Match Report
Dockers 2.3 6.4 8.6 11.10 (76)
Bombers 2.2 2.5 4.8 6.9 (45)
Goals - Dockers: T.Campain 4, L.Anderson 3, F.Lemieux 2, E.Legault 1, M.Priess 1. Bombers: B.Rotaru 1, S.Auger 1, J.Bouron 1, M.Johnson 1, L.Belzie 1, M.Payne* 1.
Key injuries to both the Bombers and Dockers cast an air of intrigue over the traditional round one grudge match between the previous year’s grand finalists. With marquee players from both teams sidelined a clear cut favourite was always going to be hard to predict. As such, the fate of the league’s two heavyweight sides fell into the hands of an impressive group of 2013 rookies drafted by both squads.
Electing to kick with the breeze the Bombers got off to a solid start controlling a majority of the early play. Bogdan Rotaru was at his usual best racking up contested possessions at will through the midfield but it was his partner in crime, rookie sensation Simon Auger, that had heads turning as the first gamer added an extra gear of grunt to the Laval engine room. It wasn’t long before the red and black army worked the ball into the hands of another prized recruit Jean-François Bouron, the Team France star kicking the Bomber’s opening goal of the 2013 season and giving Laval the early lead. The Dockers remained firmly in the hunt on the back of some tough hard ball gets from Randy Andrada and John Kavaney, but the plays that mattered were all bouncing the way of the Bombers. Auger continued his stellar debut with a goal and Laval had opened up a handy lead.
Docker playing-coach Ronan Shaughnessy had been under an injury cloud all week, his entrance into the match was short lived as the reigning league MVP marked, scored a behind and promptly limped from the field, all in under sixty seconds. With their backs against the wall Old Montreal refused to give-in and began to seize back momentum. Francis Lemieux was proving a handful up forward for the Bomber defence, his smart play and quick fire handball setting up Emily Legault. Twenty-five metres out on a forty-five degree angle the much improved second year player Legault slammed home her first and one of the goals of the day to put the Dockers straight back in the hunt. The Dockers weren’t finished yet, and after a few narrow misses Toby Campain capitalized on his forward dominance to register his first goal of the day and incredibly give the Dockers a one point lead heading into quarter time.
With the aid of the wind at their backs the Dockers started the second term in blistering fashion. Rookie Matthew Priess was running riot through the centre getting the ball deep into the forward line on several occasions. The steady flow complemented Campain’s dominance in the air, the Aussie forward netting two more goals for the purple haze. Anna Belford’s ability to find free space across half-forward and use her footy smarts helped set up two more for Francis Lemieux, the Docker power forward adding one for the highlight reel, snapping a goal on the run from thirty metres out that bounced and skidded its way through the big sticks. The Dockers had seized back control of the match and although the Bombers had several opportunities to reply, Manus McDermott’s impeccable work down back prevented the reigning champs from registering a single major. The Dockers by 23 at the half.
Bomber coach Rob Gordon was facing a huge task heading into the third, his Aussie ace Zac Strevens making a solid contribution down back but had been hampered all match with an injury niggle. It left the work of dragging Laval back into the match to the usual suspects, Rotaru continuing to impress and helped along by Pitchen, Payne and the fantastic aerial work from Bouchon. Lindsay Belzie had been well held for the match but the instant she got her hands on the ball close to goal she dodged and weaved around three Dockers to kick her first and reignite the Bombers cause. Payne would add another and the Bombers had crept back to within striking distance. With the next goal crucial, veteran Docker Luke Anderson found just enough space and time to snap a goal from thirty-five out. It was quickly followed by another to the Docker’s number 13, Anderson benefiting from more excellent play from Priess, Andrada and Kavaney to pop through an easy goal on the goal line. The Bombers had threatened early but only won the quarter by a single point and faced a 22 point deficit and stiff breeze heading into the final quarter.
Any chance of a Bomber victory would need to go through backman Manus McDermott whose last line of defence marks and rebound kicking had him close to best on ground. The Laval squad weren’t ready to give in just yet though, Chris Weinand emphasizing the team’s never say die attitude by courageously throwing himself into each and every contest. Caution thrown to the wind the final term became a free flowing affair amongst an army of exhausted warriors. The Dockers were keen to put game beyond doubt early. If a brilliant goal to Priess made it tough for the Bombers, when Anderson marked in the goal square and then played on to dribble home number three for the day, the Bombers task was near impossible. Rotaru battled on running through a maze of players to find his way to the goal line for his first goal, and another beauty to Bomber Mike Johnson added some respectability to the scoreboard. By the time the game’s best forward Docker Toby Campain had kicked his fourth the sting had completely left the game. The Dockers earning some revenge for their grand final loss sailing to a comfortable 31 point victory.
Image courtesy of Nick Switzer and Switzerfotografie