SYDNEY AFL ROUND 5 2012
Article & Photos by Michael Shillito

As April turns into May, the ladder for the 2012 season is already beginning to take shape. We have six teams that look likely to battle it out for five finals places, two others slightly off the pace but still in the running if they can lift slightly, and three that require a massive turnaround in their fortunes if they are to become finals contenders.

At Gore Hill Oval, North Shore took on Wests. The Bombers, after a narrow loss to Pennant Hills in the opening round, had then completed good wins against Campbelltown and St George. The Magpies were looking for their first win of the season, and came into the game after a 20-goal loss to Balmain on Anzac Day.
But the Magpies came to play early, goaling in the opening minute. Starting the game with some committed football, tackling hard and doing their best efforts to frustrate the North Shore game, it gave an all too rare glimpse into the football that the Magpies would like to play as it took ten minutes for the Bombers to kick their first goal and level the scores.
But once the Bombers had broken their duck, the Wests’ resistance quickly crumbled and four more would follow in quick succession. Nick Todd, formerly of Balmain, moved up forward and got away from his opponent to lead and mark three times in the opening term.
Fears of a Magpie meltdown, however, were eased during time-on. The defence tightened, the Bombers not allowed to create the space they had during the midway stage of the quarter. Two late goals eased the pressure before quarter time, and when Josh Zoppo was ridden in the back early in the second term, suddenly the margin was back to eight points.
Could the Magpies continue their revival and put the Bombers under genuine scoreboard pressure? For a few fleeting minutes, the Magpies had the upper hand and the momentum. But a young and inexperienced side could match it with the North Shore juggernaut no longer, and the remainder of the quarter saw North Shore take control.


The circuit-breaker came with a 60 metre torp by Dale Fitzgerald on the run. A minute later, Pat Codling, no longer wearing the helmet that was a distinguishing feature in his breakout year last season, drifted forward to add another. A five goal quarter saw North Shore leading by 42 points at the long break and looking good.
The floodgates opened in the third term, as the Bombers added seven goals to one to ensure their win would be a big win. Wests tried hard all day, but a side that many predicted to struggle this season has been decimated further by injuries; and although their effort couldn’t be faulted, they didn’t have the firepower to match it with the fit and firing Bombers.
In the end, the margin was 93 points; a reflection of North Shore’s ability to turn on a run of quick goals when they get on top, but a margin that didn’t do justice to Wests’ continued attempts to contest every possession. When their injured troops return to the lineup later in the season, some wins will surely come.
Nick Todd kicked five goals for North Shore, his best return in a red and black jumper. Sam Carruthers was far and away the best on ground, while Pat Codling and Nick Todd were also prominent. For the Magpies, Jamie Scott, Stephen Hudson and Josh Zoppo never gave up and continued to contest until the end.

Campbelltown remain winless in 2012, but the Blues showed some positive signs that their early season slow form is beginning to turn around. They finished the closest to any opponent they have been this season, going down by 21 points to UTS at Monarch on Saturday afternoon.
The Bats had the better of the early exchanges to lead by 11 points at quarter time; but the second term saw the Blues finally string some goals together and put scoreboard pressure on an opponent. Five goals to one for the quarter brightened the spirits of the home crowd as the Blues returned to the sheds at half time with a 13 point lead.


But the premiership quarter would let the Blues down, as the Bats tightened to screws and the Blues were unable to build on their half-time position. The Bats added five goals for the quarter while holding the Blues to just one point. The Bats were back in control, and although the margin was only 17 points at the last change, the Blues hopes of breaking through for the first win of the season had gone. The Bats kicked three goals to two in the last quarter to put the issue beyond doubt.
For UTS, their four-game winning streak gives them a share of the competition lead, already surpassing their tally from their first year in Premier Division. David Lavender found the open spaces on the big Monarch ground to his liking as he finished with five goals; while Roch Hanmore, Tim Wallace and Fergus Adamson were among UTS’s best. For the Blues, Shane Doherty contributed four goals, while Paul Green, Bryce Martin and Alex Sneddon were among their top possession winners.

