Sydney AFL Round 12 - High-Flying Eagles Make Their Move

***Norris Lurker*** · 7th July 2008, 12:07 AM

SYDNEY AFL ROUND 12 - Eagles Flying High
A minute's silence in memory of Doug Scholz

The Sydney AFL community was rocked in the leadup to round 12 with the news of the passing of Doug Sholz. Sholz had previously played at Pennant Hills and East Coast and had coached at both those clubs and at Balmain. He was also one of the original commentators for Digital Sports and Fox Footy when they began covering Sydney AFL in 2003. His loss will be felt through Sydney football, particularly at the East Coast Eagles where he was a life member and was still actively involved in the club. Before the Eagles took on North Shore in the match of the round on Saturday afternoon, Eagles' past president Peter Physick spoke a tribute to Doug Scholz and a minute's silence was held; with both teams wearing black armbands for the match.

But once the match started, it was clear that the Eagles had come to play. After a subdued opening, the Eagles hit their straps with 5 unanswered goals. The Bombers' backline was struggling to keep in contact with their fitter opponents, with Bowles and Byerlee continuing to make space in the pocket and showed considerable accuracy with some shots from tight angles. But the real damage was to be done in the second quarter, with the Eagles dominating possession to run through 12 goals to 3 and already the contest was over.

Luke Stanford on the wing was collecting possessions at will, while Byerlee and Ben Rogers were proving handy targets up forward. Gus Seebeck was also an ominous presence, either collecting goals up forward or taking hit-outs in the ruck. But it was hard to nominate an Eagle player who lowered their colours during an awe-inspiring performance. The Eagles came to Gore Hill determined to put in a big performance, and would have gone away satisfied in every way with their efforts. Matt Arbon opens the scoring
After the half-time break the Bombers attempted to tighten the defence, but confidence was down and in the end all they were able to do was prevent the Eagles from racking up the double-century scoreline that looked likely at half-time. But this was East Coast's day, with the Eagles recording a 128-point victory; and a percentage boost to consolidate their grip on 2nd spot on the ladder, just one game behind leaders UNSW-ES with a better percentage. Adam Byerlee scored 5 for the Eagles; Ben Rogers and Gus Seebeck 4 each; while Bowles, Floyd and Smyth each contributed 3 and a total of 12 Eagle players got their names onto the goalscorers' list.

The return of Peter Dugmore and Mitchell Cers to the St George lineup was the tonic to get the Crows back onto the winners' list, with both returning players scoring 5 goals in the Crows' 43-point win over Campbelltown. St George had the better of the opening exchanges, recording 22 scoring shots to 9 in the first half; and although it was goal for goal after that point the Blues never looked likely to peg back the deficit. It was a result that kept the Crows within sight of the double-chance in the finals; but one which will leave the Blues with a tough uphill climb to take part in the playoffs this season.

Pennant Hills maintained their spot in the top 3 with a 48-point win over Wests in a high-scoring shootout at Picken Oval. On the small Picken ground, both sides were finding scoring easy and matching the contest with each other, with multiple lead changes in the first half and the Magpies leading by 15 points at the long break. But the Demons took control of the match in the third quarter, scoring 10 goals to 1 and putting the match out of Wests' reach. Back at full-forward against his former club, Laine Spencer was the focal point of the Demons' offence with 7 goals; while Scott Myers and Clint Setford each scored 3. For the Magpies, Matt Eurell continued his purple patch of goalkicking with a bag of 6, while Matt Withers gave him good support with 5 goals. Luke Byerlee takes a low mark

It was also high-scoring action at the Village Green, where UNSW-ES maintained their grip on top spot with a 36-point win over Balmain. But the margin should have been considerably larger, with the Bulldogs' accuracy deserting them on the day and holding them to 18.33. Brad Abbott scored 5 for the Bulldogs and Troy Luff 4, but the Bulldog forward line will be rueing the chances that got away. For the Dockers, who continued to try hard all day and whose pressure was a factor in the Bulldogs' inaccuracy, Ryan Officer and Jarryd Boyd each scored 3 goals. But for the Bulldogs, this was an opportunity for a percentage booster that got away, and with East Coast Eagles breathing down their neck this could be costly when the ladder positions are determined.

