Hello and welcome shark’s fans. Saturday saw the tigers take on the reigning premiers the cards for the first time in 2013. The cards have had the wood over the tigers in recent times and have shown no signs of relinquishing their dominance this season after a big win in their first outing in round one. The tigers though have requited well over the off season and have shown they will not go down easily. It was an excellent day for footy with the sun shining and the ground firm. The game got going with the tigers heading to the stadium end of Victoria Park and the cards to the city end. The cards won the first tap of the quarter but it was the tigers through Andy Dubojski who won the clearance. Dubojski placed a nice pass on the chest of Michael Douglas at centre wing. Douglas’s kick was touched by the man on the mark and the ball tumbled to the centre and into the hands of Andy Butler who went backwards to Andy Dubojski. Dubojski kicked long to a contest and the ball was knocked out of play. The cards went forward from the stoppage after Eileen Myles handballed to Steve Thompson but Thompson’s kick was chopped off by Andy Dubojski who had set himself at half back. Dubojski passed to Andy Butler who was in a mile of space but a lack of options forward forced butler to change direction and the cards Chris Pearson was able to smother the kick and force a turnover. Steve Thompson picked up the loose ball and kick wide to the run of Pearson who had pushed wide form his previous effort. Pearson had a long shot at goal but was well off target and it went out of bounds on the full. Pearson soon had a chance to redeem himself as he marked at half forward as the tigers were trying to exit their defence and played on with a handball to Robert McKinlay. McKinlay handballed to the run of Scott O’Hara who snapped at goal but could only manage a minor score. The tigers wasted no time with the kick in and transitioned the ball forward after some clever play from Andy Dubojski. Michael Douglas ran onto the bouncing ball and chipped to Sue Noble who snapped registering a behind. The tigers caused a turnover from the kick in and Andy Dubojski swooped on the loose ball and kicked truly for the first major of the game. Derek Smith won a free kick for the tigers for too high from the centre bounce and went wide to Michael Douglas who skilfully evaded a defender to spring free down the flank. Douglas’s kick undid his good work as it missed its target and Zoe Rowe won a free kick in the congestion for the cards. Rowe played on with a handball to Robert McKinlay who kicked along the wing. The tigers rebounded though and sent the ball long into their forward line but it was easily picked off by Darren Chadwick. Chadwick passed to Steve Thompson who was being held without the ball and was awarded a free kick. This was compounded when the cards argued the decision and were marched 25 meters. Thompson passed to Eileen Myles who marked on half forward. Myles kicked inside forward 40 but after some contested footy the tigers were able to run the ball out of defence through Derek Smith and Jamie Christie who combined well. Smith kicked to Mark Cadman who was taken high and received a free kick in the middle. Cadman went wide to Andy Butler who switched the play with a kick to the advantage of Andy Dubojski who had made a run down the wing. Dubojski kicked long to the goal square where Mark Cadman who had pushed forward was able to swoop onto the ball and slot home the tiger’s second goal of the term. Both teams were working hard at the centre bounce when a quick kick out of the pack got the cards moving forward but it trundled out of play in the forward pocket. The ball spilled out the back from the stoppage to Steve Thompson capitalised by kicking a goal to close the margin. The cards won a free kick at the centre bounce and Steve Thompsons kick went through the goals but he was outside the scoring zone therefor registering a behind. The tigers thrust forward from the kick in but were unable to capitalise on the fast break as they were caught with the ball giving a free kick to the cards. The cards were soon back in their forward line putting pressure on the tigers defence. The tigers rushed through a behind so they could reset and start again. That was the end of the scoring for the term though and the tigers went into the first change with a slender lead. 2-1-13 v 1-3-9 The second term got underway with the tigers looking to go forward. Chris Pearson intervened though running through the middle and driving the cards into attack. The tigers were able to rebound though through Derek Smith who kicked long back into the middle. Steve Thompson got on the end of Smith’s kick and quickly had the cards back on the offensive. The tigers were able to rebound again though through Andy Dubojski who sent the tigers deep inside forward 40. Graham Wilson of the cards created a contest and was able to get the ball to Steve Thompson. Thompson looked to find Robert McKinlay in the middle. McKinlay gave it back to Thompson who had continued his run and delivered into the cards forward line. The tigers won a free kick when Alan Stocks was deemed to have been pushed in the back. Stocks played on with a handball to Andy Dubojski who launched a long kick to the wing that tumbled out of bounds. Andy butler opened the scoring from the term with a behind when he roved a good ruck tap from Jamie Christie. The cards kick in was marked by Andy Dubojski who immediately played on stepping inside 40 kicking a long goal to extend the tigers lead to 11 points. The cards went forward from the centre bounce through Alan Bingham but the tiger’s defenders were able to create a stoppage. From the stoppage the tigers were able to move the ball to the wing but were stopped by the cards who caused a turnover and went forward again. The game was starting to open up and the ball was flowing from back line to back line with neither team able to impact the score board. The cards worked the ball out of defence and kicked to a two on one contest in their favour