SYDNEY AFL ROUND 2 2011


The last several years haven?t been kind to Balmain. It?s been many years since they?ve been anywhere near making the finals, on occasions they?ve struggled to attract players from their pathway clubs into their Under 18s, and there are plenty of ex-Balmain players in the league who have left for greener pastures elsewhere.
But suddenly, 2011 looks to be different. Balmain are top of the ladder. It?s early in the season and the Dockers still have games against highly-fancied opponents to come. And they weren?t particularly impressive in their 47-point win over UTS at Henson Park on Friday night. But after so long in the lower reaches of the ladder, the Balmain faithful will enjoy the sight of the ladder this week.
A rare Friday night game opened the round, with Balmain taking on the newly-promoted UTS at Henson Park. The Dockers had enjoyed a comeback win over Pennant Hills in the opening round, while UTS went down to UNSW-ES in their season opener. The first quarter was evenly contested, although the scoreboard at Henson Park was not in operation until half time, with the Dockers leading by 9 points at the first change.
Balmain lifted in the second term, and had the Bats on the ropes; but poor finishing prevented the Dockers from achieving the reward their efforts deserved. The Bats were under the pump for most of the quarter, taking 15 minutes to get an inside 50. Former Swan Nic Fosdike was getting in the thick of the action, three times intercepting kick-ins after behinds. Jason Saddington, another former AFL name, was also getting plenty of the ball up forward but too many shots at goal sailed wide.
The Dockers scored 2.6 in the first 15 minutes, keeping the ball locked into their forward line but being unable to convert their dominance into goals. Against the run of play, the Bats got the ball into their forward line for the first time in the quarter, Alan Kymantas running onto a loose ball and having all the space he needed to run in and goal. And the Docker frustration could have easily kicked in when Rohan Bates and Troy Luff both kicked truly, only for their goals to be disallowed because of holding behind play. With two late goals, the Dockers led by 31 points at the long break, but should have led by a lot more.

The margin was still 31 points at three-quarter time. The Bats had tried hard to get back into the contest during the quarter, and had got the margin back to 19 points with the first two goals. But the Dockers were equal to every challange, Jason Saddington goaling twice within a minute to get the game back to its half-time margin. Jono Spragg, on the run, goaled as the clock ticked into time-on to keep the Bats in the contest, only for Tom Head to quickly snap a reply.
UTS had worked hard but come up with nothing during the third quarter. But in the final quarter the Bats had nothing more to give and the run of play was one-way traffic. It should have been a demolition on the scoreboard, the ball spending virtually the entire quarter within the Dockers? forward 50 metre arc. But some appalling misses would cost them. Long bombs from the 50 would sail wide. Kicks from close range would somehow miss their target. The Dockers would somehow manage 10 behinds before finally Andrew Clark would break the drought with a mark and goal from 25 metres out. Another Balmain behind would follow before the final siren sounded, the Dockers finishing with an inaccurate 12.25 but completing a 47-point win.
Veteran Troy Luff, who coached Balmain from 2002-2004, celebrated his return to his original Sydney AFL club with a best on ground performance. Nick Todd and Ben Taggart were also prominent performers for the Dockers; while the Bats were well served by Tom Steinfort, Jonathan Spragg and Christopher Tolj.
It hadn?t been a game that reached any great heights. The skill errors and poor execution on both sides wouldn?t have pleased Balmain mentor Nic Fosdike or his UTS counterpart Michael Hosking. Neither team was particularly impressive, and both have the potential to show a lot more than they did in this game

But winners are grinners, and Balmain would be delighted to have the win; one which has taken them to unfamiliar heights on the ladder. It?s been a long time between drinks for the Dockers, but their 2-game winning run gives them a foundation for their season, and raises hopes that finally the Dockers can dream of taking part in the business end of the season.

