Round 8 Men’s Premier Division Match Review: UTS Bats v Inner West Magpies

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

Fans were treated to a showstopper at windy Waverly Oval as the UTS Bats and Inner West Magpies found themselves evenly matched in their struggle to score some much-needed wins before the mid-season break.

The Magpies wasted no time at all, landing their first goal of the match within 30 seconds and without the Bats touching the ball, thanks to straight shooter Kelly and his booming right leg. And they waste absolutely no time at all extending their early lead. Tiziani surprises fans by saying he’s going for home after marking outside the 50m arc. He silences all doubters with a monster kick that soars 55m through the uprights for the Magpies’ second in as many minutes. UTS seems shell shocked early and will need to adjust rapidly if they’re to counter the long kicking Inner West is bringing.

The UTS midfield remains calm and collected after the early horror show, picking out targets and passing accurately to bypass the Magpies defensive screen. Backlund takes a tenacious mark deep forward and steadies the ship with a long loping run up and picture-perfect kick to get the Bats on the board.

Play continues to be free flowing and fast throughout the middle of the ground as both midfields work actively to break away from the contest and put players into space. The Magpies execute a precarious switch, but it pays off and they drive forward with more long kicking, relying on their forward to win one-on-ones. UTS on the other hand are almost ignoring the wings entirely and driving straight down the spine as their one and only avenue forward. McCormack receives a 50m penalty and takes his full measure, sending the Magpies into attack. His kick crashes down amongst the jostling throng and spurts out to Kelly who shows us he’s dangerous from anywhere as he bends the ball across his body and tumbles it through for his second.

Quail and Veerhuis shirk all ruckman stereotypes as they zip through contests showing amazing agility for their size and act as an additional rover at the drop of the ball. With the rucks themselves helping to shovel the ball out, play is free flowing as offence overtakes defence. Klemke also stands out for the Magpies, finding avenues inside 50 left right and centre in the face of an aggressively pressing UTS defence. Tiziani comes up trumps and finds the chest of Rauter as he steams away from goal on a strong lead 40m out, directly in front. He never looks like missing and sends the Sherrin soaring headlong with plenty to spare, fourth goal for the Inner West.

Klemke again makes his presence felt with a massive bump as the Bats try to clear their defensive 50, and the remonstration is immediate and red hot. Both sides letting their passion flow early in this match. UTS steady and transition cleanly up the near side through direct and on-target kicks, no safe 45 angle passes here. The clear-cut style moves the ball quickly and allows a mismatch up forward, both talls Quail and Backland outsizing their opponents as they combine to overpower all obstacles. Quail collecting and kicking all in one motion centimetres from the line and walloping it through with the excessive force of excitement, UTS rallying for their second.

Inner West aren’t done this quarter though. Jamieson stands tall through contact to mark on the wing and thumps the ball 60m into the hands of Zoppo flying through the contest for a possible mark of the year contender. The drive is cut short due to a free kick, but Jamieson goes again almost immediately, this time through Klemke who finds Tiziani right on the boundary line in the pocket. Sun in his eyes, the fence at his back, he makes it look like child plays as he spikes through the Magpies fifth for the quarter and makes a definitive statement at the end of the first.

Quarter Time UTS Bats 2.3.15 – Inner West Magpies 5.4.34

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Second Quarter

Inner West wastes no time after the break, again scoring in the first minute. McCormack beats two to the footy, pumps his legs and bursts away from the contest to the 50. He finds Zoppo laces out, who wheels and goals in the blink of an eye. UTS must respond quickly otherwise this contest could get out of hand.

Robertson puts on a clinic in the midfield, turning his man and kicking handily around a smother to send the Bats forward. Tuttle continues to soar in defence for the Magpies and skilfully cut off attacks. Inner West’s defensive unit continues to use their intercept marks to execute silky smooth switches across the field to get them out of trouble and slingshot the midfield forward.

Now UTS run their own switch to perfection. They fly up the wing with blistering pace, Dyson finding Quail running away from goal with a long looping handball. Quail turns the bus around to get onto his right foot, takes a step to steady and aim, shoots and shoots truly. The Bats continue to respond, the margin 19.

Eussen inspires his teammates, taking on a daunting David vs Goliath contest in tackling Jamieson. The two pirouette as Jamieson looks to dump off the handball but doesn’t get it out in time and its holding the ball. Eussen, lines up, takes his full measure, the kick starts right but curls back as it glides through the uprights and the Bats have four.

The Magpies midfield combines for a breakneck handball chain out of the contest, diving headlong forward but directly into the waiting arms of Boyd who reads the hurried kick best. They don’t make the same mistake again the next time they go forward as Zoppo makes the most of a 50m penalty, kicking precisely from 20m out at a modest angle and making it count.

UTS came out much stronger in the second quarter, but the Magpies book ended it with quick goals to keep their leading margin.

