Senior Report – Wayne Walker
| LAST Saturday was an afternoon the Eagles would prefer to forget. After the long trip down the Huon Highway to the Huonville Lions’ den, the home side showed it could still have a big say at the business end of the season by trouncing the Eagles. The Lions dominated in the second half piling on 14 goals to the Eagles’ two to run out big 103-point winners.
The rain stayed away for the afternoon, but conditions were difficult with parts of the ground muddy and boggy which made it hard for players to handle the footy and keep their footing. The Eagles had two key milestones in the lead-up to the contest with Rohan Heron playing his 250th senior game and Ben Lovell playing his 200th senior game. Both have been fantastic players for the Club over a long period of time and played in many successful campaigns.
The Lions had too many big men around the ground and won the aerial duel hands-down. Key forward Michael Paul (six goals) ruckman Rhys Ward, captain James McIndoe and Chris Elliot took many marks up forward, around the ground and in defence. In-form Eagle Tyron Bailey started in the ruck contests against Lion Rhys Ward. Huonville ball-magnet Brady Jones, Dale Thorp and Ethan Brock were pitted against Eagles Jake Bearman, Brock Triffett and Brayden Chaplin.
Lion defender Daniel Goulding picked up Eagle forward Heron, while Eagle forward Lovell had Lion Nathan Vincent. Eagle defender Jaidyn Fischer-Cooley was on Lion veteran Michael Paul early in the contest. The Eagles promoted Tyler Heron and Jeremy Nichols for their first senior games. It was great to see skillful Eagle onballer Jacob Wigg return for his first game of the season after a long-term injury.
The Lions had two quick goals on the board through Rhys Douglas and Michael Paul in the first term. The Eagles answered with a great snap from a tight angle from Heron. This was followed by another goal on the run from goal-sneak Cody Neads who gathered the footy front and square from a marking contest as he collected the crumbs to boot the Eagles’ second. The Eagles cleared the footy from the next centre bounce and found Heron on the lead who lined up from a set shot 40m out to kick his second to give the Eagles a six-point lead.
The Lions added another major to their score but moments later the versatile Tyron Bailey took a strong mark and kicked truly for the visitors. The Lions hit back as big Michael Paul found the busy Brady Jones who slammed through the Lions’ fourth right on the quarter-time siren to take a 4-point lead at the first break: Huonville 4.5 (29) to New Norfolk 4.1 (25)
The Lions started to get their game going in the second term with Dale Thorp and Ethan Brock busy in the centre and around the ground. Paul was instrumental up forward as they jumped out to a 27-point margin. The Eagles were just hanging on with a goal to Heron, but the Lions big men were busy rolling back to stop any influence Lovell and Heron could have up forward. Half time scores were Huonville 9.9 (63) to New Norfolk 5.4 (34).
The Lions dominated the third term booting nine goals to the Eagles two with Jones instrumental kicking three in five minutes. A number of Lion players were getting in on the act as they had a spread of scoring opportunities throughout the quarter to bust the game wide open and go out to a 73-point lead. The Eagles were down to only two rotations off the bench with injuries to Tyler Heron and speed machine Will Banks which made things that much harder for the visitors. Three-quarter-time scores: Huonville 18.13 (121) to the Eagles 7.6 (48).
The Eagles could only manage four behinds in the last term while the Lions added another five goals to run out big winners by 103 points in what was a convincing display after half time. Eagle veteran Josh Clifford showed great leadership over four quarters and was running as hard at the contest in the last quarter as he was in the first term. Josh Farrow battled hard in defence, and Tyron Bailey won many contests against bigger opponents in the ruck and performed well throughout the game. Rohan Heron was good up forward with four goals and Ethan Holden played well across half back.
Both clubs formed a guard of honor as both Lovell and Heron were chaired off the ground in their milestone games in what was a nice touch from the Huonville Lions. The Eagles need to keep their heads high in what has been a tough year as they come up against the Dodges Ferry Sharks at the big Boyer Oval tomorrow (Saturday).
Final Scores
Huonville 23.17 (155)
New Norfolk 7.10 (52)
Best – New Norfolk: J. Clifford, T. Bailey, J. Bearman, Z. Kelly, J. Farrow, E. Holden; Huonville: R. Ward, M. Paul, C. Johns, N. Schenk, D. Thorp, C. Elliott.
Goals – New Norfolk: R. Heron 4, T. Bailey 2, C. Neads; Huonville: M. Paul 6, B. Jones 4, E. Brock 2, C. Elliott 2, J. McIndoe 2, C. Johns, R. Douglas, D. Thorp, T. Godfrey, M. Schenk, C. Sutcliffe, J. Richards.
Reserves Report – Wayne Walker
A GAME-SAVING tackle by Jack Miller paved the way for a thrilling win in the dying moments of the last quarter with only one point the difference between both sides as the New Norfolk Reserves held on for a gutsy 7-point win against the Huonville Lions last Saturday.
The Eagles were just one point in front with three minutes to go with the game in the balance and the Lions about to kick the footy into their attacking zone when Miller came out of nowhere executing a great tackle. He won the free kick as the Eagles pushed forward finding Zac Wheeler who took the mark and slammed through the match-winning goal in what was a gutsy win for an undermanned Eagles side with many players missing from the regular side.
The Eagles grabbed the lead early in the first term with Richard Graham showing good form with two goals and the returning Cody Morgan with one as the Eagles took an 8-point lead into quarter time: Eagles 3.2 (20) to Lions 2.0 (12).
