Match reports: NSW/ACT Rep Carnival

Farrer Football League v AFL Sydney Development

AFL Sydney Development team prevailed in the high scoring game against the Farrer Football League at Blacktown International Sports Stadium by 28 points.

The Farrer boys were the first to hit the scoreboard with a Kodie O’Malley goal in the first few minutes of the game, followed by major from Mitch Ward. Farrer were not able to consolidate early opportunities with AFL Sydney able to fight back to close to a 3 point deficit at quarter-time.

David Kovacevic began to dominate in the air kicking a number of goals before half-time in what was a tough quarter of football with only a point separating both teams.

After half- time it was all one way traffic with AFL Sydney beginning to dominate the contest. Nick Ryan proved to spark his side by kicking 2 goals in succession.

Both David Kovacevic and Josh Zoppo proved too tall and mobile with both players kicking crucial goals as AFL Sydney began to wear down the Farrer League. At the other end Mitch Ward continued to hold his own kicking a few late goals to give his side hope of a comeback.

The final quarter saw both teams kicking goals as Farrer tried to claw there way back in the game. It was AFL Sydney’s ability to take marks inside 50 that proved the difference with Josh Zoppo and Paul Sain kicking goals for AFL Sydney to pull away.

David Kovacevic and Sam Carruthers played extremely well for the winning side.. Mitch Ward was ever a constant threat while both Sam Fisher and Andrew Saddler tried to all day in the middle for the Farrer League team.

Goals:

Farrer: Ward 6, O’Malley, Moye, Hore-Smith, Smith, Ridley, Mackie, Roberts, Barrett

AFL Sydney: Kovacevic 6, Zoppo 5, Chivas 2, Ryan 2, Turner, Rawlinson, Linsen, Sain

Best:

Farrer: Ward, Fisher, Saddler, Block, Williams, Barrett

AFL Sydney: Kovacevic, Carruthers, Zoppo, Rawlinson, Chivas, Linsen

VAFA 15.18-108 def AFL Sydney 8.13-61

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) continued their recent dominance over a gallant AFL Sydney with a 47-point win at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday evening.

AFL Sydney got the early jump with Lewis Broome crumbing effectively to put the local side on the board before VAFA (Ammos) gradually gained control with Phil Edgar especially dangerous as a tall, marking target.

A wonderful snap from Ryan Price in the right pocket kept AFL Sydney in touch as they trailed the Ammos by 13 points at quarter-time.

The Ammos continued their form early in the second quarter with some strong link-up play before the local outfit gained better control in the middle third of the field. Kristian Pearson was playing well on former leading Ammo’s goalkicker, Matthew Handley.

Two goals in the space of a minute to Matt Carey, who made up for an earlier dropped mark inside 50, and another creative goal from Price saw AFL Sydney close the gap to within a point. The Ammos would kick away again to gain a 19-point half-time lead with Justin Baxter providing drive from half-back and pin-pointing Jack Watts who goaled on the half-time siren.

The third quarter saw the Ammos start impressively with a goal within the first minute. Carey and Selby Lee-Steere missed chances to reduce the deficit before a goal at the eighth minute mark from point blank range, courtesy of a fifty metre penalty opened AFL Sydney’s account for the quarter. The rest of the quarter was a dour struggle, with Dane Rampe’s goal at the eleven minute mark cancelled out by Handley’s goal seven minutes later.

Entering the final term, AFL Sydney had twenty men at their disposal having lost Sam Tagliabue (cut head) and Jeremy Kennedy (leg) earlier in the match.

The end-to-end struggle continued with the first goal not being kicked till the 12 minute mark after clever play from Handley leading to a subsequent mark and goal by Watts.

It was the straw that broke the camel’s back as Lachlan Ferguson kicked two goals in three minutes, with another goal in between blowing the lead out for the VAFA.

The end scoreline failed to indicate the closeness of the match and the competitiveness of the AFL Sydney side.

