AFL Sydney Men’s Premier Division Round 6 Match Review: UTS Bats v Pennant Hills Demons

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

The fans flocked in droves for Umpire appreciation day, featuring live music and many tasty morsels at Trumper Oval.

UTS came out swinging in the first, Rinder firing the ball forward from the wing with pinpoint precision, finding Pribula. He side-steps his opponent, kicks across the body and kicks truly, Bats getting on the board first. Rinder gets involved again moments later, taking a towering mark 40m out and kicking for goal. The ball drifts right and Pennant Hills transition down the field at breakneck speed. Both offenses look to have supremacy early as the ball is being thrown forward with lightning pace.

Vice-Captain Moraitis nabs Pennant Hills’ first goal after a devastating dissent call against UTS. Taking the kick from the top of the goal square, he gets the Demons on the board. The Bats defence will be wishing they had the last minute or so back after holding so strong early.

Angel puts his defensive skills forward for all to see, taking aggressive intercept marks and initiating a slingshot through the midfield. Down the other end Gillingham is plugging holes left, right and centre as both defences tighten their hold on the game.

Pennant Hills starts a handball chain through the midfield, but Robertson intercepts and punishes them cruelly with a monster kick from the 50m arc soaring through the uprights in a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment.

The Bats drive forward through Rinder again and lock it in with a ball in from deep in the forward pocket. Backlund gets the measure of his opponent and snatches the ball straight out of the ruck contest and snaps truly for UTS in a moment of individual brilliance.

Both midfields are throwing everything they have into the contest early, with overwhelming pressure levels and full tilt collisions. A fantastic opening term with countless individual battles to follow around the ground.

Quarter Time UTS Bats 3.1.19 – Pennant Hills Demons 1.2.8

Second Quarter

Stanlan-Velt gets things started in the second with a beautiful set shot deep in the grandstand side forward pocket. The angle proves no issue as he showcases his sublime kicking motion and strikes through the ball for the Bats first. Pennant Hills is overwhelmed from the following centre bounce and UTS drive forward again, gaining some ascendency early this quarter. Wales stands tall as the last line of defence for the Demons, intercepting or getting hands on anything near the goal line.

Hawkins flies through traffic to send the Demons into attack. His kick pierces the defence and finds Moraitis, who kicks his second despite constant chatter and discussion with his opposite number Calabro. These two have been going back and forth all day and it boils over after the goal with plenty of physicality across the ground.

Pennant Hills screams forward again through Hawkins who finds Boag streaming out of the goal square directly at him. The breeze catches Boag’s kick in the air leaving fans in anticipation until it glides through for a major, the Demons faithful can feel the turn around this quarter.

Mortimor clutches a towering mark any ruckman would be proud of, and any sane person would avoid. He takes his time with a long run up and almost gets to the man on the mark before sending the Sherrin soaring 40m and putting the Demons within 2 points. Straight out of the centre bounce, The UTS midfield surprise their opponents again. Backlund scores again from the top of the goal square for the Bats, benefitting from lightning-fast forward entries.

The goals continue to flow in this shoot-out of a quarter. Pennant Hills also takes advantage of swift forward entry to force a one-on-one contest, Boag winning the ball and flicking it to Maguire. He stops, spins, kicks and goals having never looked towards the goals at all in an incredible sight that’s over all too soon.

Half Time UTS Bats 5.5.35 – Pennant Hills Demons 5.3.33

Third Quarter

The clouds rolled in after half time and threatened to force this contest into the mud. In response both teams took their opportunities to move the ball quickly whilst the weather permitted. Pennant Hills struck first with Wray putting his head over the football directly in front of goal, showing his footy nous. He kicks truly for his first and pushing out the Demons lead.

Hawkins gets the next opportunity thanks to a speedy forward entry by Maguire from the wing. Hawkins grabs a screaming mark in flight, colliding with Callahan in the air but hanging on. He adjusts the head band, strolls in to point blank range and slots it home.

Eussen strikes back for UTS with a textbook kick from a 50m penalty directly in front. He leaves nothing to chance, the goal umpire doesn’t move an inch, and he keeps the Bats in the contest. Down the other end Elliot is doing his best to keep UTS in the game with desperation smothers and tackling. Maguire finds his way past this however, streaking through defenders and breaking from the contest to slam home another goal for Pennant Hills.

Moraitis continues to lead from the front for the Demons, both literally and figuratively. He marks at the 50m arc on the near the commentator’s box, that drive forward doesn’t work so he does the same again on the grandstand side. This time he kicks for goal, its right on the edge of his range, it sails through inches above defenders’ fingertips. The Demons have turned this game around after a slugging first quarter and have piled on the goals after half time. The Bats are still in this but the pressure across the ground is forcing turn overs and free kicks they’ll want to tighten up.

Angel takes a shot behind play which will cause the Pennant Hills defence to worry after his steadfast efforts all afternoon. He is able to leave the ground under his own steam as the quarter siren sounds.

Three Quarter Time UTS Bats 6.6.42 – Pennant Hills Demons 9.5.59

Fourth Quarter

Backlund gives no one time to get comfortable in their seats, taking a monster grab over multiple defenders to welcome fans to the final term. His kick from long range stays straight throughout its flight as he goals and keeps UTS in touch. Robertson continues to battle in the midfield for the Bats, forcing turn overs, finding targets forward of the ball and spoiling Demons set plays across the ground.

Josh Boag shows off his field kicking skills, wrongfooting his opponent and finding Moriatis who continues his hot streak from last quarter. The goal umpire stays statuesque as the Demons Vice Captain kicks their first for the quarter.

Mortimer and Vos battle between the arcs in a series of bone crunching ruck contests as the midfield pressure reaches a tempo that neither side is finding it easy to break from.

Pennant Hills Strike again! Moriatis stands out, finding Boag in space at the top of the arc. Boag continues his excellence in kicking and puts the game outside of reach for the Bats. Maguire makes a sure thing of it moments later with a Jackie Chan inspired mid-air kick and goal. Suddenly what was a close contest moments ago looks done and dusted.

Eussen takes a courageous mark running back with the flight of the ball. He’s taken late and in the back by the defence, winning him a 50m penalty and a certain goal. There’s still plenty of fire in in this match as the Bats stand up against their teammate’s treatment. UTS channels their frustration with a lightning-fast drive forward, Backlund taking an impossible mark right on the boundary line deep in the forward pocket. It’s almost like he prefers kicking from such extreme angles, as he puts it straight through the big sticks with little effort or consternation.

Wray sends Pennant Hills into attack again with a kick across the forward line finding Boag deep in the contest as he bodies his opponent out of the way and clunks a difficult grab. The effort is starting to show this deep into the quarter as Boag lines up, many ands on hips and heaving chests. Boag kicks truly as he has all day for the final score of the day.

Pennant Hills taking the chocolates today but an incredible contest with a possible UTS upset brewing all day.

Full Time UTS Bats 9.8.62 – Pennant Hills Demons 13.7.85

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Final Scores:

UTS Bats: 9.8.62

Goal Kickers: A. Backlund 4, A. Eussen 2, L. Pribula, B. Robertson, N. Stanlan-Velt

Best: Ash Backlund, Jarrod Vos, Louis Pribula, Harrison Callahan, Patrick Gillingham, Joshua Lee

Pennant Hills Demons: 13.7.85

Goal Kickers: T. Moraitis 4, J. Boag 3, H. Maguire 3, B. Hawkins, J. Mortimer, S. Wray

Best: Luke Skrivanic, Nick Richards, Stephen Wray, Sam Eynaud, Joshua Boag, Connor Matthews