It must have been a great game because we’ve got two big match reports this week!

The Coach’s View

A good turn out by the Redbacks with 23 players fronting for a nice sunny afternoon game of footy. An early hammy during warm up reduced the numbers immediately, but then Rod arrived half way through the second quarter - being without our No 1 ruckman didn't assist, (he turned up after the game was completed) , as with him the score line would have been even closer if not our way at the end. There was only 15 points in it at the end, and the Wombats hierarchy acknowledged that we have been the hardest team they have played since they entered the competition.

The ground was rather heavy which favoured the home side and it was obvious that they knew their ground well, kicking some quick early goals, with an unusually heavy ball. The backs were placed under extreme pressure, but soon found their feet with Graham playing an unfamiliar role at full back the shining light. His marking in particular and on the goal line was as majestic as I have seen. He was ably supported by Rowdy and young Sean in both back pockets.  Duncan was providing both spirited chase and when the ball was turned over some equally spirited run, and was ably supported by Matt Smith at centre half back, with some strong marking.

Sheilsy was "doing his stuff" generating drive out of the middle and further up forward, and Brett  was flashing in and out of the game around the forwards, to provide a functioning forward line, and Paul Smith got some valuable early touches. If not for them the Redbacks would have been in some real trouble at quarter time instead of being only 3 goals down. Ray McConnell (The Inspector) was interchanging and position swapping players at the same rate as Collingwood does, but settled down after awhile as the Redbacks moulded into a balanced team with some good ball movement.

The second quarter started much the same, and this time with Shielsy being heavily tagged it was left to others to step up. Although being punished by the Wombats in the ruck and providing their ground staff with first use of the ball Daryl Buckingham ( Bucks) stepped up to the plate and with the introduction of Rod in ruck (who arrived late into the second quarter) the Redbacks slowly but surely started to break even at the Centre bounces. Phill (Grunter) was starting to pick up kicks at will on one wing and Dazz got a couple of good runs down the other wing and all of a sudden it appeared that the Wombats were starting to run out of puff.

We then started to win some of the ruck contests as they tired, and hence the ball was being moved quickly into the forwards allowing our champion full forward Paul Smith some running space and very soon he was marking and kicking goals, as well as paving the way for others, and at half time there were only a few goals in it.

During the half time break in the change rooms the players were upbeat and looking forward to the second half. The Redbacks came out after half time full of run and for most of the third quarter the ball was in the Redbacks forward zone , however some woeful kicking did not show the true domination. Rod was still wearing down the opposition ruckman and we continued to win the clearances. The wall was being built across half forward and centre line and when the ball did go down to the Wombats forward line it was gobbled up by Graham or John Grimshaw, or Rowdy , or Andrew Quicke or Duncan. After holding down centre half back on a fast leading forward and doing it well, Matt Smith was let off the leash and into the forwards, with an immediate impact. No longer were the Redbacks being held up across half forward, as Matt was a focal point, marking strongly and leading fast, grabbing everything that came his way. It was noticeable that the Wombats dropped one back to nullify Matt, but it was to no avail, he was creaming them.

It was a most satisfying feeling that the Redbacks were only a point down at three quarter time, and it was evident that the Wombats had stopped to a walk, and hence it was imperative that the Redbacks attack from the outset in the last quarter and get some scoreboard pressure on as quickly as possible . But whilst the ball spent the first several minutes in the Redbacks forward line only a few points were scored, and the Wombats had a 10 minute quick burst that realised 3 goals - game over. The Redbacks did fight it out until the end and never once gave up.

The Coaches thoughts are that the Home Ground advantage and the heavy ball in the first half got the Wombats home in the end, and with John St.Barry (our star ruckman), it would have been even closer. One of the most telling blows during the game was when Brett went down with a calf injury and could not continue, reducing the run through the forward line.

There were many noticeable good players, but all up the Redbacks backline as a whole are all to be congratulated. Graham, both at full back and for stints in the ruck in the second half was easily BOG . And how can anyone leave out Steve Shiels for being one of the best players on the ground, what a Champion, he was heavily tagged and still performed above average. As already reported above, if not for Shielsy’s intervention in the early stages of the game, the Redbacks would have been blown off the park.

Thanks Ray, for swinging the interchanges and positional moves, and your general inspiring morale on the boundary, all positive stuff for a bright future of Redbacks Competition footy. Thanks to the 25 players who turned up.  For those of you who did not front, you have no idea what you missed out on - given a John St.Barry, or the likes of a Phil Lennehan, the score line would have been a lot different.

The Boundary-rider’s View

Our first competition game guys and we went very, very well. I think it finished up 15 points the difference against a side that has played together for quite some time.  Our back line was outstanding saving plenty of rushes forward by the Wombats.  Graham Henley played extremely well at full back, with what appears to be a broken rib.  When Tim McNab got changed to Centre Half Forward his game picked up and he got plenty of possessions.  I know Matt Smith enjoyed himself playing at Centre Half Back and he too stopped plenty of ball going towards our goal line.  Duncan McIntosh is not a name that springs to mind amongst the many great players of our game but didn't he have a blinder.  He seemed to think it was soccer on a number of occasions and then took about 5 or 6 really good marks and topped it off by kicking it to a player, well done son.  

John Grimshaw was sucking in the big ones there for a while when he played in the ruck and then he got some respite and great assistance from Rod Organ who told me prior to going on that he was not sure if he could get off the ground.  For a bloke that couldn't get off the ground he won more than his fair share of the ball and tapped it to our smaller centre men and followers as a ruckman should.  That was a good game Rod and topped off with a few good marks and kicks around the ground.  Even Brett Arnold, a guy that usually runs all day, put his hand up to come off at one stage and then I found out that he had torn his calf muscle.  I knew there had to be a reason for him to come off. 

Darryl Buckingham did what he does best and that is chase the ball and get kicks, he's also not hard to see out there with those yellow boots.  Sean Riley went well chasing the ball and gaining a number of kicks through hard work. Quirkey, the big unit ran himself into the ground on a number of occasions, came off had a rest and then went straight back on, well done. Phil Scandizzio was not as noisy today and I think that was because he was a little out of breath on a couple of occasions, a good game Phil. Brad and Grant had strong games as did Michael and Chris. The ball did not get to Shane Sweep as often as he would like but when it did he made sure he did something with it.  Paul Smith did well with a tender hamstring and kicked a couple of great goals to keep us in the hunt and I think everybody would agree that it was only the last 10 minutes or so that they got away with it.  

Daryle Roberts and Steve Sheil played their usual strong games and unfortunately Sheilsy succumbed to the old groin injury. I know Daryle sat on the interchange on a couple of occasions and that was in order to see how everybody was going in the different positions. We changed a few blokes around to see how they fared for future games and that is what this type of competition is all about. Rowdy did well in the back line and actually ran onto the ball on a couple of occasions and found himself in the open.

We had 5 on the interchange and thanks to the guys that put their hands up, and I am certain they did not really need a rest, (like hell they didn't), but they came off and everybody got a good run.  It was great to see that everybody did what they had to do and honestly you should be proud to call yourselves "Redbacks". That was pretty fast and furious and you all acquitted yourselves well. I hope I have mentioned everybody because you all deserve one, great work guys and remember it is FOOTY FOR FUN.