Round 9 Men’s Premier Division Match Review, UNSW-ES Bulldogs vs UTS Bats

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

Under the lights of Henson Park the Bats look to lock in their third win of the season as the Bulldogs look to stay in touch with the top of the pack on the ladder. All of this happens also happens in the light of AFL Sydney’s Pride Round. Rainbows decorate the centre square, the 50m arcs, and the 20m wide AFL Sydney logo painted into the turf. Support is clear and determined for both club and cause in the hearts of fans here tonight.

The Umpire bounces the ball with gusto to get us started, and the midfields charge into the fray. Rinse and repeat as both sides feel each other out early and the close in contest goes no where but the boundary line in a series ball ups. Kilpatrick takes a clean mark leading out past the Bulldogs forward 50 arc but doesn’t like what he sees so uses his keen eyes to find Tricks directly in front at a similar distance. Tricks has shown he’s capable from this distance and doesn’t disappoint fans as he launches a towering kick over the goal umpire’s head for the first of the night for UNSW-ES. Teammates flood around him knowing the importance of setting the tempo early.

And its two goals in two minutes! Baxter swindles his way through the contest to the drop of the ball and breaks away before anyone can react. He only needs a few steps to build enough momentum to swing the leg wide for a steep helicopter kick that bends backwards and through for UNSW-ES’s second goal. The UTS defensive line we’re manned up well and in a tight coverage but Baxter’s speed from the contest meant they had no time to get to him.

Backlund reads the ball well in the air and clears well from the Bats backline as he always does. His efforts only get the ball as far as Kilpatrick who is shaping up early to be a pivotal link between the midfield and forwards. He assesses and spots Emery who has broken free of contact and is charging out into space screaming for the ball. Emery marks cleanly and with his well-known skills in front of goal makes light work of the kick 30m out at a significant angle. One way traffic so far, UNSW-ES with the first three.

The Bulldogs have caught the UTS midfield napping early as they take another burst away from the contest and craft it into a forward entry. Slicing forward at speed, the handball chain ends with a pinpoint pass to Turner, still at considerable distance but well within his range. Turner keeps it uncomplicated, takes a few steadying steps, slices with his right, and strikes it true! The Bulldogs midfield flooding forward is causing real headaches for the Bats defence early.

Mather working hard in the midfield to halt opposition transitions, throwing his body on the line in repeat contests acting as an anchor against this rushing UNSW-ES attack. The Bats grind their way forward, poking and prodding, searching for a gap in the Bulldogs defence. Repeat contests build in their forward line until Gordon charges to the drop of the ball and puts his head over the footy, earning himself a free kick and a shot on goal. The kick is punched through millimetres short of the line drawing groans from supporters.

The Bulldogs again transition with relative ease, this time to the hands of Wood, who is surreptitiously cleaned up well after marking the footy. He wastes no time and flicks through the gifted goal from the top of the goal square without issue. UTS can’t afford acts like that if they want to stay in this contest.

From the centre bounce Robertson finally gets good possession after being under a constant barrage so far. His kick finds Fischer, who flicks it back to him as he streams past at full pace. No slowing down to kick, he catapults a sky-high missile that soars well past defenders and Bats fans have something to cheer about. First of the night for the Bats in a moment of incredible individual and team skills combining.

Quarter Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 5.3.33 – UTS Bats 1.2.8

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Second Quarter

Again it starts with the midfields looking for gaps in clouds of opposition for the quick break. This time it comes much quicker, transitioning from defence UNSW-ES move the ball speedily without a second thought down the spine of the ground. Emery again makes his leads and again welcomes the ball to this chest without much difficulty. The Bats will really need to put some clamps on him early otherwise it might turn into a dominating performance. His kick is mechanical with a sublime kicking motion reminiscent of Ben Brown and Taylor Walker. There’s no question once it leaves his boot, first goal of the quarter to UNSW-ES.