Half Time UTS Bats 4.4.28 – Inner West Magpies 7.4.46

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Third Quarter

Defence reigned supreme after the break, as desperate dives and frenzied tackling became common place in front of goal at both ends. For UTS Quail and Lee deflect repeat efforts by the Magpies to advance with sharp intercepts, finding targets to jump start attacks in the opposite direction. For the Magpies behind the ball Jamieson is an Oak, bodying forwards away from the drop of the ball and clunking anything that comes near him. Klemke continues to find avenues forward from the contest, eventually finding Zoppo who kicks well but it glances off the post for a minor.

Evans gets the next opportunity to extend the Magpies’ lead with a free kick right on the 50 arc at a difficult angle. The kick is a low bullet, but too low as it’s touched on the way through for another behind. UTS use the drawing of players to the footy to hold some midfielders back and wait for the handball away from the contest. When it comes, they take off down the wing, slicing through the defence with overlapping handballs. The drive stalls out as Bowyer forces his man to the boundary, saving the Magpies defence from a sudden entry. Lovell gut runs towards goal and touches the ensuing forward foray over the line, staving off a UTS comeback for now.

Inner West transitions smoothly back down the field from the kick in to find Ryan forward but again quite far from goal and his kick drifts right in the wind for a minor. Ciscato breaks from his man to helm the next drive forward for the Magpies. His kick isn’t marked but he collects it as he sprints past and kicks again. Again, it isn’t marked but this time is fisted towards the boundary by the defence and deliberate out of bounds is called as Ciscato gets to finish his magic minute with a shot on goal. His kick into the sun drops just short and is touched on the line by Callahan in a diving mid-air save.

Plenty of forward entries and shots on goal in the third quarter but stupendous defensive efforts and some clever tactics behind the ball limit the forward’s impact. Margin remains at 20 points, but you can sense that the first team to find a way to break through the defence will reap the rewards.

Three Quarter Time UTS Bats 4.6.30 – Inner West Magpies 7.8.50

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Fourth Quarter

And it’s the Bats who find a way to circumvent the defence first in the final quarter. Both sides attack with blistering pace but as the ball settles at the Magpies 50m arc for a moment the UTS forwards drift forward creating a paddock of space behind them. Quail marks on centre wing, spins and kicks immediately over the back to Stanlan-Velt in a one-on-one. He marks over his shoulder and keeping the diminishing minutes remaining in mind, wastes no time in kicking his first of the day.

The ball is now rolling for the Bats as they lock it forward, almost single-handedly thanks to Backlund marking every Magpie attempt to get it out and returning it to sender. After three attempts the dam finally breaks as Robertson finds Barry-Murphy tight in the contest. He spins the full 180 to get onto his right foot and faster than anyone can react, snaps goalward over the defender’s heads and suddenly the margin is 7.

And in the blink of an eye they go forward again. From the centre bounce Edwards collects off the deck, takes a moment to assess the options forwards, and kicks to perfection to find the chest of Stanlan-Velt charging into oncoming traffic without hesitation. His kick is wayward for a behind, but the Bats can sense an upset is possible if they continue like this. Lovell stands tall in defence for the Magpies, intercept marking where he can, but the onslaught of forward entries is too much as Stanlan-Velt marks high above his head in the contest. Kicking from the top of the goal square he leisurely strolls forward and scores with incredible poise for someone who has just kicked two goals to bring the game level with 2 minutes remaining.

UTS pressure hard again

Backlund sees his opportunity and pinches an opposition handball in traffic, he glances up for half a second, sees the man of the moment screaming for it and slams it onto his boot. Stanlan-Velt just can’t be contained here in the dying minutes as he again marks well clear over his head. As he lines up the siren sounds and Bats fans and players alike cheer how only comeback winners can. They cheer even louder again moments later as he kicks his third for the quarter in a game breaking performance, before being swarmed by his teammates.

The light continues to fade on the ground and on the Magpies as their chance of victory slipped from grasp. UTS managed to shut them out in the final quarter in an incredible display of synergy between the three parts of the ground. Inner West’s effort couldn’t be questioned at any point today, but the inability to link up from defence, through the midfield and find targets up forward cost them in the last.

Full Time UTS Bats 8.9.57 – Inner West Magpies 7.8.50

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Final Scores:

Team Name: UTS Bats 8.9.57

Goal Kickers: N. Stanlan-Velt 3, A. Quail 2, A. Backlund, X. Barry-Murphy, A. Eussen

Best: Patrick Gillingham, Will Edwards, Bililign Robertson, Sam Bowler, Joshua Lee, Ash Backlund

Team Name: Inner West Magpies 7.8.50

Goal Kickers: F. Kelly 2, L. Tiziani 2, B. Zoppo 2, B. Rauter,

Best: Kel Evans, Nicholas McCormack, Benjamin Klemke, Michael Tuttle, Thye Hamilton, Campbell Lovell

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