SYDNEY AFL ROUND 18 2011


July has turned into August, and the finish of the home & away season is in sight. Only two rounds remain in Premier Division, in some of the other divisions the final round will be played next weekend. Our final five has been determined, but the race for top spot remains still very much up for grabs.

The round began on Friday night, with a clash at Henson Park between Balmain and North Shore. The Dockers, the biggest improvers of 2011, were going into the match full of confidence after a convincing win last start against Campbelltown. But North Shore were also coming into the game on a high after their demolition job on Wests in their previous match.
And it was the Bombers who had the better of the early exchanges, with three goals in the opening five minutes. The Bombers were looking strong with the clearances from the centre, and presenting targets up forward. But early appearances were deceptive, as the Dockers fought back.
The first quarter was a high-scoring shootout. After the early onslaught, the Dockers steadied and wasted little time in getting back into the contest. And as the clock ticked into time-on, the Dockers took the lead for the first time, and would not surrender the initiative for the remainder of the evening.
The Dockers led by two goals at quarter time, and a close and high-scoring contest was looking likely. But the momentum of the game had changed, and as a run of casualties headed to the North Shore interchange bench, the Bombers? dominance for the game had lasted for just five minutes. Instead, the Dockers took control of the contest during the second term, five unanswered goals stretching the lead to 45 points at half time.
North Shore?s defence tightened after half time, and the easy goals that the Dockers had landed in the first half dried up. But the Bombers were unable to manufacture enough chances to get back into the contest. And with the Dockers having won the quarter, the last quarter was a Balmain benefit show as the final margin blew out to 78 points.
It was a night that the former Swans showed their class. Their days in the red and white may be over, but the talent that had taken them to the elite level in the past was still there; and in an ominous display for the other title contenders, they look to have regained their best touch. Nick Davis, fresh from a 12-goal haul against Campbelltown, landed another five against the Bombers. Jason Saddington contributed four goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Tim Schmidt was also dominant. James Howard was also a ball magnet for the Dockers. On a night the Bombers would love to forget, Seb Paynter, Lachlan Clancy and Chris Murphy were among their best.

East Coast Eagles have won one game less than Balmain, but the Eagles have had a draw and have a superior percentage and a game in hand. And the Eagles further added to their imposing percentage with a convincing 110-point win over Campbelltown on Saturday afternoon. Campbelltown had upset the Eagles to win at Bruce Purser in 2009 and 2010, but this year the Blues tasted defeat at the venue for the first time.
Campbelltown, looking for their first win of 2011, looked outside the square for their player recruitment and brought in some Tongans who were in Australia for the upcoming International Cup., including Penisimeni Mahina, the cousin of GWS marqee Israel Folau.
The Blues went on the attack early, and the first half became a high-scoring shootout. But the Blues didn?t have the firepower to match it with their Eagle counterparts, and the Eagles would steadily increase their lead as the quarter unfolded. The Eagles led by 24 points at the first change, and by half time the margin was extended to 34 points.
After the long break, the Eagles tightened the screws defensively, denying the Blues scoring opportunities. The Blues could only manage one goal in the second half, as the Eagles assumed complete control with eight goals in the third term and seven in the last to push the final margin into three figures.
Jamie Vlatko was at his unstoppable best up forward with seven goals, while Stephen O?Connor contributed four goals to the Eagle cause. Jon and Jamie Vlatko, along with Mike Beardsley, were among East Coast?s best. Campbelltown were well served by Dave and Marcus Linsen and captain Nils Williams, but it was another day of imposing football by the Eagles, their odds of a premiership three-peat getting shorter every week.