where Darren Chadwick and Chris Pearson combined to send the ball deep inside forward 40 where Eileen Myles was lurking. Myles got on the end of the bouncing ball and showed great composure to sidestep a defender and slot home a nine point super goal to close the gap to just two points. The tigers went forward from the restart through Andy Dubojski but when Mark Cadman ducked into a tackle he was deemed to be caught holding the ball. The situation was made worse for the tigers when they did not give the ball back on the full and gave away a 25 meter penalty. The cards wasted no time getting the ball moving and were soon back in attack. Steve Thompson had a shot that was wide of the mark and went through for a behind. The tigers moved the ball out to the wing from the kick in where it went out of bounds. The tigers won a free kick from the stoppage and Michael Douglas marked at half forward. Douglas delivered into the pocket where a pack formed under the ball. The ball hit the deck and was gathered by graham Wilson for the cards. Neil Cooper laid a strong tackle on Wilson and was rewarded with a free kick and a shot on goal for the tigers. Coopers shot was off line and went through for a behind to make the margin two. This set up an interesting final five minutes of the term in which the cards were able to set up the old seven point play by kicking a behind then turning over the tigers kick in and kicking a goal giving them a slight advantage at the main change. 1-2-5-26 v 3-3-21 The cards went forward to start the third term but they could not impact the score board as the ball went out of play in the forward pocket. The tigers extracted the ball from the through Andy Butler who kicked long down the line for Mark Cadman to use his pace. Cadman didn’t let him down and ran onto the bouncing ball at half forward. With an open forward line ahead of him Cadman chipped the ball to the advantage of Kirsty Grey. Grey picked up the loose ball and slotted home a super goal for the tigers and regained the lead. Andy Dubojski won a free kick for the tigers at the centre bounce and immediately played on with a handball to Andy Butler. The cards put on some good pressure though and forced the tigers to kick hurriedly into their forward line where Scott O’Hara was able to provide a contest and halt the tiger’s momentum. The ball spilled out of the pack and Mark Cadman was tackled well by Alan Bingham who was rewarded with a free kick. Bingham played on with a handball to the run of Chris Pearson who kicked to half forward. Derek Smith of the tigers chopped off the kick and got the ball to Alex Young in the middle. Young was tackled and the ball spilled free. The tigers won a free kick for kicking in danger and Mark Cadman kicked forward in the direction of Kirsty Grey who gathered the ball and had a shot. Greys shot was off line and went through for a behind. The cards kick in went to Steve Thompson marked strongly and played on with a pass into the middle. The mark was dropped and the ball squirted out to the wing and a pack formed over the ball. Darren Chadwick extracted the ball while on hands and knees and popped out a handball to Steve Thompson who had followed up his kick. Thompson ran inside 40 and kicked a lovely goal on the run to snatch the lead back for the cards. The tigers won a free kick at the centre bounce and quickly played on. Andy Dubojski received a handball and drove the tigers deep into attack. The ball slipped out the back of a pack for Michael Douglas to pick up and shoot but a great Alan Bingham smother saved the day for the cards. Douglas picked up the loose ball but had a bounce while being held onto giving the cards a free kick. The cards worked the ball out of defence to the wing where Andy Dubojski intercepted winning the ball and passing to Michael Douglas at centre half forward. Douglas picked up the ball and hand passed to the run of Andy Butler whose shot hit the base of the post registering a behind making the score line thirty two apiece. The cards came out to the pocket with the kick in but a dropped mark cost them a free kick when Andy Dubojski had his hands kicked while picking up the loose ball. Dubojski’s kick went to the ten meter square where a pack formed and the ball went to ground in the pocket. Steve Thompson picked up the loose ball and kicked into the middle but the cards were outnumbered and the tigers were able to go back inside forward 40 through Derek Smith who handballed to Andy Butler on the run who slammed home another Tiger goal and take the lead. The cards won the centre clearance from the boot of Chris Pearson but his kick went out of bounds on the full. The tigers could only bring the ball out to half back when Graham Wilson took a strong contested mark just inside the scoring zone. Wilson went back and launched a shot on goal that went straight through and squared up the game again. The tigers got the centre clearance through Andy Butler who put the tigers into attack hitting Michael Douglas on the chest directly in front of goal. Douglas’s shot fell short and the cards worked the ball out of defence to the wing where it went out of play. The cards went forward from the stoppage but Derek Smith intervened. Smith was slung after getting rid of the ball and received a free kick. The tigers turned the ball over giving away a free kick on the wing and the cards were able to start another attack. The tiger defence stood strong and repelled the cards and made their way back to the wing but gave the ball back to the cards giving away a free kick to Alan Bingham. Bingham kicked down the line to a contest where Steve Thompson won a free kick in scoring range but on an acute angle. Thompson passed inboard to Robert McKinlay but the tigers were able to spoil and the ball made its way to the wing where Andy Dubojski won a free kick. He was the awarded a Twenty five meter penalty as the ball was not given back on the full. Dubojski played on and sent the tigers deep into attack but Chris Pearson was able to collect the ball and run out of defence. Pearson put