Senior Report – Wayne Walker
DODGES Ferry was made to work hard for the four premiership points over a gritty New Norfolk side at Boyer Oval last Saturday. After an early scare where the Sharks trailed by 24 points early in the second term, they turned it around to go on and win by 46 points in an entertaining match.
The Sharks took over in the second half and had more scoring options going forward and finished off their work with a bit more polish than the young Eagles. Shark forwards Ben McGuiness (three goals), Jordan Dunn (four goals) and Jack Dolliver (four goals) had a big say in the outcome of the contest.
The Eagles were impressive early in the first term, being first to the contest and winning the hard ball. They were applying enormous pressure on the Sharks when they had possession. Eagle speedster Will Banks was giving the home side plenty of run through the centre of the big Boyer Oval. He found Rohan Heron who snapped over his shoulder to Brayden Chaplin who marked and kicked truly for the Eagles’ first major.
The Eagles won the footy from the next centre bounce and found the in-form Tyron Bailey on the run for the Eagles second with a long drop punt from outside 50 metres for a sensation goal. The Eagles had momentum and found youngster Jacob Goodsell who added another major for the Eagles which gave the home side a great start to the match.
Late in the term the Eagles found Heron 40m out from goal on a tight angle. He slotted the Eagles’ fourth on the quarter time siren to give the home side a handy 17-point lead: New Norfolk 4.1 (25) to Dodges Ferry 1.2 (8).
Eagle young gun Bailey Wheeler had the task of taking on 204cm Shark ruckman Matthew Young. Sam Siggins lined up at centre half back against Eagle forward Ben Lovell, and Jordan Banks-Smith picked up Shark utility Ben McGuiness.
The Eagles looked dangerous early in the second term with Will Banks once again breaking away from the centre with blistering pace and just missing for a minor score. Jake Bearman and Chaplin were getting their fair share of the footy and creating opportunities for the Eagles. They found Tyron Bailey who booted a massive drop punt which sailed through the big sticks from outside 50m for his second goal.
This gave the Eagles a 24-point lead and they were ticking all the boxes with superior teamwork with plenty of run and carry and also applying heaps of pressure to their opponents. The Sharks needed a goal, and it came via a free kick to Jack Dolliver to stem the flow from the Eagles. This kickstarted their game, and they were able to add three more goals to get within one point of the Eagles at the main break: New Norfolk 5.4 (34) to Dodges Ferry 5.3 (33).
At the half-time break coach Matthew Smith praised his players for their effort and pressure for the contested ball and urged his young team to take the game on but play tempo football if required. The only negative was that the Eagles were not handling the ball cleanly at critical times.
The Sharks started to get their game flowing in the third term with giant ruckman Young taking control at the centre bounce contests. Dan Lewis and Isaac Mathewson were getting plenty of the footy with McGuiness capping off their clever work up forward with two goals. The Sharks added six for the quarter and skipped away to a 29-point lead: Dodges Ferry 11.5 (71) points to New Norfolk 6.6 (42).
The Eagles had chances to work their way back into the contest early in the last term but were off target in front of goal, booting one goal and six behinds. More accuracy could have put the Sharks under pressure. Brock Triffett kicked the only Eagle goal for the term. Dolliver, Dunn and Kenny chimed in with goals for the Sharks to draw away from the Eagles to win by 46.
It was an improved performance by the Eagles after the previous week’s heavy loss to Huonville and the young players are gaining more experience on and off the ground. Coach Smith and the support staff are taking every opportunity to give the younger players advice when there are rotations about mistakes made during the quarter. This advice is much better when they are off the ground than coming from a runner in the heat of the contest.
Eagle speedster Will Banks played a great four quarter game. Chaplin was good in the centre and around the ground and Josh Farrow worked tirelessly in defence. Bailey continues to dominate week to week and kicked two magnificent team-lifting goals and Josh Clifford worked hard throughout the contest. After the game, Smith praised the players for their effort and said continued improvement was possible if they apply themselves at training and improve their fitness levels.
The Eagles face Brighton tomorrow (Saturday) as they search for that elusive second victory.
FINAL SCORE
Dodges Ferry 15.10 (100)
New Norfolk 7.12 (54)
Best – New Norfolk: W. Banks, J. Clifford, Bailey Chaplin, T. Bailey, J. Banks-Smith, J.
Farrow; Dodges Ferry: I. Mathewson, B. Richmond, J. Booth, D. Lewis, J. Dolliver, J. Dunn.
