Finals Week 1- 27th-28th August In the blink of an eye the home and away season is over and all competitions head into the business end of the year. Across the board it has been a successful year in AFL Sydney and now the excitement of finals footy kicks in. Even though the matches last weekend in Premier Division had no effect on ladder positions, all teams had a lot to play for. North Shore showed they will be finals contenders, defeating the Minor Premiers East Coast Eagles in the final round and Pennant Hills had a comfortable win defeating Sydney University by 71 points. Western Suburbs were gallant again in defeat, when they went down to St George at Picken Oval. Daniel Breese kicked three goals on the weekend in UTS’s big win over Manly. This result sees Breese claim the Stan Milton Trophy for the leading goal kicker in Premier Division with 53 goals. Congratulations to East Coast who claimed the minor premiership and head into finals as strong favourites. The St George Dragons finished one game behind with the UTS Bats claiming the all important 3rd position to give themselves the double chance. Congratulations also to the first four sides to claim Grand Final positions with Pen- nant Hills (Division Five), Western Magic (U19 Div 2), Camden Cats (Division Four) and the UTS Shamrocks (Women’s Division One) winning through to the big dance on Sunday 4th September. Finally, good luck to all sides competing in finals and to those sides now finished for 2016, enjoy the off season and we look forward to seeing you back on the park in 2017! Enjoy your weekend at the football! www.sydneyafl.com.au 1 Finals Week 1 - 27th-28th August PARENTS & SUPPORTERS Remember that you are there for the participants to enjoy the game. Encourage participation, but don’t force it. Teach that enjoyment is more important than winning. Never ridicule mistakes or losses. Supporters are there to support not down- grade. Lead by example and respect all players, coaches, umpires, administrators and spectators. Physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated. Recognise all volunteers who give up their valuable time. Never publicly criticise umpires, rather raise personal concerns with club officials in private. Do not use remarks based on race, religion, gender or ability as many such comments are politically incorrect and it is your coach, team-mates, Club and family that are let down with such remarks. Respect the facilities and equipment of your own and opposing Clubs. Do not engage in physical and/or verbal intimidation, abuse or conduct toward any player, official, umpire or supporter. Such actions are totally unacceptable. Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or players. Abusive language is unacceptable. Do not use information technology to make or post inappropriate comments against players, clubs, club officials, match officials or the League which is dis- criminatory or offensive. Information technology includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messaging, text messages, phone messages, digital images, web- site postings (including social media such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs). Postal Address Suite 3.03, 10 Tilley Lane Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Phone Number 02 9453 3034 Fax Number 02 9453 3428 Email Address [email protected] www.sydneyafl.com.au 2 Finals Week 1- 27th-28th August FIXTURES — August 27th—28th FIXTURES — August 3rd-4th September Premier Division Premier Division Saturday, 27th August Saturday, 3rd September Qualifying Final—St George Dragons vs UTS Bats @ BISP @ 2nd Semi Final —East Coast Eagles vs TBA @ BISP @ 1.30pm 4.45pm Sunday, 4th September Sunday, 28th August 1st Semi Final—TBA vs TBA @ Henson Park @ 3.30pm Elimination Final—North Shore vs Pennant Hills @ BISP @ Division One 3.30pm Saturday, 3rd September Division One 2nd Semi Final —UTS Bats vs TBA @ BISP @ 4.00pm Saturday, 27th August Sunday, 28th August Qualifying Final—Macquarie University vs St George @ BISP @ 1st Semi Final—TBA vs TBA @ Henson Park @ 1.10pm 7.15pm Division Two Sunday, 28th August Sunday, 4th September Elimination Final—Western Magic vs Holroyd Parramatta @ BISP Preliminary Final—TBA vs TBA @ BISP@ 7.00pm @ 1.10pm Division Three Division Two Sunday 4th September Saturday, 27th August Preliminary Final—TBA vs Henson Park @ BISP @ 6.00pm Semi Final 1—North Shore vs South West Sydney @ Kanebridge Division Four Oval @ 2.20pm Sunday, 4th September Sunday, 28th August Grand Final—Camden Cats vs TBA @ BISP @ 2.00pm Semi Final 2—Camden Cats vs Penrith Rams @ Henson Park @ Division Five 3.15pm Sunday, 4th September Division Three Grand Final —Pennant Hills vs TBA @ BISP @ 11.30am Saturday, 