AFL Sydney – Round 5 review

UNSW/ES,UTS,Balmain,North Shore and Pennant Hills all recorded wins in Round 5 of the AFL Sydney Premier Division competition, which also saw the celebration of “Umpiring Round”.

At Gore Hill Oval, North Shore took on Western Suburbs. The Bombers, after a narrow loss to Pennant Hills in the opening round, had then completed good wins against Campbelltown and St George. The Magpies were looking for their first win of the season, and came into the game after a 20-goal loss to Balmain on Anzac Day.

But the Magpies came to play early, scoring a goal in the opening minute. Starting the game with some committed football, tackling hard and doing their best efforts to frustrate the North Shore game, it took ten minutes for the Bombers to kick their first goal and level the scores.

Once the Bombers had broken their duck, the Wests’ resistance quickly crumbled and four more would follow in quick succession. Nick Todd, formerly of Balmain, moved up forward and got away from his opponent to lead and mark three times in the opening term.

Fears of a Magpie meltdown, however, were eased during time-on. The defence tightened, the Bombers not allowed to create the space they had during the midway stage of the quarter. Two late goals eased the pressure before quarter time, and when Josh Zoppo was ridden in the back early in the second term, suddenly the margin was back to eight points.

The floodgates opened in the third term, as the Bombers added seven goals to one to ensure their win would be convincing. Wests tried hard all day, but a side that many predicted to struggle this season has been decimated further by injuries. Although their effort couldn’t be faulted, they didn’t have the firepower to match it with the fit and firing Bombers.

In the end, the margin was 93 points, 22.15.147 to 8.6.54; a reflection of North Shore’s ability to turn on a run of quick goals when they get on top, but a margin that didn’t do justice to Wests’ continued attempts to contest every possession. When their injured troops return to the lineup later in the season, some wins will surely come.

Nick Todd kicked five goals for North Shore, his best return in a red and black jumper. Sam Carruthers was far and away the best on ground, while Pat Codling and Nick Todd were also prominent. For the Magpies, Jamie Scott, Stephen Hudson and Josh Zoppo never gave up and continued to contest until the end.

Campbelltown remain winless in 2012, but the Blues showed some positive signs that their early season slow form is beginning to turn around. They finished the closest to any opponent they have been this season, going down by 21 points to UTS at Monarch on Saturday afternoon, 13.5.83 to 9.8.62.

The Bats had the better of the early exchanges to lead by 11 points at quarter time; but the second term saw the Blues finally string some goals together and put scoreboard pressure on an opponent. Five goals to one for the quarter brightened the spirits of the home crowd as the Blues returned to the sheds at half time with a 13 point lead.

But the premiership quarter would let the Blues down, as the Bats tightened the screws and the Blues were unable to build on their half-time position. The Bats added five goals while holding the Blues to just one point. The Bats were back in control, and although the margin was only 17 points at the last change, the Blues hopes of breaking through for the first win of the season had gone. The Bats kicked three goals to two in the last quarter to put the issue beyond doubt.

For UTS, their four-game winning streak gives them a share of the competition lead, already surpassing their tally from their first year in Premier Division. David Lavender finished with five goals; while Roch Hanmore, Tim Wallace and Fergus Adamson were among UTS’s best. For the Blues, Shane Doherty contributed four goals, while Paul Green, Bryce Martin and Alex Sneddon were among their top best.

Top spot was up for grabs at the Village Green, with UNSW-ES hosting St George.

It began as a high-scoring shootout, with both forward lines presenting plenty of options. Ten goals were scored in the opening term, with the Dragons scoring six of them to lead by 12 points at the first change. The game tightened up in the second term, but the Bulldogs were still able to conjure up four goals to hit the front and lead by 11 points at the long break.

The Dragons were back in front by a point at three quarter time, and scores were level several times during the last term. But, with the result up for grabs, it was St George who had a chance to win the game after the siren. A kick from 50 metres out from Dave Ryan missed everything and the Bulldogs prevailed by just five points, 13.15.83 to 13.10.88.

Jeremy Kiel, Joel Robbie and Hayden Nichols were prominent performers for the Bulldogs; while Jordan West, Pat McBride and Ben Jones were solid workers all afternoon for the Dragons. A thrilling contest, decided by a kick, a preview of what may well come around at the business end of the season.

A twilight match at Sydney Uni No 1 saw Pennant Hills maintain their grip on a top-five position, as the Demons were 50 points too good for the Sydney Uni, 19.17.131 to 12.9.81.

The Students may be yet to record their first win of the season, but were keen to break their drought. They made an impression with a string of early goals, having hopes of an upset as they led by five points at quarter time. A high-scoring second term saw the Demons edge past the Students in the final stages of the quarter to lead by four points at half time.

But Sydney Uni’s hopes of pulling off a win were dashed by a lacklustre third quarter in which the Demons took control. Ranga Ediriwickrama finished with five goals for the Demons, while Brandon Jack weighed in with four. Alex Goodall (pictured), Tim Wales and Kieran Wright were among Pennant Hills’ best. For the Students, Alex Crowe, Michael Figg and Jacob Swarts worked hard all evening.

The only Sunday game in Premier Division for the round was at Henson Park, with Balmain playing host to Illawarra. And the Dockers wasted no time in racing out of the blocks, looking to set up a big win. Running rings around the Lions’ defence, the Dockers ran away with seven goals to two in the opening term to lead by 35 points at quarter time. The Lions attempted to get back into the game in the second term, but were their own worst enemy with a string of wasted chances, the margin getting out to 49 points.

In the third term, it was the Dockers who were getting the yips in front of goal, but sheer weight of opportunities kept the scoreboard ticking over. The margin was out to 60 points at the last change, but the last quarter was a blowout. With the game out of Illawarra’s reach, their resistance could go no further in the final term, the Dockers in command with ten unanswered goals.

The final margin was 124 points, 23.27 165 to 5.11.41. For Balmain, this is a purple patch of form, with two games in a row being won by over 20 goals. On the forward line, Selby Lee-Steere was a handy target, finishing with five goals in a best on ground performance. Dane Noble and Craig White were also among Balmain’s best. For the Lions, Ken Ewen-Chappell, Rhys Cutifani and Troy Bartlett continued to persevere despite the disappointment of the game that was unfolding.