VAFA                5.5   9.6   11.11   15.18-108

AFL Sydney     3.4   6.5     8.8       8.13-61

Goals

VAFA: Lachlan Ferguson 3, Jack Watts 3, Jackson Eade 2, Jack Bull, Matthew Handley, Lachlan Hill, Joshua Madden, Thomas O’Sullivan, Nicholas Roberts, Peter Summers

AFL Sydney: Ryan Price 2, Dane Rampe 2, Craig White, Leigh Conway, Matthew Carey, Lewis Broome

Best

VAFA: Peter Summers, Jack Bull, James Rimington, Cameron Purss, Paul Wintle, Lachlan Ferguson

AFL Sydney: Ryan Plant, Craig White, Jason Coulloupas, Dane Rampe, Kristian Pearson, Ronald Wason

ACT Women 9.5.59 def. NSW Women 2.9.21

The ACT Women wrapped up their best of three series against NSW Women with a 38-point win at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.

In game two of the series, ACT opened up a commanding first-quarter lead and never relinquished their advantage with Danielle Raimet best for the victors.

Karina Demant led allcomers with three goals, while Jennifer Lew and Jenna Miller were impressive for the NSW side.

Best:

ACT Womens: Danielle Raimet, Susan Cadman, Casey Byrne, Luisa Marzotto, Lousie Winter (nee Castle), Holly Cogle

NSW Womens: Jennifer Lew, Jenna Miller, Melissa Freckleton, Kirrily Boyd

AFL Riverina 17.11.113 def. Black Diamond AFL 7.14.56

Riverina overcame a Black Diamond comeback in the third quarter to eventually post a 57-point win at Blacktown International Sports Park Oval No. 1.

In a tight first quarter, Riverina kicked the first two goals with Marc Geppart prominent up forward. Jacob Olsson was also a presence at half-back, with Black Diamond vice-captain Luke Rawnsley playing a similar sweeping role for his side to good effect.

It was a similar story in the second term with Riverina helping themselves to the first three goals with their spread and structure seemingly overwhelming Black Diamond, despite the best efforts of Michael Healy and Corey Shackleton.

With a 31-point lead at half-time it seemed Riverina had the match won but someone forgot to tell the Black Diamond side as they staged a great comeback to kick four goals to two for the term. Despite Mick Duncan kicking a goal in the first minute, the Hunter outfit were able to rebound and break the lines to reduce the lead to 13-points at three-quarter time.

Riverina found their legs again in the final quarter and ran all over Black Diamond in the final quarter. Three goals within the first ten minutes to Curtis Steele, Mick Duncan, and Andrew Johnstone made the assignment extremely difficult for Black Diamond.

Riverina would go on to kick seven goals for the quarter as Guy Orton led superbly from the front while Jethro Calma-Holt from Griffith was athletic in the ruck.

Best:

AFL Riverina: Guy Orton, James Rice, John Anstee, Guy Ward, Mick Duncan, Jamie Maddox

Black Diamond AFL: Bryce Singleton, Chris Bishop, Mat Bailey, Anthony Stewart, Luke Rawnsley, Blake Erickson

AFL Canberra 17.12.124 def. NAIAFA 14.12.96

AFL Canberra proved too strong for NAIAFA by 28 points at Blacktown International Sports Park Oval No. 2 on Saturday morning.

The indigenous outfit showed promise at various stages in the contest with Chris Gordon particularly impressive with six goals. Adam Jennings and the Craig brothers (Rod and Andrew) were also prominent, as was Chris Bolt who kicked three goals.

Six goals in the second and third quarters helped AFL Canberra’s cause. Troy Fenyvesi was particularly strong across the ground. Adam Heading booted five goals in what was an entertaining affair.

Goals:

AFL Canberra: Adam Heading 5, Cameron Squires 3, Jordan Pearson 2, Matthew Ghirardello 2, Troy Fenyvesi, Jaegan McNeill, Samuel Playfair, Casey Walsh, Toby Yeates

NAIAFA: Chris Gordon 6, Chris Bolt 3, James Burgess 2, Dean Wright 2, Luke Penrith

Best:

AFL Canberra: Troy Fenyvesi, Casey Walsh, Chase Grintell, Samuel Playfair, Adam Heading, Patrick Blake

NAIAFA: Chris Gordon, Adam Jennings, Andrew Craig, Rod Craig, Joseph Saunders, Eric Moody