70.26%), Campbelltown (0, 8.90%).
Under 18s Challenge:
Southern Power 12.10 (82) d Moorebank Sports 7.1 (43)
Penrith d Macquarie Uni – forfeit
Holroyd-Parramatta 12.9 (81) d East Coast Eagles 7.8 (50)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Penrith (100, 926.15%), Southern Power (72.73, 139.19), Holroyd-Parramatta (54.55, 96.43%), Manly-Warringah (50, 98.19%), Macquarie Uni (30, 47.37%), Moorebank Sports (27.27, 66.10%), East Coast (18.18, 45.53%).
THE RUN HOME:
The effect of Pennant Hills’ win over St George and Wests’ big result have eliminated UNSW-ES, Balmain and Wollongong from any mathematical chance of making the finals; and have also meant there is no mathematical way for Sydney Uni, East Coast and Wests to miss out.
Sydney Uni remain top of the ladder, although their percentage remains inferior to the other teams in the top 4. From here, the Students take on Pennant Hills next week but then don’t play another team currently in the top 5 before the finals.
A game behind the Students are East Coast and Wests. A further game behind is North Shore; with East Coast and Wests also having a superior percentage to the Bombers. Those teams have key games coming up against each other in the next three rounds, which may well determine who qualifies for the double-chance – beginning with next weekend’s match of the round when Wests take on East Coast at Henson. Those three teams all still also have games against the in-form Pennant Hills to come.
Pennant Hills, on the back of their three-game winning streak and Campbelltown’s three-game losing streak, have opened up a 3-game plus percentage break ahead of the Blues. The Demons may have left their run too late to qualify for the double-chance, but with games against all four teams above them still to come, the Demons will give themselves a chance if they can defeat those higher-ranked teams.
Campbelltown and St George still can mathematically make it, but in practical terms our final 5 is virtually ensured.
The remaining matches for teams still in contention are:
Sydney Uni (44, 148.50%) – Pennant Hills (Sydney Uni No 1), UNSW-ES (Syd Uni No 1), Wollongong (North Dalton), Campbelltown (Syd Uni No 1), St George (Olds).
East Coast (40, 192.13%) – Wests (Henson), North Shore (Bruce Purser), Campbelltown (Monarch), Wollongong (Bruce Purser), Pennant Hills (Ern Holmes).
Wests (40, 175.19%) – East Coast (Henson), Pennant Hills (Blacktown), North Shore (Blacktown), UNSW-ES (Henson), Wollongong (North Dalton).
North Shore (36, 153.49%) – Balmain (Drummoyne), East Coast (Bruce Purser), Wests (Blacktown), Pennant Hills (Gore Hill), Campbelltown (Blacktown).
Pennant Hills (32, 117.89%) – Sydney Uni (Sydney Uni No 1), Wests (Blacktown), Balmain (Ern Holmes), North Shore (Gore Hill), East Coast (Ern Holmes).
Campbelltown (20, 66.72%) – UNSW-ES (Village Green), St George (Olds), East Coast (Monarch), Sydney Uni (Syd Uni No 1), North Shore (Blacktown).
St George (16, 67.76%) – Wollongong (Blacktown), Campbelltown (Olds), UNSW-ES (Village Green), Balmain (Blacktown), Sydney Uni (Olds).
NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES (Lurker’s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 17th July
Drummoyne Oval – Balmain Dockers v North Shore (1:40pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney University v Pennant Hills (6:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Wollongong (2:10pm)
Henson Park – Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (2:10pm)
First Division:
Saturday 17th July
Village Green – UNSW-ES v UTS (12pm)
Pittwater No 6 Oval – Manly-Warringah v North Shore (2:10pm)
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Wollongong (2:30pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Pennant Hills (4pm)
Sunday 18th July
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (12pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 17th July
Drummoyne Oval – Balmain Dockers v NorWest Jets (11:30am)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Manly-Warringah (2pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (2:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Southern Power (12pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Camden (2:10pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 17th July
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (12pm)
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Campbelltown (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v Southern Power (2pm)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 17th July
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (10am)
University Oval – Mac Uni Kookas v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v NorWest Jets (12pm)
Mona Park – Auburn v Mac Uni Warriors (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park – Saints AFC v Southern Power (2:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Camden (12pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Friday 16th July
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Pennant Hills (7:30pm)
Saturday 17th July
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v Campbelltown (10am)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Wollongong (10am)
Henson Park – Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (10am)
St Ignatius Riverview and UNSW-ES have the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 17th July
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Southern Power (8:30am)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v East Coast Eagles (10am)
Pittwater No 6 Oval – Manly-Warringah v Penrith (12pm)
Holroyd-Parramatta has the bye.
