It’s a long way down to Wollongong, but an even longer trip back after a loss. East Coast’s finals’ preparation and planning took a detour on Saturday night when a fired up Lions led from start to finish to win by seven points. It is a worrying second successive loss for the ladder leaders as the minor round comes to an end and finals commence in earnest next week.

It was a round of upsets across the board with the favourites in all five AFL Sydney matches being beaten, although the results did not affect the relative positions of each of the finalists. Not only did the Eagles lose, leading full forward Gus Seebeck failed to get the three goals he needed to be the first to kick 100 goals in a home and away season since 1993. Nevertheless despite that disappointment, Seebeck is to be congratulated for his wonderful achievement of 97 goals in the season. His looming presence will cause significant problems for all who play the Eagles in the finals.

East Coast went into this game with a depleted side after tactical decisions to rest key players with niggling injuries. Wollongong however were superb at home and fully deserved their win as they demonstrated a resolve the Eagles hadn’t seen before. In his 155th senior First Grade match, Ben Physick became the highest game holder for the club. It must have inspired him as he was terrific in defence all night, with his sure ball handling and foot skills contributing to his fine performance to receive players’ player honours.

Standing tall beside Physick was Mark Skuse who has had a marvellous end to the season and will go into the finals as the form player of the competition. Damien Bowles is gradually regaining his form and he will be itching to play in two weeks time. James Dwyer came up from the Under 18’s for this match and made a sound debut in senior football, topped off with a long goal when things were tense.

Next week sees the Qualifying finals at the new AFL complex at Blacktown Olympic Park. East Coast have the week off and will be watching to see which of Western Suburbs or the UNSW-ES Bulldogs will get through to play the Eagles at Bruce Purser Reserve on September 5.               

Scores
Wollongong 2.1 4.1 7.3 9.4 (58)
East Coast 0.3 2.8 5.13 6.15 (51)

East Coast Eagles
Goal Kickers: Mark Skuse, Luke Stanford, Andrew Polkinghorne, James Dwyer, Shane Ryan, Jack Dimery
Best Players: Ben Physick, Mark Skuse, Damien Bowles, James Dwyer, Ryan Fitton, Ed Wilson

DIVISION ONE

The Eagles destroyed the hopes of Brad Ainsworth, the Lions 300 gamer, who no doubt would have liked to celebrate the occasion with a win. But finals bound East Coast denied a determined Wollongong for the first three quarters before exploding away in the last to put the result beyond doubt.

It was Peter Bleus who took on the task of restraining Ainsworth and the miserable defender that he is, was outstanding in his efforts to repel all attacking moves. Josh Shephard was terrific all over the ground and picked up both the Players Player vote and the nod from the match committee as well.

Next week sees a big test in the Qualifying Final against Manly. In the two times they have met this year, Manly have won both by clashes by 14 and 38 points, so the job will be in front of the local lads on the big stage at Blacktown.        

Scores
Wollongong 0.3 1.8 4.10  5.11 (41)
East Coast  1.3 4.7 7.10 12.13 (85)

East Coast Eagles
Goal Kickers: Josh Shephard 3, Rod Frost 2, Tim Coakley 2, Tim Kear 2, Ash Moeller, Damian Gatte, Peter Vlatko
Best Players: Josh Shephard, Peter Bleus, Michael Johnston, Ash Moeller, Jared Madden, David Griffith

DIVISION TWO

On the last occasion these two sides met, the HP Goannas won by 160 points. This time the difference was 61 points, demonstrating the gradual improvement in Sean Streat’s third grade senior side. After a very disappointing first term, the Eagles knuckled down to business and matched it quarter for quarter until the final siren. The match closed out the season for the lads who will now turn their attention to supporting the finals endeavours of their fellow team mates.

Matty Scholz finished off with yet another stellar performance to take his fifth extravaganza “best on” and surely must go into Club Champion night as favourite. Adam Power made a rare return to footy to sneak in three goals, but a dislocated kneecap will hamper him for a while. He was not the only one who needed medical attention with Alex Wynne visiting the local hospital to have his shoulder relocated to its correct spot. And we should make mention of big Barry Denton, former Falcons’ and Parramatta First Grader and father of James, who pulled on the boots to make his maiden appearance as an Eagle.    

