Reign ends
Army relinquishes 18-year AFL title

Spoilt: Army vainly attempts to retain their 18 year hold as ADF Australian Football champions only to lose by 6 points.Photo by AB Kade Rogers

By Andrew Stackpool

A GRAND 18-year-old tradition ended on April 19 when Navy’s team walked from Canberra’s Manuka oval as the new ADF Australian Football champions after defeating Army.

The final score was Navy 9-12-66 to Army 9-6-60, in a game that saw raw tenacity and brilliant ball-handling matched to a see-sawing score in the nail-biting last quarter, which had the spectators on their feet point after point.

Navy were considered the favourites after Air Force almost prised the championship away from Army early in the competition, losing by only a goal in the dying moments of their game. Navy confidently defeated Air Force 10-11-71 to 5-4-34 the following day.

So when the siren sounded for the first quarter of the final, Army came out charging to take the bounce and put the first score on the board with a goal in the first four minutes.

Within a minute Navy was back with a behind, and soon followed with its first goal.

The game’s tempo was set early, with fast free play, strong ball control and no quarter given.

Army’s play was excellent and dominated possession to lead at the end of the first quarter 4-7-31 to 4-3-27.

The second half was anybody’s as the scores and fortunes seesawed, but again ended with Army just ahead.

Navy struggled until the 17th minute of the third quarter, when it managed to claw back to two points behind the champions, before surging to the lead, and taking the third quarter 6-10-46 to 6-4-40.

Army quickly seized the initiative in the last quarter, and in six minutes led by five points.

However it wasn’t enough, and Navy finished 9-12-66, to take a 6 point win.