With the finals drawing ever closer, every game takes on a new importance. Every game could potentially shape the season, ensuring a club qualifies for the finals, or a position within the finals. Permutations are worked out, allowing scenarios of who can qualify where should any particular result happen. And so it was in Round 13; that although all the games were relatively one-sided, the destiny of this year’s finals may have gone some way to being shaped.
Top side Sydney Uni took on third placed North Shore on Saturday. Wet weather forced the game to be transferred from Gore Hill to Henson Park; but with the aid of some sand added to the centre circle, the Henson Park surface wasn’t too bad. There was nothing that the forwards on either side could object to early, as the match became a shootout.
From the opening minute, when Jesse Martin pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring for the Students, the opening quarter was a free-flowing, high-scoring affair. Goal for goal as the Students would score only for the Bombers to get a quick reply. The first term, a 33-minute, 13-goal affair, was an exhibition of attacking and entertaining football.
The Students, going into the match on the back of an 8-game winning streak, were high on confidence and backed themselves with their running game to get through every contest. The Bombers also rose to the challenge, finding the answers to the Students’ goals to trail by just 5 points at quarter time. The second quarter started in similar fashion, but late in the quarter the Students were able to string a run of goals together to run to a 30-point lead at half time.
Recovering from a 5-goal deficit at half time is never easy, but a high-scoring contest gave the Bombers a better chance than normal. And in the early stages the Bombers made a good fist of recovering from the deficit. A turnover from a kick-in gave Tom Hill a chance to snap truly. On 6 minutes, Tom Hill capitalised on a chance presented by a lucky free kick, with a pin-point delivery to a diving Nick Egan. Suddenly the margin was back within 3 goals, and could have got even closer, after a long bomb by Ben Attwood landed just short of the line but an unlucky bounce saw the ball sit up in the goal-square for the Students’ defence to clear it out of danger.
And that was the end of the North Shore revival, as the Students stepped up a gear and left the Bombers in their wake. Mark Egan, his head taped after a head clash in the first half, received the crumbs from a marking contest to snap truly from a tight angle. Tyson Roberts forced a defensive turnover to add another and restore the half-time advantage. And then it was the former Wollongong duo of Adam McConnochie and Clint Wells, with two goals apiece within a 10-minute time frame, that put the game out of North Shore’s reach. The quarter resulted in the Students adding 7 goals to 3 and leading by 56 points at the last change; a devastating burst that underlined the class of the Students that has taken them to ladder leadership.
The final margin was 60 points, a comprehensive win that ensures the Students would keep top spot on the ladder but one that sees North Shore drop to fourth place. Mark Egan and Alex Lee scored 4 goals apiece for the Students; while Lee, Richard Burrows and Adam McConnochie were among their best. For the Bombers, Nick Egan scored 5 and was North Shore’s best, while Jeremy Stiller and Pat Brackin were also prominent for the Bombers.
East Coast Eagles had a comfortable 77 point win over Balmain Dockers at Bruce Purser, but early in the contest the Dockers were keen to ensure there would be no repeat of the debacle at Drummoyne early in the season. The Dockers worked hard to stay in touch with the Eagles during the second quarter, finding replies to the Eagles’ goals to keep themselves in contention. Although the Eagles led by 29 points at the long break, the Dockers had worked hard in the first half.
But the second half was a different story, as the Eagles’ defence tightened and the Dockers’ forward structure broke down. The Dockers could only manage one scoring shot in the second half. The Docker defence worked hard to hold East Coast to 7 goals for the second half, but the lack of forward power meant they were unable to make any impact on the defict; and instead the margin blew out in the second half.