Endermen puts his body on the line, winning a free for a push in the back. He Finds Cooper Kilpatrick lurking forward. He sends it long to the goal square and into the mitts of the other Kilpatrick, Kynan. He makes it a certainty with a dinky kick over the man on the mark but guided with care so as not to waste this opportunity. Kilpatricks combine for the Bulldogs second of the quarter.

And again UNSW breaks through the centre! Their midfield running rampant, they transition up the far side of the ground with a handful of uncontested kicks to sight Gaden, pounding his powerful legs away from his opponent and into space. He marks cleanly as all ruckmen should and takes his time lining up the shot. No stereotypes about ruck kicking skills here, it’s straight as an arrow and right over the goal umpire’s head for his first the UNSW-ES’ third on the trot.

Robertson magnificent again, this time in defence spinning and dancing his way through swarming opposition for the clearance. Again it falls apart in the midfield as the Bats strive to transition. Brown takes the clearing handball, takes a second, spots Baxter and puts it in front of him. He dives headfirst into the turf in a magnificent mark near the 50m arc. He takes his time with the run up, putting more distance between the man on the mark and himself than there is to the goal. Turns out that’s the completely reasonable thing to do as he brings out the 9-iron and thumps the Sherrin 60m for the Bulldogs fourth in a row.

Tikkeros channels his small forward energy, buzzes around the contest deep in the Bulldogs forward pocket waiting for his moment. He doesn’t have to wait long, screaming past with hands at knee height knowing the handball out will be compromised by contact. He takes possession and never moving his hands above his knees, snaps across his body whilst powering towards the boundary and kicking to perfection. An absolutely immaculate goal that Eddie Betts would be proud of.

Peter battles to try and find an avenue to goal, and suddenly completely off the ball Emery takes a push in the back granting him a free kick at the top of the goal square. This Bats defence isn’t living up to their stalwart reputation as they’ve given away multiple unnecessary free kicks to the leagues leading goal scorer. Emery makes light work of the kick, seemingly no middle ground for him. Its either simple straight forward kicks thanks to hard work and forward craft, or long towering bombs from distance at an extreme angle.

UTS fly out of the centre bounce like we’ve only seen once so far tonight. Stanlan-Velt dashes from the goal square directly at the kicker and presents an option too good to be ignored. He marks through heavy contact, tumbling forward to the applause of Bats fans. Taking his time and knowing opportunities are few and far between in the first half, aims his sights and slots UTS’ first goal for the quarter.

Tikkeros gets the next forward foray for UNSW-ES, their midfield supremacy putting the UTS backline under siege. He kicks long to the contest, Emery and Backlund cancel each other out but Turner snaffles the ball off the deck and with his body horizontal snaps across his body to raucous celebrations from teammates.

Stanlan-Velt is ever dangerous up forward and defenders caught napping best be ready to pay the price. Again he leads strongly away from goal and uses his monstrous vertical and frame to bullock opponents away from the drop of the ball. As always takes his time with the kick, it hasn’t come down this end of the ground much tonight, so he savours the touch of the footy. The kick it straight and true and UTS get one back at the death of the first half.

UNSW continued their ascendancy in the second. After not bringing their kicking boots last week, their accuracy in front of goal has set a benchmark. UTS have found an avenue to goal that works, but have struggled to maintain enough possession in the midfield to take advantage of it or find any others.

Half Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 12.7.79 – UTS Bats 3.2.20

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Third Quarter

Defence seems to be the main take away between the breaks as UTS apply the clamps early in the second half. UNSW-ES’ defensive line have some uncharacteristically fumbly moments, but the Bats aren’t able to capitalise with just behinds for all their forward forays. They have however completely dried up the Bulldogs scoring early.

