“The Saints go Marching In”
The highlight of Great Flinders football on the weekend most definitely sits with the Eyre United Football Club, with the Saints winning their first A Grade game since defeating Lock in Round 13, 2018 (46 consecutive losses). The win came against Cougars in a spirited and bold showing that had their supporters up and about. An under strength Lock side continued their unbeaten start to the year at home against Ramblers and Tumby Bay ran over the top of Elliston Districts after a slow start.
It was all about the Saints at Cummins oval on Saturday as they piled on 6 last quarter goals to give their club a historic victory. Veteran Jordan Telfer opened proceedings for the day with an early goal but Cougars were able to respond quickly through Puckridge to level things up. William Turner and Tom Phelps were standing out for their respective sides and Telfer and Puckridge bobbed up again to kick goals and have scores level at quarter time.
The second quarter started in scrappy fashion with both sides turning the ball over until Billy Mahoney kicked truly for Cougars and then Vlassco even the ledger again with a smart goal. Baldiserra put Eyre United further in front with another goal and when Vlassco kicked truly again the Saints took a handy 18 point lead in to the long break. Cougars shifted Brodie Laube to full forward in the second half which paid instant dividends as he kicked the opening goal and then backed it up with another halfway through the quarter to bring the game back to a 5 point margin. Luke Forrest and Ethan Pugsley were working overtime for Eyre United while Tom Phelps continued to give his side plenty of drive form the midfield but another late goal to Eyre United after a free kick put them 11 points up at three quarter time.
With their supporters and crowd behind them and sniffing an opportunity, they came out firing early in the last with another from Vlassco that had them up and about. They continued to defend desperately and were able to rebound Cougars on a number of occasions and when Max Baldiserra kicked 2 in 5 minutes the game was well in their control. Fittingly Jordan Telfer kicked the final goal and ultimate sealer to give Eyre United an excellent and thoroughly deserved 41 point victory that came at a perfect time for the club, the players and their supporters. Luke Forrest was outstanding, Ethan Pugsley is developing in to a good player, and Butler, Jonno and Tom Forrest and Max Baldiserra all important contributors. For Cougars Tom Phelps led by example, Brodie Laube continued his excellent form and Green, Mahoney and Wright all had some positive moments.
Perfect sunny weather greeted players at Lock Oval to start the game between Lock and Ramblers, with players feeling the warmish conditions early as the game developed in to ascrappy fair with both sides making sloppy skill errors going into their forward lines. Ramblers kicked with the northerly breeze to open the quarter kicking 2 goals and holding Lock to just 1 point. Lock however happy to hold the Ramblers attack to just 2 goals with 3 key players not at the game for the whole of the first quarter due to airline delays. The second quarter with Lock’s full side at the oval belonged to them asfinally the Roo’s kicked ahead with a solid 2nd quarter to tobang home 4 goals and control the quarter. Third quarter was generally a scrappy affair again with both sides trying to get an advantage on the scoreboard. Lock coming out on top in the end kicking against a now light breeze to push a little further ahead before the last break. The final quarter saw the Roos open the game up and score goals freely with rebound footy from their back half, showing their fitness and finishing ability, the game finishing with a goal after the siren to first year player Josh Crosby.
The Roos would have been happy with a whole team performance missing some key players, but best served by another BOG performance from Cain Reynolds snaring 4 goals, along with Ziek Kay and Levi Brown, while the Maggies had Seth Dobbins working hard all day, Mick Franklin and Will Haarsma doing their bit around the ground.
In the final game, Tumby Bay overcame a sluggish start to continue their impressive start to the season running out eventual winners over Elliston Districts by 38 points on the Blues home deck.
Rosalia was busy early for the visitors booting the first goal of the game, but Tumby were able to respond after James kicked truly to give the Blues their first. Elliston were putting plenty of numbers behind the ball and defending strongly, while at the other end Joe Walker was repelling everything across half back and the run of Miller was proving damaging. Tumby Bay began to assert their authority early in the second after a brilliant clearance and goal by Sumner, but the Roosters were able to regain some possession through Van Doorn, Rosalia and Bascomb. The game was broken open as Hartwig became a presence and Mitch Lawrie looked dangerous booting 2 goals. They continued their dominance of the contest after half time with an early major to James and their half back line led by Walker was impassable. The crowd gave a Bronx cheer to the local goal umpire after raising just the one finger when James kicked what appeared to be goal of the day from the boundary only to be called a behind. The game was all but done at 3 quarter time with the Blues 36 points in front and the last quarter proved to be somewhat of an arm wrestle as both sides managed 2 goals to finish the game. Mitch Lawrie was excellent for the winners booting 4, Walker, James, Sumner and Hartwig all dominant, and Jack McDonald continued his good form. The Roosters were best served by Kody Rosalia, Tansell, Gibson, Bascomb and Jason Thompson.
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