The only other team to have two wins at this stage of the season is UNSW-ES, after the Bulldogs prevailed in a heart-stopper by 4 points over Campbelltown at Monarch on Saturday afternoon. Honours were even after the first quarter; but Campbelltown, making their first appearance for 2011 after an opening round bye, took the ascendancy in the second term and led by 11 points at the long break. The Bulldogs hit back to take the lead during the third term, holding an 8-point advantage at the last change.
On the massive Monarch ground, and with the margins so tight, it would have been easy for the teams to close up shop in the last quarter and play a desperate, dour contest. But instead, both sides attacked, looking for the winner in an open and attacking final quarter. The Blues scored five goals to four for the quarter, but it wasn?t enough to take the game as the Bulldogs hung on to record the win.
Leigh Lavery was key to the Bulldogs? ability to kick a winning score, with a 6-goal return; and along with Ben Woods and Andrew White was among UNSW-ES?s best players. For the Blues, Shanan Kershaw, Marcus Linsen and Alex Sneddon were key performers in a cliff-hanging contest.

St George had opened their season well with an encouraging win over Wests; but were given a harsh reality check in round 2. Defending champions East Coast Eagles bounced back from their opening round loss to Sydney Uni to demolish the Dragons by 139 points at Olds Park on Saturday. The Dragons had a dip early, and the margin was only 8 points at quarter time, but the Eagles stepped up a gear in the second term with a six goals to one return to lead by 40 points at the long break. And after half time the Dragon resistance was unable to match the runaway Eagles, with another six goals to one quarter in the third term and 10 unanswered goals in the last quarter.
Jamie Vlatko had little difficulty in shaking off whatever opposition St George could throw his way, finishing with a back of 7 goals. Mark Goodey finished with 5 and Stephen Doyle 4, with experienced defender Rowan Bilkey taking a share of the goalkicking honours with 3. Trent Baker, Bilkey and Patrick Walton were among the Eagles? best, but if any Eagles lowered their colours to their direct opponents. Tim Addison, Declan Donohue and Michael Holmes worked hard all afternoon for the Dragons, but it was one of those days when nothing went right for St George and they never looked like getting into the contest.


Wests bounced back from their opening round loss to St George when the Magpies took out a 60-point win over North Shore in a sometimes spiteful clash at Picken Oval. The Bombers had a win in the opening round, but were never in the contest against a committed Magpie lineup. It was 13 points in favour of the Magpies at quarter time, and with four unanswered goals in the second term the lead blew out to 39 points at the long break. The Bombers tried hard in the third term, but were only able to make up one goal of the deficit; and with the result now secure for the Magpies, the floodgates opened in the final quarter as the rampant Magpies assumed complete control.
Dwain Watkins was unstoppable, moving between the midfield and the forward line for a 5-goal haul in a best on ground performance. Nathan Scarfo and Rory Miller also picked up plenty of the ball for Wests. Seb Paynter, Adrian Harry and Zac Manley were among North Shore?s best; but it was a dominant day for Magpies, with a 10-goal win that the club will dedicate to the memory of listed player Gavin King, who played senior football as recently as 2009 and sadly passed away this week.

Pennant Hills broke through for their first win for 2011 with a hard-fought 26-point win over Illawarra under lights at North Dalton Oval on Saturday night. It was by no means a convincing performance, and it wasn?t a match that rose to any great heights. But the Demons won every quarter except the last, slowly but surely increasing their lead and building up enough of a buffer that the result of the game was never in doubt.

In a low-scoring game, in which only 18 goals were kicked, Kieran Wright was the most effective forward on the ground with a 4-goal return; and along with Brant Jack and Samuel Boughton was among Pennant Hills? best. For the Lions, Mitchell Thomson, Rhys Cutifani and Ryan Woodward were hard workers throughout the evening.

So our season continues to throw up surprises, and some great footy. And next weekend will see more exciting action; including Sydney AFL action being played at Waverley Oval for the first time, while next week?s match of the round will come from Drummoyne Oval where top two sides Balmain and UNSW-ES will play off.


