SYDNEY AFL PRELIMINARY FINAL 2013
Article and Prelim Final Photos by Michael Shillito
Grand Final Photos thanks to www.sydneyafl.com.au
The stakes were high at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday. A spot in the Grand Final was on the line.
St George, after a win over North Shore in the Qualifying Final and a loss to Manly in the Second Semi Final, were up against Pennant Hills. The Demons had got there with wins over UNSW-ES in the Elimination Final and then a heart-stopping win over North Shore in the First Semi.
The ground surface at Blacktown was in good condition, and despite an adverse weather forecast, the rain stayed away; although a swirling breeze could sometimes make conditions tricky.
The first half never reached any great heights, although there were some highlights. A blistering run with several bounces by St George livewire Daniel Cox late in the first quarter was worthy of note; while St George forward Paul Sain pulled down a speckie in the goalsquare and goaled to level the scores at quarter time.
But at the other end, the Demons were efficiently getting the job done. Scores were tied up at the first change, but the Demons took the upper hand during the second term. A smother to prevent Luke Bilbe from scoring came unstuck when the crumbs spilled to Damian Dell?Aquila, who snapped truly. A free kick in front gifted Nick Campbell a goal, and when a running Tim Wales bounced and dribbled the ball through, the Demons had opened a 13-point lead. Nathan Kenny?s attempt to get a goal back on the half time siren just failed when the kick was touched on the line.
The Demons led by 12 points at half time. But the real drama was still to come. The intensity picked up after half time, and the third quarter would be an absorbing tale of twists and turns.
Five minutes into the third term, it looked like the Demons had a match-winning lead and were headed for a big win. A free to Aaron Crisfield and a mark by Luke Bilbe had resulted in goals; the Demons 26 points ahead, momentum running their way.
St George looked gone, but ten minutes later they were in front. A chip kick by Alex Wynn found an unattended Blake Guthrie, who got the first goal back. Stephen Wilsen made space to add another. Mid-season recruit Dominic Killworth stood his ground to mark and goal; and when Paul Sain pulled down another strong mark, suddenly the margin was back to one point.
The Dragons had lifted, and the Demons were looking vulnerable. Daniel Cox again entertained the crowd with another run down the wing. Paul Sain wasn?t paid a mark that he looked to have taken, but a minute later Cox found himself on the forward line to rove a marking contest and put the Dragons in front.
Five goals in a row had gone to the Dragons, the imposing deficit had been turned into a lead. The Dragons had been breathing fire, putting the Demons under pressure. But as the clock ticked past the 20 minute mark, the momentum would change again as a pinpoint pass by Matthew Vile found Ranga Ediriwickrama 15 minutes out.
Veteran Demon Alistair Richardson stood tall to mark and add another. Then Luke Bilbe gathered the ball, but being forced out wide by the Dragon defenders, fired off a handball to Ediriwickrama who was running unmarked towards goal.
For all the work the Dragons had done, their five-goal run to take the lead, the Demons had won the quarter. Tempers flared as the siren sounded for three-quarter time; but it was the Demons who had the 14-point edge. And when Ranga Ediriwickrama scored the first goal of the final term, the Demons again looked to have a match-winning lead.
But the Dragons still had a pulse, and this game wasn?t over yet. From the bounce, Alex Wynn charged forward with the ball, pumping it to the forward line; and although Paul Sain was unable to mark, a second effort saw the goal go through. Blake Guthrie landed a torp from in front of the scoreboard, and the Nick Ryan stood tall to mark and goal. Suddenly the margin was back to five points, and for the second time in as many quarters a Demon lead looked like evaporating.
This time, the Dragons were unable to take the lead. Instead, it would be Luke Bilbe who would score the next goal, giving the Demons breathing space. And a moment later, Ediriwickrama curled his shot in the breeze, punching the air as his shot sailed between the big sticks.
The floodlights were taking over, as the sun was setting on St George? season. The Dragons had thrown everything they had at this game, twice pulling in big leads. But there would be no third comeback, and the Demons played out the match to make their way into Sydney footy?s biggest stage.
The final margin was 21 points. Ranga Ediriwickrama finished with four goals; while James Dunn, Damian Dell?Aquila and Kieran Wright had been the Demons? best. Daniel Cox, Jordan West and David Lycakis has been worthy contributors all day to the Dragon cause.
The Second Semi-Final Curse had struck again. For the 10th time in 11 seasons, the team that lost the Second Semi had gone down again in the Preliminary Final. The only one to have bounced back in the Prelim was Balmain in 2011, who fell over the line by a kick against Sydney Uni.
The Demons sang the song in the rooms after the game, but celebrations were subdued. The job isn?t done yet.
Waiting for them is Manly. The Wolves have surpassed all expectations to make the Grand Final in their debut season in Premier Division. But there is one more challenge, one more mountain to climb, before they can claim the perfect debut season.
Will Manly complete the fairytale first year in the top flight? Or will the Demons, who have climbed this mountain before, take the spoils? All will be revealed at Blacktown next Saturday, in what is sure to be a memorable Grand Final.
