SYDNEY AFL FINALS WEEK 1 2013
Article and Photos by Michael Shillito

It had been a long home and away season, but finally the time for finals had come. And Sydney turned on some absolutely glorious weather as winter turned into spring; with Henson Park looking a treat on both days of the weekend.

Saturday saw the Qualifying Final, with second placed North Shore taking on third placed St George. Both had enjoyed topsy-turvy seasons, with winning streaks and injury-ravaged slumps. For both clubs, a winning run came to an end on the eve of the finals, both losing their last home and away game.
But it was the Dragons who regrouped successfully on the finals stage, breathing fire from the outset; and by quarter time the contest was already effectively over. The first goal of the game was on the board within seconds, and it signalled the way the first quarter would go.
Every time the ball was bounced in the centre, the Dragons would get the centre clearance. When a pack gathered around the ball, it would usually be a St George player who would emerge with it. And the tall timber of Jason Saddington and Nick Ryan on the Dragon forward line were far too strong for the North Shore defenders to contain.
The scoreboard pressure was piling up, as the Dragons were getting goals on the board with regularity. Seven without reply in the first term, a 40-point lead at the first change. And another two in the opening minutes of the second. The Bombers, left in their wake by the Dragon dominant, were forced into attempting catch-up football.
The Bombers lifted after the early onslaught; but by then the damage was done. And the next two quarters would follow a theme where the Bombers would slowly and laboriously toil for several minutes to eke out a goal, only for the Dragons to come up with an answer within a minute or so to undo the North Shore work.
Only one goal to the Bombers in the first half, and they trailed by 46 points at the long break. It was 48 points by the last change, all attempts at a comeback being thwarted by the ruthless drive of the Dragons.
With the game safely won, the Dragons were happy to put their cue in the rack for the last quarter; while the Bombers salvaged some respectability on the scoreboard with the only three goals of the final term. But there was no doubt about the final result, a 35-point triumph for the Dragons.
Jason Saddington, Daniel Cox and Nick Ryan found plenty of opportunities to get on the scoreboard, and each contributed four goals to the Dragon cause. Around the ground, Bryce Addison, Michael Milner and Andrew Sharp were unstoppable, picking up possessions at will. For the Bombers, John Gray, Dale Fitzgerald and Doug Hadden were among their best.
The Dragons will be buoyed by this success, their first win in a final since 2007. Next week, they play off against Manly for a spot in the Grand Final. When the Dragons played the Wolves shortly before the finals, it was a thrilling draw. And there won?t be much between the two teams this time.
North Shore will be in sudden-death next week. After going out in straight sets in the finals last year, and with injuries again depleting the Bombers at the wrong time of year, they?ll be working hard to regroup before next week?s match.

North Shore?s opponent in the First Semi Final will be Pennant Hills. It will be the fourth year in a row in which the Bombers and Demons have played each other during the finals. The Demons earned their way through to the game in style, with a comprehensive 71-point win over UNSW-ES in Sunday?s Elimination Final.
When the two teams met a couple of weeks ago, the Bulldogs dominated from start to finish. But it didn?t take long for it to be clear that the Demons would be much more competitive this time. The Bulldogs were held to just one scoring shot, a goal, in the opening quarter; as the ball was camped for most of the time on the Demon forward line. Four Pennant Hills goals in the opening term opened up a 23-point quarter time lead.
Needing to dig deep to keep their hopes of defending their premiership title alive, the Bulldogs lifted around the ground in the second term. But goals were hard to come by, and although the Bulldogs managed to get two, the Demons matched that effort at the other end; and the margin remained stubbornly at the four goal mark when the teams returned to the rooms at half time.
Already well ahead, the Demons assumed complete control during the premiership quarter. It was a clinical display of Pennant Hills at their best, as they moved the ball with precision and locked the Bulldogs out of the contest. Around the ground, Demons were standing up and delivering passages of play that would knock out Bulldog hopes; and the scoreboard pressure was piled on. It was an impressive display, eight goals to one, causing the lead to expand to 69 points.
The sting had largely gone out of the contest in the last quarter. Three goals apiece were scored, the teams going through the motions until the final siren sounded, keeping Pennant Hills? finals campaign alive and bringing UNSW-ES? season to a close.
Aaron Crisfield, Cameron Smith and Kieran Wright were best for the Demons; while the Bulldogs received reliable service from Tim Widmer, Hayden Nichols and Andre Cupido.
The Demons remain alive, and will be carrying some impressive form and momentum into their clash with North Shore next week. But they will be all too aware that they have already lost to the Bombers twice this season; and it won?t be an easy game for them.
For UNSW-ES, their season and their hopes of back to back premierships are over.