Balmain 4.5 8.11 11.14 12.25 (97)
UTS 3.2 4.4 7.7 7.8 (50)
Goals : Balmain ? T Head 3, N Fosdike 2, J Saddington 2, S Schmidt, T Schmidt, R Bates, A Clark, N Todd. UTS ? J Spragg 3, A Kymantas 2, J Curtis, E Healey.
Best : Balmain ? T Luff, N Todd, B Taggart, T Stevens, T Head, J Howard. UTS ? T Steinfort, J Spragg, C Tolj, J Gardiner, J Curtis, J Caica.
At Henson Park, Friday 8th April 2011.


UNSW-ES 2.4 3.5 8.9 12.12 (84)
Campbelltown 2.1 5.4 7.7 12.8 (80)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? L Lavery 6, J Parmenter 2, B Woods 2, A Duthie, J Woods. Campbelltown ? M Moore 3, L Coughlan 2, M Hogan 2, J Parsons 2, S Kershaw, M Leach, B McCrossen.
Best : UNSW-ES ? B Woods, L Lavery, A White, A Gulden, H Nichols, B Haberley. Campbelltown ? S Kershaw, M Linsen, A Sneddon, J Parson, J Brazill, K Hanson.
At Monarch Oval, Saturday 9th April 2011.

East Coast Eagles 4.3 10.6 16.13 26.16 (172)
St George 3.1 4.2 5.3 5.3 (33)
Goals : East Coast ? Jamie Vlatko 7, M Goodey 5, S Doyle 4, R Bilkey 3, B Physick 2, A Moeller 2, S Ryan, B Rogers, J Dwyer. St George ? D Napper 2, S Wilsen, M Holmes, B Addison.
Best : East Coast ? T Baker, R Bilkey, P Walton, M Goodey, Jamie Vlatko, S Doyle. St George ? T Addison, D Donohue, M Holmes, A Herne, R Lombardo, R Bennett.
At Olds Park, Saturday 9th April 2011.

Western Suburbs 4.2 8.6 11.7 16.11 (107)
North Shore 2.1 2.3 6.4 7.5 (47)
Goals : Wests ? D Watkins 5, D Linsen 2, N Scarfo 2, B Lafferty 2, C McGrath, J Haggerty, S Pearson, N Vassallo, R Bamford. North Shore ? S Paynter 2, D Roberts, Z Metcalfe, P Codling, L Clancy, B Holmes.
Best : Wests ? D Watkins, N Scarfo, R Miller, R Bamford, B Lafferty, L Roehrig. North Shore ? S Paynter, A Harry, Z Manley, L Clancy, S Fitzgerald, P Codliing.
At Picken Oval, Saturday 9th April 2011.

Pennant Hills 3.2 6.4 9.9 11.9 (75)
Illawarra 2.1 3.3 5.5 7.7 (49)
Goals : Pennant Hills ? K Wright 4, R Watts 3, A Goodall, J Keen, M Thomas, J Lewis. Illawarra ? R Price 3, T Bartlett, R Cutifani, M Daly, K Ewen-Chappell.
Best : Pennant Hills ? B Jack, S Boughton, K Wright, C Smith, D Witt, T Scoular. Illawarra ? M Thomson, R Cutifani, R Woodward, L Wilson, T Bartlett, B Black.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 9th April 2011.

 Play
Won
Draw
Lost
For
Agnst
Pts
%age
Strk
Balmain
2
2
0
0
183
114
100
160.53
W2
UNSW-ES
2
2
0
0
207
146
100
141.78
W2
Sydney Uni
1
1
0
0
92
90
100
102.22
W1
East Coast
2
1
0
1
262
125
50
209.60
W1
Western Suburbs
2
1
0
1
166
131
50
106.72
W1
Pennant Hills
2
1
0
1
139
135
50
102.96
W1
North Shore
2
1
0
1
156
174
50
89.66
L1
St George
2
1
0
1
117
231
50
50.65
L1
Campbelltown
1
0
0
1
80
84
0
95.24
L1
Illawarra
2
0
0
2
116
184
0
63.04
L2
UTS
2
0
0
2
116
220
0
52.73
L2