Baxter charges through the contest looking to tap forward a chaos ball and is mutually collected by a player flooding past in the opposite direction. He goes down hard and will come off with the blood rule dealing a serious blow to UNSW’s midfield presence. Enderman makes the most of his teammate’s courage and streams into the forward 50 arc. He scans the forward line for opportunities and spots Longmire on the opposite side with space on his man. Longmire recognises that there are no defenders on the goal line and kicks quickly before they realise their mistake. The check side kick rolls over the line completely unopposed, Bulldogs maintain their momentum.

As the Bats try to clear their defensive 50 the kick falls in the lap of Tikkeros, he flicks it to Wood who has time and space. Wood spots Longmire and again his forward craft has afforded him space and time close to goal. Longmire takes his time and makes certain he has two goals in as many minutes. Again the UTS defensive line looks to be under siege.

Stanlan-Velt again stands tall up forward. The kick from the midfield is a high up and under but it doesn’t seem to bother him as he keeps his eyes locked onto it and drags it to his chest through heavy contact. From right on the edge of his range at the 50m arc, he lowers his eyes and kicks what he knows to be a real moral boosting goal. The Bats have struggled to find avenues to goal all night, but Stanlan-Velt continues to be a constant.

Kilpatrick is the target from the next Bulldogs forward stab, but he is covered well by two defenders as the Bats concede a boundary throw in deep in the pocket. And from nowhere! As bodies tumble and crash in the contest the kick spurts out in the blink of an eye and its in the hands of Emery in the goal square who spins 180 degrees and kicks it all of a meter before his opponent can react. Goal UNSW.

UTS stream forward from the centre bounce and look to lock the ball forward. But as has been the tale of the night the UNSW-ES midfield trust their defences and show their gut running ability as soon as the turnover occurs. They charge at blistering pace down the spine of the ground. Emery hangs back waiting for the moment to run, times it to perfection and marks directly in front 20m out. Another goal just a formality for Emery as he continues to climb away from contenders at the top of the goal scorer’s tally.

Three Quarter Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 16.9.105 – UTS Bats 4.4.28

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Fourth Quarter

UNSW-ES again streams forward from the centre bounce, wasting no time trying to increase their lead. Gaden takes the inside 50 mark but doesn’t like his chances at the extreme angle. The forwards clock on and begin running blocking leads for each other to create mismatches and gaps in the defence. It works to perfection as Brown appear from nowhere in space directly in front of goal. Gaden picks him out and hits him lace out. Brown aims his sights, still from a considerable distance out but well within his range. The kick is on target and once again the Bulldogs look to set the tempo here in the final quarter.

Campelj sends the Bats forward with a piercing dart, a pack forms with Dyson at its head. He can’t mark but flicks it down to Elliot who doesn’t even consider taking possession. He continues to sprint locked arm in arm with his opponent and soccers the ball off the ground through for a scintillating goal. We continue to see glimpses of incredible individual and team efforts by UTS, they aren’t giving any less effort now than at the first siren.

 The Bats have come alive here in the last, the midfield finding routes through the midfield against some tired legs. A free kick for high contact on the near wing isn’t an opportunity to catch their breath, but an opportunity to attack. They play on immediately to advantage, kicking across the 50m arc to Stanlan-Velt engaged in a one-on-one. He breaks out and charges into space, marking assuredly as he has all night. As he lines up for goal, we see a few hands on hips from the UNSW-ES defence, there might be an opportunity here for the Bats to capitalise late and smooth out the scoreline. Stanlan-Velt’s kicking continues to be straight as an arrow as he slots it for his fourth of the night.

And again they go forward, three times in a row now! The Bats certainly are having a purple patch here. A contest develops 30m out directly in front, the handball flick comes out to Lee who snaps a high up and under back past the contest. Obscured by bodies Barry-Murphy appears from nowhere, reads the drop of the ball better than anyone, kicks with the outside of the boot and rolls a beautiful grubber through for UTS’ third in a row. Cheers pour in from fans and players alike as this mini comeback breathes life back into the cold ground.

