13 Apr 2015
COUNTRY WIN 2015 MAC CUP
By ZAC MILBANK | Twitter @zacmilbank
Country has reclaimed the MAC Cup after thrashing City by 96 points at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday evening.
Seeking to avenge last year’s 31-point defeat from the City side, the boys from the bush were outstanding right from the first bounce to lead at every change.
Represented by the majority of last year’s Team of the Championships at the State Country titles, the Country outfit displayed a great brand of team football while continually forcing their opponents into costly errors.
‘’The win was a big surprise but also a good one,’’ Country coach Luke Duncan said.
‘’Our boys came out of the blocks ready to play and really clicked. For a side which hadn’t trained as a team, to come together right from the start and perform was fantastic.
‘’There would be about a dozen of the guys who played in the State game last year together but until Friday night when we had our first team meeting, there were a lot of guys who didn’t know each other’s name.
‘’I think everyone just really wanted to be there and were willing to do the team things like the chasing, second and third efforts. If everyone does that, it all works.
‘’And whenever we kicked a goal, blokes were getting around each other and celebrating.’’
Penola’s Ben McIntyre was the standout for Country playing through the midfield, earning the Peter Kitschke Medal for the team’s best player.
‘’He is in really good form for his club and won the League medal for his association last year,’’ Duncan said.
‘’He played pretty much the whole game on the ball and across half forward.’’
Country ruckmen Michael Liebelt (South Clare) and Daron McElroy (West Gambier) were also a dominant force in the centre square while former Woodville-West Torrens utility Zac Fitzgerald was a steady influence in defence.
Crafty forward Adam Jolly (CMS Crows) was Country’s leading goalscorer with four majors.
‘’He is a great footballer as he is not your traditional full forward standing at only 180cm or so,’’ Duncan said of Jolly.
‘’He took a hanger just before quarter-time, standing on top of someone’s shoulders.’’
The City team, represented by last year’s Division One Amateur League premier Goodwood Saints, had Simon Brooks win the Bill Botten Medal as their best player on the day.
Country 14.15 (99)
City 0.3 (3)
Best Players:
Country – Ben McIntyre, Michael Liebelt, Simon Berkefeld, Daron McElroy, Zac Fitzgerald, Reece Francis, Joel Palmer.
Goal Scorers:
Country – Adam Jolly 4, Daron McElroy 3, Simon Berkefeld 3, Brodie Murphy 2, Kerren Hall 1, Ben McIntyre 1.
Bill Botten Medallist: Simon Brooks (Best City player)
Peter Kitschke Medallist: Ben McIntyre (Best Country player)
Last Modified on 13/04/2015 12:27