the cards inside 40 but the ball went out of play. The tigers got a quick kick out of the stoppage that trundled to the wing where it went out of play. The tigers broke free from the stoppage through Jamie Christie who passed to Mark Cadman running through the middle who in the dying stages of the term kicked into an open forward line for Alan Stocks to run onto. Stocks took possession and kicked a goal giving the tigers a six point lead at three quarter time. 1-5-5-44 v 1-4-5-38 The final stanza started in a scrappy fashion. Both teams were boring in hard at the footy clearly showing their want to win this game. The cards were the first to clear the congestion when they were awarded a free kick just inside the centre square. Graham Wilson was given a shooting opportunity as the cards encroached on the mark and gave away a twenty five meter penalty. Wilsons shot went wide of its target and sailed through for a behind closing the gap to five points. The tiger kick in was marked by Andy Dubojski at half back. Dubojski kicked down the line to a contest that was won at ground level by Alex Young who handballed to the running Andy Butler. Butler sent the tigers deep into attack where Alan Stocks was on the score sheet again snapping a good goal after crumbing the loose ball. The tigers won the centre clearance after a secondary ball up through Andy Dubojski who pumped the tigers back into attack setting his forwards the task of chasing down the bouncing ball. Mark Cadman won the chase and toed the ball through for a behind extending the tigers lead to two straight kicks. The cards kicked in to the flank where Steve Thompson marked and immediately played on kicking to centre half forward. The ball hit the deck and bounced towards the middle of the ground where Derek Smith picked it up but was strongly tackled by Graham Wilson and was pinged for incorrect disposal. Wilson sent the cards into attack but his kick was marked by Andy Dubojski who quickly looked to turn defence into attack but was pressured well by Chris Pearson which affected his kick and the ball tumbled to centre wing where Jamie Christie got the ball into the path of Derek Smith who sent the tigers deep forward. Smith’s kick was marked strongly by Michael Douglas who played on with a handball that missed its mark and the cards kicked out of defence through Alan Bingham. The cards back line was soon under pressure though as Bingham’s kick found Andy Dubojski in the middle who calmly passed to Derek Smith who marked thirty five meters out directly in front of goal. Smith went back and eased through a goal and put the tigers lead out to eighteen points. The tigers won the centre clearance through Andy Dubojski who again put the tigers into attack with a long ball to the advantage of his running forwards. Jamie Christie ran onto the bouncing ball and had a shot on goal while under pressure and missed to the right for a behind. The cards kick in bounced untouched to the middle to a contest where Alex Young fired out a handball to Sue Noble who kicked the tigers back into attack where Michael Douglas took another strong mark. This time Douglas went back and sent a drop punt sailing straight through the middle and in the blink of an eye the tigers had slipped out to a comfortable twenty five point lead. The tigers won a free kick in the middle after the ball up and Derek Smith kicked to half forward. The cards Scott O’Hara copped off Smiths kick and placed a well weighted pass onto the chest of the leading Darren Chadwick who instantly played on and has a shot at goal that was marked on the last line of defence by Andy Dubojski who played a one two with Neil Cooper then kicked long out of defence. Steve Thompson was able to trap the ball close to the boundary line and went inside forward 40 with a handball. The tigers created the turnover and got a quick kick out to the wing only for Alan Bingham to pick up the ball. Bingham was ran down from behind by Michael Douglas who was awarded a free kick. Douglas switched play to Andy Dubojski who passed to centre half forward. The ball went to ground and Chris Pearson picked up the loose ball and went on a darting run through the middle then passed to Graham Wilson who won a free kick. Wilson handballed to Steve Thompson who in turn handballed to Darren Chadwick who had a shot. Chadwick’s shot was marked by Neil Cooper who went long to Andy Dubojski at half back. Dubojski Passed to Jamie Christie who went for a run down the wing and kicked a tumbling punt deep forward where Sue Noble kicked off the ground for a behind. The tigers were given a free kick from the kick in for kicking in danger and Alan Stocks played on with a handball to Andy Dubojski who had a shot that went to the goal square and took a wicked bounce away from goal. Mark Cadman got onto the loose ball and snapped a goal to extend the lead. The tiger’s midfield were well on top and again cleared out of the middle from the bounce with a long kick forward. Kirsty Grey collected the ball and dished out a handball to Alan Stocks who had a shot but was off line and registered a behind. The cards went to the pocket with the kick in but the tigers were able to create a contest. Steve Thompson extracted the ball and ran the ball out of defence then passed to Graham Wilson at half forward. Wilson took the mark and used the run of Darren Chadwick by way of a handball then followed up to get the return handball and pass to Eileen Myles in the pocket. Myles picked up the bouncing ball and kicked to a contest at full forward that resulted in a ball up in the ten meter square. After some congested play Steve Thompson broke clear of the pack to snap a nice goal to close the margin to twenty seven points. The cards won the centre clearance and went forward through Chris Pearson who passed to Robert McKinley at centre half forward. McKinlay’s shot fell short and as the tigers looked to clear their lines the game came to an end leaving the tigers to run out winners by twenty seven points 1-9-9-72 v 1-5-6-45  See ya on the boundary line next time

