AFL Report Round Finals Week 3– 24/8
Tigers Load Up
It can be a sleepy little place at Ellem Oval in Grafton but not last week! The Tigers are preparing for a final shot at a third consecutive grand final appearance and have been burning up the track according to coach Adi Campbell. Campbell himself will not play today as he recovers from a hamstring injury but he is thrilled at the inclusion of Jarrod Meade, Justin Darby, Sean Duroux and Mitch Lollback. "We need to improve defensively in our forward line. The ball has been coming out too easily," he said during the week. Campbell believes the game will be won and lost with his runners and in that regard the return of the turbo boosted Sean Duroux could not have come at a better time. Sam Morrison and Ron Davis are also key players to watch.
Down south the Magpies are licking their wounds and reloading for another charge. They will have the luxury of having their top U18 players available this week but must be feeling the effects of a tough game last weekend. Jessie Schmidt showed exactly why he is one of the favourites for the league best and fairest with an outstanding display in the second semi. He booted four amazing goals in slippery conditions and handled the ball as if it were dry. He will pose a serious threat to the Tigers defence again today. Port coach Scott Abercrombie while acknowledging that the slippery conditions did not suit his side reflected "Its finals. You have to adjust and make your own chances. They won it in the first quarter and we played catch up". On a positive note the Pies have no injuries from the game and big man Michael Kemp escaped suspension following a citing by Sawtell from the second semi involving a behind the play incident. Today is set to be another physical contest with absolutely nothing in it.
In the U18 game at 11am the Sawtell Saints will have an uphill battle against the Coffs Swans while the Swans are a big chance of upsetting Port Macquarie in reserve grade at 1pm. The Swans just scraped into the four and pose a big danger if they can get past Port today.
AROUND THE TRAPS with ‘Rocket’ Rod Macpherson
Fantastic Qualifier
What a game of football last weekend between two talented and committed sides Port Macquarie and Sawtell/Toormina. In the end the Saints held off the fast finishing Magpies by 4 points in an absolute thriller. The last 5 minutes of this game was unrelentless pressure as Port tried valiantly to get that last goal that would see them through to the grand final. Players on both sides put their bodies on the line in slippery conditions in front of a very vocal and animated crowd that witnessed a superb game of footy.
Matthews Waits on Tribunal Decision
Aggressive Sawtell midfielder Scott Matthews has been in career best form in 2013 but will have to wait on the outcome of a tribunal hearing to be held on Monday night before he knows if he will be playing grand final day. Emergency umpire Sean Staniforth reported Matthews for an alleged off the ball incident in the fiery last quarter of the second semi final last Saturday. Sawtell are preparing their case in the knowledge that Matthews is a key weapon in their game plan and his suspension would be a major blow to their premiership tilt.
Umpires Notch up Milestones
The current crop of AFLNC umpires are mostly ex players and it is interesting to see that a number of them, including yours truly, have now umpired more games that we played. My tally will hit 400 games during the finals series eclipsing the 350 or so that I played mostly in Tasmania. Scott Bellamy is pushing 350 while umpires coach Garry Spriggs had a playing and umpiring career in Tasmania and has also now accumulated close to 350 games as an umpire. I have got to say that umpiring is a great way to keep fit and stay involved in AFL without the duress of physical contact. Any ex players who are interested in having a run in 2014 should contact the local AFL office on 66596000 for more details.
Last Modified on 23/08/2013 12:50