SFL ROUND 6 – DODGES FERRY v NEW NORFOLK
Senior Report – by Wayne Walker
THE Dodges Ferry Sharks were right at home as they soaked up the heavy wet conditions to run out big winners by 90 points over a battling New Norfolk side at Shark Park on Saturday. Heavy rain fell at different stages of the contest which made scoring difficult, but the Sharks found their groove halfway through the second term booting six majors while holding the Eagles scoreless. They followed up with 10 last-half goals to run away with a big win as they handled the footy much better than the Eagles in the wet greasy conditions.
New Norfolk started the game in good fashion kicking with a favourable breeze. They had plenty of the footy in their forward half but could only manage one goal through big forward Caleb Triffett while the Sharks also booted one major against the wind. The Sharks defended well to prevent the Eagles from grabbing an early break on the scoreboard.
Big Shark ruckman Jack Siggins flew with Eagle star Jacob Daley at the centre bounces. Sam Youl went to Eagle sharpshooter Josh Clifford and promising young defender Zayden Kelly had a big job on Shark goal kicking ace Campbell Hooker. The Eagles created a bit of history with the return of veteran Josh Kelly lining up with son Zayden. It was great to see a father and son combination in the senior team.
The Eagles went into the game missing talented captain Josh Farrow along with Jordan and Nathan Eiszele and young gun Riley Higgins. The return of Aaron Papera added some much-needed toughness around the contest and will be a great asset for the Eagles in weeks ahead. Quarter-time scores were tight as the Eagles led 1.4 (10) to the Sharks’ 1.1 (7).
The second term started with Shark on-baller Riley Hooker booting the first major with a clever snap. The Eagles were well entrenched in the contest with some good work from Daley, Brock Triffett, Jake Bearman and Brayden Butler. Midway through the term Riley Hooker benefited from a 50-metre penalty to boot another goal to give the Sharks a mini-break to lead by 12 points. The Sharks upped the tempo and started to get on top of the young Eagles with a flurry of goals from Jack Dolliver, Jordan Dunn and another from Dolliver followed by a snap from the busy Jayde Young as the Sharks took control and used the scoring end to great advantage. They went into the half time break with a commanding 39-point lead while the visitors were scoreless for the quarter: Sharks 7.7 (49) to Eagles 1.4 (10).
The Eagles needed to have a big third quarter to get back into the game and jumped out of the blocks with goals to Brayden Chaplin and key forward Ben Lovell, which put them within four goals of the Sharks. The home side continued to push forward and found Campbell Hooker who had been well held by Zayden Kelly for the first half as he drilled two quick goals to wrestle back the momentum and jump out to a 38-point break. The Sharks found two more goals through Broad and Dunn before the three-quarter time break to give them a match winning 50-point lead, which was well out of reach for the Eagles in difficult conditions: Sharks 11.7 (73) to Eagles 3.5 (23).
The floodgates opened in the last term as the Sharks dominated the play with the footy spending most of its time in the home sides forward half. They added six goals for the quarter (three to Campbell Hooker) while the Eagles remained on their three-quarter time score as the Sharks went on to record a big 90-point victory.
Eagle back man Jordan Banks-Smith played a great game across half back, while Tyron Bailey is in great form and shows great versatility. Jacob Daley has been outstanding all season, Jake Bearman continues to bore in for the hard ball every week and young Brayden Butler keeps his cool when handling the footy making every possession count.
Coach Tim Butterworth addressed his players post-match telling his charges that they can be more than competitive for periods of the game but fall away quickly when opposition sides gain scoring momentum. The Eagles need to stay positive as they navigate their way through the season as they look to their next encounter against the Brighton Robins in what should be an all-important clash for both clubs at Boyer Oval this Saturday.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 3.5 (23)
Dodges Ferry 17.11 (113)
Best – New Norfolk: J. Banks-Smith, T. Bailey, J. Daley, J. Kelly, J. Bearman; Dodges Ferry: B. Richmond, J. Dunn, R. Hooker, J. Dolliver, J. Young, J. Bullock.
Goals – New Norfolk: B. Chaplin, B. Lovell, C. Triffett; Dodges Ferry: C. Hooker 5, J. Dunn 3, P. Broad 2, C. Chatterton 2, J. Dolliver 2, B. Jackson, J. Wilson, J. Young.
Reserves Report – by Wayne Walker
THE Eagle Reserves side took a dip in the heavy showers and also in form as they went down to a more impressive Dodges Ferry by 42 points in windy and wet conditions at Shark Park. The Eagles were missing a number of regular personnel such as Michael Murray, Thomas Lovell, Nathan, Tyson and Jordan Eiszele, Jake Foster, Jack Miller, Sam Webb, and Kyle Walker which had a big impact on the result.
Assistant coach Bradley Chaplain commended the players who stepped up for the club for the effort in what was a massive change to the previous week’s side that had a victory over the Huonville Lions. One contest that was a highlight throughout the game was the matchup of Eagle full-back Brett Hodge on the big burly Shark full forward Andrew Press. Hodge came out on top considering the Sharks had the footy in their forward half for big periods of the contest. The Eagles trailed at quarter time by 13 points, then 15 points at half time and at the three-
quarter time break the gap was 35 points with the only goal-kicker being Corey Ransley in that quarter while the Sharks booted three majors.
