B: Freeborn ~ West ~ Maxwell
HB: Mc Gough ~ Kinnear ~ Swan
C: Cranage ~ Fletcher ~ Nixon
HF: Mahoney ~ Molloy ~ Betheras
F: Davis ~ Baldwin ~ Richardson
R: Richards ~ Shackleton ~ Lloyd
Inter: Cloke ~ Crow ~ Hill ~ Hollow
King ~ Mullins ~ Sheehan ~ Smoker
Bendigo @ Bendigo (UPDATED)
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Dale61
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Bendigo @ Bendigo (UPDATED)
Last edited by Dale61 on Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Dale61
- Posts: 7379
- Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2002 6:01 pm
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On a day that was as cold as your mother-in-law's stare, the heavens had been open all the previous day making QEO an absolute quagmire. The TAC Cup preceding the game cut the ground up even further which meant the players faced a tough match in mud that was ankle deep in places.
Going in without McGough and Molloy, who were elevated, and Richo and Betheras, who were rested, the conditions were going to take a lot out of the players.
Kicking with the wind (and the tide), Marcus Baldwin opened the scoring with two quick goals, followed by a quick thinking Cameron Cloke, who soccered a goal from the goalsquare. Already it was getting difficult to pick out the players, and once you see the pics, you'll see what I mean.
Bendigo struggled up forward, and were making mistakes in defence, which Brad Lloyd and Josh Mahoney took full benefit from. Lloyd's goal came from a crude tackle inside 50, whilst Mahoney took a mark from a Barnard kick-out and made 'Thug' Barnard pay dearly.
Late in the quarter Bendigo had only registered three minor scores. Glenn Freeborn, who was playing up forward, then produced some magic, not unlike Ant's effort from the night before. Caught deep in the pocket, Freezer ran the boundary, keeping the ball in play and jagged a goal from the impossible angle.
Six goals with the wind was a good opening quarter for the Seagulls, but Bendigo had to show some major improvement to bridge the gap. With the rain continually falling, the conditions were only getting worse. The 37-point lead Williamstown took into the first break was as good as 10 goals.
The Williamstown training staff were showing some concern for Sam Cranage, who was taken out by a high tackle which resulted in him coming off late in the first and not returning. He was being treated for a neck injury and was lacking some movement at the end of the game.
The second opened with Bendigo showing a little more tenacity, but Baldwin's third for the game, and the first for either team against the wind, just about signalled the end for Bendigo. By now, it was almost impossible to pick the players out, but Leon was one who was still recognisable as he was able to keep his feet in all contests, thus staying clean, and when he kicked his only goal of the game, it was a matter of how far Williamstown.
Bendigo only journeyed into their forward 50 a handful of times, but the strong defence led by Troy West and Nick Maxwell held firm and only allowed the Bummers to add 3 points to their score. Baldwin then kicked his fourth for the game, giving Williamstown an unassailable 53-point half time lead.
The ground conditions were now a joke as once the ball came to ground, it became as heavy as a brick. Picking a player was now impossible as all players were now well and truly covered in a layer of mud, but Baldwin again used his experience and took a strong mark deep in the forward zone. This time he was wide of the mark, but soon had his fifth after a strong lead and sliding mark. Bendigo were able to grab a goal after a loose ball popped out to an open player, and with only two players inside the Bendigo 50, was able double their score. Lloyd soon got that one back and saw Williamstown go into the final change with a 64-point advantage.
Players like Fletch, Shack and Lloyd were excelling in the conditions, but possessions were hard to come by as the ball had by now become a besser block.
Kinnear had now been rested as both teams played out time, and with Hollow and Freeborn adding to the goal tally, Bendigo were only able to bridge the gap by two behinds. A hard fought 78-point victory by the visitors saw them jump in to second place on the VFL ladder, but was soured by the news that they must now travel to Box Hill to play the third place finishing Dawks. Not only does the AFL shaft Collingwood, but the VFL are now shafting Williamstown.
My best players were Shackleton, Fletcher, Lloyd, Baldwin, West and Freeborn, with Leon showing some flashes of brilliance but the conditions were not conducive to exciting football. How the other players went was anybody's guess, but all in all, another top team effort with everyone involved looking forward to a successful finals campaign.
Pics of the game to follow.
Going in without McGough and Molloy, who were elevated, and Richo and Betheras, who were rested, the conditions were going to take a lot out of the players.
Kicking with the wind (and the tide), Marcus Baldwin opened the scoring with two quick goals, followed by a quick thinking Cameron Cloke, who soccered a goal from the goalsquare. Already it was getting difficult to pick out the players, and once you see the pics, you'll see what I mean.
Bendigo struggled up forward, and were making mistakes in defence, which Brad Lloyd and Josh Mahoney took full benefit from. Lloyd's goal came from a crude tackle inside 50, whilst Mahoney took a mark from a Barnard kick-out and made 'Thug' Barnard pay dearly.
Late in the quarter Bendigo had only registered three minor scores. Glenn Freeborn, who was playing up forward, then produced some magic, not unlike Ant's effort from the night before. Caught deep in the pocket, Freezer ran the boundary, keeping the ball in play and jagged a goal from the impossible angle.
Six goals with the wind was a good opening quarter for the Seagulls, but Bendigo had to show some major improvement to bridge the gap. With the rain continually falling, the conditions were only getting worse. The 37-point lead Williamstown took into the first break was as good as 10 goals.
The Williamstown training staff were showing some concern for Sam Cranage, who was taken out by a high tackle which resulted in him coming off late in the first and not returning. He was being treated for a neck injury and was lacking some movement at the end of the game.
The second opened with Bendigo showing a little more tenacity, but Baldwin's third for the game, and the first for either team against the wind, just about signalled the end for Bendigo. By now, it was almost impossible to pick the players out, but Leon was one who was still recognisable as he was able to keep his feet in all contests, thus staying clean, and when he kicked his only goal of the game, it was a matter of how far Williamstown.
Bendigo only journeyed into their forward 50 a handful of times, but the strong defence led by Troy West and Nick Maxwell held firm and only allowed the Bummers to add 3 points to their score. Baldwin then kicked his fourth for the game, giving Williamstown an unassailable 53-point half time lead.
The ground conditions were now a joke as once the ball came to ground, it became as heavy as a brick. Picking a player was now impossible as all players were now well and truly covered in a layer of mud, but Baldwin again used his experience and took a strong mark deep in the forward zone. This time he was wide of the mark, but soon had his fifth after a strong lead and sliding mark. Bendigo were able to grab a goal after a loose ball popped out to an open player, and with only two players inside the Bendigo 50, was able double their score. Lloyd soon got that one back and saw Williamstown go into the final change with a 64-point advantage.
Players like Fletch, Shack and Lloyd were excelling in the conditions, but possessions were hard to come by as the ball had by now become a besser block.
Kinnear had now been rested as both teams played out time, and with Hollow and Freeborn adding to the goal tally, Bendigo were only able to bridge the gap by two behinds. A hard fought 78-point victory by the visitors saw them jump in to second place on the VFL ladder, but was soured by the news that they must now travel to Box Hill to play the third place finishing Dawks. Not only does the AFL shaft Collingwood, but the VFL are now shafting Williamstown.
My best players were Shackleton, Fletcher, Lloyd, Baldwin, West and Freeborn, with Leon showing some flashes of brilliance but the conditions were not conducive to exciting football. How the other players went was anybody's guess, but all in all, another top team effort with everyone involved looking forward to a successful finals campaign.
Pics of the game to follow.
Whale
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Dale61
- Posts: 7379
- Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: /home/room/chair
Great 'dirty' pics there Dale.