Daniel Spiteri was the top forward for the Eagles with a bag of 4 in a best on ground performance, while Steve O’Connor and Damien Bowles also got plenty of touches of the footy. Nick Davis kicked 5 of the Dockers’ 7, while Chad Fletcher and James Miller worked hard all day for Balmain.
The result sees the Eagles stay in second place, a game behind Sydney Uni but with a better percentage. But it also ended the Dockers’ mathematical finals hopes, the 9th season in a row in which Balmain will not be contesting the senior finals.
Pennant Hills lost to St George when the two sides clashed at Olds Park earlier in the season, and it was a closely contested battle early in the return clash at Ern Holmes on Saturday. The lead fluctuated during the first quarter, with the Demons leading by 2 points at the first change. But the second quarter was another story, as Pennant Hills made a breakaway and the Dragons had no answer. A run of 9 goals to 1 blew the half time margin out to 52 points, and although St George were more competitive in the second half the damage was done.
The final margin was 58 points, the Demons’ third win in a row while condemning the Dragons’ losing streak to be stretched to 6 games. Former premiership ruckman Alex Fraunfelter was the key destroyer up forward with a bag of 5 goals; but there were many Demon targets on a day when 13 Pennant Hills players got onto the goal scoring list. Kieran Wright, Jake Trestrail and Alex Goodall were Pennant Hills’ best; while David Ryan, Gavin Raper and Tim Addison were key contributors for the Dragons.
Pennant Hills now find their hold on 5th place stronger, with a healthy break over 6th-placed Campbelltown. And it’s a break the Demons may need, with a difficult run home in which they still have matches against all of the top 4 teams still to come. It’s still mathematically possible for St George to qualify for the finals; but they need to not only win all their remaining games but also for Pennant Hills to lose all their remaining matches.
In a round of one-sided matches, the match between Campbelltown and Wests was the most lopsided of them all. The Blues were held to a single goal for the game, as the red-hot Magpies dominated proceedings from start to finish. With a midfield that consistently got first use of the footy, plenty of targets up forward, and a miserly backline that other teams find hard to penetrate, the Magpies were far too good for the hapless Blues.
A 161-point margin was a reflection of the total Wests dominance. Matt Eurell kicked 6 goals for Wests, Daryn Creswell scored 5 and Eid Kassem contributed 4. Few if any Magpies lowered their colours to their Campbelltown opponents on the day, with Brenton Mumme, Kris Cochrane and Eid Kassem among their best. On a dirty day for the Blues, Marty Rodoreda and Ben Yakimov kept trying hard all day.
Wests are now in third place, a win behind Sydney Uni and with a better percentage, although their percentage is inferior to East Coast’s. But importantly for the Magpies, the combination of this win and North Shore’s loss had put the Magpies into the double-chance position; not only a game ahead of the Bombers, but the size of their win has seen the Magpies’ percentage overtake North Shore’s. Campbelltown, after a 3-game losing streak, are now 3 games out of the top 5 and with a poor percentage; and needing to act quickly to keep their mathematical finals hopes alive.
The only game that had no impact on finals calculations was at North Dalton, where Wollongong hosted UNSW-ES. And it was the Bulldogs who finally brought their 8-game losing streak to an end, and did it in style with a 102-point victory. The Bulldogs started strongly to lead by 25 points at the first change; but it was in the second quarter when the fate of the game was sealed. A run of 9 goals to 1 extended the half time margin to 70 points, and from there it was a matter of playing out time in the second half.
Veteran Bulldog forward Brad Abbott scored 10 in a best on ground performance, while Leigh Lavery contributed 4 goals, and Max Collett and Ben Woods were also among UNSW-ES’s best. For Wollongong, Ken Ewen-Chappell and Sam Dowling were among their best. Neither team is in finals contention, but the Bulldogs’ win lifted them off the bottom and now Wollongong find themselves at the wrong end of the ladder.
Sydney University 7.0 13.3 20.7 24.10 (154)
North Shore 6.1 8.3 11.5 14.10 (94)
Goals : Sydney Uni – M Egan 4, A Lee 4, J Martin 3, T Roberts 3, A Turco 3, A McConnochie 2, C Wells 2, A Kraefft 2, T Barton. North Shore – N Egan 5, T Hill 2, D Casey 2, P Brackin 2, L Pryor, J Harry, E Davis.