Cheer cheer the blue and the white

The Great White

Hello and welcome shark’s fans. Saturday saw round 2 of the CAFL with a hotly contested contest between the tigers and the makos. The tigers were looking to start their season off in style while the makos were looking to redeem themselves after going down heavily to the cards in round 1. The makos welcomed back utility Alexander Clark and Captain Adam Jack while the tigers were having to deal with the significant loss of Andy Dubojski. The day was cold but dry under threatening skies. The tigers won the toss and elected to kick to the city end of Victoria Park leaving the makos heading to the stadium end.

The first quarter got underway with both teams attacking the ball with ferocity. Jamie Christy copped a high one and was awarded a free kick on half back. The ball was driven long into the tiger’s forward 40 but failed to hit its target. The makos Steve O Kelly pounced on the loose ball and quickly got it moving forward. The makos collected the ball at half forward through marc cummaudo and Dan Connor who combined with a one two manoeuvre to drive the ball deep into the makos forward 40. Andy Butler was on hand for the tigers and coolly delivered to Mark Cadman at half back. The makos managed to stop the tigers progress at half way and Dan Connor was spotted up with a pass at the traditional centre half forward position. Connor passed to Paul Sweeney who had made his way to the forward line from half back the pass went to ground but Sweeney was good enough to recover and shoot out a handball to Marc cummaudo who snapped truly for the game’s opening score. The makos were quickly back in attack when John McIntyre won the centre bounce and a quick kick forward trickled out deep in the forward pocket. The tigers won the stoppage with Andy Butler putting Derek Smith into space. Smith found Mark Cadman open on the wing but the move came to an end as the makos picked off the next kick at half back. Andy Butler intercepted the makos kick forward and chipped wide to the run of Colin Brandsma who was ran down but managed to get his handball away. The tigers continued forward with a kick off the ground and when Mark Cadman swooped on the loose ball looked certain to score until Alexander Clark tackled him in an excellent chase down. The makos quickly went forward from the free kick where Hazel Stevenson earned herself a free kick for kicking in danger her shot hit the post registering a behind. The next phase of the game became congested until the tigers drove forward from a free kick for too high. Alexander Clark was pinged for running too far and the tigers looked to attack from centre wing. The ball was bouncing from half back to half back until Alex Young opened the tigers account with a behind from a long range shot. The tigers were able to build pressure on the makos defence by locking the ball in their forward line but could only manage another behind for the term. The makos finished the scoring for the quarter with a behind to take a narrow lead into the first change 1-2-8 v 0-2-2

