The A-Grade boys have caused a boilover at South Oval, knocking off the previously undefeated Curtin Wesley in a see-sawing game that went down to the wire. The Ressies fell agonisingly short in a nail-biting draw while the Stormers knocked off one of the in-form teams of the A-Women’s competition. It was a week of Amateur footy that really had it all.
With the start of NAIDOC week, the home teams donned the much loved Indigenous Guernseys and celebrated the occasion in style with wins-galore at the McG. Prior to the Stormers game, a welcome to country was performed, setting up the side to perform well on the big stage. The A-stream will be celebrating NAIDOC week this coming weekend.
We encourage all Uni people to get down to McG 1 at 2:20pm this Saturday to cheer on the A-Grade side against the in-form TA’s. The league is putting on a massive Can Bar Siren Session which promises to be a fantastic afternoon of local footy.
Steinepreis Paganin A-Grade
University 7.5 47 defeated Curtin Uni Wesley 7.4 46
Weaps and the A Grade boys had their best game of the season, defeating the ladder leaders.
The League side had the arduous task of competing against the undefeated Wesley Curtin at South Oval. With what proved to be a beautiful day for footy, the team was under no illusion as to what would be required to get the 4 points.
The first quarter was a great opportunity for us to hit the ground running, which didn’t go exactly to plan as Wesley controlled the majority of play. It took a while for the side to get a feel for the game, but slowly we were able to make our mark, kicking our first goal through Doc Blakely, ending the quarter down 3.2 to 2.1.
The second quarter proved much of the same, Uni was able to stay strong in the contest and win our one on ones. Apart from a few costly turnovers resulting in multiple scoring shots for Wesley, Uni were playing with real spirit by having a real willingness to compete at high intensity for long periods. We went into the half time break down by 7 points, with plenty of positives to take away.
The third quarter was one of the best quarters we’ve played all season. It wasn’t slick ball movement, or elite skills, it was simply the ability to grind. The midfield of Flint, Barton, Donovan, Lake and Wilson showed the level of toughness and maturity it takes in big games of A Grade football. The on-ball unit continually tackled and forced stoppages, as University was able to score 3 goals through Kohlman, Durward and Bull McKay. The backline was also proving to hold up strong, with young defender Jye Harris having his best game of the year. Uni held a 7 point lead going into the final break.
The last quarter went down to the wire. Wesley kicked an early goal, giving the home team a surge of momentum. We continued to battle hard at stoppages, focussing on pressure at the ball carrier in search of turnovers, it was down to which side had the cooler head going into the last few minutes. With about 2 and a half minutes to go, Cameron Wilson was awarded a free kick about 40m out on the boundary, with the bullish midfielder calmly slotting it straight through the middle. This gave Uni a 7 point lead. Wesley were able to jag one just before the final siren, but it wasn’t enough as we ran out 1 point victors.
The last month of football has been a culmination of hard work and believing in the game plan. Next week doesn’t get any easier as we come up against a red hot Trinity Aquinas side who are sitting second on the ladder. We hope to see a big crowd down at UWA Sports Park at 2:30PM.
Goals: Kohlman 2, Wilson, Mckay, Durward, Davies, Blakely
Best: Barton, Harris, Wilson, P. Donovan, Blakely, O’Hara
4 Pines A-Reserves
University 7.9 51 drew to Curtin Uni Wesley 7.9 51
The Reserves have had a draw with last year’s Premiers Wesley Curtin 7.9 apiece on Saturday afternoon out at South Oval.
Coming into the game the boys recognised the importance of playing the 5th place Tigers who had gotten one over us earlier this year. Led by the mantra of ‘Bush Pigs’, coined by Shiney, the boys played some excellent footy from the outset. The midfield led by Gaj and the returning Swilly provided some great opportunities moving forward, with Quincey getting on the end of one early. The backs did very well to repel, led by Lowey, Sauce and Colts superstar TL. Wesley took a slender 3-point lead at the first break.
The remainder of the game played out as an arm-wrestle with both teams going blow for blow for the remaining 3 quarters. Both teams captured periods of momentum and took advantage of this time. When we moved it forward, we looked dangerous with Cruddy and Con working very well together (both kicking goals on the day). Quincey Howard kicked 3 and once again proved to be a great target for the mids.
Overall, the game was a unique encounter. The tightness of the game was reflected in scores being level at half time, 3 quarter time and obviously at the final siren.
At our best over the last few weeks, we have shown we can match it with the top end teams, but the challenge for the group is keeping its concentration for longer periods throughout the game.
This week we have another 8 pointer against TAs, celebrating NAIDOC Round whilst hosting the Carlton Dry Sessions. Assuming we continue to maintain the pressure, I have no doubt once again that we will be very competitive against a strong TAs.
Come on you Poodles.