Best : Sydney Uni – A Lee, R Burrows, A McConnochie, C Wells, D Mitchell, S Sloane. North Shore – N Egan, J Stiller, P Brackin, B Clarke, R Meldrum, T Hill.
At Henson Park, Saturday 10th July 2010.
East Coast Eagles 4.3 10.7 13.12 17.19 (121)
Balmain Dockers 1.1 6.2 7.2 7.2 (44)
Goals : East Coast – D Spiteri 4, S O’Connor 3, D Steer 2, D Bowles 2, P Dugmore 2, P Vlatko 2, B Rogers, Jon Vlatko. Balmain – N Davis 5, J Whyte, W Sullivan.
Best : East Coast – D Spiteri, S O’Connor, D Bowles, Jon Vlatko, M Beardsley, R Silvester. Balmain – C Fletcher, J Miller, R Bates, T Schmidt, N Davis, J Farrell.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Pennant Hills 3.4 12.7 16.11 21.11 (137)
St George 3.2 4.3 8.6 12.7 (79)
Goals : Pennant Hills – A Fraunfelter 5, N Campbell 3, J Lewis 2, T Angel, P Barnes, L Bilbe, J Trestrail, R Dawe, J Clarke, K Wright, B Jack, R Gourlay, D Dell’Aquila. St George – T Addison 2, R Talbot 2, J Shineberg 2, P Sain 2, B Addison, D Napper, D Ryan, S Wilsen.
Best : Pennant Hills – K Wright, J Trestrail, A Goodall, J Gourlay, B Jack, A Fraunfelter. St George – D Ryan, G Raper, T Addison, S Wilsen, S Demir, P Sain.
At Ern Holmes Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Western Suburbs 3.2 11.7 18.11 26.15 (171)
Campbelltown 0.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 (10)
Goals : Wests – M Eurell 6, D Creswell 5, E Kassem 4, C Lees 3, B Absolum 2, B Mumme 2, D Watkins, K Cochrane, M Linsen, T Lambert. Campbelltown – M Moore.
Best : Wests – B Mumme, K Cochrane, E Kassem, D Creswell, M Eurell, M Kassem. Campbelltown – M Rodoreda, B Yakimov, D Wolfe, C Fretwell, D Chivas, J Brazill.
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 6.3 15.5 20.7 23.10 (148)
Wollongong 2.2 3.7 4.11 5.16 (46)
Goals : UNSW-ES – B Abbott 10, L Lavery 4, C McKinlay 3, E Shaw 2, J Parmenter 2, T Luff, A Gulden. Wollongong – B Black, J McInnes, K Ewen-Chappell, M Daly, T Heath.
Best : UNSW-ES – B Abbott, M Collett, B Woods, A Gulden, T Garrett, P Kefalas. Wollongong – K Ewen-Chappell, S Dowling, N Kenny, B Black, R Oehme, M Thomson.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 10th July 2010.
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Black - Confirmed finallists
Green - Currently in the top 5 or 4.
Blue - Out of the finals currently, but still in mathematical contention.
Purple - Non-finallists
Red - If the season ended now, would be relegated.
First Division:
UTS 20.16 (136) d Western Suburbs 0.3 (3)
Manly-Warringah 15.12 (102) d East Coast Eagles 8.3 (51)
Macquarie Uni 13.7 (85) d Pennant Hills 4.6 (30)
North Shore 10.9 (69) d Sydney Uni 6.12 (48)
UNSW-ES 19.9 (123) d Wollongong 7.1 (43)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – UTS (84.62, 296.99%), Macquarie Uni (76.92, 169.18%), Sydney Uni (76.92, 167.45%), Manly-Warringah (75, 154.94%), North Shore (61.54, 137.74%), Pennant Hills (38.46, 74.61%), East Coast (30.77, 76.10%), Western Suburbs (23.08, 39.97%), UNSW-ES (16.67, 63.56%), Wollongong (15.38, 49.55%).