Top spot was up for grabs at the Village Green, with UNSW-ES hosting St George. And the game was a thriller, a game worthy of a clash between two of the competition’s front-runners.
It began as a high-scoring shootout, with both sides’ forward lines presenting plenty of options. Ten goals were scored in the opening term, with the Dragons scoring six of them to lead by 12 points at the first change. But although the game tightened up in the second term, the Bulldogs were still able to conjure up four goals to hit the front and lead by 11 points at the long break.
The second half was to be one of constantly twisting fortunes, with multiple lead changes and the result remaining in doubt until the end. The Dragons were back in front by a point at three quarter time, and scores were level several times during the last term. But, with the result up for grabs, it was the Bulldogs who stood up when it mattered most to score the final goal and win by just five points.
Jeremy Kiel, Joel Robbie and Hayden Nichols were prominent performers for the Bulldogs; while Jordan West, Pat McBride and Ben Jones were solid workers all afternoon for the Dragons. A thrilling contest, decided by a kick, a preview of what may well come around at the business end of the season, in which UNSW-ES and St George may well figure prominently.

Twilight tales at Sydney Uni No 1 saw Pennant Hills maintain their grip on a top-five position as the Demons were 50 points too good for the Sydney Uni.
The first half gave promise the game would be considerably closer than that. The Students may be yet to record their first win of the season, but were keen to break their drought; and they made an impression with a string of early goals, having hopes of an upset as they led by five points at quarter time. On the small Sydney Uni ground, there’s plenty of score for high scores by teams that go direct, and both teams attempted to do that during a high-scoring second term that saw the Demons edge past the Students in the final stages of the quarter to lead by four points at half time.
But Sydney Uni’s hopes of pulling off a win were dashed by a lacklustre third quarter in which the Demons took control. Day was turning into night, the sun setting on the Students’ hopes as the Demons added seven goals to one to lead by 37 points at the last change. By then, the Demons had the game in their keeping, and could have won by even more but were let down by some sloppy finishing in the last quarter, in which they kicked 4.8.
Ranga Ediriwickrama finished with five goals for the Demons, while Brandon Jack weighed in with four. Alex Goodall, Tim Wales and Kieran Wright were among Pennant Hills’ best. For the Students, Alex Crowe, Michael Figg and Jacob Swarts worked hard all evening.

The only Sunday game in Premier Division for the round was at Henson Park, with Balmain playing host to Illawarra. And the Dockers wasted no time in racing out of the blocks, looking to set up a big win. Running rings around the Lions’ defence, the Dockers ran away with seven goals to two in the opening term to lead by 35 points at quarter time. The Lions attempted to get back into the game in the second term, but were their own worst enemy with a string of wasted chances. 1.6 for the quarter prevented the Lions from getting any closer, the margin getting out to 49 points.
In the third term, it was the Dockers who were getting the yips in front of goal, but sheer weight of opportunities kept the scoreboard ticking over. The margin was out to 60 points at the last change, but the last quarter was a blowout. With the game out of Illawarra’s reach, their resistance could go no further in the final term, the Dockers in command with ten unanswered goals.
The final margin was 124 points. For Balmain, this is a purple patch of form, with two games in a row being won by over 20 goals. On the forward line, Shelby Lee-Steere was a handy target, finishing with five goals in a best on ground performance. Dane Noble and Craig White were also among Balmain’s best. For the Lions, Ken Ewen-Chappell, Rhys Cutifani and Troy Bartlett continued to persevere despite the disappointment of the game that was unfolding.



PREMIER DIVISION – ROUND 5

UTS 4.0, 5.3, 10.4, 13.5 (83)
CAMPBELLTOWN 2.1, 7.4, 7.5, 9.8 (62)
GOALS,
UTS :
D. Lavender 5, P. Healey 3, D. McFarlane 2, M. Davis 2, R. Kirkhope 1
CAMPBELLTOWN : S. Doherty 4, J. Van Luenen 2, B. Joynson 1, P. Green 1, D. Linsen 1

BEST,
UTS :
R. Hanmore, T. Wallace, F. Adamson, H. Turner, F. Boland, S. Horan
CAMPBELLTOWN : P. Green, B. Martin, A. Sneddon, S. Doherty, J. Hole, M. Linsen
UMPIRES: Monarch Oval
GROUND: A. Talbot, C. Barr, T. Fletcher

UNSW/ES 4.4, 8.9, 11.9, 13.15 (93)
ST GEORGE 6.4, 7.6, 11.8, 13.10 (88)
GOALS,
UNSW/ES :
E. Kiel 2, J. Kiel 2, B. Way 2, S. Tagliabue 2, T. Garrett 1, T. Williamson 1, A. Gulden 1, R. Troon 1, L. Lavery 1
ST GEORGE : J. Saddington 4, P. Sain 3, N. Ryan 3, M. Graham 1, J. West 1, N. Kenny 1
BEST,
UNSW/ES :
J. Kiel, J. Robbie, H. Nichols, R. Troon, L. Lavery, A. Henderson
ST GEORGE : J. West, P. McBride, B. Jones, L. Perris, J. Saddington, B. Voigt
UMPIRES: D. Garroway, A. Lewis, C. Fletcher
GROUND: Village Green

