ANZAC weekend in Great Flinders Football saw Ramblers kick start their season with an impressive victory over local rival Cougars, United Yeelanna made light work of Elliston Districts and Tumby Bay had to work hard to overcome a plucky Eyre United in a pretty even contest.
After a strong off season Ramblers opened their season in fine style to convincingly beat Cougars in the local Cummins derby running out winners by 59 points in a tough encounter. In perfect conditions for football the game opened in quick fashion with an early clearance from Buchannon but Cougars had steadied with a tough attack on the footy which resulted in a goal to Evans. The game became a tough scramble as gun recruit Harlee Chandler began to assert his influence on the contest. He continued to find plenty of the ball in the second term as Richardson goaled which was followed by another to Laube as Ramblers kicked out to a handy lead. Puckridge was working hard for Cougars as they steadied, but a late goal to Jack Fitzgerald gave Ramblers a 20 point break at the long break.
The Magpies came out strongly after half time but some desperate defensive work from Phelps and Puckridge kept Cougars in the contest, but it was veteran George Pedler showing some class with a great crumbing goal. Evans responded for Cougars, but another one to Ramblers via Langley hurt Cougars with frustration boiling over resulting in a yellow card to Phelps. Ramblers had skipped out to 33 point lead at the final break and were able to extend this lead even further with a polished final quarter. Horton and Langley added further majors as the Magpies booted 5 final quarter goals and kept Cougars to just one to run out 10 goal winners in the end. Chandler was outstanding for the winners, Langley important with 4 majors, and Treloar, Horton, Bullard and Buchannon all played important roles. For Cougars Adam Green and Daniel Puckridge were excellent, Louis Green showed some class and Horgan, Evans and Jack Green all had some good moments.
In the local showdown at Tumby Bay, the Blues had to work hard over 4 quarters to overcome Eyre United, although inaccurate kicking from the home side cost them a bigger winning margin.
The Saints were out of the blocks quickly early with Webb looking dangerous up forward and Baldiserra giving them a target across half forward. Murphy and Sumner were winning plenty of the ball though the midfield for Tumby with Sumner dangerous offensively kicking a couple of majors to give Tumby Bay a 9 point lead at quarter time. The second quarter was another even struggle with Eyre United refusing to lay down and at times looked the better side. Some class from Murphy with 2 long range goals kept the Saints at bay as Walker and Gale shut down Eyre United’s forwards but they kept themselves in the contest with 2 late majors.
Tumby Bay managed to assert some authority after half time but still struggled to shake a plucky Saints side who were giving their all as Butler, Fatchen and Turner all worked tirelessly. Tumby took a game high 25 point lead in to the final term with inaccuracy in front of goal hurting them with some poor opportunities going begging in front of the big sticks. It was a similar story in the last as the Blues had 7 shots on goal but only managing the one major while the Saints were able to kick 3 last quarter goals to limit the final margin to just 18 points. It was an impressive display from Eyre United albeit against an undermanned Tumby Bay side who were missing several key players from the previous game. Will Turner was excellent for the Saints, Max Baldiserra always a threat and Butler, Masson, Webb and Fatchen all playing solid games. For the winners Jackson Murphy was excellent all day with his ball use a highlight, Sumner dangerous on ball and up forward to finish with 5 goals, ANZAC Medallist Josh Pierson outstanding and Hartwig, Gale and Walker all prominent at different stages of the game.
In the final game United Yeelanna did nothing to dispel their early season premiership favoritism with a workmanlike win over Elliston Districts at the Kooplex. They started the game strongly with Murnane and Watson winning plenty of the ball and up forward Matt Crettenden was always a strong presence. The Roosters were working hard against the odds and to their credit took it up to the home side with Rosalia and Williams in good touch and Archer Van Doorn and Kenny doing their bit. The Eagles led by 20 points at half time and certainly didn’t have it all their way against a competitive Elliston Districts.
The third quarter was a defensive masterclass from United Yeelanna keeping the visitors to just 2 points and while they only added 2 goals themselves, it was a discipline display of footy that set the tone of what was to come in the final term when they piled on 7 goals to 1 in a polished last term. Watson was all class in this term, Crettenden reaped the benefits of a dominant midfield up forward to end his day with 6 goals, and Adam Murnane had an outstanding game to win the ANZAC Medal. Matt Dyer was his usual creative self across half back and Casey Carr, Martin and Aaron Watson all had impressive games. For Elliston Districts Kody Rosalia and Matt Williams worked tirelessly on ball, Van Doorn, Ross Bascomb and Tom Lee impressive all day and Brody Kenny also made some valuable contributions to his side over the 4 quarters.