Qualifying Final
St George 7.2 9.5 14.5 14.10 (94)
North Shore 0.4 1.7 5.11 8.11 (59)
Goals : St George ?
J Saddington 4, N Ryan 4, D Cox 4, M Graham, S Wilsen. North Shore ? D Hadden 2, D Roberts 2, D Fitzgerald, D Schacher, J Davis, Z Manley.
Best : St George ? B Addison, M Milner, A Sharp, D Killworth, P Sain, B Guthrie. North Shore ? J Gray, D Fitzgerald, D Hadden, S Carruthers, C Callander, B Fitzgerald.
At Henson Park, Saturday 31st August 2013.


Elimination Final
Pennant Hills 4.5 6.9 14.14 17.18 (120)
Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs 1.0 3.3 4.5 7.7 (49)
Goals : Pennant Hills ?
M Vile 3, A Richardson 3, T Widmer 2, L Bilbe 2, A Crisfield 2, J Dunn, N Campbell, R Ediriwickrama, M Carey, D Dell?Aquila. UNSW-ES ? H Mason 2, J Parmenter 2, T Williamson, J Pascoe, J Kiel.
Best : Pennant Hills ? A Crisfield, C Smith, K Wright, P Barnes, J Dunn, M Thomas. UNSW-ES ? T Widmer, H Nichols, A Cupido, A Gulden, J Pascoe, A Henderson.
At Henson Park, Sunday 1st September 2013.


Division One:
Qualifying Final
UTS 3.2 4.5 5.9 8.13 (61)
Holroyd-Parramatta 2.2 5.6 6.13 7.15 (57)
Goals : UTS ?
H Whiting 2, L Trimboli, J Hume, N Haslam, H McGregor, C Walters, D Collina. Holroyd-Parramatta ? B Rogers 2, M Hill 2, J Pidgeon, H Turner, J Schwarze.
Best : UTS ? W Bland, L Meyrick, P Brendin, L Trimboli, M Murrell, H Whiting. Holroyd-Parramatta ? A Rickett, J Mara, B Mayne, J Schwarze, S Maguire, R Terrey.
At Henson Park, Saturday 31st August 2013.

Elimination Final
UNSW-ES 5.2 7.3 10.9 14.9 (93)
St George 2.0 5.2 5.3 8.4 (52)
Goals : UNSW-ES ?
R Farrelly 4, C McKinlay 4, T Luff 3, T Naghten, J Whitelaw, D Dowling. St George ? J Shineberg 3, D Annor, B Hodgson, D Lim, D Pickford, V Stevens.
Best : UNSW-ES ? R Farrelly, B Way, C Jourdain, F Rowe, J McAnespie, C McKinlay. St George ? B Hodgson, D Annor, S Demir, D Lim, R Bennett, D Pickford.
At Henson Park, Sunday 1st September 2013.

Division Two:
Second Semi Final
Manly 0.0 4.3 7.5 8.3 (51)
Western Suburbs 3.2 4.2 6.4 7.7 (49)
Goals : Manly ?
J Balderstone 2, S Halder 2, J McDougall, J Hall, A Pilat, B Collins. Wests ? M Eurell 4, R Cott 2, J Lear.
Best : Manly ? B Collins, J Lumsden, S Atkins, P Fabbro, J Lambe, A Pilat. Wests ? M Tuttle, D Penfold, M Eurell, A Eurell, P Boyd, J Lear.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Saturday 31st August 2013.

