Spill Crew A Grade
University 12.7 79 defeated Mt Lawley 4.9 33
Uni was coming off an impressive 80 point victory on the road against North Beach, but there’s no opportunities to take the foot off the pedal in A Grade as the league side faced a spirited Mt Lawley at McGillivray.
The Hawks are back in A Grade this season and despite a 4-4 record, have been very impressive and tough to play against.
Uni went into the round 9 fixtures with an array of changes to the side, this handed exciting young forward Charlie Caldow his league debut! Chooch hasn’t had the greatest injury luck in the last few years, but the kid has all the makings of a great key forward and we were excited to see what he could do.
Uni started really positively, kicking 4 majors in the first quarter to Mt Lawley’s 1. The side had ensured its defensive pressure was paramount against a slick ball moving team, forcing errors and turnovers in the forward half. Dynamic midfielder Isaac Barton continued his stellar season, hitting the scoreboard and applying terrific tackling.
Uni were able to endure a Mt Lawley momentum swing in the second quarter and entered the half time break with a 5 goal lead. This was on the back of some all around team efforts to neutralise the contest.
The second half opened up as the ball movement was more free flowing. Captain Tim O’Hara was proving to be a handful up-forward kicking 4 important majors and key defender Ben Fitzgerald controlled the air and moved the footy with purpose.
The team walked away 46 point victors and sit with a 6-3 record at the halfway point of the season.
Best: (5) Barton; (4) Fitzgerald; (3) Limmy, Donaldson; (2) Upson, Stapleton; (1) O’Hara, Harris
Goals: (4) O’Hara, (2) Barton, Trombetta, Morcombe, (1) Mentink, Evans
Steinepreis Paganin A Reserves
University 9.10 64 defeated Mt Lawley 6.13 49
The Reserves have moved to a 7-2 record this year with a gritty 15 point victory against a physical Mt Lawley in trying conditions on Saturday. Coming into the game with 9 changes to the side that beat Beach we were very aware that this could be a danger game for the boys.
Mt Lawley immediately validated these concerns kicking the first and dominating the first quarter. Nick Cooley, doubling up from Colts, got us on the board in response with Chucky Mitchell providing our second goal. We were down by 7 points at the first break which was primarily caused by Lawley’s ability to move the ball off half back.
The second quarter, we responded kicking 3 goals including a 50 metre bomb in the wet by Flynn Bailey whose line breaking was noticeable on the day. Additionally, Kuta was rock solid down back and won many of his one on one contests. We were up by 3 points at HT, but this probably wasn’t a reflection of Lawley’s dominance in the first half.
From there, we responded well in the third quarter kicking 3 goals. Justy and Quincey started to prove dangerous forward. Meanwhile, we started to gain some ascendancy in the mids with Snick and Gaj proving effective.
In the final quarter we eventually sealed the result with Quincey kicking the pill into the next postcode, proving the sealer and we ultimately ran out 15 point winners.
Overall, it was a pleasing performance after QT. We dug in when we had to and adjusted with the weather conditions that were presented to us. As we move into the European month we know that the challenges will get greater. This starts with a trip out to Wanneroo this week where we will have to be at our best against an improved Roos side.
Goals – Justy & Quincey (2); Chuck, Cools, Flynn, Lantzke & Ed (1)
Votes – Flynn (5); Kuta (4); Justy & Snick (3); Gaj & Skaz (2); Lowey, Ed & Cools (1)
Red Cloud A Colts
University 11.14 80 defeated Mt Lawley 4.1 25
Bike Bar Stormers
University 2.6 18 defeated by Kingsley 3.2 20
GPA Engineering Peacocks
University 5.4 34 defeated Jandakot 3.4 22
4 Pines Pirates
University 6.8 44 defeated by Osborne Park 6.9 45
The Pirates suffered another heartbreaking loss on the weekend to 2nd on the ladder in what turned out to be a fantastic game.
After so many injuries the previous week, the coaching panel were reaching far and wide to fill the 22. The end result was probably the best side we’ve put out all year with some huge inclusions such as Jerk, Sharky, Windows and Frank the Tank.
The opposition burst out of the gates with a couple of quick goals before the Pirates could blink. The Pirates were able to adjust and slow the game down, arresting some momentum and adjusting to the conditions to go in to the break level thanks to a couple of freak goals from Ric.
In the second quarter, the Pirates controlled the game and started to gain the advantage. The experience of Sharky and Frank the Tank combined with exciting play from the younger crew members meant the team were looking like the better side.
In the second half, the Pirates continued their great play but it became an arm wrestle. Tensions threatened to boil over as a number of spot fires popped up but the Pirates kept their focus on the footy.
Down by 7 points late in the game, the side were pushing hard and doing everything they could to score, despite some questionable decisions going the other way.
Fan favourite, Blake ‘Jaguar Skip Bin Hands Magee’ Barrow, kicked an impressive goal to bring the deficit to 1 point with less than two minutes to go.
The team threw everything at the contest but unfortunately fell just short.
With the first half of the year complete, the side now sits at 3-6 and a couple of games outside of the top five. We turn our attention to the undefeated Forestdale on Saturday in what will be another challenging contest.
Goals:Ric, Andy (2), Jaguar, Joon (1)
Best: Barbs, Sharky, Smally, Noah, Jerk, Andy, Hester, Frank the Tank
Byfields Dingoes
University 6.5 41 defeated Osborne Park 3.4 22
The Dingoes took on a much improved Osborne Park outfit at one of the all time great suburban showground venues. There were some big ins for the Dingoes, with Jarvo and Matt-In-A-Hat making their season debut, but undoubtedly the biggest in was the Dingoes captain; Big Al weighing in at 95kg after his 11 week Contiki in Europe.
The Dingoes were insipid in the first quarter, failing to show their usual hunger for the contest and generally just not being at the races. Fortunately the Dingoes managed to turn it around in tough and wet conditions, dominating the second half to win by about 3 goals in the end, despite only having 1 fit player on the bench.
A much improved effort from the midfield got the ball rolling, while 3 classy goals from the ageless wonder Erk Dog provided some much needed poise. Post-game, the Dingoes enjoyed some excellent hot chips and gravy, while listening to some almost certainly untrue Europe stories.
Votes: Mac, 1Z (5), Demon (4), Erk Dog (3), Matty M, Tully (2), Big Red, Roida (1)
NN of the Week: Haz Leo
Subiaco Hotel C-Gulls
University 15.17 107 defeated Ocean Ridge 3.5 23