Second Division:
UTS 20.13 (133) d St George 4.6 (30)
NorWest Jets 15.7 (97) d Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42)
Holroyd-Parramatta 11.9 (75) d Camden 10.5 (65)
Sydney Uni 18.13 (121) d UNSW-ES 4.3 (27)
Southern Power 31.17 (203) d Balmain Dockers 0.0 (0)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Southern Power (100, 366.23%), UTS (92.31, 224.96%), Holroyd-Parramatta (76.92, 156.45%), NorWest (53.85, 129.93%), Sydney Uni (53.85, 98.47%), Balmain (38.46, 60.02%), Camden (33.33, 60.15%), St George (23.08, 69.49%), Manly-Warringah (16.67, 55.66%), UNSW-ES (7.69, 39.11%).
Third Division:
UTS 21.17 (143) d East Coast Eagles 3.2 (20)
Campbelltown 12.10 (82) d Holroyd-Parramatta 10.6 (66)
Sydney Uni 17.21 (123) d Pennant Hills 6.8 (44)
Moorebank Sports 19.13 (127) d Southern Power 7.4 (46)
Penrith 19.15 (129) d Macquarie Uni 7.5 (47)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Moorebank Sports (84.62, 247.01%), Penrith (69.23, 183.94%), UTS (69.23, 159.91%), Southern Power (69.23, 136.02%), Macquarie Uni (61.54, 114.34%), East Coast (50, 102.60%), Campbelltown (38.46, 61.89%), Sydney Uni (33.33, 73.91%), Holroyd-Parramatta (15.38, 42.71%), Pennant Hills (7.69, 40.12%).
Fourth Division:
Moorebank Sports 11.9 (75) d Southern Power 5.2 (32)
NorWest Jets 11.11 (77) d Manly-Warringah 7.8 (50)
Mac Uni Warriors 17.14 (116) d Penrith 11.9 (75)
Camden 9.17 (71) d Mac Uni Kookas 3.10 (28)
UNSW-ES 16.8 (104) d Holroyd-Parramatta 5.0 (30)
Saints AFC 22.13 (145) d Sydney Uni 1.3 (9)
Auburn 21.10 (136) d UTS 10.2 (62)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Auburn (100, 335.00%), Moorebank Sports (69.23, 228.77%), Mac Uni Warriors (69.23, 207.51%), Saints AFC (69.23, 173.38%), Penrith (61.54, 98.28%), NorWest (61.54, 90.08%), Manly-Warringah (58.33, 162.40%), UTS (53.85, 138.48%), Sydney Uni (46.15, 95.85%), Mac Uni Kookas (33.33, 41.17%), UNSW-ES (30.77, 65.43%), Camden (25, 50.66%), Southern Power (16.67, 56.15%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 15.24%).
Under 18s Premier:
St George 7.10 (52) d Pennant Hills 8.3 (51)
UNSW-ES 9.10 (64) d Wollongong 8.6 (54)
East Coast Eagles 23.10 (148) d St Ignatius Riverview 1.3 (9)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – East Coast (80, 225.93%), North Shore (80, 196.87%), Sydney Uni (70, 194.11%), St George (70, 103.92%), Pennant Hills (63.64, 179.04%), St Ignatius Riverview (45.45, 115.52%), Western Suburbs (36.36, 68.09%), UNSW-ES (33.33, 69.65%), Wollongong (30, 70.26%), Campbelltown (0, 8.90%).
Under 18s Challenge:
Southern Power 12.10 (82) d Moorebank Sports 7.1 (43)
Penrith d Macquarie Uni – forfeit
Holroyd-Parramatta 12.9 (81) d East Coast Eagles 7.8 (50)
Ladder (Match Ratio) – Penrith (100, 926.15%), Southern Power (72.73, 139.19), Holroyd-Parramatta (54.55, 96.43%), Manly-Warringah (50, 98.19%), Macquarie Uni (30, 47.37%), Moorebank Sports (27.27, 66.10%), East Coast (18.18, 45.53%).
THE RUN HOME:
The effect of Pennant Hills’ win over St George and Wests’ big result have eliminated UNSW-ES, Balmain and Wollongong from any mathematical chance of making the finals; and have also meant there is no mathematical way for Sydney Uni, East Coast and Wests to miss out.
Sydney Uni remain top of the ladder, although their percentage remains inferior to the other teams in the top 4. From here, the Students take on Pennant Hills next week but then don’t play another team currently in the top 5 before the finals.