Pennant Hills 2.4 5.7 10.10 15.13 (103)
St George 2.4 3.7 8.8 12.10 (82)
Goals : Pennant Hills ? R Ediriwickrama 4, A Crisfield 2, M Vile 2, L Bilbe 2, B Unwin, T Wales, A Richardson, N Campbell, D Dell?Aquila. St George ? N Ryan 3, P Sain 3, D Killworth, J Mudge, A Wynn, J Saddington, B Guthrie, D Cox.
Best : Pennant Hills ? J Dunn, D Dell?Aquila, K Wright, T Wales, R Ediriwickrama, T Widmer. St George ? D Cox, J West, D Lycakis, B Guthrie, D Ryan, M Milner.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 15th September 2013.
SECOND GRAND FINAL DAY
At Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, four divisional premierships were decided.
A see-sawing contest in Division Two saw Sydney Uni prevail to take out the title with a 14-point win over Manly.
It was a tough and physical opening to the game, two committed sides putting their bodies on the line. The Wolves had the better of the early exchanges to lead by eight points at the first change. But it didn?t take long for the Students to lift in the second term and the Manly lead was quickly reeled in. But once the Students had taken the lead, their goalkicking radar began to desert them, and at the long break the Sydney Uni lead was only ten points when the run of play suggested it should have been greater.
The Sydney Uni inaccuracy would continue to plague them in the third term, as the Students were unable to manage a goal. Just five points for the quarter, and their premiership hopes took a hit as Manly kicked three goals for the quarter. With the Wolves taking the lead shortly before the three quarter time siren, and holding a five-point advantage at the last change, momentum looked to have swung the way of the Northern Beaches team.
But the Students regrouped during the three-quarter time break, and within moments of the start of the final quarter had regained the lead. From there, it was one-way traffic; a run of four goals to one sealing the premiership for the Students; and with it a place in Division One for 2014 after a two-year absence from that division.
Jarryd Boyd was awarded the best on ground medal, while Liam Huxtable and Ben Foley also made important contributions for the Students. Manly were well served by the efforts of Ben Collins, Jimi McDonald and James Behagg.
Sydney Uni 1.1 4.7 4.12 8.14 (62)
Manly 2.2 3.3 6.5 7.6 (48)
Goals : Sydney Uni ? L McKendrick 2, J Cutrupi, J Boyd, N Lye, J Melville, A Holmes, L Huxtable. Manly ? M Rawle 2, J Hall 2, J Balderstone, T Schultz, B Collins.
Best : Sydney Uni ? J Boyd, L Huxtable, B Foley, M Carey, G Burch, A Hawtin. Manly ? B Collins, J McDonald, J Behagg, J Lumsden, J Hall, S Atkins.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 14th September 2013.
Blacktown had been the dominant side in Division Three this season, but the Magic had to hang on for dear life after being given a scare by a determined Randwick City side in the Division Three Grand Final.
Little separated the two sides in the first quarter, as both sides had the answer to any challenge the other would throw up. The Magic led by a point at the first change, but the Saints scored two early goals in the second term, threatening to spoil the Blacktown party. The Magic lifted as the quarter went on, regaining the lead late in the quarter. Tempers flared in a firey end to the quarter, with the Magic leading by six points at half time.
Scoring was easier in the premiership quarter, and Blacktown took advantage. A run of five goals to two in the third term saw the Magic lead by 27 points at the last change, and they looked to have one hand on the premiership cup. But the Saints had other ideas, and a run of goals midway through the last quarter saw the margin cut back to nine points. But they could get no closer, with the Magic defending grimly during the closing stages of the match; breathing a sigh of relief when the final siren sounded. An eleven point win wrapped up the premiership.
Leighton Corr took out the best on ground medal, while Andrew Polkinghorne and Brad Whale were also prominent around the ground for the Magic. For Randwick, Scott Feigan, George Garoufalis and Josh Scanlon were tireless performers all day. In just the second season since the club was formed, the premiership was a triumph for Blacktown.
Blacktown 2.3 5.5 10.8 11.11 (77)
Randwick City 2.2 4.5 6.5 10.6 (66)
Goals : Blacktown ? E Barclay 3, A Polkinghorne 2, D Connors 2, B Akmens, M Gann, M Clinch, A Moeller. Randwick City ? M Rose 2, A Azhar 2, R Gillespie 2, D Burke 2, B Oliver, S Feigan.
Best : Blacktown ? L Corr, A Polkinghorne, B Whale, D Clifford, E Barclay, L Penrith. Randwick City ? S Feigan, G Garoufalis, J Scanlon, J Grant, M Lewis, K Jones.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 14th September 2013.
The Division Four Grand Final completed a dominant season for Pennant Hills in that division, with the Demons cruising to a 67-point victory over Sydney Uni.
Keen to get off to a good start, the Demons wasted no time in asserting themselves on the scoreboard; and with four goals to one in the first quarter, held a 19-point advantage at quarter time. And locking the Students out of the contest in the second term, the Demons added four unanswered goals. With a lead of 43 points at the long break, things were looking bright for Pennant Hills.
