The Broulee Moruya Giants played a big part in the Sapphire Coast AFL elimination finals on Saturday, fielding teams in three of the six games played at Tathra. The club’s U/11s, U/16s and Development Grade all finished in the top 4 and played off for a spot in the preliminary finals. This was an outstanding result for a club in just its third year of competition!
In what was arguably the match of the day the BMG U/11s (4-5-29) were defeated by Bermagui (5-1-31) in a nail biter that went down to the wire. The Giants led at each change, taking a 17 point lead into the final term and looked home and hosed, but were overtaken by a barnstorming Bermagui who found their mojo in the last quarter and kicked 4-1 to BMG’s single goal. Goals: BMG Z.Clare 1, M.Colburne 1, W.Dallas 1, T.Simons 1. Bermagui: Not supplied. Best: BMG – T.Simons, L.Perryman, B.Perryman, W.Stone, B.Turner-Collins, M.Colburne.
BMG’s Development Grade, aka ‘Dads Army’ played Tathra and was written off by all and sundry before the game had started, but neither all nor sundry had counted on the fighting spirit of a group of Giants backed into a corner. Bolstered by some plucky U/16’s lending a hand, the BMG team silenced the critics by streaking out of the blocks with a goal to Lachlan Brennan in the first minutes of the game and taking a 1 goal lead into the first break. Whilst eventually the team was overrun, Tathra were made to work hard for the win, final scores Tathra 10-12-72 d. BMG 6-3-39 . Given BMGs first game of the year was against Tathra and resulted in 100pt defeat, Saturday's effort shows how much the team improved over the year. Goals: BMG: J.Nimmo 2, P.Blake 2, L.Brennan, D.Pascoe . Tathra: R.Cassidy 2, K.Manning 2, C.Thompson 2, K.Beruldsen, C.Matthews, S.Orr, K.Solomon. Best: BMG J.Nimmo, A.Tilyard, L.Brennan, M.Jones, G.Wise, D.Pascoe. Tathra: C.Matthews, S.Orr, C.Thompson, M.Parker, W.Murphy.
But it was the Giants’ U/16s team that announced itself as a serious premiership contender with a 109 point win over Narooma. Controlling the midfield and maintaining a watertight defence, BMG stamped its authority on the game taking a 22 point lead into the first break and a 57 point lead into the second, all the while keeping Narooma scoreless. The team built to a 70 point lead in the third quarter while conceding only a behind, and final scores were BMG 17-14-116 d. Narooma 1-1-7. For the Giants, Buster Ware was unstoppable bagging a whopping 9 goals, while Jade Eaton was equally formidable around the ground. Will Aiken played with his usual poise, with Lachlan Brennan and Jack Hirst putting in strong performances. The team will have to play with the same intensity of better to continue the winning run in the preliminary final, now a fortnight away, but the signs are encouraging that the team has come together at the right time of year. Goals: BMG: B.Ware 9, D.Cursio 2, W.Aiken, L.Brennan, R.Bryce, K.Hogan-Grimm, D.Pascoe, T.Turner. Narooma: M.Parker. Best: BMG B.Ware, J.Eaton, W.Aiken, L.Brennan, J.Hirst, J.Richardson. Narooma: D.Trindall, H.Bromwhich, T.Hodge, T.Micolic, R.Spurgeon, J.Westoll.
Above: Will Aiken Flies
Above:One of Nine for Buster Ware
The club is looking forward to its Best and Fairest vote count on Thursday 7 September, 6pm at the Moruya Bowling Club.