A game behind the Students are East Coast and Wests. A further game behind is North Shore; with East Coast and Wests also having a superior percentage to the Bombers. Those teams have key games coming up against each other in the next three rounds, which may well determine who qualifies for the double-chance – beginning with next weekend’s match of the round when Wests take on East Coast at Henson. Those three teams all still also have games against the in-form Pennant Hills to come.
Pennant Hills, on the back of their three-game winning streak and Campbelltown’s three-game losing streak, have opened up a 3-game plus percentage break ahead of the Blues. The Demons may have left their run too late to qualify for the double-chance, but with games against all four teams above them still to come, the Demons will give themselves a chance if they can defeat those higher-ranked teams.
Campbelltown and St George still can mathematically make it, but in practical terms our final 5 is virtually ensured.
The remaining matches for teams still in contention are:
Sydney Uni (44, 148.50%) – Pennant Hills (Sydney Uni No 1), UNSW-ES (Syd Uni No 1), Wollongong (North Dalton), Campbelltown (Syd Uni No 1), St George (Olds).
East Coast (40, 192.13%) – Wests (Henson), North Shore (Bruce Purser), Campbelltown (Monarch), Wollongong (Bruce Purser), Pennant Hills (Ern Holmes).
Wests (40, 175.19%) – East Coast (Henson), Pennant Hills (Blacktown), North Shore (Blacktown), UNSW-ES (Henson), Wollongong (North Dalton).
North Shore (36, 153.49%) – Balmain (Drummoyne), East Coast (Bruce Purser), Wests (Blacktown), Pennant Hills (Gore Hill), Campbelltown (Blacktown).
Pennant Hills (32, 117.89%) – Sydney Uni (Sydney Uni No 1), Wests (Blacktown), Balmain (Ern Holmes), North Shore (Gore Hill), East Coast (Ern Holmes).
Campbelltown (20, 66.72%) – UNSW-ES (Village Green), St George (Olds), East Coast (Monarch), Sydney Uni (Syd Uni No 1), North Shore (Blacktown).
St George (16, 67.76%) – Wollongong (Blacktown), Campbelltown (Olds), UNSW-ES (Village Green), Balmain (Blacktown), Sydney Uni (Olds).
NEXT WEEK’S FIXTURES (Lurker’s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 17th July
Drummoyne Oval – Balmain Dockers v North Shore (1:40pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney University v Pennant Hills (6:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Wollongong (2:10pm)
Henson Park – Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (2:10pm)
First Division:
Saturday 17th July
Village Green – UNSW-ES v UTS (12pm)
Pittwater No 6 Oval – Manly-Warringah v North Shore (2:10pm)
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Wollongong (2:30pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Pennant Hills (4pm)
Sunday 18th July
Henson Park - Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (12pm)
Second Division:
Saturday 17th July
Drummoyne Oval – Balmain Dockers v NorWest Jets (11:30am)
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Manly-Warringah (2pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (2:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Southern Power (12pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Camden (2:10pm)
Third Division:
Saturday 17th July
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (12pm)
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Campbelltown (12:30pm)
Bruce Purser Oval – East Coast Eagles v Southern Power (2pm)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Pennant Hills (2:10pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Fourth Division:
Saturday 17th July
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UTS (10am)
University Oval – Mac Uni Kookas v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v NorWest Jets (12pm)
Mona Park – Auburn v Mac Uni Warriors (2:10pm)
Pioneers Park – Saints AFC v Southern Power (2:10pm)
Sunday 18th July
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Camden (12pm)
Under 18s Premier:
Friday 16th July
Sydney Uni No 1 – Sydney Uni v Pennant Hills (7:30pm)
Saturday 17th July
Gore Hill Oval – North Shore v Campbelltown (10am)
Sunday 18th July
Blacktown Olympic Park – St George v Wollongong (10am)
Henson Park – Western Suburbs v East Coast Eagles (10am)
St Ignatius Riverview and UNSW-ES have the bye.
Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 17th July
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Southern Power (8:30am)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank Sports v East Coast Eagles (10am)
Pittwater No 6 Oval – Manly-Warringah v Penrith (12pm)
Holroyd-Parramatta has the bye.