The second stanza started with a makos free kick. Dan Connor played on with a handball then a long kick to the pocket. Les burke then won himself a free kick deep in the pocket and confidently went back and slotted his first for the day. Back in the middle the makos ruckman John McIntyre won another tap to get the makos moving forward again but Andy Butler was again there to quell the attack winning and kicking the ball back to centre wing. The game was becoming a little scrappy but the tigers through persistence were edging forward. Both teams back lines were sticking fat determind not to be scored against. Alexander Clark won a free kick on half back and sent the makos on a promising attack kicking to Hazel Stevenson in the middle. The ball spilled from the contest and a quick kick forward from the makos seemed to have put Les Burke into space but Andy Butler of the tigers showed excellent closing speed to shut down Burke and make a contest. The ball found its way into Hazel Stevenson’s hands and she snapped at goal. Stevenson’s shot didn’t have the carry and was marked on the last line of defence by Andy Butler who hit Alex Young with a pass on the tigers half back line. Young sent a long ball down the wing to a contest but the ball went out of play and the move broke down. The Makos looked to go on the offensive as they switched the play across their half back line and then went forward into their forward 40 but the tigers Colin Brandsma stopped the movement and sent the ball wide and out of bounds on the wing to set up a stoppage. The makos went forward from the stoppage but Brandsma again intervened combining with Mark Cadman to get out of defence. In what was a low scoring quarter that saw both teams’ backlines standing strong the makos just managed to shade the tigers setting up an interesting second half. 2-2-14 v 0-2-2

The tigers won the tap to start the third quarter but the makos won the clearance through Alexander Clark. Adam Jack marked Clark’s quick kick and kicked long to the goal square where Marc Cummaudo spilt the mark but was good enough to recover and kick a scrambling goal. The ball squirted out to the wing from the restart and the makos won a free kick in the congestion.  The makos went forward with the kick but Andy Butler chopped off the move after reading the play. Butler went long and direct and a pack formed at centre half forward for the tigers. Alexander Clark received a handball and was able to run out of defence. Clark passed to Cummaudo who marked strongly at half forward. With the forward line open Cummaudo kicked to the advantage of Dan Connor. Connor was beaten to the ball but he laid a terrific tackle to earn himself a free kick 15 meters out from goal. He was then awarded a 25 meter penalty as the ball was not given back to him correctly taking him to the goal line. Connor popped home the goal and extended the makos lead. Back in the middle Hazel Stevenson got the makos going forward again after roving some good John McIntyre ruck work. Stevenson kicked into the pocket where Marc cummaudo won a free kick for in the back. Cummaudos shot slipped across the face of goal and was marked by Adam Jack. Jacks shot missed its target to only register a behind. The tigers kick in was to the advantage of Andy Butler who ran onto the bouncing ball and out of defence. Butler kicked long to centre half forward but the makos were able to create a stoppage. The tigers won the clearance from the stoppage with a quick kick from Derek Smith but his kick was marked by the makos Steve O Kelly who cleared his lines kicking to the middle where Hazel Stevenson made a contest and the ball spilled out to Les Burke. Burke kicked long to the advantage of Adam Jack who dropped the mark but was able to soccer the ball off the deck for the makos third major of the term. The makos won a free kick from a secondary bounce in the middle and were quickly attacking again. Adam Jack marked at half forward and went long to Les Burke who marked in the goal square and played on to slam home another makos goal. The makos won the clearance from the restart and went forward. Mr reliable Andy Butler again read the play and shut down the makos movement and kicked to the wing. The makos intercepted Butlers pass and switched the play to the other wing where they won a free kick and looked to go forward. The tigers were able to repel the attack and the ball spent the next few minutes rebounding from half back to half back. The tigers managed to get forward and locked the ball in putting pressure on the makos defence. As a result of the pressure Derek Smith was able to spin out of a pack and snap the tiger’s first goal for the term. The makos answered straight back with a goal to Alexander Clark after another clearance from Hazel Stevenson. There was no more scoring in the quarter as the makos opened up a handy lead going into the final stanza. 7-3-45 v 1-2-8