Goals – New Norfolk: T. Bailey 2, B. Triffett, Brayden Chaplin, R. Heron, J. Goodsell, W. Banks.; Dodges Ferry: J. Dunn 4, J. Dolliver 4, B. McGuiness 3, A. Kenny 2, B. Jackson, T. Cannan.
Reserves Report – Wayne Walker
NEW Norfolk ran into a stronger and more competitive opponent in ladder-leader Dodges Ferry, going down by 48 points. The Sharks were a physically bigger side than the Eagles and looked fitter and had more run in the second half, kicking nine last-half goals with big burly forward Andrew Press booting five for the match.
The Eagles were missing big men Brayden Drake and William Watts, which left Corey Ransley to do battle in the ruck. They also had early setbacks with Tyler Heron and Jordan Eiszele sustaining game-ending injuries, and forward Richard Graham was sorely missed after a strong four-goal performance against Huonville the previous week.
Returning Eagle Cody Morgan put in a solid four-quarter performance along with onballer Andrew Minchin. Tyler Purdon was forced to go into defence to hold up the Sharks forward entries.
Brett Hodge and Luke Browning battled hard all day and Corey Ransley worked hard in the ruck and up forward with two goals.
Assistant coach Bradley Chaplin stressed to his players that the opportunity is ahead if they are prepared to hit the training track with important matches ahead. They need to win against Brighton (away) and Sorell (at home) if the Eagles are to hold onto a spot in the top five for a crack at the finals.
FINAL SCORES
Dodges Ferry 14.13 (97)
New Norfolk 6.3 (39)
Best – New Norfolk: A. Minchin, C. Morgan, B. Hodge, L. Browning, T. Purdon, C. Ransley; Dodges Ferry: S. Boxall, G. Morgan, J. Manix, S. Russell, J. McDermott, A. Meredith.
Goals – New Norfolk: C. Ransley 2, H. Sillifant, B. Scanlon, B. Hodge, C. Triffett; Dodges Ferry: A. Press 5, J. McDermott 2, K. Styles 2, S, Russell, J. Manix, L. Minty, S. Boxall, B. Dolliver.
Colts Report by Chris Lovell
FOLLOWING a 44-point loss to Huonville a week earlier, the New Norfolk colts were back home on the big Boyer Oval against Dodges Ferry Sharks last Saturday. The young Eagles were looking for a repeat of the last time the two sides met as they were 46-point winners on that occasion.
The Eagles needed a win to keep their slim finals hopes alive. It was not going to be an easy assignment as they were without their leading goal-kickers Jack Miller and Dylan Branch, and the Sharks have been improving as the season has progressed. The ground was in good condition and the weather perfect for football.
The first quarter was an even tussle with both sides displaying good football and great accuracy in front of goal, with the home side kicking four goals straight while the visitors had two goals on the non-functioning scoreboard. The second quarter saw a slightly inaccurate Eagles up the tempo and score three goals and three behinds to the Sharks’ two straight goals to extend their lead to 21 points at the main break.
Following a rev-up from the coaching staff at half-time, the Eagles came out full of running and really attacked the scoreboard, piling on six goals and one behind while holding the visitors to a minor score to stretch their lead to a match-winning 57 points at three quarter time.
Slight inaccuracy once again crept in in the last quarter as the Eagles scored four goals and three behinds while holding the Sharks to a single goal for a final winning margin of 78 points. It was an even and consistent game by the young Eagles with the scoring shared between 11 players.
The Eagles were well served by Liam Kenyon, Jordan George, Brodie Scanlon Lachlan Blackwell, Tyler Benson and Bailey Wheeler. The Eagle colts now sit two points behind Brighton on the SFL ladder in fifth position and line up against the Robins at Pontville Oval tomorrow (Saturday) in another must-win match to keep their slim finals aspirations alive.
FINAL SCORES
New Norfolk 17.7 (109)
Dodges Ferry 5.1 (31)
Best – New Norfolk: L. Kenyon, J. George, B. Scanlon, L. Blackwell, T. Benson, B. Wheeler; Dodges Ferry: B. Donohue, J. Burns, B. Bonnitcha, C. Quarrell.
Goals – New Norfolk: J. Graham 3, B. Wheeler 3, L. Blackwell 2, B. Scanlon 2, C. Triffitt, J. Devine, B. Kline, S. Jackson, L. Kenyon, T. Oakley, H. Burns; Dodges Ferry: B. Bonnitcha 3, B. Donohue 2.
- NEXT GAMES:
- Saturday, July 30 at Pontville Oval: Reserves v Brighton at noon, seniors v Brighton at 2pm, Colts v Brighton at Pontville Oval at 4.30pm.
- Saturday, July 30 at Boyer Oval: Women v Lauderdale at 9am.
