SYDNEY AFL GRAND FINAL - Penno Number One When They Win By a Ton
Photos and Article by Michael Shillito
The one day in September that we want to remember had come around again, and for the second time in three years the teams taking part were Pennant Hills and East Coast Eagles. 2006 was remembered for driving rain that reduced the ground to a quagmire and a finish that would go down to the wire. 2008 would be the opposite.
On a day when the maximum temperature reached 33.6 degrees, it was the hottest grand final day in the history of Sydney footy. And just as hot was the irrepressible form of Pennant Hills that would turn the match into a one-sided affair and make the statisticians reach for their record books.
The game didn't look like it would break any records early. A flukey, swirling wind along with the high temperatures made it difficult for both clubs to get their games going, while both sides found the defences getting on top and struggling to find any way beyond their attacking 50. The Eagles got the opening centre break and opened the scoring with two behinds, but once Matt Carey pounced on a loose ball 40 metres out and banged the goal through, the Demons had a lead and would never be headed again. Goals were hard to come by early, although Eagle forward Ryan Smyth was unlucky to be denied an opportunity when he ran down the Demon defence but the holding-the-ball free wasn't paid. Instead the Demons ran the ball downfield and out of trouble. Carey's second came from a set shot, before the Eagles got themselves on the goal-scoring scoresheet thanks to a downfield free to Ben Rogers.
Pennant Hills by 5 points at the first change, it was still a close contest. But a key passage of play early in the second gave the Demons a launching pad to increase their lead. After a Pennant Hills behind, Rowan Bilkey went to kick the ball back into play. Twice baulking and changing his mind about the kick, Bilkey went wide close to the boundary line. Glenn Garner claimed the mark, but the boundary umpire ruled the ball had gone out on the full. Laine Spencer took the free and found Clint Setford on the lead, who in turn with a quick give to an unmarked Kieran Wright set up a Demon goal. It was not just the goal, but the ease with which they found unmarked opponents, that was a shade of things to come; and when Alex Goodall converted a free kick just 2 minutes later, the Demons had a handy lead. Carey's third for the half would come as the clock ticked into time-on, but Byerlee got it back to make the margin 17 points at the long break.
A three goal margin at the half time, and although Pennant Hills had the advantage, it wasn't time to celebrate yet. But it soon was, as the Eagles capitulated after the break. 6 unanswered goals in the third term blew the margin out to 56 points by the last change; and it became a rout in the last term when the Demons ran through 9 goals to 1. The last goal of the game, Matt Carey's 5th, inflated the margin to over 100 to complete a trumphant day for the Demons.
The second half was deeply disappointing for the Eagles, who struggled to find any form of cohesion. Too many turnovers, too many unmarked opponents, too few able to put themselves on the line to attempt any resistance. The heat didn't help, neither did fatigue with the Demons having fresh legs after last week off compared to just a 6-day turnaround for the Eagles. A month of sudden-death football, coming from the bottom reaches of the final 5, had taken its toll and the Eagles had nothing more to give. Too many players who had given their all to get the Eagles into the grand final were sadly beaten on the day and struggled to achieve any possession. And as the realisation set in that the Eagles would again be defeated by their bogey team, the heads dropped and confidence was down. While the Eagles scored 7 goals in the wet in their 2006 defeat, they were unable to manage half that this time in the dry.
But to focus excessively on the Eagles would be to sell the Demons short - and they were magnificent. Every one of them played their game plan to perfection. The defence kept the star-studded Eagle forward line quiet. The drive from the midfield, making first use of the contested football, delivered opportunities downfield. While the forward line were constantly able to create space, get away from the Eagle defence; and time and time again created opportunities that turned what would have been tricky individual shots into easy team goals. The final margin was 104 points. Matt Carey and Clint Setford each kicked 5 for the Demons and were among their best players.
For the second straight year, a Scholarship player would be awarded the Podbury Medal for best on ground in the grand final. Last year's winner, Ryan Davis, was picked up by West Coast and played senior AFL football in 2008. This year's winner, Scott Reed, is tied to Collingwood; and the AFL Magpies would surely be considering inviting Reed to join their list in 2009.
While the Eagles will be bitterly disappointed with how the grand final finished, they had plenty of reason for pride in their achievements in 2008. A return to the finals, and coming through sudden death finals all the way to play in the showpiece game. It had been a good season for Eagles, but was one game short of greatness.
But to the winners go the spoils, and the spoils were delivered in an emphatic fashion to Pennant Hills. As coach Mick Cousens and captain Seb Parker lifted the premiership cup, the beer and champagne flowed; and for the boys from Ern Holmes it was party time as they basked in the glory of their third senior premiership and surely the club's finest hour.