First Division:
Western Suburbs 10.6 (66) d North Shore 7.12 (54)
Manly-Warringah 19.15 (129) d UNSW-ES 2.1 (13)
Southern Power 8.10 (58) d East Coast 8.2 (50)
Pennant Hills 11.9 (75) d Illawarra 4.11 (35)
Macquarie Uni 15.14 (104) d UTS 1.8 (14)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (100, 992.31%), Macquarie Uni (100, 582.50%), Southern Power (100, 180.00%), East Coast (50, 171.25%), North Shore (50, 100.81%), UTS (50, 76.47%), Western Suburbs (50, 67.09%), Pennant Hills (50, 61.59%), Illawarra (0, 63.70%), Sydney Uni (0, 25.29%), UNSW-ES (0, 20.55%).

Second Division:
St George 13.14 (92) d Moorebank 12.8 (80)
Manly-Warringah 13.8 (86) d Auburn 7.8 (50)
NorWest 13.10 (88) d Holroyd-Parramatta 7.7 (49)
Balmain 20.20 (140) d Camden 3.6 (24)
Sydney Uni 16.4 (100) d Penrith 10.5 (65)
Ladder ? Balmain (8, 255.00%), Manly-Warringah (8, 167.35%), Sydney Uni (8, 146.46%), Penrith (4, 127.83%), NorWest (4, 111.11%), St George (4, 98.57%), Auburn (4, 83.33%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 69.08%), Moorebank (0, 54.60%), Camden (0, 33.05%).

Third Division:
Western Suburbs 14.11 (95) d North Shore 6.7 (43)
UNSW-ES 31.15 (201) d Campbelltown 1.1 (7)
Sydney Uni 11.12 (78) d Saints AFC 10.8 (68)
East Coast 11.13 (79) d Southern Power 10.10 (70)
UTS 9.5 (59) d Macquarie Uni 6.6 (42)
Ladder ? UNSW-ES (8, 524.07%), Sydney Uni (8, 109.77%), Saints AFC (4, 223.81%), Southern Power (4, 121.49%), Western Suburbs (4, 114.17%), East Coast (4, 104.35%), UTS (4, 85.48%), Campbelltown (4, 24.59%), Macquarie Uni (0, 75.89%), North Shore (0, 22.79%).

Fourth Division:
Holroyd-Parramatta 13.11 (89) d NorWest 11.13 (79)
Moorebank 14.12 (96) d Auburn 3.11 (29)
Macquarie Uni 20.10 (130) d UTS 7.7 (49)
Penrith 17.14 (116) d UNSW-ES 3.8 (26)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (100, 1116.67%), Penrith (100, 230.14%), Macquarie Uni (100, 215.46%), Moorebank (50, 176.54%), Holroyd-Parramatta (50, 86.71%), UNSW-ES (50, 56.32%), NorWest (0, 85.09%), UTS (0, 37.69%), Auburn (0, 21.47%).


Fifth Division:
Southern Power 18.13 (121) d Moorebank 3.6 (24)
Manly-Warringah 15.13 (103) d Saints AFC 6.8 (44)
Sydney Uni 12.18 (90) d Camden 3.9 (27)
Macquarie Uni 17.22 (124) d Holroyd-Parramatta 3.3 (21)
Ladder ? Macquarie Uni (8, 267.65%), Southern Power (8, 246.43%), Manly-Warringah (8, 205.43%), Sydney Uni (4, 132.74%), Saints AFC (4, 185.76%), Camden (0, 42.61%), Moorebank (0, 39.66%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 25.11%).