The home side added another two goals in the last term to run out comfortable winners. Young Eagle Jaythan Poulson was his team’s best player on the wing. He was well supported by Mitchell Hay who was busy all day along with Corey Keleher who continues to impress. Corey Ransley battled hard, and Zac Wheeler also performed well. It was a tough day for what was a depleted Eagles outfit, but something tells me that the result could be very different next time they meet when the squads are more settled.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 1.7 (13)
Dodges Ferry 8.11 (59)
Best – New Norfolk: J. Poulson, M. Hay, S. Upton, Z. Wheeler, C. Keleher, T. Heron; Dodges Ferry: D. Cusick, D. Whitford, A. Kenny, A. Richards, M. Hughes, D. Bourke.
Goals – New Norfolk: C. Ransley; Dodges Ferry: M. Cusick 2, A. Press 2, T. Barr, W. Harris, A. Kenny, K. Styles.
Colts Report – by Chris Lovell
THE Eagle Colts undertook the long road trip to Shark Park on Saturday to test themselves against the Dodges Ferry Sharks. Following a stop-start opening to the season due to byes, the young Eagles were looking forward to getting their first win of the season.
In very windy and wet conditions the young Eagles kicked to the top end of Shark Park with the aid of a blustery breeze. They had most of the play, however, due to inaccuracy could only manage one goal and eight behinds to the Sharks’ single goal to lead by eight points at quarter-time. The second quarter saw the Eagles defend stoutly as they held the Sharks scoreless. The young Eagle forwards corrected their inaccuracy from the first term and added three goals and two behinds against the breeze. Hal- time scores: Eagles 4.10 (34) to the Sharks 1.0 (6).
With a handy 28-point lead going into the third quarter, the young Eagles were well placed to put the game beyond the reach of the Sharks. And this is exactly what they did, piling on another five goals and four behinds while once again holding the Sharks scoreless. The game was over at three-quarter-time as the Eagles led 9.14 (68) to the Sharks 1.0 (6).
The young Eagles dominated the last quarter, kicking two goals and five behinds against the breeze while restricting the Sharks to two behinds. New Norfolk ran out convincing 77-point victors. The Eagles had winners all over the ground and deserved their first victory of the season after some narrow losses. As predicted, with new players in the squad and the interrupted start to the season, it was time together that was required for the boys to become more efficient as a unit. The talent in the side is now showing through and we hope they can continue to improve over the next few games.
Another test for the boys looms this Saturday as they encounter the second-placed Brighton Robins at Boyer Oval. This is an opportunity for the boys to start to string some games together and start to climb the ladder.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 11.19 (85)
Dodges Ferry 1.2 (8)
Best – New Norfolk: J. Goodsell, B. Wheeler, R. Blackaby, J. Devine, T. Triffett, J. Holbrook; Dodges Ferry: R. Cowen, D. Brunskill, B. Donohoe, B. Balsley, C. Double, B. Meers.
Goals – New Norfolk: D. Branch 4, T. Triffett 2, J. Devine, S. Hine, L. Blackwell, R. Triffett, T. Carr.
Women’s Report – Brighton v New Norfolk – by Chris Lovell
LAST Saturday saw the Eagles’ senior women team travel to Pontville Oval for a top-of-the-table clash against the Brighton Robins. The game was played in wet and windy conditions. As expected, the two teams were evenly matched.
The first quarter was an arm wrestle with both sides trying to gain the advantage. The scores at quarter-time showed the narrowest of margins in favour of the Eagles: New Norfolk 1.1 (7) to Brighton 1. 0 (6). The second quarter saw Brighton gain a slight ascendency by scoring a single goal and keeping the Eagles scoreless to go into half time with a five-point break: Brighton 2.0 (12) to New Norfolk 1.1 (7). The Eagles turned up the heat in the second half and scored three goals while holding the home side to one goal to record a hard-fought win by eight points.
Conditions were not conducive to good football, but the lady Eagles prevailed in a very tough game. There is no doubt that the Brighton Robins are one of the main teams to beat this season. The lady Eagles now sit a game clear on top of the SFLW Division 3 ladder. This Sunday the lady Eagles travel to Pembroke Park to play the South-East Suns. The game starts at 10am.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 4.2 (26)
Brighton 3.0 (18)
Best – New Norfolk: M. Devine, L. Wigg, C. Mart, M. Percey, G. Kube J. Franklin; Brighton: K. Butler, K. Wickham, G. Smith, M. Robertson, G. Pennicott, K. McDonald.
Goals – New Norfolk: M. Green 2, C. Ford, O. Harris; Brighton: M. Graham, G. Smith, S. Whyte.
Next Games – Saturday May 14:
New Norfolk Colts v Brighton at Boyer Oval at 10am
New Norfolk Reserves v Brighton at Boyer Oval at noon
New Norfolk Seniors v Brighton at Boyer Oval at 2pm
Sunday May 15 – New Norfolk Women v South East Suns at Pembroke Park at 10am