Pennant Hills 2.3 5.7 11.11 20.12 (132)
East Coast Eagles 1.4 2.8 2.9 3.10(28)
Goals : Pennant Hills - M Carey 5, C Setford 5, N Campbell 2, L Spencer, S Reed, K Wright, A Goodall, B McGrath, J Duncan, B Jack, L Bilbe. East Coast - A Byerlee, L Furlan, B Rogers.
Best : Pennant Hills - S Reed, M Carey, C Setford, A Goodall, A Richardson, L Spencer. East Coast - R Bilkey, E Wilson, B Physick, B Ure, A Stubbs, M Johnston.
At Henson Park, Saturday 20th September 2008.
East Coast would not leave grand final day empty-handed, as the Eagles took out the Reserves premiership and completed a three-peat at that level. A scrappy and low-scoring first half saw the margin just 3 points at the long break, but the Eagles tore the game apart during the premiership quarter by scoring 5 unanswered goals. The Students, who had come from the bottom reaches of the final 5 to make the grand final, were unable to score a goal in the second half as the Eagles asserted their authority to win by 70 points. Corey Durie was awarded the best-on-ground medal.
East Coast Eagles 2.4 2.6 7.9 12.15 (87)
Sydney University 0.2 2.3 2.3 2.5 (17)
Goals : East Coast - M Arbon 3, J Mann 2, R Frost 2, D Gatte, J Patira, N Laing, T Kear, C Durie. Sydney Uni - C Walsh, A Wilson.
Best : East Coast - C Durie, J Mann, S O'Connor, T Physick, D Gatte, R Fitton. Sydney Uni - N Bibby, P Younan, N Costello, C Walsh, A Clark, A Hawkins.
For the third year in a row a North Shore side took out the Under 18s Premier Cup. This time it was the Bombers after a 42-point win over East Coast in the early game. The Eagles scored the first 2 goals to open up a challenge to the minor premiers, but the Bombers fought back to take the lead by quarter time; and by winning every quarter denied the Eagles the chance to build any form of winning momentum. The match was a triumph for the Brain brothers, with Levi kicking 7 while James was awarded the best-on-ground medal.
North Shore Bombers 4.2 9.5 12.11 15.11 (101)
East Coast Eagles 2.2 4.6 5.9 8.11 (59)
Goals : North Shore - L Brain 7, J Brain 2, A Robertson 2, B Thompson, M Hutton, M Trent, J Hall. East Coast - J Gordon 2, J Steer 2, D Clinch, M Power, S Pierce, J Shephard.
Best : North Shore - L Brain, J Brain, M Trent, D Dickerson, J Lumsden, S Easey. East Coast
- M Power, J Shephard, M Karafilis, S Pinchen, M Mostert, J Gordon.
In the Monday before the grand final, the Phelan Medal count took place; and for the second year in succession the award was taken out by a Pennant Hills player. This time the winner was Matt Carey who polled 17 votes, 1 ahead of Sydney Uni's Alex Lee while Wollongong's Adam McConnochie came in third.
Congratulations to the following medal winners:
Phelan Medal (Premier Division Seniors) - Matthew Carey, Pennant Hills
Sanders Medal (Premier Division Reserves) - Leigh McWhirter, Sydney Uni
Snow Medal (First Division Seniors) - Andrew Davis, UTS
McFarlane Medal (First Division Reserves) - Phillip Taylor, UTS
Armstrong Medal (Second Division) - Mark Dixon, UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Kealey Medal (Under 18s Premier) - Anthony Robertson, North Shore Bombers
Hart Medal (Under 18s Challenge) - Wills Brassil, Manly-Warringah.
EPILOGUE
It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun. It seems so recent that we had the 5-header at Henson Park to open the season; and yet it's already come to an end. A season where dreams have been fulfilled and shattered, a year in which reputations have been enhanced and diminished.
For Pennant Hills, it will be a summer of celebration as they reap the rewards of their efforts in 2008. East Coast will lick their wounds but will bounce back in 2009 determined to right the wrong of this year and go one better next season. And for eight other clubs who didn't make the 2008 grand final, planning will already be under way with hopes high of being a part of next year's decider.
Thank you to all the players who have been a part of Sydney football this season. Thank you to all the umpires, officials, volunteers and supporters - without you there would be no game. Thank you to the readers of this column and contributors to the message board - it's been a lot of fun.
Have a great off-season. And roll on April 2009, when we'll be back for another sensational season of footy; hopefully the game will be bigger and better than ever.
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