First Semi Final
Sydney Uni 3.3 4.5 9.6 12.9 (81)
Moorebank 0.4 2.5 3.10 4.13 (37)
Goals : Sydney Uni ?
J Melville 3, L McKendrick 2, A MacPherson 2, A Holmes, A Clark, J Cutupi, N Lye, M Carey. Moorebank ? S Wicken 3, B Luo.
Best : Sydney Uni ? A MacPherson, S Power, G Burch, A Holmes, B Nelson, L McKendrick. Moorebank ? R Forrester, R Horton, B Parker, A Simpson, M Burton, T Currant.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Sunday 1st September 2013.


Division Three:
Second Semi Final
Blacktown 7.2 11.3 16.6 20.7 (127)
Randwick City 2.1 4.4 6.4 6.6 (42)
Goals : Blacktown ?
A Moeller 10, B Akmens 3, M Clinch 2, A Polkinghorne, J Talbot, G Corr, E Barclay, M Collins. Randwick City ? L Simpson 2, A Azhar 2, M Hoffstein, M Rose.
Best : Blacktown ? J Saunders, A Moeller, M Collins, K Weir, B Whale, D Clifford. Randwick City ? J Grant, J Scanlon, M Garstin, N Preston, K Jones, M Dunlea.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Saturday 31st August 2013.

First Semi Final
NorWest 5.5 6.5 7.12 10.13 (73)
Gosford 0.0 3.1 5.2 6.6 (42)
Goals : NorWest ?
P Kyle 5, C Kyle, T Roberts, P Webster, D Cruz, B Pond. Gosford ? S Manuelle 2, J Hunt, P McCarthy, L Thompson, S Stokes.
Best : NorWest ? D Cruz, A Bayne, S Pond, S Davidson, A Lawes, P Kyle. Gosford ? L Thompson, B Deitz, M Holgate, A Tomsett, H Barsing, N Dorrington.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Sunday 1st September 2013.

Division Four:
Second Semi Final
Pennant Hills 2.0 5.1 8.3 9.7 (57)
UTS 2.3 3.3 4.4 5.6 (36)
Goals : Pennant Hills ?
T Liles 3, A Huggins 2, E Danilo, J Turner, N Breen, T Abbott. UTS ? D Lazarus 2, J Whealans, A Christie, G Morice.
Best : Pennant Hills ? T Liles, B Hooper, D Strange, S Dunnell, T Gerard, A D?Archy. UTS ? G Morice, C Dean, A Christie, T Burnet, J Ritchie, T Richardson.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Saturday 31st August 2013.

First Semi Final
Sydney Uni 1.5 6.5 9.8 10.11 (71)
Moorebank 1.1 1.4 2.5 2.6 (18)
Goals : Sydney Uni ?
C Clarebrough 4, A Lyons 3, B Hunter, T Whitaker. Moorebank ? N Denko, A Purton.
Best : Sydney Uni ? L Clark, F Wanrooy, S McIntyre, R Vehlow, C Harry, D Holman. Moorebank ? J Hollywood, T Kirkham, C Clarebrough, A Lyons, A Harmer, J Heazlewood.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Sunday 1st September 2013.

Division Five:
Preliminary Final
UTS 1.5 5.8 7.11 12.13 (85)
Camden 3.0 3.3 3.4 3.5 (23)
Goals : UTS ?
R Armstrong 3, J Hedrick 2, D Casarotto 2, N McInerney, L Stebbing, J McCormack, D Menzies, J Levy. Camden ? J McGregor 2, T Glynn.
Best : UTS ? C Leggett, T O?Donovan, B Payne, A Reynolds, J Levy, T Hagglund. Camden ? G James, W Lowndes, M Price, B Laid, G Richards, B Cracknell.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Saturday 31st August 2013.

Under 18s One:
Qualifying Final
UNSW-ES 5.2 9.3 10.5 17.8 (110)
St George 2.2 4.2 7.5 8.7 (55)
Goals : UNSW-ES ?
T Preece 4, J Erickson 4, H Yates 3, L Towell 2, T Roos, A Davis, K Latham, P Dadic. St George ? D Sanderson 3, J Gasovski 2, N Swanson, J Stek, S Nabaki.
Best : UNSW-ES ? J Foote, T Roos, S Krochmal, J Erickson, T Preece, Z Oliver. St George ? S McGrillen, J Hill, R Orr, D Sanderson, D Watts, S Nabaki.
At Henson Park, Saturday 31st August 2013.