There would be no respite for the Students in the third term. They would manage to eke out one goal, but it wasn?t enough to make any dent in the scoreline as the Demons added another three goals to open up a 59-point win at the last change. The last quarter was largely going through the motions, as the clock ticked down to a long-awaited Pennant Hills premiership. After not fielding a thirds team in the last couple of seasons, the decision to field a Div Four team this season was well and truly vindicated.
Evan Danilo was awarded the best on ground medal, while Michael Cantrall and Alex Huggins also made valuable contributions. Ben Hunter, James Hunt and Tom Whitaker were Sydney Uni?s best.
Pennant Hills 4.2 8.3 11.8 14.11 (95)
Sydney Uni 1.1 1.2 2.2 4.4 (28)
Goals : Pennant Hills ? B Hatherley 3, P Randazzo 3, A Huggins, J Turner, E Danilo, T Gerard, M Cantrall, N Breen, J Gunstone, T Abbott. Sydney Uni ? B Hunter 2, C Clarebrough, J Edwards.
Best : Pennant Hills ? E Danilo, M Cantrall, A Huggins, B Hooper, T Abbott, S Dunell. Sydney Uni ? B Hunter, J Hunt, T Whitaker, C McCauley, A Harmer, P Chidrawi.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 14th September 2013.
In the Womens Division One Grand Final, Sydney Uni ended Balmain?s hopes of a premiership three-peat with a comfortable 26-point victory.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with Uni scoring the only goal for the first quarter to take an eight point lead to quarter time. But the Bombers were forced to defend in the second term as the Dockers lifted and began to create scoring opportunities. But the Dockers were unable to capitalise on the chances they created, an inaccurate return of 2.5 for the quarter preventing them from taking the lead, with the Bombers still four points ahead at the long break.
The third term lived up to its title as the premiership quarter, as Sydney Uni kicked away to establish a match-winning lead. With three goals to one, the margin was out to 20 points at the last change; too big a lead for the Dockers to entertain any thoughts of chasing down. The last quarter was more defensive in nature, with Sydney Uni scoring the only goal to scenes of jubilant celebration.
Jennifer Lew, capping off a memorable season in which she was drafted to Melbourne for the AFL Womens match, took out the best on ground trophy. Stacey Lancaster and Lara Creber were also prominent for Sydney Uni. For the Dockers, Alison Parkin, Jackie Buckthought and Hayley Warren were tireless contributors.
Sydney Uni 1.3 3.4 6.8 7.9 (51)
Balmain 0.1 2.6 3.6 3.7 (25)
Goals : Sydney Uni ? A Garland, S Walker, A McDonnell, M Cray, L Creber, E Yuen, L Sadler. Balmain ? R McGee 3.
Best : Sydney Uni ? J Lew, S Lancaster, L Creber, R Stack, M Gray, B Michalk. Balmain ? A Parkin, J Buckthought, H Warren, B Pride, M Fuller, S Bates.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 14th September 2013.
Division One:
Preliminary Final
UNSW-ES 0.1 6.3 6.5 9.6 (60)
UTS 2.5 2.6 3.8 7.10 (52)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? J Metcalfe 2, T Luff 2, T Garrett 2, D Collins, B Zieschang, M Ensor. UTS ? M Trewhella 2, B Cantrall, J Hume, B Pitt, N Haslam, L Meyrick.
Best : UNSW-ES ? F Rowe, C McKinlay, T Falvey, E Hull, M Archibold, J Metcalfe. UTS ? L Trimboli, C Walters, B Cantrall, L Meyrick, H Whiting, B Holland.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 15th September 2013.
Under 18s One:
Preliminary Final
UNSW-ES 3.2 10.9 10.9 10.9 (69)
Illawarra 1.0 7.3 7.3 7.3 (45)
Goals : UNSW-ES ? A Davis 6, H Yates 2, A Cupido, T Preece. Illawarra ? T Bishop 3, S Potter 2, J Lees, N Lomas.
Best : UNSW-ES ? B Gordon, A Davis, J Erickson, J Foote, L Towell, T Roos. Illawarra ? H Dobson, J David-Wright, M Bates, K Anu, B Forst, T Bishop.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 15th September 2013.
Under 18s Two:
Preliminary Final
Holroyd-Parramatta 2.4 4.10 5.14 11.16 (82)
Macquarie Uni 1.1 1.9 2.9 4.11 (35)
Goals : Holroyd-Parramatta ? C Wolfe 4, A Rickett 2, H Keenan 2, J Mayne, J Sulemam, J Harvey. Macquarie Uni ? O Jackson 2, C Hollsten, J Riley.
Best : Holroyd-Parramatta ? J Mayne, A Rickett, C Manut, A Boelhouwer, J Harvey, H Spiteri. Macquarie Uni ? S O?Sullivan, T Cordner, J Riley, O Jackson, H St Hill, L Nelson.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 15th September 2013.
GRAND FINAL DAY
Saturday 21st September ? Blacktown International Sportspark
8:45am ? Under 18s Division Two
Manly v Holroyd-Parramatta
11:05am ? Under 18s Division One
Pennant Hills v UNSW-ES
1:10pm ? Division One
Southern Power v UNSW-ES
3:30pm ? Premier Division
Manly v Pennant Hills
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