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BOMBS AWAY: LS Aaron Felmingham strives to help Navy beat Air Force by 22 points or more. That margin was needed for Navy to take the championship for the third consecutive year. Navy ended up defeating Air Force by 20 points, narrowly missing out on winning the title to Army.
Photo: LSPH Yuri Ramsey
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One straight kick separated Navy from a historic third successive Jim Smail Trophy in unusual circumstances at the closest Australian Services Australian Football Association Championship Carnival in history in Canberra from April 16-20.
Navy had succumbed to Army 13.12 (90) to 11.10 (76) on day two, setting the scenario for a championship-decider with Air Force on the final day at Ainslie Oval.
Army looked on as Air Force needed a win to secure their first title and Navy required a 22-point victory or more to make it a three-peat of titles for the Senior Service. Anything less would give Army back the trophy it had historically dominated.
Navy beat a spirited Air Force in a surprisingly close match, 12.13 (85) to 9.11 (65) after wearing it down in the last quarter but despite three clear-cut chances in the dying stages, could not nab the goal it needed to exceed the magical 22-point margin.
Air Force, Army’s downfall on day one, ultimately proved its saviour in the decider after Army had bounced back on day two to down Navy 13.12 (90) to 11.10 (76) in a hard-fought encounter.
When Navy beat Air Force by 20, officials went into a huddle before declaring Army the winner on points for and against, which were used to calculate percentages. Army finished on 104.48 per cent from Navy on 103.87, just .61 of a percent behind. Air Force was third on 91.7 per cent. Gutsy Air Force beat Army 12.8 (80) to 10.13 (73) on opening day after the sides had been level or separated by a point or two deep into the final term.
Navy set the seal on its match against Air Force in the final quarter when it kicked 3.7 to 1.1 but only after a Herculean effort from the Air Force men kept the scores close throughout.
Navy’s final-term inaccuracy in front of the big sticks ultimately cost it a third successive title.
Three of these came in the dying stages, including one with a minute to go as Navy fell frustratingly short.
The match had been locked at 2.3 (15) apiece at quarter time and Air Force led 5.8 (38) to 5.5 (35) thanks to a three-goal late surge from LAC Ryan McKee and LACV Aaron Clayden between the 21-minute mark and the siren, though Navy had looked threatening with solid defence to create quick breakaways with slick ball movement.
With full forward ABSCO Simon Horner and ABCD Brent Henwood putting their imprint on the game in the third quarter and early stages of the final term, it looked a formality that Navy would not only win but would do so by the requisite margin.
Navy led 9.6 (60) to 8.10 (58) at the last change after outscoring Air force 4.1 to 3.2.
Three goals to ABBM Neville Skinner, ABCD Henwood and ABSCO Horner looked to have Navy on target with 12 minutes to go.
But they had not reckoned on an agonising loss of accuracy just when it counted, some solid defence from Air Force’s fullback CPL Stuart Bond and his co-defender CPL Nathan Holland and a replying goal from CPL Adrian Borlace which cut Navy’s advantage.
Navy was best served by ABWSCO Horner, defenders SMNMT Ryan Schweitzer, LSMT Aaron Felmingham, ABATV Andrew Mazey and ABMT Scott Belford, and ruckman ABMT Joel Minichiello.
Better players against Army were ABATV Mazey, ABWSCO Horner, LSCIS Danny Maric, SBLT Andrew Parker and ABMT Belford.
“We were certainly within range 35m out and a straight kick would have sealed it,” Navy coach CPOCK Mick Oleksyn said after the win against Air Force.
“The boys probably felt under a little pressure; maybe word got out a bit too early about the margin we needed,” he said.
“The boys put themselves under the pump a bit but certainly showed great courage to fight back after trailing at half-time; they all dug deep in the second half.
“The three-peat would have been great. As it was, we won the day and lost the carnival.”
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