The Broulee-Moruya Giants (BMG) Under 16s have fallen agonisingly short of a grand final berth in their Sapphire Coast AFL Preliminary Final against the Pambula Panthers.
The match was played in blustery overcast conditions that troubled both teams, and the low scoring match reflected the climatic challenges.
BMG won the toss, and took advantage of the strong breeze blowing straight up the ground, but managed only 3 behinds to Pambula’s 1-1-7 for the quarter.
BMG’s difficulty with conversion continued in the second quarter, kicking into the strong breeze and being kept scoreless in the quarter while Pambula added 2-6 for a total score of 3-7-25 at the main break.
A 22-point deficit was thought to be very reachable by the BMG side who turned the tables in the 3rd quarter, keeping Pambula scoreless and adding 1-3 for the quarter, coming in just 13 points down at the last change.
The final quarter was an epic arm wrestle that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, with BMG playing the better game and outscoring Pambula while kicking into the wind. BMG got to within 3 points in the dying minutes but an answering goal to Pambula soon afterwards put the game out of reach of a gallant, never-say-die BMG team who were deep in attack at the final siren. The final score was Pambula 5.9 (39) to BMG 4.6 (30).
There was not a Giant who left anything out on the ground, having given their all during the game. The defence was under pressure for the whole day and stood up well. Holding the well-regarded Pambula team to just five goals was a considerable achievement. Ryan Brice played his best game of the year while Billy Williams, Dylan Golden and Chris Innocenti put in good performances.
The engine room of Will Aiken and Lachlan Brennan gave BMG drive out of the middle while Jade Eaton covered Pambula’s big men and Jack Hirst provided great link play on a wing. Up forward, Buster Ware and Theo Turner offered leading targets all game.
BMG members and supporters are supremely proud of the way the U/16s played and developed through season 2017, developing into a genuine premiership contender.
It was the first season that BMG fielded an U/16s team and, in a positive note, the club’s numbers for 2018 already look promising in the U/16s age group. BMG’s presentation day will be held at Kyla Park Oval on Sunday, September 17, commencing at 10.30am.
Goals: B. Ware 2, W.Newman 1, S.Magee 1. Best: W.Aikin, B.Ware, L.Brennan, J.Eaton, B.Williams, R.Brice.