The final Stanza got underway with the tigers getting the centre clearance. A strong tackle from Adam Jack stopped the tiger’s movement and a free kick was awarded. Jack passed to Alexander Clark who played on ran inside 40 and kicked a long range goal. The tigers went forward from the restart. Alex Young showed his fleet footedness evading two would be tacklers and having a shot on goal but his shot was off line and went through for a behind. The makos got to the wing from the kick in but the tigers rebounded and moved the ball forward through Derek Smith handballing over the top to Alex Young and another handball put Paul Dalziel clear in on goal. Dalziel’s shot hit the post registering another minor score. The tigers kept the pressure on the makos from the kick in and were rewarded with a free kick to Alex Young. Young’s kick went to the goal line and was rushed through by the mako defence for a behind. The makos went long with the kick in and Stacey Hughes ran onto the bouncing ball in the middle. Hughes drove the makos inside 40 with a kick off the ground but the tigers Andy Butler was there to chop it off and deliver nicely to Mark Cadman on the wing. Cadman came inboard to find Derek Smith who combined with Colin Brandsma and the tigers looked to be away through the middle until John McIntyre put on a crunching tackle on Brandsma and won a free kick. McIntyre sent the makos into attack but the tigers were able to shut them down and cause a stoppage. The tigers went forward from the stoppage but the makos were able to rebound again. The game entered a phase of free flowing end to end football but neither team were able to score until Alex Young sent a long ball inside 40 and the smith brothers combined well resulting in David kicking a behind. The makos went wide to the pocket with the kick in where Adam Jack took possession and set off on a long run that included 7 bounces. Jack handballed to Marc Cummaudo in the goal square who fumbled, the makos had a two on one though and Gus Thomson kicked the goal. The tigers went forward from the ball up and after getting on the end of a handball Mark Cadman had a shot that went out on the full. The tigers then won the ball back at half forward and David Smith marked in the forward pocket. Smith passed off but his pass was dropped and went out of play. Keeping the pressure on the tiger forwards caused a stoppage and scrambled the ball to Mark Cadman who squeezed through a goal while under pressure. The tigers got the clearance from the ball up and forced the ball forward where Alex Young snapped truly to narrow the margin. That was as close as they got though as the game came to an end shortly after the restart leaving the makos to run out comfortable winners. 9-3-57 v 3-6-24

See ya on the boundary line next time

Cheer cheer the blue and the white

The Great White      

Watch the Full Game Here

Hello and welcome shark’s fans Saturday saw the CAFL season opener with a replay of last year’s grand final between the cards and the makos. The makos fell at the final hurdle last season and so were looking to even the ledger and kick start the new season with a victory. The cards were also looking to start the season with a bang and maintain their dominance of the league they enjoyed last season. With both teams missing key players it would be down to each team’s new recruits and second year players to get the job done. The game got underway under sunny skies but feeling very cold with the turf crunching underfoot the cards were kicking to the stadium end of Victoria Park and the makos heading to the city end.

After a congested first bounce the cards managed the first forward entry of the game only to have it repelled by the makos who also could only get as far as half forward before turning the ball over. With both teams backlines standing strong in the early stages the game was showing all the hallmarks of being a tight contest. The cards were first to hit the scoreboard after Robert McKinlay extracted the ball under some serious mako pressure and dished out a handball to Ross Thomson who kicked truly from 25 meters out on a slight angle. The makos looked like answering straight back when Paul Sweeney attacked a bouncing ball from halfback to start an interlinking chain of handballs that propelled the makos forward. The movement was brought to a halt though as Campbell Hamilton and Alan Bingham combined well to run the ball out of the cards defence but the move came to an end when Stacey Hughes pounced on a loose ball at half back. Midway through the term the cards sprang forward with some excellent overlapping play but could only manage a behind from the movement. The makos turned the ball over at half back from the kick in which resulted in a cards goal through Steve Thompson. Shortly after the resulting ball up Robert McKinlay capitalised on a makos defensive error to kick the simplest of goals. The makos got on the scoreboard late in the quarter with Dan Connor roving some good ruck work from John McIntyre then followed up to kick a long range goal. The cards hit back instantly as Chris Pearson slotted home his first major of the day. Then in the dying stages of the term Pearson banged home his second and the momentum was with the cards going to the first break. There would be no more scoring in the term and the cards took a healthy 26 point lead into the first change. 5-2-32 to 1-0-6.

