By
Coach LSATV Phil Norton
By Coach LSATV Phil Norton Navy has maintained its crown as
kings of NSW interservice Aussie Rules, taking victory over
Army by nine goals.
The carnival, held last month at Drummoyne Oval, saw Navy and
Army battle for the title after the RAAF failed to field a side
for the second consecutive year.
The Navy, current NSW champions, were looking to further establish
their stranglehold on services football in NSW, while also looking
to unearth new players of national quality.
With the continuing high level of operational commitment throughout
the fleet, the make-up of the Navy team was not finalised until
the morning of the game.
Players (including legends of Navy football POCIS “Mac” McGinley
and POCK “Olly” Oleksyn) were temporarily called out of retirement
and a few players even called back from leave, to ensure the
Navy would field a competitive team.
The result was a team that boasted five past or current national
Navy players mixed with many young players new to services football.
The game started with the Army “on fire”, posting their first
three goals within five minutes.
The Navy back line was under constant siege and did extremely
well to concede only three goals in this period with LSCIS “Shiner”
Wright leading the back line and SMNBM “Millsy” Millchip and
ABATV Cace the attack.
Navy resisted the urge to make wholesale changes and the players
responded.
LSBM “Dusty” Miller began to win the ruck contests, giving first
use to Navy’s on-ballers LSPT “Jimmy” Barnes, ABBM “Morrow”
Morrison and POCIS “Catta” Convery.
Their excellent work in the centre continually pushed the ball
forward into Navy’s potent forward line where the big guns,
ABCSO “Boomer” Bermingham, Mac and Olly started to slot the
goals. To the Army’s credit they fought back late in the second
quarter and at halftime the game was by no means in the bag.
The Navy’s running game started to dominate early in the third
quarter with SMNBM “Squirrel” Lynn and LSSN “Funky” Millar gathering
possessions and working tirelessly.
The back line stood tall when challenged and the forwards continued
to work hard and put the score on the board.
This ensured the Navy had a handy lead heading into the fourth
quarter and in the end the Navy ran out comfortable winners
- Navy 20.17 (137) to Army 12.11 (83).
Navy’s “player of the day” as well as “players’ player” went
to SMNBM “Squirrel” Lynn who was dominant all over the ground
as well as kicking five goals.
Thanks go to POPT Gibson and CPOPT Lawless for their assistance
and the Balmain Australian Football Club for the use of their
facilities.
Stay up to date with Navy Australian rules at www.navyfooty.com
Quarter time scores:
1st: Navy 6.3.39, Army 4.4.28
2nd: Navy 11.7.73, Army 8.4.52
3rd: Navy 15.11.101, Army 11.9.75
4th: Navy 20.17.137, Army 12.11.83 Major Navy
Goal
kickers: ABCSO Bermingham - 5, SMNBM Lynn - 5, POCK Oleksyn
- 3 and POCIS McGinley - 2
Navy
Team: LSPT Barnes, ABCSO Bermingham, ABATV Cace, CPOCIS Carter,
POCIS Convery(c), ABBM Goward, SMNATA Hannam, SMNSN Harvey,
SMNBM Lynn, LCDR McDonald, POCIS McGinley, ABBM Mercer, LSSN
Millar, LSBM Miller, SMNBM Millchip, SMNBM Mobbs, ABBM Morrison,
ABWTR Munnings, ABSN Noble, POCK Oleksyn, LSCSO Wilkinson, LSCIS
Wright. LSATA Norton (Coach), POET Black (Manager), POPT Gibson
(Runner), CPOPT Lawless (Strapper).