Scores
East Coast  0.1  2.3  4.5  5.5 (35)
Holroyd-Parramatta 6.3 9.5 11.8 14.12 (96)

East Coast Eagles
Goal Kickers: Adam Power 3, Andrew Tumminello, Ben Allan
Best Players: Matt Scholz, Liam Patira, Anthony Ellison, Ben Hynes, Julian Kasby, Sam Brotherston

UNDER 18 PREMIER CUP

With the finals program already set, this match was purely for pride and fine tuning. The Lions were fifth and would stay there, irrespective of this result and equally East Coast could not be moved from their qualifying final possie.

It was tight stuff for the first three quarters with the Eagles unable to shake off a persistent Wollongong outfit, however the floodgates opened in the last when East Coast piled on seven unanswered goals. With Glenn Garner pinching three players for his depleted First Grade side, it gave Peter Steer an opportunity to look at several players from the Challenge Cup team and all contributed well.

But it was the Tom, Tom and Tom show with McNamara and Kitto amongst the goals and Roberts named in the best. Special congratulations go to Damon Steer who has finished up the minor round with 54 goals to give him the honour of the competition’s leading goalkicker. He will be acknowledged at the Phelan Medal night and our own East Coast Club Champion evening.

Next week sees this side enter their 2009 finals campaign with their first appearance on the new Blacktown AFL complex in Saturday’s qualification final against St George. Their two clashes this year saw a six-point victory to the Eagles in round six and a draw in round 16. It should be close again...       

Scores
Wollongong  0.1 2.4 4.8 4.11 (35)
East Coast  2.3 4.3 6.6 13-.10 (88)

East Coast Eagles
Goal Kickers: Josh Patira 3, Damon Steer 3, Jake Pianta 2, Tom McNamara 2, Ben Carey, Eugene Kruger, Tom Kitto.
Best Players: Jake Pianta, Jacob Craig, Michael Clinch, Tom Roberts, Alex Foxall, Damon Steer.

UNDER 18 CHALLENGE CUP

We predicted it last week and it was great to see Ryan Madden’s side close out the season with their fifth victory. A satisfying result, but one which could have been enhanced if they had also won those five games they lost by seven points or less.

This week it was near neighbours the Goannas who made the journey out to Bensons Lane for this contest. And indeed it was exactly that, with just four points, two points and eight points in it at quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter-time. In the last quarter Holroyd-Parramatta took the lead and once again déjà vu took over in the coach’s mind with visions of yet another less than seven-point defeat.

But to Madden’s credit, his players lifted with Gray, Ortiz and Mildwater leading the charge to, ironically enough, win by seven points. Josh Bancroft and Kyle Healey slotted through a couple a piece.         

Scores
East Coast Eagles 3.4 5.4 8.5 10.6 (66)
Holroyd-Parramatta 3.0 5.6 6.9  8.11 (59)

East Coast Eagles
Goal Kickers: Joshua Bancroft 2, Kyle Healy 2, Ben Gray, Stuart Tibben, Paul Mildwater, Adam Hutt, William Thomas, Chris Polkinghorne
Best Players: Ben Gray, Jonathan Ortiz, Paul Mildwater, James Moynihan, Kyle Healy, Chris Polkinghorne

EXTRAVAGANZA RESULTS

Premier Division
Best: Mark Skuse owned by Swans Limos   $250.00
First free: Ed Wilson owned by Steve Gawley   $55.00
Players’ Player: Ben Physick

Division 1
Best: Josh Shephard owned by Laima & Maree     $125.00
First free: Michael Johnston owned by Glenn Johnston $55.00
Players’ Player: Josh Shephard

Division 2
Best: Matt Scholz owned by Karen Madden  $40.00 

NEXT MATCHES

The Premier Division side have the week off courtesy of finishing on top of the ladder. They will play the winner of the Qualifying Final between Western Suburbs and UNSW-ES.

Division One (Reserve Grade) and the Under 18 Premier Cup side both play on Saturday in the Qualifying Final.   

ALL GAMES & TIMES

Saturday, August 29 at Blacktown Olympic Park  Click here for a map.
Qualifying Finals
10.00am: U/18 Premier Cup, East Coast Eagles v St George
Midday: Division One, Manly-Warringah v East Coast Eagles
2.15pm: Premier Division, Western Suburbs v UNSW-ES

Sunday, August 30 at Blacktown Olympic Park
Elimination Finals
10.00am: U/18 Premier Cup, Pennant Hills v Wollongong
Midday: Division OneSydney Uni v UNSW-ES
2.15pm: Premier Division, Pennant Hills v Campbelltown

Note that on Saturday, August 29, Bruce Purser Reserve will be hosting the second semi-finals in Divisions 2, 3, 4 and Under 18 Challenge Cup. East Coast is not represented in any of these matches.