The Lions hit back in the second term with full forward Chris Stockfeld booting his first major. The Eagles found Graham once again for his third. The Lions quickly took the ball from the centre bounce and found Stockfeld who marked to kick his second to put the Lions one point in arrears. Eagle Tyler Purdon was solid across half back turning back many Lions forward entries. Aaron Papera was busting his way through a number of packs with his straight-ahead style of footy and Andrew Minchin was also getting plenty of the footy in heavy traffic.
The Eagles pushed forward finding Cody Morgan deep in the pocket as he snapped from 30m out for a great goal. The Lions posted a minor score and the Eagles kicked in from full-back going coast to coast to youngster Tyler Benson who slammed through a six pointer for the visitors. The Lions snagged a major just before half-time to trail by five points at the main break: Eagles 6.2 (38) to Lions 5.3 (33).
The Eagles got a mini break in the third term with goals to Morgan, Graham and Papera as they jumped out to a 17-point lead and looked to be getting the game on their terms. However, the Lions booted an important goal to stay in touch as the three- quarter time scoreboard showed the Eagles with a handy lead: Eagles 9.2 (56) to Lions 6.7 (43).
The Lions worked their way back into the contest half way through the last term kicking two goals to get within one point. It looked like they may snatch victory until Miller’s game saving tackle late in the quarter. It was a great victory for the Eagles as the likes of Jake Foster, William Watts, Kyle Walker, Tyson Eiszele, Brayden Drake, Jeremy Nichols, Tyler Heron, Ethan Holden, Cody Needs and Josh Kelly were either unavailable or called up for Senior duties.
Once again, the young Colts came to the rescue. And what a contribution they made, with youngsters Tyler Benson, Jorden Conley, Bailey Wheeler and Riley Blackaby who all played a major role in a great win to place the Eagles fourth on the ladder as they keep battling for a spot in the finals race.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 10.3 (63)
Huonville 8.8 (56)
Best – New Norfolk: T. Purdon, C. Morgan, T. Benson, J. Conley, B. Wheeler, R. Blackaby; Huonville: T. Campisi, J. Stanway, J. Stevenson, A, Crowe, M. Bennett, C. Stockfeld.
Goals- New Norfolk: R. Graham 4, C. Morgan 3, A. Papera, Z. Wheeler, T. Benson; Huonville: C. Stockfeld 4, M. Bennett, H. Stevenson, M. Coulson, A. Tatnell-Cowen.
Colts Report by Chris Lovell
FOLLOWING a 46-point win over the Dodges Ferry Sharks the previous week, the young Eagles travelled to Huonville to tackle the second placed Huonville Lions to try and keep their slim finals hopes alive. The ground was very muddy end wet underfoot which made good football difficult.
The home side jumped out of the blocks early and led all day. They played the conditions much better than the young Eagles and never really looked to be under pressure as they increased their lead at every change to record a comfortable 44-point victory.
A big thank-you to Jorden Conley who filled in from the Glenorchy Football Club on the day. He was named amongst the best players and also stepped up with some other Colts players to help out the Reserves side. The young Eagles were well served by Liam Kenyon, Riley Blackaby, Harry Morgan, Jordan George, and Tyron Triffett.
The Eagles now sit six points behind Brighton on the SFL ladder in fifth position. The Colts roster will have a final-four this season so the boys will need to keep winning to keep their slim finals aspirations alive, They are at home to Dodges Ferry in another must-win match tomorrow (Saturday(.
Final Scores
Huonville 9.13 (67)
New Norfolk 3.5 (23)
Best – New Norfolk: L. Kenyon, R. Blackaby, H. Morgan, J. Conley, J. George, Tyron Triffett; Huonville: N. Shelverton, W. Quarrier, S. Voss, J. Moles, F. Spurr, F. Johns.
Goals – New Norfolk: J. Miller 2, J. Graham; Huonville: F. Johns 2, T. Wooley, J. Moles, N. Shelverton, S. Voss, J. Terry, A. Cullen, T. Twaits.
Women’s Report by Chris Lovell
AFTER a forfeit by Claremont the previous week, the LADY Eagles were on the road for a tough game against 3rd placed St Virgil’s at the New Town Bike Track Oval last Saturday. The ground was very heavy and muddy which resulted in scrambly hard-hitting football.
The game was a real hard slog with St Virgil’s throwing everything at the visitors. In a bruising encounter the sides were locked together for the first three quarters, before the Eagles managed to score 1 goal 2 behinds in the final quarter to run out winners by 24 points.
Scoring for the Eagles was evenly shared between Chloe Ford, Melinda Green, Tayhlar Tangata, and Carolyn Mart. Newcomer Natalie Smedley was named best player for New Norfolk. She was well supported by Carolyn Mart, Zoie Crawford, Sophie Farrow, Maddison Devine, and Grace Kube.
The Eagles retain top spot on the SFLW Division 3 ladder, four points clear of second-placed Brighton as they look towards finals football. They have a bye this weekend.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 4.8 (32)
St Virgil’s 1.2 (8)
Best – New Norfolk: N. Smedley, C. Mart, Z. Crawford, S. Farrow, M. Devine, G. Kube; St Virgil’s: F. Langford, A. Reid, A. Singles, L. Cooper, I. Stoye, M. Penrose.
Goals – New Norfolk: C. Ford, M. Green, T. Tangata, C. Mart; St Virgil’s: A. Reid.
Next Games – Saturday, July 23:
- Colts v Dodges Ferry at Boyer Oval at 10am
- Reserves v Dodges Ferry at Boyer Oval at noon
- Senior Men v Dodges Ferry at Boyer Oval at 2pm
- Senior Women have a bye
