2012 AFL Quebec Match Report Round 1
The early season whispers of a juggernaut rising in the West came to fruition during the Preseason Cup. The West Island Eagles cutting a swath through all that came before them, even the once mighty, and previously undefeated in all AFL Québec matches; Ottawa Swans. In stark contrast the Montréal Demons had been hampered by injuries, and as such elected to abstain from the cup in preparation for a round one launch and debut. The Eagles headed into the match heavy favourites, but the aspect of an unknown Demon’s line-up added just enough of a twist to suggest it wouldn’t be all one-way traffic for the Eagles nest.
There were more than a few raised eyebrows as the early running was all the way of the Demons, Jeff Lavoie and Kyle Graham executing Coach Nathan Jacob’s plan to perfection to hold sway through the centre. The Eagles weren’t to be outdone, rallying and trading goals with their upstart counterparts. Eagle Stéphane Labelle showed more than a touch of class adding two goals for the quarter, teammate Sean Smallwood chipping in for a single, while for the Demons Graham and McNabb broke through with a major each. The Demon’s suffered a major blow shortly before quarter-time, on-ball titan Jeff Lavoie limping from the field with an injury that would see the Québec City native take no further part in the match. The siren sounded shortly after to bring about the first break, a wasteful Demons outfit trailing by 4 points 2.3 (15) to 3.1 (19).
The Eagles steadied early in the second, ruckman Eliot Kempster flexing his muscle to give first use of the ball to his running brigade. Ronan Shaughnessy stepped up to join the fracas and the Eagles nest swooped into action piling on scoreboard pressure with goals to Alex Langevin, Nick Robidoux and a second highlight reel goal to Sean Smallwood who was proving a huge headache for the Demon’s defence. But just as the game look set to break open the Demons fought back. Luke Anderson switched in to the ruck giving McNabb space to run free which he did with devastating effect. Tara Cools-Lartigue began to swing the 50-50 contests in her favour with sublime use of the handball and Tamara Daniel disregarded the fact she was outnumbered two to one on most occasions to hold down the Demon fort down back. Luke Anderson tucked up hard on the boundary line with almost no daylight between the posts snapped a right-foot shot on goal, and with a mind of its own the ball bounced in the goal square before making a 90 degree turn and dribbling through for a major, sparking a Demon’s revival. The silky smooth Carlos Casado added another and Chris Miccheletti got in on the action with his first to have the Demon’s back to within 2 points at the main change. Demons 5.5 (35) to Eagles 6.1 (37).
The arm wrestle continued into the third term, Matthew Payne beginning to make an impact after being well held for the first half. The Eagles running game was proving difficult to counter, the West Island team again looking on the brink of bursting the game wide open. The Demon’s luck was about to take another turn for the worse, midfield livewire Chris Miccheletti going down with an ankle injury. A moment of confusion reigned as two Demon teammates carried Miccheletti from the field, play allowed to continue in the background giving the Eagles the edge over their undermanned opponent. By the time the squads were even again the team from the West had pulled a further 6 points in front. The Demons added a late goal from an opportunistic left foot snap from Anderson to again draw back to within 9 points, but the Montréal team’s grasp was slipping from an Eagles squad looking set to take flight.
The Demon’s Kyle Graham had been the game’s standout player up until the last quarter, but it was Nick Robidoux, allegedly seen selling tickets at three quarter-time to his own personal football clinic, that stole the limelight in the final term. The Eagles opened their wings in the last and hit top gear running all over a tired and injury plagued Demons’ squad. Robidoux put in a stellar performance up front, slamming home four last quarter goals to finish with five for the afternoon, Langevin adding his second in an equally impressive display as the Eagles sailed home by 40 points.
Final score: Demons 6.8 (44) to Eagles 13.6 (84).
Goals:
Demons - L. Anderson 2, C. Micheletti, K. Graham , R. McNabb, C. Casado.
Eagles - N. Robidoux 5, A. Langevin 2, S. Labelle 2, S. Smallwood, R. Shaughnessy, M. Payne
2012 AFL Quebec Match Report Round 1 Game 2
After falling to the Eagles in the semi-finals of the Preseason Cup, reigning AFL Quebec champions the Laval Bombers were intently focused on getting the ‘real stuff’ underway and were in no mood to show mercy to any opponent. At the other end of the spectrum, the Dockers who failed to register a preseason victory were still focused on getting their team balance right, a tough ask against a well established Laval outfit with a season of playing together under their belts.