UTS made the drive down the Bulli Pass for the first time since their promotion to Premier Division, but the Bats were to come home empty-handed after Illawarra ended their losing streak with a 37-point win at North Dalton on Saturday afternoon.
Inaccuracy would cost the Lions early, preventing them from receiving full reward for effort in the first term, but weight of opportunities would keep the scoreboard ticking over and the Lions 23 points to the good at quarter time. But the Bats fought back to win the second quarter and cut the deficit to 17 points at the long break.
The third quarter was an absorbing arm-wrestle, as the Bats tried desperately to work their way back into the contest. Although the Bats created plenty of chances, keeping the ball in their forward zone for much of the quarter, the Lions had the answering goals when they were needed. For all the Bats? efforts, it was three goals apiece for the quarter, and for all their hard work the Bats had made up only three points of their deficit.
And having seen off the UTS challenge, the Lions kicked away in the final quarter. Six goals to two for the term made the final margin considerably greater than looked likely during the third term. Ryan Price was effective up forward with four goals; while Ethan Hailey, Troy Bartlett and Beau Black were key ball-winners for the Lions. The Bats found a handy contributor in Michael Atkinson, who kicked four goals to be their best; while Fearghal Purcell and Tom Steinfort were also prominent. Although a finals appearance is beyond them, this has been Illawarra?s best season since being promoted to Premier Division in 2005.

2011 had been a roller-coaster ride for St George, but round 18 saw it take a turn for the better when the Dragons overcame the Bulldogs and their own inaccuracy to take a 44-point win at the Village Green on Saturday afternoon.
The Dragons dominated proceedings in the first quarter, but missed some easy shots to record a frustrating 1.7 for the quarter; and despite having had twice as many scoring shots as the Bulldogs during the first half, the Dragons led by just 19 points at the long break.
The Bulldogs came out hard in the third term, and there were some worrying moments for the Dragons as the margin narrowed and the Bulldogs could sense an opportunity to get back into the match. But the Dragons steadied, stopping the flow of Bulldog scoring and, against the odds, to win the quarter. And having seen off the Bulldog challenge, the floodgates opened in the final quarter and the scores blew out.
Nick Ryan has progressed strongly as a key forward this season, and would again be a handy contributor with a bag of seven goals in a best on ground performance. Paul Sain and Steven Wilsen were also ball magnets for St George. It was a disappointing end to the day for the Bulldogs, who had pressured the Dragons well for three quarters; but Jeremy Kiel, Hayden Nichols and Nick McGann could hold their heads high after contesting hard all afternoon.

Sunday at Blacktown Olympic Park saw the Blacktown Mayoral Shield match, with Wests hosting Pennant Hills. Both sides went into the match on the back of 100-point thrashings, but it was the Demons who bounced back, with a 78-point victory.
The Demons were inaccurate early, but had enough of the ball to lead by 23 points at the first change. The second quarter was a shoot-out, the Demons kicking six goals to three in a high-scoring and free-flowing second term to lead by 41 points at half time.
The third term saw the Demons tighten the game, locking the Magpies out of the contest. The Magpies were unable to manage a goal during the premiership quarter, as the Demons ran through five goals to put the issue beyond doubt. Although the final quarter was more evenly contested, the sting had long gone out of the contest by then.
The win sees the Demons overtake North Shore, returning to fourth on the ladder. But more importantly, after the Demons? shocker against Sydney Uni last week, the result was a welcome psychological boost ahead of the upcoming finals. Matt Thomas kicked four for the Demons, while Tim Scholar, Josh Keen and Adam Flagg were among their best. For the Magpies, Stephen Hudson, David Cusick and Jeff Morgan worked hard all day.


Balmain 6.2 11.9 13.12 18.15 (123)
North Shore 4.2 4.6 5.8 7.13 (55)
Goals : Balmain ? N Davis 5, J Saddington 4, M Edwins 2, A Mitchell, T Osland, J Coulloupas, J Farrell, B Taggart, T Schmidt, J Britton. North Shore ? D Roberts 2, D Hadden 2, B Attwood, D Fitzgerald, P Brackin.
Best : Balmain ? J Saddington, T Schmidt, J Howard, M Edwins, B Taggart, D Brian. North Shore ? S Paynter, L Clancy, C Murphy, Z Manley, D Hadden, L Pryor.
At Henson Park, Friday 5th August 2011.

East Coast Eagles 7.2 11.8 16.16 23.20 (158)
Campbelltown 3.2 6.4 6.5 7.6 (48)
Goals : East Coast ? Jamie Vlatko 7, S O?Connor 4, M Maher 3, S Doyle 2, D Costello 2, R Silvester, P Vlatko, D Charleston, M Goodey, M Johnston. Campbelltown ? N Williams 2, U Kivalu 2, L Coughlan, M Hogan, S Tunbridge.
Best : East Coast ? Jon Vlatko, Jamie Vlatko, M Beardsley, M Johnston, R Fitton, R Silvester. Campbelltown ? D Linsen, M Linsen, N Williams, P Mahina, M Hogan, S Tupou.
At Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 6th August 2011.

