AFL CANBERRA REPRESENTATIVE ROUND REVIEW – AFL TASMANIA V AFL SYDNEY/CANBERRA

Article Written by David Redden

WOMENS FIXTURE:

AFL Sydney/AFL Canberra – 4.6.30 vs 4.2.26 – Tasmania

In a tough, unrelenting fixture between AFL Tasmania and AFL Sydney/Canberra played in a howling crosswind at historic North Hobart Oval on Saturday, Sydney/Canberra hung on in the last quarter, kicking against the breeze, as a fast-finishing Tasmania fell agonisingly short of what would have been a superb come-from-behind victory. Final scores were Sydney/Canberra 4.5.26 to Tasmania 4.2.26.

Sydney/Canberra did all their damage in the first 30 minutes of the match, kicking 3 goals down-breeze in the first quarter then the only goal of the match against the breeze in the entire match in the second quarter (which ended up being pivotal to the result), courtesy of Manly-Warringah star Lauren Bourgeois.

The conditions cannot be overstated. A howling, 45-50kmh wind came from the North-West all game, creating huge whitecaps on the nearby Derwent River. The wind made ball-handling very difficult, with the majority of play in the match being on the eastern side of the magnificent North Hobart Oval. The playing surface was in pristine condition, but the 8 goals kicked across 4 quarters is testament to how difficult scoring was.

Tasmania produced a tactical masterclass in the third quarter. They basically abandoned scoring and loaded up their backline with 3 or 4 extra defenders. The Tasmanians kept Sydney/Canberra goalless across the entire second half, and they trailed by 3 goals going into the final stanza.

As predicted, Tasmania literally came home with a wet sail, launching attack after attack on Sydney/Canberra. Some desperate efforts from Gabby Eaton, Kaitlyn Noble and Jayde Hamilton somehow managed to defy a resurgent Tasmania, who showed that their extensive preparation leading into their representative season had paid dividends.

Skipper Aimee Whelan played superbly throughout the match and was awarded the medal as best Sydney/Canberra player on the ground. She was well-supported by Hamilton, Eaton, Noble, Bourgeois, Adol Abuoi and ruck Maddy Lustri, who tap ruck work on a difficult day was terrific. Sarah Skinner won the Tasmanian award for their best player. Skinner was well supported by Joherty Reevell, who was thrown into the ruck to combat Lustri’s dominance and performed admirably, plucking several crucial intercept marks across half-back. Shania Saward, Grace White, Jaslyn Freestone and Mackenzie Banks also shone for the Tasmanians.

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AFL Sydney/AFL Canberra – 10.13.73 vs 10.3.63 – Tasmania

A superb second-half defensive performance from AFL Sydney/Canberra by the half-back line of Jack Nunn, Nicholas Kelly, Guy Richardson and Cooper Kilpatrick, spearheaded a magnificent comeback by Sydney/Canberra to defeat AFL Tasmania for a second time in 12 months at the traditional home of football in Tasmania, the historic North Hobart Oval. Final scores were Sydney/Canberra 10.13.73 to Tasmania 10.3.73.

Tasmania simply flew out of the blocks in the first quarter, stung by an indifferent display against a strong Queensland outfit in Latrobe in early July. The Tasmanians kicked 5 goals to 2 against the breeze in the first quarter, with star full-forward Sam Siggins rampant, kicking 3 goals and looking quite simply unstoppable. North Launceston ace Brad Cox-Goodyer had the ball on a string, getting champagne service from former AFL ruckman Andrew Phillips. Tasmania smashed Sydney/Canberra in the clearances in the first 40 minutes of the game.

The second quarter saw Sydney/Canberra at least get back into the midfield battle, with Richardson, Nunn and Kilpatrick launching across half-back on the compact North Hobart ground. The weather also changed significantly, with the howling Nor-west cross-breeze abating, replaced by steady rainfall. Both teams kicked 3 goals in the second quarter, with Christian Loone keeping Siggins quiet.

Into the second half, with the rain falling, Sydney/Canberra played smart, willing footy against the Tasmanians. Coach Ryan O’Keefe directed ruckman Finbar Delbridge to stay on the superb Phillips at all times, a huge task for the South West Sydney Blue, which he attempted manfully as the 34-year-old Phillips reminded everyone why he was such a good player with GWS, Essendon and Carlton. Loone continued to closely mark the much taller Siggins, and despite losing Alex Witherden and Hamish Latchford to injury, O’Keefe’s men stepped up in the most challenging of circumstances.

Small forwards Kale Gabila and Zac Youlten came right into the game, with key forward Josh Bruce well held by a superb performance from Tasmanian fullback Archie Wilkinson. Youlten, who finished with a match-defining 4 goals, worked well with utility Thomas Faul, who spent time at half-forward, on the wing and in defence.

Sydney/Canberra turned the game on its head, with Youlten’s fourth goal, after an outrageous run & carry, the sealer in the final stanza. Despite a late Tasmania fightback, Sydney/Canberra’s resilient back six repelled repeat late entries, with the brilliant Nunn taking several late marks in heavy traffic.

Sydney/Canberra’s best players were Gabila (who won the best player medal after constantly throwing himself into traffic with enormous courage), the sublime Nunn, Kelly, Kilpatrick, Youlten and Richardson. Tasmania was best served by Phillips (whose outstanding performance was rewarded with a much-deserved best player medal), Cox-Goodyer, Wilkinson, Theo Ives, Darcy Gardner and Baker Smith.