Under 18s Premier:
Western Suburbs 10.8 (68) d UNSW-ES 8.5 (53)
St Ignatius Riverview 9.12 (66) d Sydney Uni 7.15 (57)
East Coast 14.11 (95) d St George 9.10 (64)
Illawarra 10.20 (80) d Pennant Hills 3.8 (26)
North Shore 23.11 (149) d Penrith 8.7 (55)
Ladder - North Shore (8, 317.98%), East Coast (8, 192.93%), Wests (8, 129.73%), St Ignatius Riverview (8, 119.01%), Pennant Hills (4, 82.79%), Illawarra (4, 71.25%), UNSW-ES (0, 80.14%), St George (0, 71.35%), Sydney Uni (0, 56.79%), Penrith (0, 43.30%).

Under 18s Challenge:
Campbelltown 26.14 (170) d Moorebank 2.2 (14)
Southern Power 24.21 (165) d East Coast 2.2 (14)
Manly-Warringah 17.15 (117) d Mac Uni Kookas 5.9 (39)
Mac Uni Warriors 13.18 (96) d Balmain 11.8 (74)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Campbelltown (100, 1214.29%), Southern Power (100, 334.72%), Manly-Warringah (100, 217.65%), Mac Uni Warriors (100, 164.10%), East Coast (50, 42.29%), Balmain (0, 76.74%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 67.65%), Mac Uni Kookas (0, 38.50%), Moorebank (0, 30.16%).

NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES

Premier Division (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold);
Saturday 16th April
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v East Coast Eagles (2:10pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney University v Western Suburbs (2:10pm)
Waverley Oval ? UTS v Illawarra (2:10pm)
Sunday 17th April
Blacktown Olympic Park ? Pennant Hills v Campbelltown (2:10pm)
Drummoyne Oval ? Balmain v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
BYE ? St George.

First Division:
Saturday 16th April
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v East Coast (12pm)
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Western Suburbs (12pm)
Waverley Oval ? UTS v Illawarra (12pm)
Macquarie Uni Oval ? Macquarie Uni v UNSW-ES (6:30pm)
Sunday 17th April
Blacktown Olympic Park ? Pennant Hills v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
BYE ? Southern Power.

Second Division:
Saturday 16th April
Mona Park ? Auburn v Sydney Uni (2:10pm)
Dukes Oval ? Penrith v Manly-Warringah (2:10pm)
Harrington Park ? Camden v St George (2:10pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Moorebank (2:30pm)
Sunday 17th April
Drummoyne Oval ? Balmain v NorWest (12pm)

Third Division:
Saturday 16th April
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Western Suburbs (9:30am)
Trumper Park ? UTS v East Coast (12pm)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Campbelltown (2pm)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v North Shore (2:10pm)
Macquarie Uni Oval ? Macquarie Uni v UNSW-ES (4:30pm)

Fourth Division:
Saturday 16th April
Trumper Park ? UTS v NorWest (10am)
Dukes Oval ? Penrith v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Moorebank (12:30pm)
Macquarie Uni Oval ? Macquarie Uni v UNSW-ES (2:30pm)
BYE ? Auburn.


Fifth Division:
Saturday 16th April
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Moorebank (10:30am)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Manly-Warringah (12pm)
Harrington Park ? Camden v Saints AFC (12pm)
Macquarie Uni Oval North ? Macquarie Uni v Sydney Uni (12pm)

Under 18s Premier:
Friday 15th April
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval ? Sydney Uni v Western Suburbs (7:30pm)
Saturday 16th April
Dukes Oval ? Penrith v UNSW-ES (10am)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v East Coast (10am)
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v St George (10am)
Sunday 17th April
Blacktown Olympic Park - Pennant Hills v St Ignatius Riverview (10am)

Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 16th April
Gipps Rd Oval ? Holroyd-Parramatta v Moorebank (8:30am)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Manly-Warringah (10am)
Macquarie Uni Oval ? Mac Uni Kookas v Campbelltown (10:30am)
Macquarie Uni Oval ? Mac Uni Warriors v East Coast (12:30pm)
BYE - Balmain