Illawarra 4.6 6.8 9.10 16.12 (108)
University of Technology 1.1 4.3 7.8 11.12 (65)
Goals : Illawarra - R Price 4, J Weavers 3, B Patterson 2, K Ewen-Chappell 2, A Barned 2, D Jefferis, J Daniher. UTS ? M Atkinson 4, D Lavender, S Way, D Teasdale, M Hall, I Irvin.
Best : Illawarra ? E Hailey, T Bartlett, B Black, R Price, T Green, J Daniher. UTS ? M Atkinson, F Purcell, T Steinfort, H McGregor, D Teasdale, A Kymantas.
At North Dalton Oval, Saturday 6th August 2011.

St George 1.7 5.12 9.17 15.21 (111)
University of NSW-Eastern Suburbs 0.2 3.5 7.10 9.13 (67)
Goals : St George ? N Ryan 7, D Napper 2, L Perris 2, P Sain 2, D Lycakis, B Jones. UNSW-ES ? J Kiel 3, R Troon 2, T Heath, M Collett, R Pert, J Parmenter.
Best : St George - P Sain, S Wilsen, A Wynn, L Perris, B Addison. UNSW-ES ? J Kiel, H Nichols, N McGann, R Pert, R Troon.
At Village Green, Saturday 6th August 2011.

Pennant Hills 5.8 11.10 16.14 19.16 (130)
Western Suburbs 2.3 5.5 5.7 7.10 (52)
Goals : Pennant Hills ? M Thomas 4, J Gourlay 3, Brandon Jack 2, A Duncan 2, F Nixon 2, J Keen, J Lewis, J Harding, C Smith, C Setford, A Flagg. Wests ? S Hudson 2, B Mumme 2, S Pearson, J Zoppo, R Miller.
Best : Pennant Hills ? T Scoular, J Keen, A Flagg, S Turner, A Duncan, J Gourlay. Wests ? S Hudson, D Cusick, J Morgan, C McGrath, J O?Donoghue, J Scott.
At Blacktown Olympic Park, Sunday 7th August 2011.



 Play
Won
Draw
Lost
For
Agnst
Pts
%age
Strk
East Coast
16
13
1
2
1,903
858
84.38
221.79
W3
Balmain
17
14
0
3
1,616
1,181
82.35
136.83
W2
Sydney Uni
16
12
1
3
1,823
1,103
78.12
165.28
W2
Pennant Hills
16
11
0
5
1,464
1,187
68.75
123.34
W1
North Shore
16
10
0
6
1,417
1,157
62.5
122.47
L1
Illawarra
16
8
0
8
1,191
1,206
50
98.76
W1
St George
16
8
0
8
1,199
1,419
50
84.50
W3
UNSW-ES
16
6
0
10
1,297
1,465
37.5
88.53
L2
Western Suburbs
16
5
0
11
1,010
1,424
31.25
70.93
L2
UTS
16
1
0
15
1,024
1,835
6.25
55.80
L7
Campbelltown
17
0
0
17
922
2,031
0
45.40
L17


Black - Confirmed finalists
Green - Currently in a finals position, but not yet guaranteed a place in the finals
Blue - Not currently in a finals position, but still a chance to qualify
Purple - Will not be competing in the finals
Red - If the season ended now, would be relegated.



First Division:
UTS 10.14 (74) d Illawarra 6.9 (45)
Southern Power 24.9 (153) d UNSW-ES 5.5 (35)
Manly-Warringah 10.11 (71) d East Coast 4.3 (27)
Macquarie Uni 7.7 (49) d North Shore 6.7 (43)
Pennant Hills 13.6 (84) d Western Suburbs 11.9 (75)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Manly-Warringah (87.5, 254.02%), Southern Power (80, 177.07%), Sydney Uni (66.67, 113.23%), Macquarie Uni (62.5, 154.73%), UTS (57.14, 103.68%), East Coast (46.67, 114.97%), Pennant Hills (46.67, 70.15%), North Shore (40, 79.29%), UNSW-ES (40, 69.88%), Wests (13.33, 64.37%), Illawarra (6.67, 43.95%).

