Sports
High praise for boys
By Barry Rollings

Edition 4907, May 3, 2007
 
HISTORY MAKING: Air Force player SQNLDR Shane Calliess reaches for a mark as his Army rival tries to spoil during the semi-final of the ADF Aussie Rules championships in Canberra
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey
 
Inset: CPL Rebekah Allen rises above her Army opponent to take a mark in a women’s game.
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey
 
TOP FORM: LAC Luke Boulton from RAAF Base Williamtown lines up a kick with an Army opponent hot on his heels in the AFL team’s first victory over Army in 21 years. The nail-biting win during the inter-Service Aussie Rules competition earned Air Force accolades from across the field.
Photo by LS Yuri Ramsey
 
It was no Battle of Britain but Air Force’s landmark win over Army produced its “finest hour” at the closest Australian Services Australian Football Association Championship Carnival in history in Canberra from April 16-20.

Air Force set the stage with its first victory over Army in 21 years, triumphing 12.8 (80) to 10.13 (73) in a nail-biting finish to the carnival-opener at Ainslie Oval.

A win against Navy on the final day would have secured a first Jim Smail Trophy for Air Force, and although it ultimately lost, it produced another gutsy effort which drew accolades from all and sundry.

Air Force’s 12.13 (85) to 9.11 (65) loss kept Navy one straight kick from a historic third successive championship.

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.

Army looked on as Air Force needed a win to secure its first title and Navy needed to win by 22 points or more to make it a three-peat of titles for the Senior Service. Anything less would give Army back the trophy it has historically dominated.

Navy led by two points at the last change and wore Air Force down in the last quarter after scores were even at quarter-time and Air Force had led by three at half-time. Despite three clear-cut chances in the dying stages, Navy could not nab the goal it needed to exceed the 22-point margin.

When Navy won by 20, officials declared Army the winner on points for and against, 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.

Air Force led 2.3 (15) to 1.5 (11) at quarter-time against Army and three goals to a dominant LAC Michael Kemp helped Air Force outkick Army 5.1 to 3.1 for the quarter for a handy half-time lead of 7.4 (46) to 4.6 (30).

Army began the second half with more intensity and cohesion, moving the ball stylishly to stretch Air Force for a 10.9 (69) to 9.5 (59) lead at the last change after kicking 6.3 to 2.1. The last quarter was a war of attrition as Army threatened to over-run its opponent, but a desperate Air Force dug deep to outkick Army 3.3 to 0.4 after the sides had been level or separated by a point or two deep into the final term.

“The win gave me a feeling I have been looking for for 17 years,” Air Force coach SGT Paul James said.

“It was a really good feeling. It was my 12th crack at it and the first time Air Force has beaten Army in 21 years. Army played really well and we were over-run in the third quarter but we cracked on, even when a point behind with a few minutes to go.

“We probably had that little bit more desire.”

Air Force was best served against Army by CPL Stuart Bond at fullback, half-back flanker CPL Nathan Holland, centreman LAC Shannon Burke, OFFCDTs Andrew Clarke and Neville Moyle, and LAC Michael Kemp, who wreaked havoc in attack and the ruck.

Best for Air Force against Navy were LAC Ryan McKee, CPL Nigel Peacock (later named Air Force’s best and overall best player of the carnival) and LAC Aaron Clayden in attack, CPL Bond and CPL Holland in defence and SQNLDR Shane Calliess in the centre.

In post-match presentations, Navy’s captain PO Arron Convery said: “To the RAAFies, my heartfelt sadness goes out to you. You are the best RAAF side I have ever played – gutsy, close-spirited and very unlucky.”

Army captain SGT Darren Andrews said Air Force was the pick of the carnival and an emotional but happy Air Force captain CPL Owen Geddes said he had “never played in a team with more heart”.