Sydney Uni returned to the top 5, but were made to fight for their victory by a determined Wollongong side who pushed the Students every step of the way. The Students led by 21 points at the long break, but a fightback from the Lions cut the margin to just 6 points at the last change and shortly after the restart scores were level. But the Students stood up strongly when the match was there to be won, regaining the lead and closing down the Wollongong attack to record a 21-point win. Alex Lee was again the difference up forward, scoring 5 for the Students while Angus Scott scored 3. For the Lions, Troy Bartlett spearheaded their charge with 4 goals. Lachlan Pryor lays a tackle

In First Division, UTS maintained their dominance of the competition with a 129-point win over Southern Sharks. Second-placed Manly recorded a 55-point win over Camden at Weldon Oval. The battle between Macquarie Uni and Holroyd-Parramatta for the last finals berth continues, with both clubs recording wins. Macquarie Uni were 127 points too good for Penrith, while the Goannas recorded a 78-point win over NorWest Jets at Bensons Lane.

East Coast Eagles 5.5 17.5 24.8 29.11 (185)

North Shore 0.3 3.6 4.7 8.9 (57)

Goals : East Coast - A Byerlee 5, B Rogers 4, G Seebeck 4, D Bowles 3, A Floyd 3, R Smyth 3, J Vlatko 2, D Chapman, L Furlan, M Arbon, S Ryan, L Stanford. North Shore - R Wason 2, D Conway, J Watters, L Pryor, M Voyage, A Kallos, R Meldrum.

Reserves - East Coast 13.12 (90) d North Shore 6.7 (43)

At Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 5th July 2008. Centre bounce

St George 6.5 12.10 15.12 18.17 (125)

Campbelltown 3.2 7.2 10.3 13.4 (82)

Goals : St George - P Dugmore 5, M Cers 5, M Goolagong 4, D Williams 2, J Shineberg, S Wilsen. Campbelltown - B Reid 3, C Lees 3, S Kershaw 2, M Edwins, M Keys, C Everson, T Wright, A Condon.

Reserves - St George 23.31 (169) d Campbelltown 0.1 (1)

At Monarch Oval, Saturday 5th July 2008.

Pennant Hills 8.1 11.3 21.6 25.14 (164)

Western Suburbs 7.1 13.6 14.9 17.14 (116)

Goals : Pennant Hills - L Spencer 7, S Myers 3, C Setford 3, M Carter 2, C Richardson 2, A Goodall 2, B Jack 2, B Mill, J Trestrail, J Low, T Angel. Wests - M Eurell 6, M Withers 5, C French 2, B Bray 2, S Kassem, S Hudson.

Reserves - Pennant Hills 21.14 (140) d Wests 5.3 (33)

At Picken Oval, Saturday 5th July 2008.

Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 4.10 7.17 12.27 18.33 (141)

Balmain 3.1 7.4 11.5 16.9 (105)

Goals : UNSW-ES - B Abbott 5, T Luff 4, A Heffernan 3, D Rampe 2, M Collett 2, B Haberley, O Sidlo-Jones. Balmain - J Boyd 3, R Officer 3, A Cottrell 2, D Turner 2, D Napper, D Brian, J Dickens, B Dixon, N Todd, K Underwood.

Reserves - UNSW-ES 29.15 (189) d Balmain 5.2 (32)

At Village Green, Saturday 5th July 2008.

Sydney University 4.2 8.6 10.10 nbsp; 13.17 (95)

Wollongong 3.1 5.3 10.5 12.9 (81)

Goals : Sydney Uni - A Lee 5, A Scott 3, N Bibby 2, J Champion de Crespign, M Egan, M Healy. Wollongong - T Bartlett 4, M Toussis 2, M Weavers, P Murphy, R Neels, C Wells, A Holmes, G Batty.

Reserves - Sydney Uni 20.19 (139) d Wollongong 2.6 (18)

At Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 5th July 2008.

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Pts	%age	Streak
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs	12	10	0	2	1,415	1,004	40	140.94	W1
East Coast Eagles	12	9	0	3	1,373	876	36	154.74	W6
Pennant Hills	12	9	0	3	1,378	1,006	36	136.98	W2
St George	12	9	0	3	1,131	920	36	122.93	W1
Sydney University	12	6	0	6	1,257	1,146	24	109.69	W1
Western Suburbs	12	6	0	6	1,094	1,144	24	95.63	L1
North Shore	12	5	0	7	930	1,262	20	73.69	L1
Campbelltown	12	4	0	8	873	1,275	16	68.47	L1
Wollongong	12	1	0	11	933	1,233	4	76.29	L9
Balmain	12	1	0	11	899	1,427	4	63.00	L6

First Division:

Holroyd-Parramatta 18.12 (120) d NorWest Jets 6.6 (42)

Manly-Warringah 20.17 (137) d Camden 12.10 (82)

Macquarie Uni 29.18 (192) d Penrith 10.5 (65)

UTS 22.20 (152) d Southern Sharks 3.5 (23)

