The young Pumas ventured down to Burleigh for our last home and away game in what was no doubt our most important game of the year. A simple equation, win and we finish 2nd in our comp but more importantly 4th in the combined overall finals series. That 4th would give us a week off and a double chance. The first final would be against fellow Colts South team Redlands, a team who we pushed for large parts of the game in our only contest this year, so a game where we could venture into confident that we could cause an upset against the undefeated Bombers. Despite a couple of boys being unavailable we went in to the game with close to our strongest line up for the year, and the weather and ground conditions were ideal, so no excuses there at all. A short but wide ground could prove tricky and as Burleigh played here often that was certainly to their advantage. Just speaking of the ground, and I know ours isn’t perfect but just an observation really, why would you build a flash looking electronic scoreboard up on the dressing sheds roof where no one, other than those on the opposite side of the ground, could see it? Whenever anyone wanted to see what the score was they had to walk out on the ground to see it. Reminds me of those joke pics going around “You only had one job!!” Anyway, there was a slight breeze, heading in the direction of the Sports Club end of the ground, and we were kicking against it in the first term. Burleigh had our measure twice this year (matched up on us really well both times) so this was going to be huge if we could win it.
The opening quarter was tight and both teams were going hard at the contest. There was plenty of pressure and also some good ball movement from both teams as the footy zipped from one 50 to the other countless times. Both defences seemed to be on top and scoring was difficult. We had 13 entries inside 50 for only 3 scores and they had 10 down their end for only 3 as well. As the quarter time siren blew with scores level we were probably reasonably satisfied as we were right in the game and any nerves should have been by now out of the system. Unfortunately though, seconds before the siren, a high ball in our defensive half saw Jared and Linc (what were you doing down there anyway Linc? Just asking) in a heavy collision and both were lying prone on the turf as both teams moved into their huddles. Good and bad news in that Linc got up and whilst a bit groggy (copped an earlier hit in the head too) was able to continue, albeit just out of the goal square for a few minutes, but Jared’s day was over, he wasn’t in a good way and limped off with a sore ankle and a bit of a headache. That was a big loss as Jared has been awesome down back this year and that left a big hole and a fair amount of restructuring to cover for him. The message was simple, keep up the contested work and use the ball a bit better going inside 50, we were really wasting our opportunities.
With a little bit of a breeze behind us we slowly but surely started to make some inroads on the scoreboard in the second term. Cal kicked a couple in a row within a few minutes and we started to get some control of the game. Nate covered for Jared and was almost impassable at chb and our blokes through the middle were getting plenty of it and using the ball pretty well. The forwards were working hard and our entries inside 50 were now having more impact and the scoreboard pressure was growing. It was still tight in close and neither side was backing away from the physical side of the game. We managed to make fair use of the breeze in the term and we walked off the ground at half time with a not insurmountable, but handy, 15 point lead. A bit of niggle and a few words (totally unnecessary stuff it has to be said) between the teams as they trudged off meant the game could have plenty in it in the second half. Sometimes that sort of stuff only gives the opposition a bit more incentive and we already had some control of the game, we didn’t need to give them any motivation, other than what was already on the scoreboard, to get back into the game. Damien made this point perfectly during the half time break and the boys were all ready to crack in again in the second half.
Without doubt I think the third quarter was our best quarter of footy for the year. Kicking into the breeze we dominated the game from one end to the other, and through the middle. Reasons for this? Well one I think was attitude and preparedness to run and work. Another was Cal into the middle, we took over in the middle with Cal in there and that gave us great drive. Another reason was Shaggy. Two of the best tackles I have ever seen on a footy field within a few minutes of each other. Just as Burleigh were getting some run through the middle Shaggy cut it down, he laid the tackle, dispossessed the ball carrier and we ran it down the other end and scored. Fantastic stuff and the very stuff that coaches talk about when they talk about 1 percenters. Only one bloke at any given time can have the footy in his hands but everyone else around the footy can still have an impact on the game by what you are prepared to do to get it back or help your teammate hang on to it. Those two tackles of Rhys’s were worth half a dozen possessions, easy, and that sort of stuff lifts the whole team too, you can just sense everyone’s confidence rising when a great tackle gives you the footy back. I’d hate to play on Shaggy, he would drive me mad. Anyway yep everyone lifted and Burleigh were struggling, they couldn’t get hold of the footy and they certainly couldn’t get it down their end, in fact with the breeze behind them they only went inside 50 5 times and were unable to trouble the scorer on each and every occasion. At our end we went in heaps and our forwards capitalised and at three quarter time we held a 36 point advantage and the wind behind us coming home.
The message at the last change was simple, bury them!. They had beaten us twice this year so time to show them what we could do. The last quarter was pretty much one sided footy, Burleigh to some extent may have put the cue in the rack (they have finals starting next week, win or lose) because we managed to take the lead well out beyond 10 goals before they kicked a couple of consolation goals late in the game when we too probably eased up and gave some blokes an early shower. We hit the scoreboard with just about every forward thrust and come final siren time we were 11 goals up and into the top 4!!!!! As expected the team song was sung very loudly and just about every player it seemed got an award or at the very least a mention for his efforts on the day.
So Top 4!! Let that sink in for a sec. Out of 28 teams we have finished 4th overall and now have the luxury of a week off and then a double chance crack at the finals, starting with Redlands in a couple of weeks. The top 4 spot is probably reason enough to sit back and be really proud of what we have achieved but knowing these blokes they will want more, and there is no reason why they can’t have more, especially if they play the way they did on Saturday, against a very capable opposition. So congratulations players and coaching staff and helpers and supporters very well done to you all. Now the really, really hard work starts, looking forward to it!!
Final scores Springwood 14-14-98 def Burleigh 5-2-32
Goals Cal 3 (btw congrats to Cal on being the equal leading goal kicker for the comp this year, awesome stuff for a bloke who spends half his time in the middle of the ground and some time even down back!), Linc 2, John Duncan 2, H 2, Jared Isbel 1, Jack Leahy 1, Jack Darby 1, Ethan 1 and Dan Willo 1
Best players very difficult, throw a blanket over about 15 but Nate was impassable across half back and stood up even further (if that’s possible) after Jared was gone, Balmy played the best game I’ve seen him play, Cal kicked 3 first half goals then took over in the middle, Johnny Duncan had another 20 touches easily, as did Rocket (especially early when the heat was really on. He sacrificed his game somewhat after half time as he was put back on to one of their very dangerous forwards, who had kicked all of their goals to half time. None after that, well done Rocket) and Shaggy’s deeds I have mentioned. Matty sacrificed his game as well to play a certain role and did it beautifully and I loved Robbie Pryor’s calmness down back, again especially early when they were coming at us hard. Linc got busier down forward as his head cleared and Benny Mac had a real influence with his tap work. Dan Willo was awesome as usual. Great to see Reece Adams back and despite some nerves he looked like he hadn’t missed 6 minutes, let alone 6 weeks. Jared Izzy and Darbs got plenty of it out in space too. Speaking of Darbs great work from Jack to not only come back from Toowoomba on the morning of the game to play but to battle through some knee issues during the game to stay on and have an impact for us. Great Jack. Everyone else chipped in too, I could easily mention everyone but I’ve probably already prattled on way too much so that’ll do.
Well done and congrats again boys, see you all at training.
Cheers
Steve
Last Modified on 11/08/2014 15:43