27th August U19 Division One Semi Final 1—Nor-West Jets vs Campbelltown @ Kanebridge Saturday, 3rd September Oval @ 12.10pm 2nd Semi Final —North Shore Bombers vs TBA @ BISP @ Sunday, 28th August 11.10am Semi Final 2— Pennant Hills Demons vs Wollondilly Knights @ Sunday, 4th September Henson Park @1.10pm 1st Semi Final —TBA vs TBA @ Henson Park @ 11.05am Division Four U19 Division Two Sunday, 28th August Sunday 4th September Preliminary Final—North Shore vs UTS Bats @ Henson Park @ Grand Final— Western Magic vs TBA @ BISP @ 9.00am 11.05am Women's Premier Division Division Five Sunday 4th September Sunday, 28th August Preliminary Final—TBA vs TBA @ BISP @ 9.00am Preliminary Final —UNSW ES vs Sydney University @ Henson Women's Division One Park @ 5.20pm Sunday 4th September U19 Division One Grand Final—UTS Shamrocks vs TBA @ BISP @ 4.00pm Saturday, 27th August Qualifying Final—St George Dragons vs UNSW ES @ BISP @ 2.25pm Sunday, 28th August Elimination Final—South Coast Thunder vs Pennant Hills @ BISP @ 11.05 am U19 Division Two Saturday 27th August Preliminary Final— St George vs Western Sydney Magpies @ Kanebridge Oval @ 10.00am. Women's Premier Division Saturday, 27th August 1st Semi Final—Newtown vs Power Wolves @ BISP @ 9.00am Sunday, 28th August 2nd Semi Final— UNSW ES vs Sydney University @ BISP @ 9.00am Women's Division One Sunday, 21st August Preliminary Final—Wollongong Saints vs Western Magic @ Henson Park @ 9.00am www.sydneyafl.com.au 3 Finals Week 1 - 27th-28th August AFL SYDNEY WEBSITE Visit www.sydneyafl.com.au for Latest News Results 2016 Fixtures Ladders Photo Gallery Sydney AFL Forms and more AFL Sydney @aflsydney A F L Sy d n e y @ afl s yd n e y www.sydneyafl.com.au 4 Finals Week 1- 27th-28th August ROUND 18 REVIEW Article by Michael Shillito Sydney was bathed in glorious Saturday sunshine for the last round of the home and away season. The teams to contest the finals had already been determined; but this was the last chance for non-finals teams to fly the flagn i 2016. And although it was a long shot, there was the outside chance of North Shore overtaking UTS to move into third place and the double- chance in the finals. For the Bombers to move into third, they needed to beat top East Coast Eagles and depend on UTS going down to Manly. North Shore’s side of the bargain was at Mortgage Choice Oval. The Bombers had been the only team to beat the Eagles so far in 2016, with a round 3 result at Kanebridge Oval. But for much of the season the Eagles had been a dominant force, easily overcoming most opponents who crossed their path. While the Bombers, although considerably improved over last season, were still well short of the consistency to produce their top performances every week. Last year the same two teams in the last game at Gore Hill saw the Eagles ran a score of well over 200; and although no-one expected the same this time, the Eagles were still hot favourites. There was nothing in the early exchanges to suggest that this would be anything other than a regulation Eagles win. The Eagles’ mid- field was on top early, and whenever there was a stoppage and a ball-up on the dusty surface it was the Eagles who would emerge with the ball. The scoreboard was ticking over to reflect the ball spending plenty of time on the Eagles’ forward line, four goals to one; the already-confirmed minor premiers leading by 20 points at quarter time. The Bombers were able to get the ball forward in the second term, but the Eagles had the answers to any goal to home side could conjure up. It was a quarter of footy that contained plenty of entertainment as the Bombers took the fight up to the Eagles, but the answering goals were there every time and they could make no inroads into the deficit. Four goals to three in favour of the Eagles saw a margin of 29 points at the long break. At half time, the Eagles looked to have the game under control. But when the teams emerged for the second half, suddenly the mo- mentum had changed. The Bombers found a spring in their step and a drive forward. While at the other end, the Eagles were forced into shooting under pressure and failing to hit their targets. The Bombers were piling the pressure on, and the tide was turning. Four unanswered goals cut the margin to eight points at three quarter time and a game that looked dead and buried less than half an hour earlier had suddenly come to life. The Eagles found a goal in the last quarter, but their inaccurate return of 1.8 in the second half would come back to haunt them as the Bombers kept coming. North Shore players that had barely been sighted in the first half began to exert greater influence as the Eagles had slowed to a walk and the Bombers were reeling them in.