With all five East Coast teams scoring a win the week before in round 19, the Eagles were well primed for the final minor round contests of the year. And a complex state of affairs it was for each of the Eagle sides engaged in matches last weekend.
By virtue of their resounding 40-point victory over Southern Power in round 19, Ryan Madden’s U/18’s accepted the “challenge” of playing in their first ever final. They had won the right to play off against Holroyd-Parramatta in the elimination final, however the magnitude of the occasion proved to be a little too much for them on Sunday and they were overrun by 101 points at Henson Park.
Those who were there saw the disappointment on the faces of players and coaches, but they also remembered the sheer joy from the week before when they had cracked a finals match. It is said that you must lose a final to win one and each of these boys will participate in many more finals to come. With a forthcoming marriage on the books, Madden looks like stepping down from the role he has held now for the last two years and the club both thanks and congratulates him on a wonderful contribution to the development of its future stars at senior level.
Over at Bruce Purser Reserve on Saturday, there were four games played in round 20 on an oval which had recovered incredibly from the previous two days of heavy rain. First up at 10am were the U/18 Premier Cup lads who had already locked in top spot and the subsequent week’s rest. But a test and tune was in order against Western Suburbs to sort out last-minute set-ups for the finals. A 68-point triumph was in order with most credit going to Ethan Barclay at full-forward whose nine goals took him to 71 for the season, a phenomenal 32 ahead of his nearest rival, Ben McGovern at Penrith. Their win took them to an incredible four winning matches ahead of Pennant Hills in second.
Third Grade could not make the finals, no matter the result of their game against the Magpies, but there were bragging rights up for grabs. The Division Three boys had already won six matches and were looking to equal the best ever result since the club commenced fielding a side in this competition in 2009. Jason Moeller had them primed to take their seventh victory, but alas Wests wanted it just a little more than the Eagles and went on to win by 10 points. Nathan Campbell was best for the third time in just four matches at Third Grade level.
The “Ressies” were playing for coach Rod Frost who had announced his retirement and would hang up the boots. Frosty has played 154 First Grade games for both the Eagles (and the Falcons) and Saturday was his 344th and final club match over a storied career. He had been pumped all week to go out on a winning note and he brought that passion and attitude to the game which carried right through to his players.
Like the Third Grade lads, Division One could not make the finals either, but they could make Roddy’s day. And they did, winning handsomely over Wests by 59 points. Ben Physick was best, very closely followed by brother Tim while Jason Duss nailed a career best four, despite considerable heckling from a portion of the crowd.
At Premier Division level, the Eagles were sitting atop the ladder going into their clash with the Magpies and they had to win to ensure the week’s break. Wests were ninth and most tipsters had predicted an easy win to the Eagles. But a lacklustre first half saw Wests just 24 points behind at half-time, although the scoring shots sitting at 15 to six indicated that East Coast were ready to explode.
And detonate they did with seven goals in the third term and nine in the last. Jamie Vlatko, Stephen Doyle and Mark Goodey kicked four apiece, while Michael Johnston put in a ripper to secure the Base Course Management best-on-ground award. At the same time, Wests were restricted to just two majors.
The win gave the Eagles the minor premiership honours they hungered for and remarkably they finished the season with a percentage of 229.57. To further add to the honours list, Jamie Vlatko (72) and Stephen Doyle (53) have finished as the two leading goal kickers in the Premier Division.
And finally, in a big day for the East Coast Eagles, the victories propelled the club to the top of the 2011 Club Championship for the entire AFL Sydney competition. A remarkable achievement indeed to win such an honour, but the two biggest prizes remain yet to be claimed.
For all scores and details on every Eagles’ match in all grades, please visit www.sydneyafl.com.au.
East Coast Eagles 4.2 5.10 12.12 21.15 (141)
Western Suburbs 2.4 2.4 4.6 4.7 (31)
Goal kickers: Jamie Vlatko 4, Stephen Doyle 4, Mark Goodey 4, Steve O’Connor 3, Michael Johnston 2, Justin Steer 2, Jackson Dwyer 2.
Best players: Michael Johnston, Jamie Vlatko, Jon Vlatko, Mike Beardsley, Steve O’Connor, Mark Goodey.
Extravaganza
Premier Division
Best: Michael Johnston owned by J Frost / P Physick $200
First free: TBA $50
Division One
Best:Ben Physick owned by Maree Gawley $100
First free: Etiosa Okunbor owned by Maree Gawley $50
Division Three
Best: Nathan Campbell owned by J Frost / P Physick $30
Next week’s games
The Eagles are not involved in any football next weekend. However, the AFL Sydney Qualifying Finals will be held at Bruce Purser Reserve.
Saturday, August 27
9am Division Three - UTS v Sydney University
11.15am U/18 Premier Cup - Pennant Hills v North Shore
1.15pm Division One - Southern Power v Sydney University
3.30pm Premier Division - Balmain v Sydney University
