Played in overcast balmy conditions with a good strong easterly favouring the golf course end the CAFL 2019 Grand Final promised to be a great day for footy. The crowds turned up to watch the reigning premiers the University Cougars take on the ever impressive Christchurch Bulldogs who were playing their 11th straight Grand Final since their first Grand Final appearance in 2009. This years round robin play saw the Bulldogs take 2 out of 3 contests with Cougars handing the Dogs their only defeat of the year.
Tension and nervousness was on the faces of both teams as the lined up for Hayley Westernra to sing the national anthem. Cameron (Dogs) won the toss and chose to kick with the wind. (old Captains Call – use it when you got it) The opening 10 minutes was high pressure footy with midfield surrounding the ball and defences for both teams repelling the ball on multiple occasions. Jerry (Dogs) was hard to get past playing off half back he was picking off most of the stray kicks and pumping them back into attack. With the wind holding the ball in the Dogs forward pocket they forced a couple of points before an end to end combination of Joe to Emerson to Rhodesy to Day saw him take a strong mark in the pocket and go back to goal truly for the first goal to the Cougars. Good effort into the breeze. Stoat was having a manic game busting through packs and drilling the ball down the throat of his forwards like E Cameron or Ferres whilst for the Cougars – Monster and Mason had good use of the ball. Jamie also got a mark against the boundary line as the siren sounded but this time recorded a behind.
1st Quarter - Bulldogs 2 2 14 v Cougars 1 2 8
A few seconds into the second quarter saw Steve Ferres capitalise on some hard work out of the middle by Kyle Smith setting him up for an easy shot. Cougars hit back quickly using the breeze to good affect with a pin point kick from Rhodesy finding Jamie again on the angle 40m out. With everyone keen to get a touch the boundary throw ins became congested and non-ruckman deciding to play the ball and give away free kicks. An end to end goal with the wind started at the Cougars back pocket and good use of the ball by Brennan and Bangers to deliver the ball deep into the forward line for a goal and to even up the scoreboard.
2nd Quarter – Bulldogs 3 4 22 v Cougars 3 2 20
Conditions were quite muggy for the Premiership Quarter, wind was still gusting but had moved to the north east and was blowing across the middle. The combinations in the middle started working for the Dogs with Dozers heavy contact in the ruck intimidating the younger Cougar allowing him clear touches to K Smith who as usual put his body on the line to set up Stoat or Topliss to clear the ball to Ferres or E Cameron. Jinxy and Brennan was working hard to clear the ball across the Cougars halfback line but the wind was not giving any favours and they struggled to find the forward line cleanly. Burdett, D Cameron and Jerry working well together to limit the Cougars to 2 points whilst their forwards piled on 4 goals.
3rd Quarter 7 5 47 v 3 4 22
The old Captains call came home to roost because the wind died down in the last quarter. Just when the Cougars needed a lift. And lift they did kicking 3 goals but the Bulldogs lifted even more with some desperate play from their young pups. A noticeable turning point in the game and an indication of who wanted the ball more was when Rising Star of the Year Caleb McPherson ran 10m and dove to smother a clearing kick. The Ball was trapped in the Dogs forward line and they made the most of it. One bizarre incident occurred when a high bombing kick evaded the finger tips of the pack and bounced high in the square before going through. A high scoring last quarter with both teams kicking 3 goals, the Bulldogs eventually running over the top of the Cougars with a solid 4 quarters of well structured play. Well Done to both clubs for an entertaining display of Aussie Rules.
4th Quarter Bulldogs 10 goals 10 behinds total 70 points defeated Cougars 6 goals 5 behinds total 41 points
Congratulations Bulldogs 2019 Premiers.
Winner of the Nicky Dow Award for Best on Ground in the Grand Final went to Bulldog’s Dan Otley.
Special mention – Jacob Skye Tahu-Thomson who has played in 11 straight Grand Finals since his first and the Dogs first in 2009.
See you in 2020.
by Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 08/12/2020 20:15