Elimination Final
Illawarra 4.2 4.7 11.8 15.10 (100)
Sydney Uni 7.1 8.2 8.4 10.7 (67)
Goals : Illawarra ?
S Potter 3, H Dobson 3, J Lees 3, C Maciejowski 2, B Yates, T Dobson, R Hamilton, K Anu. Sydney Uni ? M Vicic 3, J Pola-Smith 2, Y Jaffer-Williams 2, D Dahler, W Stratford, J Hiscox.
Best : Illawarra ? J Bottin-Noonan, H Dobson, M Bates, J David-Wright, N Lomas, C Maciejowski. Sydney Uni ? Y Jaffer-Williams, L Maples, D Dahler, O Heindrich, J Hiscox, M Harmer.
At Henson Park, Sunday 1st September 2013.

Under 18s Two:
First Semi Final
Macquarie Uni 3.5 7.6 10.7 11.10 (76)
Moorebank 5.1 7.8 7.14 10.15 (75)
Goals : Macquarie Uni ?
R Ludowycke 5, O Jackson 2, T Cordner 2, C Hollsten, C Apcar. Moorebank ? M Faulkner 4, J Panesar 2, J Bowman, H Mitchell, B Westwood, Z Podbury.
Best : Macquarie Uni ? T Cordner, C Hollsten, R Ludowycke, S McKinnon, O Jackson, H St Hill. Moorebank ? J Bryant, B Wicken, J Bowman, B Westwood, Z Podbury, R Payne.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Saturday 31st August 2013.

Women Division One:
Second Semi Final
Sydney Uni 3.2 4.4 7.9 7.9 (51)
UNSW-ES 0.0 1.1 1.4 3.6 (24)
Goals : Sydney Uni ?
A Morgan 3, K Byrne 2, A McDonnell, M Gray. UNSW-ES ? C Van Schalkwyk 2, S Court.
Best : Sydney Uni ? J Lew, L Creber, S Lancaster, A Morgan, L Sadler, S Walker. UNSW-ES ? C Gum, M Morriss, L O?Brien, A Bidou, J Still, C Van Schalkwyk.
At Henson Park, Sunday 1st September 2013.

Women Division Two:
Preliminary Final
Southern Power 3.2 5.4 8.5 9.11 (65)
Penrith 1.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 (19)
Goals : Southern Power ?
A McClure 2, B Day 2, S Smythe 2, L Hodgson, A Kowski, A Tegg. Penrith ? K Easthope 2, J Brown.
Best : Southern Power ? B Day, D Goom, K Hull, A Kowski, A McClure, S Smyth. Penrith ? N Camilleri, K Badger, M Vella, J Vella, C Manuel, Z McDonagh.
At Gipps Rd Oval, Sunday 1st September 2013.



NEXT WEEK?S MATCHES

Premier Division:

Saturday 7th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
Second Semi Final ? Manly v St George (3:15pm)
Sunday 8th September ? Henson Park
First Semi Final ? North Shore v St George (2:15pm)

Division One:
Saturday 7th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
Second Semi Final ? Southern Power v UTS (1pm)
Sunday 8th September ? Henson Park
First Semi Final ? Holroyd-Parramatta v UNSW-ES (12pm)

Division Two:
Saturday 7th September ? Gipps Rd Oval
Preliminary Final ? Moorebank v Sydney Uni (2:30pm)


Division Three:
Saturday 7th September ? Gipps Rd Oval
Preliminary Final ? Randwick City v NorWest (12:15pm)

Division Four:
Saturday 7th September ? Gipps Rd Oval
Preliminary Final ? UTS v Sydney Uni (10am)

Division Five:
Sunday 8th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
GRAND FINAL ? Randwick City v UTS (2:30pm)

Under 18s One:
Saturday 7th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
Second Semi Final ? Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES (11am)
Sunday 8th September ? Henson Park
First Semi Final ? St George v Illawarra (10am)

Under 18s Two:
Saturday 7th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
Second Semi Final ? Manly v Holroyd-Parramatta (9am)

Women Division One:
Sunday 8th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
Preliminary Final ? UNSW-ES v Balmain (10am)

Women Division Two:
Sunday 8th September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
GRAND FINAL ? Macquarie Uni v Southern Power (12:15pm)