The cards started the second term in the same vein they ended the first pushing forward. The makos seemed to be over possessing the ball in defence and eventually turned it over. The cards could not make them pay though kicking a behind. Inaccuracy looked to be creeping into the cards play as they had another shot on goal that missed the big sticks. From the kick in the makos won a free kick at centre half back and were able to venture forward for the first time in the quarter. Mark cummaudo’s long kick slipped across the goal mouth and was toed across the boundary line on the full giving the makos a free kick deep in the forward pocket. The ball was centred and Steve O Kelly roved the pack and sent a quick kick forward that was marked on the point of the goal square by Mark Cummaudo. Cummaudo’s shot was off target and registered a behind. The cards moved the ball efficiently to half forward but the attack was quelled and for the next few minutes the ball pinballed from half back line to half back line until the cards ended the sequence by kicking a behind. From the kick in the makos went coast to coast culminating in Hazel Stevenson bagging the first super goal (9 points) of the season to cut the cards lead back to 16 points. The mako revival was short lived though as the cards midfield lifted a gear and came up with a clean centre clearance that saw Campbell Hamilton run onto a long kick and stroll into an open goal. They were at it again from the ball up this time it was Ross Thomson getting on the end of his midfields good work marking and gaoling from directly in front. The makos went forward from the bounce and managed a stoppage deep in the pocket. The cards easily moved out of defence from the stoppage and through some good transitional play hit Ross Thomson on a slicing run who then kicked truly. This was quickly followed another Campbell Hamilton goal in the shadows of half time. The cards closed out the stanza with another behind and went into the main break full of confidence. 9-6-60 v 1-1-1-16

The third term started in scrappy fashion with neither team able to effect any meaningful ball movement. Through persistence the cards had managed to move the ball into their forward 40 and the makos were struggling to clear their lines. It wasn’t until Robert McKinlay kicked truly after marking a centring ball 20 meters out that the scoring was opened for the term. Shortly after the restart the makos won a free kick at half back but could only manage a stoppage at half forward as the kick tumbled out of bounds. The cards burst clear from the stoppage through Chris Pearson and moved the ball along the wing and into their forward line. Pearson was again on the score sheet as he followed up from his earlier work on the wing to ram home another goal for the cards. After some fruitless end to end football from both teams the makos went forward and had a shot on goal through Marc Cummaudo who won himself a free kick for in the back. Cummaudos shot fell short and the cards were able to run the ball out of their defence. The cards could only manage another behind for the term but had more importantly managed to keep the makos scoreless. In what was a low scoring term the makos through hard work had at least managed to stop the bleeding by not giving away cheap goals. 11-7-73 v 1-1-1-16

The cards opened the scoring in the final stanza with a behind to Ross Thomson. The makos turned the ball over from the kick in and Alex Young made them pay for it by opening his account for the day with a major. From the bounce the cards again went forward only for a minor score. Ross Thomson was in the thick of things again roving the kick in and kicking truly. It was turning into one way traffic as the cards again went forward and again could only score a behind. The makos went long and direct with the kick in and forced a stoppage in the middle but the cards midfield were  too strong and sent the ball forward resulting in a behind for Alan Bingham. The makos changed tact and tried running the ball wide out of defence but the canny cards midfield were switched on and got a stoppage on centre wing. Chris Pearson was having a day out as he received from Robert McKinlay to slot home another goal. Another centre clearance resulted in a behind to Steve Thomson. The makos went forward from the kick in but could not get any deeper than half forward where the cards forced the turnover and efficiently moved the ball forward with a chain of handballs that Alan Bingham found himself on the end of and rammed home a major score. The cards won a free kick in the middle for a centre square infringement and moved the ball laterally then went forward. The kick forward was marked by the makos on half back but they could not get past half way before the cards rebounded to move forward again. Robert McKinlay’s behind was the last scoring action for the game as the cards ran out convincing winners by 86 points 15-12-102 v 1-1-1-16

See ya on the boundary line next time

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The Great White                                              

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