Reserve Grade

Holroyd-Parramatta 9.10 (64) d NorWest Jets 10.3 (63)

Manly-Warringah 31.18 (204) d Camden 3.2 (20)

Macquarie Uni 26.17 (173) d Penrith 3.2 (20)

UTS 17.10 (112) d Southern Sharks 8.7 (55)

Second Division:

Sydney Uni Blue 21.9 (135) d UTS 2.5 (17)

Pennant Hills 21.16 (142) d Holroyd-Parramatta 4.1 (25)

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 19.9 (123) d Manly-Warringah 6.6 (42)

Sydney Uni Red 11.13 (79) d Macquarie Uni 8.5 (53)

Moorebank Sports 17.11 (113) d UNSW-ES Whales 11.5 (71) Phil Entwistle gets a centre break

Under 18s Premier:

North Shore Bombers 15.10 (100) d East Coast Eagles 3.7 (25)

Campbelltown 7.14 (56) d St George 6.5 (41)

Western Suburbs 9.12 (66) d Pennant Hills 6.12 (48)

North Shore Bears 15.13 (103) d Wollongong 11.3 (69)

Under 18s Challenge:

Macquarie Uni 12.19 (91) d Penrith 6.5 (41)

Southern Sharks 15.7 (97) d Moorebank Sports 8.8 (56)

East Coast Eagles 9.6 (60) d Pennant Hills 7.6 (48)

UNSW-ES 17.12 (114) d Manly-Warringah 10.6 (66)

THE RUN HOME:

At the 2/3 mark of the season, the battle for finals positions is still up in the air. The way the results have fallen, it's a good thing the league decided to go with a final 5 system this year - with a 3-game break between 4th and 5th, the finals race may already have been close to decided had the final 4 still been in place.

UNSW-ES remain on top, one game clear of 3 teams in positions 2-4. Of those teams, East Coast Eagles have a superior percentage, but Pennant Hills and St George's percentages are less than those of UNSW-ES. Those teams are probably all safe in the finals, with a 3-game break.

5th place is likely to be a playoff between Sydney Uni and Wests. Both teams are level on games, but Sydney Uni have a better percentage. North Shore are only a game behind Sydney Uni and Wests, but the Bombers also have a considerably lower percentage and effectively would need to win one more game than both the Students and Magpies to hope to qualify; but the Bombers have the easiest run home with the last 4 games at home. Campbelltown are now only a mathematical chance to make the finals, while Wollongong and Balmain will be looking towards 2009. Boundary throw-in

The remaining matches for the teams still in contention are (Black=probable, blue=contender, red=non-finallist) :

1. UNSW-ES (40 pts, 140.94%) - Wests (Village Green), North Shore (Henson), Sydney Uni (Sydney Uni No 1), St George (Village Green), Campbelltown (Monarch), Pennant Hills (Village Green)

2. East Coast (36 pts, 154.74%) - Campbelltown (Charles McLaughlin), St George (Charles McLaughlin), Balmain (Drummoyne), Wollongong (Charles McLaughlin), Pennant Hills (Ern Holmes), Wests (Charles McLaughlin)

3. Pennant Hills (36 pts, 136.98%) - Sydney Uni (Ern Holmes), Campbelltown (Monarch), Wollongong (Ern Holmes), Balmain (Drummoyne), East Coast (Ern Holmes), UNSW-ES (Village Green)

4. St George (36 pts, 122.93%) - Wollongong (Olds), East Coast (Charles McLaughin), Wests (Picken), UNSW-ES (Village Green), Sydney Uni (Olds), Balmain (Drummoyne)

5. Sydney Uni (24 pts, 109.69%) - Pennant Hills (Ern Holmes), Wests (Sydney Uni No 1), UNSW-ES(Sydney Uni No 1), Campbelltown (Sydney Uni No 1), St George (Olds), North Shore (Gore Hill)

6. Wests (24 pts, 95.63%) - UNSW-ES (Village Green), Sydney Uni (Sydney Uni No 1), St George (Picken), North Shore (Gore Hill), Balmain (Picken), East Coast (Charles McLaughlin)

7. North Shore (20 pts, 73.69%) - Balmain (Drummoyne), UNSW-ES (Henson), Campbelltown (Gore Hill), Wests (Gore Hill), Wollongong (Gore Hill), Sydney Uni (Gore Hill)

8. Campbelltown (16 pts, 68.47%) - East Coast (Charles McLaughlin), Pennant Hills (Monarch), North Shore (Gore Hill), Sydney Uni (Sydney Uni No 1), UNSW-ES (Monarch), Wollongong (North Dalton)

Brendan Fitzgerald is held in a pack