NORTH SHORE 5.4, 10.8, 17.11, 22.15 (147)
WESTERN SUBURBS 3.1, 4.2, 5.4, 8.6 (54)
GOALS,
NORTH SHORE :
N. Todd 5, P. Codling 3, Z. Manley 3, S. Carruthers 2, P. Brackin 2, B. Fitzgerald 2, S. Schmidt 2, D. Fitzgerald 1, R. Lynch 1, E. Sertbas 1
WESTERN SUBURBS : J. Zoppo 3, J. Lear 1, D. Hassett 1, J. Codd-Miller 1, S. Hudson 1, S. Pearson 1
BEST,
NORTH SHORE : S. Carruthers, P. Codling, N. Todd, R. Wason, L. Pryor, S. Naismith
WESTERN SUBURBS : J. Scott, S. Hudson, J. Zoppo, J. Newbury, T. Lambert, J. Codd-Miller
UMPIRES: D. Newell, M. Richards, P. Barron
GROUND: Gore Hill Oval

PENNANT HILLS 3.5, 8.9, 15.9, 19.17 (131)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 4.4, 8.5, 9.8, 12.9 (81)
GOALS,
PENNANT HILLS :
R. Ediriwickrama 5, B. Jack 4, T. Edmonds 1, T. Wales 1, A. Crisfield 1, L. Bilbe 1, B. Jack 1, D. Witt 1, N. Baglin 1, C. Barton 1, S. Widmer 1, M. Carey 1
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY : M. Figg 3, M. Carter 2, J. Braico 2, K. Underwood 1, J. Cheah 1, M. Lemme 1, B. Fitzpatrick 1, P. Casey 1
BEST,
PENNANT HILLS :
A. Goodall, T. Wales, K. Wright, R. Ediriwickrama, B. Jack, S. Widmer
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY : A. Crowe, M. Figg, J. Swarts, N. Bowen, M. Carter, S. Power
UMPIRES: F. Kalayzich, M. Hayter, W. Macarthur
GROUND: Sydney University No 1 Oval

BALMAIN 7.7, 10.13, 13.19, 23.27 (165)
ILLAWARRA 2.0, 3.6, 5.7, 5.11 (41)
GOALS,
BALMAIN :
S. Lee-Steere 5, J. Howard 3, C. White 3, S. Bowen 2, J. Kennedy 2, L. Conway 2, M. Round 1, K. Ericson 1, D. Lloyd 1, T. Matson 1, B. Taggart 1, T. Stevens 1
ILLAWARRA : R. Cutifani 2, T. Bartlett 1, T. Green 1, L. Rutter 1
BEST,
BALMAIN :
S. Lee-Steere, D. Noble, C. White, T. Stevens, G. Wilkie, L. Conway
ILLAWARRA : K. Ewen-Chappel, R. Cutifani, T. Bartlett, T. Green, L. Rutter, C. Hally-Burton
UMPIRES: A. Grosas, M. Peck, M. Hopkins
GROUND: Henson Park

SYDNEY HILLS EAGLES – BYE

Ladder:
UNSW/ES 80%
UTS 80%
Balmain 75%
North Shore 75%
Pennant Hills 75%
St George 60%
Sydney Hills Eagles 50%
Illawarra 40%
Western Suburbs 0
Campbelltown 0
Sydney University 0

DIVISION ONE- ROUND 5
North Shore 15.11 (101) d Western Suburbs 7.7 (49)
Pennant Hills 8.6 (54) d Holroyd Parramatta 7.10 (52)
Manly Warringah 12.20 (92) d Penrith 2.2 (14)
Macquarie University 8.11 (59) d UTS 3.7 (25)
Southern Power 22.18 (15) d UNSW/ES 2.2 (14)
Sydney Hills Eagles– Bye

DIVISION TWO – ROUND 5
UNSW/ES 10.12 (72) d St George 8.10 (58)
Sydney University 18.19 (127) d Nor West 5.0 (30)
Manly Warringah 11.8 (74) d Camden 7.8 (50)
Moorebank 24.21 (165) d Auburn 4.1 (25)
Balmain 10.15 (75) d Illawarra 7.13 (55)

DIVISION THREE – ROUND 5
Moorebank 9.14 (68) d Western Suburbs 7.8 (50)
Sydney Hills Eagles 9.6 (60) d Southern Power 6.10 (46)
UTS 32.23 (215) d Campbelltown 0.1 (1)
Saints afc 18.14 (122) d Macquarie University 4.9 (33)
Sydney University 9.14 (68) d Blacktown 7.4 (46)

