By
Andrew Stackpool
 |
|
Corporal
Kris Saunders takes a strong mark in the men’s final
against Army. Photo by Jason Silsby
|
THE
Air Force Australian Rules Football Club, the AFFC Hawks, once
again challenged for the ADF Australian Rules Football Championship
in Canberra.
Air Force played Army in the final after earlier defeating Navy
12-11-83 to 7-13-55.
Despite a valiant effort, including a third quarter resurgence,
the Hawks were outclassed 13-17-95 to 8-6-54.
Air Force Coach Corporal Paul James said that this was the most
talented and best prepared Air Force side he had seen over the
past 14 years.
“The ability to play a practice match together was invaluable
for player selection, player positioning and building the team
as a more cohesive unit,” he said.
“The loss to Army was extremely disappointing, however with
further improvement our chances of winning this championship will
only improve.”
There was little between the Navy and Air Force men when they
stepped into the paddock for the first game. Navy’s smaller
players played well but the big men generally weren’t manning
up or going body to body. Air Force left the paddock at the end
of the first quarter some six goals in front.
In the second half a reinvigorated Navy played to the plan and
outscored Air Force. However, the 37-point lead from the first
half was sufficient for Air Force to hold on and take the game.
In the final, Army were quick to find form and dominated the first
half. Their first point was posted at the five-minute mark while
for Air Force it was not until the 46th minute that the umpires
gave them both flags.
In the third quarter, Army won the ball from the bounce but in
a few seconds Air Force had it deep into Army’s territory
and within a minute had tapped it neatly over.
Air Force played solid football, carrying the ball forward with
some superb kicking and marking. Meanwhile, Army mistakes opened
holes in their defence but Air Force failed to capitalise. To
their credit, the Air Force players kept trying right to the end,
with Aircraftman Ryan McKee slamming a superb goal in the final
minutes after he slipped out of a melee in front of the posts.
Air Force Australian Rules President Flight Lieutenant Stu Munro
paid tribute to his players and support staff, as well as the
other services.
“We’ve gone from strength to strength and I know we’ll
get stronger still,” he said.
The Hawks have been undergoing a rebuilding phase for a few years
now and hope it will pay off next year.