The Bombers flew out of their hangar like a team possessed. It was a sea of red and black as Paul Fairbrother and Emmanuel Angiuoli both registered two goals apiece, quickly blowing the Dockers game plan straight out of the water. Shell-shocked, the Dockers did their best to regroup. Andrew Bell playing out of his skin attempted to drag the Dockers back into the match, Brian Lee Cinéaste his trusty sidekick proving his promising preseason form was no fluke as the young rookie took his game to the next level. Despite the Old Montréal team’s best efforts, there was simply no way around the Bomber’s Vincent “the wrecking ball” Mousseau, who was ruling his back half with an iron fist. It would take a high ball kicked to within 25 metres of the Docker’s goal to break the drought. Running back with the flight Luke Anderson launched himself skyward for the mark, grabbing hold of the red Sherrin moments before the Mousseau train barrelled into the Docker midfielder. The sickening thud was heard from the bleachers as both players crumpled to the ground. With apparent super-human powers, Mousseau bounced back up to stand the mark, and after a few more anxious moments, Anderson eventually clambered to his feet, gingerly converting the Docker’s first goal before being subbed straight off. The Bombers headed into the first break with a commanding 19 point lead. Dockers 1.0 (6) to Bombers 4.1 (25).
The Bomber’s Paul Fairbrother continued his utter dominance of the game in the second term and was helped along by cameo appearances from Trumble and Rotaru through the midfield. Despite strong efforts from Dockers Basel Salameh and Mimi Eboka in the defensive half, the Bombers rampage continued, this time spearheaded by a revitalised Lindsay Belzie up forward. The Angel full-forward who had spent the previous weekend spinning out of packs kicking highlight reel goals decided to mix it up for her audience. This time unleashing a series of snap shots from every angle possible 20 metres out from goal, culminating in three quality majors for the term. Once fellow Bombers Kate Allbon-Sargeant and Josoe Gavidia had put through their opening goals of the 2012 season, the margin had blown out to a massive 49 points. Dockers 1.1 (7) to Bombers 9.2 (56).
With the game a borderline blow-out is was time for the Dockers to step up in the third term. The charge was led once again by Brian Lee Cinéaste, but this time he received impressive support from Dominique Pitchen across half-back and Phil Riconi in the ruck, the Old Montréal squad finally getting some forward momentum. The problem of Vincent Mousseau remained, and added to the Docker woes was the clever work from Bomber Margo Legault who was repeatedly clearing the ball out of the backline. Finally after sending the ball deep on several occasions, the Dockers finally found Neil Koch deep in the forward line, hard pressed against the behind post. Contemplating the impossible angle, or possibly waiting for the press gallery to ready their cameras, Koch milked the clock, building the tension. Casually laying ball to boot the Sherrin did its best impression of a boomerang, first swinging out then back in through the goal to give the Purple haze at least a mini-triumph to cheer about. At the opposite end Bomber Kate Allbon-Sargeant had decided it was time to step out of the Belzie shadow and turn on a display of her own. The nimble footed attacker ducked and weaved her way through traffic slotting through her second and third goals of the afternoon. The Dockers good third quarter effort still coming up short losing the term by 4 points to trail by 53 going in to the last quarter.
Dockers 2.4 (16) to Bombers 11.3 (69).
With the result beyond doubt the defensive pressure from both teams was released a notch as the game became a free-flowing goal fest. Dave Wilson and Andrew Bell provided the spark for the Dockers assisting Luke Anderson’s two goals for the term. The trouble was the Bombers had also stepped up the tempo and joined in the goal feast. Vincent Mousseau having been released from the backline registered two majors, Nathan Jacobs slotting two of his own coupled with singles from Trumble and Fairbrother turned the final result in to an 80 point massacre.
Final score: Bombers defeated Dockers 17.8-110 to 4.6-30
Goals:
Dockers - L. Anderson 3, N. Koch.
Bombers - K. Sargeant 3, P. Fairbrother 3, L. Belzie 3, E. Angiuoli 2, V. Mousseau 2, L. Trumble, J. Gavidia