Second Division:
Balmain 11.11 (77) d Manly-Warringah 8.7 (55)
Auburn 11.9 (75) d NorWest 6.4 (40)
Penrith 25.8 (158) d St George 2.1 (13)
Sydney Uni 19.11 (125) d Camden 3.3 (21)
Holroyd-Parramatta 13.7 (85) d Moorebank 9.7 (61)
Ladder ? Penrith (52, 205.86%), Holroyd-Parramatta (50, 156.56%), Sydney Uni (44, 137.00%), Auburn (44, 122.78%), Balmain (42, 121.94%), NorWest (28, 90.24%), Moorebank (20, 90.27%), St George (20, 59.56%), Manly-Warringah (16, 69.35%), Camden (4, 46.13%).

Third Division:
East Coast 8.14 (62) d Campbelltown 6.7 (43)
UTS 11.5 (71) d Sydney Uni 10.10 (70)
UNSW-ES 13.13 (91) d Saints AFC 10.6 (66)
Southern Power 16.13 (109) d Western Suburbs 6.3 (39)
Macquarie Uni 16.17 (113) d North Shore 4.7 (31)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? UNSW-ES (93.75, 258.11%), UTS (78.57, 161.03%), Sydney Uni (62.5, 118.93%), Saints AFC (60, 163.26%), Southern Power (60, 108.36%), Macquarie Uni (50, 115.85%), Wests (33.33, 75.98%), East Coast (33.33, 71.35%), Campbelltown (20, 47.15%), North Shore (6.67, 27.49%).


Fourth Division:
NorWest 18.10 (118) d Auburn 3.5 (23)
Penrith 16.11 (107) d UTS 8.9 (57)
Macquarie Uni 20.12 (132) d Manly-Warringah 9.6 (60)
Moorebank 12.18 (90) d Holroyd-Parramatta 5.5 (35)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Macquarie Uni (92.31, 159.28%), Penrith (85.71, 201.95%), Moorebank (57.14, 112.58%), UTS (50, 113.95%), UNSW-ES (42.86, 86.21%), Holroyd-Parramatta (40, 93.80%), NorWest (33.33, 87.40%), Manly-Warringah (28.57, 71.43%), Auburn (21.43, 48.71%).

Fifth Division:
Sydney Uni 9.12 (66) d Saints AFC 5.3 (33)
Southern Power 16.13 (109) d Camden 3.5 (23)
Moorebank 23.21 (159) d Holroyd-Parramatta 2.2 (14)
Manly-Warringah 9.10 (64) d Macquarie Uni 8.8 (56)
Ladder ? Southern Power (64, 311.29%), Moorebank (44, 168.46%), Manly-Warringah (44, 115.34%), Sydney Uni (36, 129.55%), Saints AFC (32, 110.65%), Macquarie Uni (28, 115.31%), Camden (8, 51.52%), Holroyd-Parramatta (0, 21.66%).

Under 18s Premier:
Illawarra 9.11 (65) d East Coast 7.19 (61)
Sydney Uni 9.12 (66) d UNSW-ES 6.11 (47)
Penrith 16.13 (109) d St George 7.6 (48)
Pennant Hills 13.7 (85) d Western Suburbs 11.8 (74)
North Shore 13.12 (90) d St Ignatius Riverview 5.11 (41)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? East Coast (90.62, 226.61%), North Shore (76.67, 166.14%), Pennant Hills (66.67, 113.23%), Sydney Uni (62.5, 115.65%), St Ignatius Riverview (62.5, 109.53%), Illawarra (43.33, 101.57%), Wests (30, 75.97%), St George (28.12, 82.12%), Penrith (25, 57.16%), UNSW-ES (15.62, 51.32%).

Under 18s Challenge:
Holroyd-Parramatta 8.7 (55) d Mac Uni Warriors 7.11 (53)
Campbelltown d Southern Power ? forfeit
Manly-Warringah 26.18 (174) d Balmain 4.6 (30)
East Coast 11.7 (73) d Moorebank 6.7 (43)
Ladder (Match Ratio) ? Campbelltown (100, 352.76%), Mac Uni Warriors (78.57, 170.92%), Manly-Warringah (60, 151.99%), Holroyd-Parramatta (57.14, 119.43%), Southern Power (42.86, 109.72%), Balmain (42.86, 92.11%), East Coast (42.86, 81.23%), Moorebank (20, 54.73%), Mac Uni Kookas (7.14, 18.30%).


