Phil Doyle
5th August 2002, 12:37
Sydney AFL Round 16
Top of the Table Thriller at North Sydney
Defending premiers North Shore lead competition leaders UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 48 points early in the third quarter in a low scoring game at North Sydney Oval last Saturday night.
At that stage the Bulldogs had failed to register a goal, and the Bombers had all of the running. A six-pointer by former Sandringham player David MacGeorge sparked a revival from the Bulldogs who rallied into the last stanza to come within a whisker of pulling off what would have been the biggest comeback of the season, the Bulldogs finally going down by two points.
The Bombers noticeably tired during the final term, no doubt a legacy of their crowded schedule that has seen them play three games in ten days.
North Shore started strongly, putting UNSW – Eastern Suburbs on the back foot from the start. The Bombers defence, led by Chris "Sideshow Bob" Bishop, pressured the Bulldogs attack, forcing it to continually break down across the half-forward line.
Bulldogs coach Tim Jones praised the North Shore effort after the game; particularly the pressure applied by the Bombers in the first half:
“We couldn’t get a clear avenue to goal and consequently we didn’t kick one.”
The win has particular significance in the lead up to the finals, with both of these sides expected to finish in the top two spots.
“We set our sights on starting well. It was great to come in with a good lead and we really put them under a lot of pressure,” said North Shore co-coach Simon Wilson after the game. “Our players know we’re good enough to beat the top team. It’s a real positive for us.
Earlier in the day Troy Luff’s Balmain Tigers completely dominated Campbelltown in summery conditions at Drummoyne Oval. The Tigers registered a big percentage boost in a game that became a fiery affair at times. Luff kicked nine, but young Karl Teske battled hard for the Panthers when moved onto the former AFL player.
Across town Pennant Hills led Wests at Wagener Oval before the Magpies played themselves back into the game, and finals contention, with a win over the Demons. The Magpies were without playing coach Laine Spencer, who is a very important part of their set up.
The wins to Wests and the Tigers set up an important clash for the final top four spot next week, with Spencer indicating that he may play himself on the free scoring Luff at Drummoyne Oval. The first time these two sides met Wests’ goal machine Lee Campbell was below par, with NSW representative defender Michael Ghobrial keeping the competition’s leading goal kicker quiet. Campbell is looking to lift for this occasion, which should have a bit of extra feeling with a number of ex-Balmain players lining up for Wests this year.
On Sunday at the SCG St George went out to a big lead early but was reigned in by a Redbacks side that kicked 5.8 in the final term. A number of Belconnen (ACTAFL) players lined up for the Redbacks, who fielded their strongest side in recent weeks, having a number of East Coast Eagles players to draw on with the Eagles having the bye.
In the end St George ran out winners with Craig O’Brien kicking five for the Crows.
Phil Doyle
Vili's Sydney AFL Round 16
Campbelltown v Balmain
Balmain: 8.4 14.10 20.16 26.21(174)
Campbelltown: 2.2 4.2 5.4 6.8(44)
Goals: Balmain T Luff 9 M Mackenzie 4 A Kypriannou 4 M Carey 2 T Cole 2 J Bartlett 2 B Howell W Cruse D Read Campbelltown R Moller M Bell M Kemp M Hocking M Williams T McDonald
Best: Balmain M Carey B Cheesman M Mackenzie T Luff J Cooney B Millar Campbelltown B Kingwill W Heath C Teske M Bell
Umpires: F Kalayzich W Hoskins P Carger
At: Drummoyne Oval.
Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills
Western Suburbs: 4.2 12.9 17.10 22.14(146)
Pennant Hills: 7.5 10.6 16.13 19.14(128)
Goals: Western Suburbs B Mooey 5 P Loakim 4 D Bugg 3 M Egan 2 J Poulos 2 S Thomlinson 2 D Odgers 2 B Freney C French Pennant Hills: A Brawn 5 P Carey 3 A Grossmann 3 S Jones 3 R Gerke 2 G Byrne 2 S Parker
Best: Western Suburbs M Egan D Bugg P Loakim N Lenton S Thomlinson B Murry Pennant Hills A Grossmann G Byrne P Carey S Jones D Boers M Hussen
Umpires: D Yole M Rendell N Angelos
At: Wagener Oval
North Shore v UNSW-ES
North Shore: 2.6 6.10 10.12 10.14(74)
UNSW-ES: 0.5 0.12 5.15 9.18(72)
Goals: North Shore M Parker 3 D Roberts 3 D Allen 2 T Kennett E Anderson UNSW-ES A Ryder 2 A Shields 2 D MacGeorge V Dell D Coupe S Ness A Pech
Best: North Shore C Bishop S Wilson D Kulk S Perrett T Kennett L Teasdale UNSW-ES B MacNamara B Flinn S Ness D Mitchelson J Caldwell
Umpires: D Samoljowicz A Lewis G Godfrey
At: North Sydney Oval
Sydney Redbacks v St George
St George: 5.2 8.3 13.5 15.7(97)
Sydney Redbacks: 1.2 3.5 5.9 10.17(77)
Goals: St George C O'Brien 5 M Ryan 3 R Underwood 2 M Gibson 2 D Donohoe G Garner N Tunbridge Sydney Redbacks T Hill 4 S McGlone 2 M Brewster C Priestland P Kefalas R Bilkey
Best: St George M Ryan R Underwood C Tongolini R Talbot G Garner D Donohoe Sydney Redbacks M Brewster S Uhi T Hill S McGlone M Sherry D Nankivell
Umpires: A Hoskins D Luck K Meade
At: SCG
Reserve Grade:
Balmain 11.9(75) bt Campbelltown 9.6(60)
Western Suburbs 10.7(67) bt Pennant Hills 8.15(63)
St George bt Pennant Hills Blue on Forfeit
North Shore 11.13(79) bt UNSW-ES 9.14(68)
Under 18:
Balmain 14.18(102) bt Campbelltown 7.6(48)
Western Suburbs 9.6(60) bt Pennant Hills 8.9(57)
North Shore bt UNSW-ES on forfeit
St George 10.13(73) bt Sydney Redbacks 6.3(39)
East Coast Eagles 25.21(171) bt NCC Hunters 2.5(17)
Sydney Football Association Round 16
Division 1:
Southern Sharks 17.7(109) bt UTS 13.7(85)
South West Sydney 16.10(106) bt Penrith 10.8(68)
Holroyd Parramatta 15.10(100) bt Nor West Jets 3.2(20)
Reserve Grade:
UTS 9.8(62) bt Southern Sharks 8.8(56)
South West Sydney 20.13(133) bt Penrith 11.5(71)
Nor West Jets 8.9(57) bt Holroyd Parramatta 7.14(56)
Division 2:
UTS 19.21(135) bt Sydney Uni Red 1.6(12)
Sydney Uni Blue 13.14(92) bt UNSW-ES 6.8(44)
South West Sydney 0.0() bt Southern Sharks on forfeit
Top of the Table Thriller at North Sydney
Defending premiers North Shore lead competition leaders UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 48 points early in the third quarter in a low scoring game at North Sydney Oval last Saturday night.
At that stage the Bulldogs had failed to register a goal, and the Bombers had all of the running. A six-pointer by former Sandringham player David MacGeorge sparked a revival from the Bulldogs who rallied into the last stanza to come within a whisker of pulling off what would have been the biggest comeback of the season, the Bulldogs finally going down by two points.
The Bombers noticeably tired during the final term, no doubt a legacy of their crowded schedule that has seen them play three games in ten days.
North Shore started strongly, putting UNSW – Eastern Suburbs on the back foot from the start. The Bombers defence, led by Chris "Sideshow Bob" Bishop, pressured the Bulldogs attack, forcing it to continually break down across the half-forward line.
Bulldogs coach Tim Jones praised the North Shore effort after the game; particularly the pressure applied by the Bombers in the first half:
“We couldn’t get a clear avenue to goal and consequently we didn’t kick one.”
The win has particular significance in the lead up to the finals, with both of these sides expected to finish in the top two spots.
“We set our sights on starting well. It was great to come in with a good lead and we really put them under a lot of pressure,” said North Shore co-coach Simon Wilson after the game. “Our players know we’re good enough to beat the top team. It’s a real positive for us.
Earlier in the day Troy Luff’s Balmain Tigers completely dominated Campbelltown in summery conditions at Drummoyne Oval. The Tigers registered a big percentage boost in a game that became a fiery affair at times. Luff kicked nine, but young Karl Teske battled hard for the Panthers when moved onto the former AFL player.
Across town Pennant Hills led Wests at Wagener Oval before the Magpies played themselves back into the game, and finals contention, with a win over the Demons. The Magpies were without playing coach Laine Spencer, who is a very important part of their set up.
The wins to Wests and the Tigers set up an important clash for the final top four spot next week, with Spencer indicating that he may play himself on the free scoring Luff at Drummoyne Oval. The first time these two sides met Wests’ goal machine Lee Campbell was below par, with NSW representative defender Michael Ghobrial keeping the competition’s leading goal kicker quiet. Campbell is looking to lift for this occasion, which should have a bit of extra feeling with a number of ex-Balmain players lining up for Wests this year.