DIVISION FOUR – ROUND 5
Gosford 31.16 (202) d North Shore 3.3 (21)
Nor West 17.13 (115) d Holroyd Parramatta 12.13 (85)
Penrith 15.15 (105) d Manly Warringah 2.3 (15)
UTS 20.18 (138) d Macquarie University 2.3 (15)
UNSW/ES 17.15 (117) d Southern Power 5.9 (39)


DIVISION FIVE – ROUND 5
Sydney University 14.19 (103) d Penrith 1.5 (11)
UTS 12.10 (82) d Moorebank 10.5 (65)
Saints afc d Macquarie University by forfeit
UNSW/ES 19.22 (136) d Holroyd Parramatta 3.5 (23)
Camden – Bye

UNDER 18 DIVISION ONE – ROUND 5
Western Suburbs 8.11 (59) d North Shore 0.0 (0)
UNSW/ES 8.10 (58) d St George 5.3 (33)
Illawarra 21.17 (143) d Penrith 5.3 (33)
Sydney University 13.13 (91) d Pennant Hills 5.9 (39)
St Ignatius Riverview & Sydney Hills Eagles – Bye

UNDER 18 DIVISION TWO - ROUND 2
Balmain 17.17 (119) d Macquarie University 6.9 (45)
All other teams – Bye

WOMENS – ROUND 4
Balmain 34.24 (228) d UTS Shamrocks 0.0 (0)
Sydney University 7.5 (47) d Western Wolves 3.2 (20)
Macquarie University 13.8 (86) d Penrith 1.3 (9)
Wollongong 11.10 (76) d UNSW Stingrays 3.2 (20)
Southern Power 5.12 (42) d Auburn 0.2 (2)





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

Premier Division:
Saturday 12th May
Bruce Purser Reserve – Sydney Hills Eagles v North Shore (2:10pm)
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
North Dalton Oval – Illawarra v Western Suburbs (6:10pm)
Sunday 13th May
Henson Park – Balmain v UTS (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval – Sydney Uni v UNSW-ES (3:10pm)
BYE – St George.

Division One:
Saturday 12th May
Bruce Purser Reserve – Sydney Hills v North Shore (12pm)
Ern Holmes Oval – Pennant Hills v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v UTS (2:10pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v UNSW-ES (2:30pm)
Weldon Oval – Manly-Warringah v Western Suburbs (4:10pm)
BYE – Southern Power.

Division Two:
Saturday 12th May
North Dalton Oval – Illawarra v NorWest (2pm)
Weldon Oval – Manly-Warringah v St George (2pm)
Harrington Park – Camden v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Mona Park – Auburn v Balmain (2:10pm)
Village Green – UNSW-ES v Moorebank (2:10pm)

Division Three:
Saturday 12th May
Gwawley Oval – Southern Power v Saints AFC (12pm)
Trumper Park – UTS v Moorebank (12:30pm)
Blacktown ISP No 2 – Blacktown v Western Suburbs (2:10pm)
University Oval – Macquarie Uni v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Sunday 13th May
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval – Sydney Uni v Sydney Hills (9:30am)



Division Four:
Saturday 12th May
Village Green – UNSW-ES v North Shore (12pm)
Weldon Oval – Manly-Warringah v UTS (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Penrith (12:30pm)
Adcock Park – Gosford v Southern Power (1pm)
Bensons Lane – NorWest v Macquarie Uni (2:10pm)

Division Five:
Saturday 12th May
Trumper Park – UTS v Saints AFC (8:30am)
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Penrith (10:30am)
Harrington Park – Camden v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
BYE – Macquarie Uni.



Under 18s One:
Saturday 12th May
Bruce Purser Reserve – Sydney Hills v North Shore (10am)
Greygums Oval – Penrith v St Ignatius Riverview (12pm)
North Dalton Oval – Illawarra v Western Suburbs (4pm)
Sunday 13th May
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval – Sydney Uni v UNSW-ES (5:45pm)
BYE – Pennant Hills, St George.

Under 18s Two:
Saturday 12th May
Gipps Rd Oval – Holroyd-Parramatta v Saints AFC (8:30am)
Weldon Oval – Manly-Warringah v Macquarie Uni (10am)
Rosedale Oval – Moorebank v Southern Power (12pm)
Sunday 13th May
Henson Park – Balmain v NorWest (10am)
BYE – Sydney Hills.