World Footy News

The Wellington Australian Football League Grand Final has been played and won by the all conquering Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs on what was a shocking day for football in Wellington. As the well known local song goes “You can’t beat Wellington on a Good Day” but I would beggar to argue that it is a shocking place to play footy on a suburban ground when the weather isn’t kind!

The ATM Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs were up against the rapidly improving Hutt Valley Eagles who are seemingly overcoming all the afflictions that come with being the worst team in the competition for over a decade with numerous coaches and players asked to improve their structures and attitudes but none having a long lasting effect. In this Grand Final they were up against an outfit that had only had two coaches over the past 15 seasons, a strong belief in their ability to win and the results during that period to back it up and who had only lost one game in the last three seasons. They were lining up for their third flag in a row and their fourth in five seasons under their, and Wellington’s Representative, Coach John Jackson.

The day arrived and despite the inclement weather it was business as usual for the so far undefeated Dogs with new kid in town Peter Halstead racking up possession after possession after taking the hitout. At his feet was Danny Morgan who was a standout eventually winning the umpire’s BOG though the Bulldogs gave their own award for the game to Halstead.

The first quarter saw the Dogs uncharacteristically off line kicking 2.8 (20) and whether it was the weather, the ferocity of the opening quarter, the nerves related to the biggest game of the season or more likely a combination of all three they were still away to a flier. Former International Cup Team of the Tournament ruckman Mike Severinsen and new star Pete Halstead had kicked one each whilst the Eagles were on the board with a single goal.1.0 (6)

The second quarter must have been decidingly ugly with 3 points to the Dogs and a single point to the Eagles which saw scores at the long break Bulldogs 2.11 (23) to Eagles 1.1 (7)

The 3rd quarter or as it is far better known in the big game, the championship quarter, it became simply ‘shut the gate’ for the Eagles. An inspired move by Coach Jackson to bring in twin tall targets upfront in former NZ international Wayne Harvey with new Wellington representative Ambrose Plaister kicking a pair each and busy on-baller Danny Morgan slotting one himself it was a 5 goal quarter when it mattered. The Dogs kicked a total of 5.2 to have a score at the end of the quarter a more respectable 7.13 (55) whilst the Eagles were inaccurate as they kicked another four points to give them a total of 1.5 (11)

Game over given the conditions to go in at three quarter time 7 goals up with the opposition only having nailed one major up to that stage. All credit to the Eagles in that they didn’t allow the Dogs to turn it into party time but Coach Jackson was handicapped by handling a squad of 25 for the GF despite 4 players being left out who were qualified and keen to go, whilst the Eagles had 19 on the day meaning there was 17 on the field for the game. Certainly Jackson would have been sharing the game time around as the Eagles kicked 3.3 for the quarter blowing out their final score to 4.6 (32) whilst the Doggies had Danny Morgan slot another major and another behind went through giving them a final score of 8.14 (62).

Final Scores: Doggies 8.14 (62) defeated the Eagles 4.8 (32)

Bulldog Scorers: Ambrose Plaister (2) ,Danny Morgan (2), Wayne Harvey (2) Pete Halstead, Mike Severinsen
Eagles: n/a

Bulldogs Best: Peter Halstead, Danny Morgan, Guy Ferguson, Graham Rattenbury, Luke Kneebone
Eagles:n/a

Bulldogs Premiership ‘Run On’ Team

FB: Matt Baker, Paul Horton, Dermot Owens
HB: Luke Kneebone, Taoho Patuawa, Joe Fiu
Centre: Isaac O'Connor, Graham Rattenbury ©, James Terry
HF: Andrew Eastwood (vc), Ambrose Plaister, Danny Morgan
FF: Stan Chung, Mike Severinsen
Ruck: Peter Halstead, Guy Ferguson, Rocky Leofo

Bench:
Adam Saxton, Wayne Harvey, Simon Hunt, Nic Lawton, Nick Hale, Jono Broomhall, Eito Tamura, Charlie Graham

Emergencies:
Dave Powell, Jack Turner, Matt Ramsey Liam Sampson

Unavailable: Byron Roff, Stu Holden, Liam Townsend, Michael Fox, Tom Martin, Jason Holdt, Mac Ta’avao