On Sunday at the SCG St George went out to a big lead early but was reigned in by a Redbacks side that kicked 5.8 in the final term. A number of Belconnen (ACTAFL) players lined up for the Redbacks, who fielded their strongest side in recent weeks, having a number of East Coast Eagles players to draw on with the Eagles having the bye.
In the end St George ran out winners with Craig O’Brien kicking five for the Crows.
Phil Doyle
Vili's Sydney AFL Round 16
Campbelltown v Balmain
Balmain: 8.4 14.10 20.16 26.21(174)
Campbelltown: 2.2 4.2 5.4 6.8(44)
Goals: Balmain T Luff 9 M Mackenzie 4 A Kypriannou 4 M Carey 2 T Cole 2 J Bartlett 2 B Howell W Cruse D Read Campbelltown R Moller M Bell M Kemp M Hocking M Williams T McDonald
Best: Balmain M Carey B Cheesman M Mackenzie T Luff J Cooney B Millar Campbelltown B Kingwill W Heath C Teske M Bell
Umpires: F Kalayzich W Hoskins P Carger
At: Drummoyne Oval.
Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills
Western Suburbs: 4.2 12.9 17.10 22.14(146)
Pennant Hills: 7.5 10.6 16.13 19.14(128)
Goals: Western Suburbs B Mooey 5 P Loakim 4 D Bugg 3 M Egan 2 J Poulos 2 S Thomlinson 2 D Odgers 2 B Freney C French Pennant Hills: A Brawn 5 P Carey 3 A Grossmann 3 S Jones 3 R Gerke 2 G Byrne 2 S Parker
Best: Western Suburbs M Egan D Bugg P Loakim N Lenton S Thomlinson B Murry Pennant Hills A Grossmann G Byrne P Carey S Jones D Boers M Hussen
Umpires: D Yole M Rendell N Angelos
At: Wagener Oval
North Shore v UNSW-ES
North Shore: 2.6 6.10 10.12 10.14(74)
UNSW-ES: 0.5 0.12 5.15 9.18(72)
Goals: North Shore M Parker 3 D Roberts 3 D Allen 2 T Kennett E Anderson UNSW-ES A Ryder 2 A Shields 2 D MacGeorge V Dell D Coupe S Ness A Pech
Best: North Shore C Bishop S Wilson D Kulk S Perrett T Kennett L Teasdale UNSW-ES B MacNamara B Flinn S Ness D Mitchelson J Caldwell
Umpires: D Samoljowicz A Lewis G Godfrey
At: North Sydney Oval
Sydney Redbacks v St George
St George: 5.2 8.3 13.5 15.7(97)
Sydney Redbacks: 1.2 3.5 5.9 10.17(77)
Goals: St George C O'Brien 5 M Ryan 3 R Underwood 2 M Gibson 2 D Donohoe G Garner N Tunbridge Sydney Redbacks T Hill 4 S McGlone 2 M Brewster C Priestland P Kefalas R Bilkey
Best: St George M Ryan R Underwood C Tongolini R Talbot G Garner D Donohoe Sydney Redbacks M Brewster S Uhi T Hill S McGlone M Sherry D Nankivell
Umpires: A Hoskins D Luck K Meade
At: SCG
Reserve Grade:
Balmain 11.9(75) bt Campbelltown 9.6(60)
Western Suburbs 10.7(67) bt Pennant Hills 8.15(63)
St George bt Pennant Hills Blue on Forfeit
North Shore 11.13(79) bt UNSW-ES 9.14(68)
Under 18:
Balmain 14.18(102) bt Campbelltown 7.6(48)
Western Suburbs 9.6(60) bt Pennant Hills 8.9(57)
North Shore bt UNSW-ES on forfeit
St George 10.13(73) bt Sydney Redbacks 6.3(39)
East Coast Eagles 25.21(171) bt NCC Hunters 2.5(17)
Sydney Football Association Round 16
Division 1:
Southern Sharks 17.7(109) bt UTS 13.7(85)
South West Sydney 16.10(106) bt Penrith 10.8(68)
Holroyd Parramatta 15.10(100) bt Nor West Jets 3.2(20)
Reserve Grade:
UTS 9.8(62) bt Southern Sharks 8.8(56)
South West Sydney 20.13(133) bt Penrith 11.5(71)
Nor West Jets 8.9(57) bt Holroyd Parramatta 7.14(56)
Division 2:
UTS 19.21(135) bt Sydney Uni Red 1.6(12)
Sydney Uni Blue 13.14(92) bt UNSW-ES 6.8(44)
South West Sydney 0.0() bt Southern Sharks on forfeit