Tricks reverses the flow to get the Bulldogs heads back into the game. A long bomb to the 50m arc drops towards a two-on-one with Tricks in a Bat sandwich. He judges it best and holds his space, marking on his chest in a hulking effort. The kick for goal is a low stab of the ball that soars just out of reach of defenders fingertips between the uprights, Goal UNSW-ES.

Immediately they attack again as they have all night, Tricks this time sends it deep into attack with a tumbling floating ball towards Endermann. He chooses not to mark but instead thumps it down to Tikkeros who is flying past, boots barely touching the grass. Collect, kick, goal! And just like that the Bulldogs have two back after UTS’ run thanks to the lightning-fast reflexes of Endermann and Tikkeros.

Tricks again acts as the connection between the midfield and forward line. This time he collects from a contest just outside the arcs, launches long with Kilpatrick the target. He can’t collect but taps it over the back for Emery who sniffs another goal. Emery thunders like a freight train towards goal, collects easily on the run as he moves parallel to the tumbling ball. He clunks it down onto his boot at a slight angle across his body and again another goal brought about by footy smarts and gut running. Bulldogs on another run of goals.

Stanlan-Velt continues to be unmanageable for the Bulldogs defence. He provides a fantastic lead out of his forward arc and causes too much of a headache for the defenders as they give away a 50m penalty trying to stop him. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth he strolls nonchalantly to the top of the goal square and slots his fifth for the night in a standout performance. UNSW-ES have given a comprehensive performance tonight, but Stanlan-Velt is one factor they don’t have an answer for.

No one has an answer for Emery either. Boundary throw in deep in the UNSW-ES forward pocket, Emery takes on the rucking duties. A scrimmage forms rumbling and stumbling towards goal. Emery hangs back waiting for the opportunity, putting faith in the rovers and small forwards. Endermann spots him and flicks the ball out whilst completely horizontal and falling rapidly. Knowing the effort it took, Emery soccers it off the ground for his seventh but immediately runs to Endermann to congratulate him as players swarm. Hard effort being recognised and rewarded.

UTS aren’t done yet, from the centre bounce Lee finds Kimpton with a lace out kick. He wastes no time, spins 180 and spots Dyson leading to perfection. Seeing the height mismatch, he sends the kick above his head and makes Dyson reach for it. It works and no defenders come anywhere near the passage of the ball as he makes the most of his impressive vertical. Dyson lines up directly in front 30m out and slots it through silky smooth. Goal UTS.

Palmer gets the last laugh for the Bats, marking in the centre square but a tired Bulldogs player infringes on the protected area and its 50. He makes short work of the kick for goal, no sizzle or pizzazz here at the death, just muscle memory carrying him forward. He kicks the goal and spot fires break out all across the ground and the chirping back and forth bubbles over into useless physicality.

And with that the night ends in sudden blackness as the lights go out on the ground and siren sounds serendipitously. A very exciting and confusing end to a dominant performance from UNSW-ES. UTS showed real grit and determination in the second half but got jumped in the first, they’ll be wanting to work on that over the long weekend and the bye next week.

Full Time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 21.11.137 – UTS Bats 10.4.64

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Final Scores:

Team Name: UNSW-ES Bulldogs 21.11.137

Goal Kickers: K. Emery 7, T. Baxter 2, T. Longmire 2, J. Tikkeros 2, F. Tricks 2, O. Turner 2, J. Brown, S. Gaden, K. Kilpatrick, N. Wood.

Best: Jordan Endemann, Fred Tricks, Hamish Morrison, Thomas Baxter, noah wood, Kieran Emery

Team Name: UTS Bats 10.4.64

Goal Kickers: N. Stanlan-Velt 5, X. Barry-Murphy, H. Dyson, E. Elliot, E. Palmer, B. Robertson.

Best: Liam gordon, Antony Eussen, Nicklaus Stanlan-Velt, Joshua Lee, Ash Backlund, Bililign Robertson

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