THE RUN HOME:
Only two weeks till finals time, and top spot remains up for grabs. Balmain have 14 wins, one more than East Coast, but the Eagles also have a draw, a superior percentage and a game in hand. If the Dockers and Eagles were to win all their remaining games, the Eagles would take out the minor premiership.
Sydney Uni could only take out the minor premiership if they were to win both their remaining games while Balmain and East Coast had no more wins. Balmain would need to win their final game this weekend and hope that East Coast lose one of their last two.
It?s mathematically possible for Pennant Hills to leap-frog Sydney Uni and take third place, but extremely unlikely ? it would require the Demons to win both their last two games and the Students to lose both of theirs. In all probability, the Elimination Final will see Pennant Hills take on North Shore, same as last year.

The remaining games for this year?s finalists are:
Balmain
14 wins, 136.83%
St George (Olds Park)
bye
East Coast
13.5 wins, 221.79%
Illawarra (North Dalton)
Wests (Bruce Purser)
Sydney Uni
12.5 wins, 165.28%
North Shore (Gore Hill)
Illawarra (Sydney Uni No 1)
Pennant Hills
11 wins, 123.34%
UNSW-ES (Mike Kenny)
St George (Olds Park)
North Shore
10 wins, 122.47%
Sydney Uni (Gore Hill)
UNSW-ES (Village Green)



NEXT WEEK?S FIXTURES

Premier Division (Lurker?s Kiss of Death in bold):
Saturday 13th August
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (2:10pm)
Olds Park ? St George v Balmain (2:10pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Sydney Uni (2:30pm)
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v East Coast (6:10pm)
Sunday 14th August
Henson Park ? UTS v Western Suburbs (2:10pm)
BYE ? Campbelltown

First Division:
Saturday 13th August
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Sydney Uni (12pm)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Macquarie Uni (2:10pm)
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v East Coast (4pm)
Sunday 14th August
Henson Park ? UTS v Western Suburbs (12pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah

Second Division:
Saturday 13th August
Olds Park ? St George v Balmain (12pm)
Harrington Park ? Camden v Penrith (2:10pm)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v NorWest (2:30pm)
Rosedale Oval ? Moorebank v Auburn (4:30pm)
Sunday 14th August
St Pauls Oval ? Sydney Uni v Holroyd-Parramatta (2:10pm)

Third Division:
Saturday 13th August
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v East Coast (8:30am)
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Macquarie Uni (12pm)
Picken Oval ? Western Suburbs v UNSW-ES (12pm)
Sunday 14th August
Trumper Park ? UTS v Saints AFC (10am)
St Pauls Oval ? Sydney Uni v Campbelltown (12pm)

Fourth Division:
Saturday 13th August
Village Green ? UNSW-ES v Penrith (12pm)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v NorWest (12:30pm)
University Oval ? Macquarie Uni v Auburn (1pm)
Rosedale Oval ? Moorebank v UTS (2:30pm)
BYE ? Holroyd-Parramatta


Fifth Division:
Saturday 13th August
Gwawley Oval ? Southern Power v Macquarie Uni (10am)
Weldon Oval ? Manly-Warringah v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
Pioneers Park ? Saints AFC v Holroyd-Parramatta (12pm)
Harrington Park ? Camden v Moorebank (12pm)

Under 18s Premier:
Saturday 13th August
Greygums Oval ? Penrith v East Coast (10am)
Mike Kenny Oval ? Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (10am)
Olds Park ? St George v St Ignatius Riverview (10am)
Gore Hill Oval ? North Shore v Sydney Uni (10:30am)
North Dalton Oval ? Illawarra v Western Suburbs (2pm)

Under 18s Challenge:
Saturday 13th August
Bruce Purser Reserve ? East Coast v Southern Power (10am)
Monarch Oval ? Campbelltown v Holroyd-Parramatta (10am)
Rosedale Oval ? Moorebank v Mac Uni Kookas (12:30pm)
University Oval ? Mac Uni Warriors v Balmain (3pm)
BYE ? Manly-Warringah.