Goals: Quincey (3); Con, Cruddy, Dono & Westy
Phil Scott Colts
University 11.4 70 defeated Curtin Uni Wesley 6.7 43
Crossing Law A-Grade Women Stormers
University 2.2 14 defeated Warnbro 1.4 10
UWA have claimed their biggest scalp of the season and sent one of their finest servants off in style, defeating top-two contenders Warnbo in a thriller on Saturday.
In a win that will be remembered for years to come, the Stormers summoned unbelievable grit (thanks Courtney Bruce) to emerge four point winners in a tense final quarter.
Leading by one goal at three-quarter time, Warnbro lined up for one last swing at UWA in the final quarter, locking the ball in their forward half.
But despite considerable pressure, the Stormers steely defence held firm as the Swans peppered (the bad kind not the Loz kind) their goals.
The 2.2 (14) to 1.4 (10) win ensured much-loved Stormer Carly Portch went out with a win as she prepares to return to the land of maple syrup and Justin Trudeau but we’re going to launch a GoFundMe to fly her back for finals okay okay?!
It was a typical Portch performance in what definitely will absolutely not be her final game this year, charging around Swans players and gaining metres with her ugly but effective torps.
Some absolute legend also got a win on her birthday and took some heroic marks in the fourth quarter, taking her full allotted time to a. take time off the clock and b. bath in glory in front of a boisterous crowd.
Special shout out goes to Adelaide Crossing who was accused of illegally blocking her opponent out of the marking content by a feisty Swan only to be told by the umpire “sweetheart there’s a lot happening off the ball and I don’t have four sets of eyes.”
Crossing had other more legal involvements as well, kicking what proved the winning goal in the fourth quarter only to be told she had to sprint the full length of the field to full back.
She also set up Tash Vaughan-Taylor’s crumbing goal in the second quarter, sending the ball to the goal square after getting put flat on her back on the top of the 50.
Bella Zadnik put her body on the line and will have to pay the price for a week or so after bending her finger all sorts of angles but remaining calmer than Buddha on vacation.
Beth ‘Betty’ Hepburn made a triumph to Stormers, hassling the opposition with her fierce pressure and pinpoint handballs.
While Molly Goldacre gave water runners and her teammates a headache when she lined up on Warnbro’s Molly Wilson #Mollyception.
Steinepris c4-Grade Women Peacocks
University 0.2 2 defeated by Warnbro 3.6 24
Brewhub C4-Grade Pirates
University 7.13 55 defeated Trinity Aquinas 7.5 47
The Pirates got back on the winners list this week with a nail biting 8 point win over Trinity Aquinas. Coming into the game in 5th position against the 4th position TAs, we knew this was a game that could shape our season. The prospect of Smally and Sarge together up forward had the energy and excitement building and it didn’t take long for them to combine for a highlight. Early in the second quarter a snap from Sarge out of the ruck went straight to smally who became the second pirate this year to kick a goal directly over his own head.
The second and third quarters saw us assert our dominance as we started to gain control of the stoppages and were able to generate some dangerous handball chains and run and carry that resulted in deep entries to our big forwards.
Unfortunately, we were unable to convert this dominance onto the scoreboard as inaccurate kicking threatened to once again cost us. Towards the end of the 3rd quarter we began to tire, with multiple players cramping while Vel was done for the day. A few late goals to TAs undid a lot of hard work as we went into the final change only up by 5 points.
We knew we’d have to dig deep in the last quarter and the boys came out firing. We controlled the first half of the quarter but were still only 13 points up on the scoreboard before TAs kicked 2 goals in quick succession leaving us with a 1 point lead with 3 minutes to go.
The last 3 minutes provided a frantic and nail biting finish but the Pirates were able to hold their nerve. With just over a minute left, Squid danced around a TAs forward, sold some footy candy and sent us forward where the ball ended up in the hands of Timmy Breznan 55 out on the junction. Brez took his 30 seconds and loaded up a torp which floated its way along like a Tim Bresnan scrambled seam delivery and found its way into Motorbike’s hands in the forward pocket. After taking his 30 seconds Motorbike revved up the engine and snapped truly as the final siren sounded seconds later.
It was a great team lifting win that will build a lot of belief and has us sitting in 4th place. Next week we have another big game against the 6th placed Nollamara who are currently just one game behind us.
Uni 7.13 – 55
TAs 7.5 – 47
Goals: Smally 2, Sarge 1, Justy 1, Motorbike 1, Diamo 1 and Kuta 1
Best: Rossco, Monkey, Hilux Snr, Kuta, Squid, Justy, Vet, Sando, Hilux Jnr and Winners Piss
BDO C4-Reserves Dingoes
University 6.10 46 defeated Trinity Aquinas 2.5 17
Brett Jones Colts
University 7.3 45 defeated Trinity Aquinas 5.7 37
Subi Hotel Laurie Keene Colts C-Gulls
University 8.10 58 defeated Quinns District 5.8 38