AFL Sydney/Canberra Stun Tasmania. Again.
By Rod Gillett
The combined AFL Sydney-Canberra team has again beat Tasmania in a representative match in the island state. The combines came from behind at half-time to hit the front in the third quarter and hang on to a narrow lead in a hectic final quarter at historic North Hobart Oval last Saturday (19 July). The final scores were Sydney-Canberra 10.13 (73) to Tasmania’s 10.3 (63).
The combined women’s team also won, 4.6.30 to Tasmania’s 4.2.26.
This is the second year in a row both rep teams have beaten their Tasmanian opponents since the series was revived last year when games were played at York Park in Launceston.
Since representative games were first played between NSW and Tasmania in 1890, the Sky Blues had never beaten Tassie in Tasmania. However, NSW beat Tasmania at national carnivals in 1914 (Sydney), 1927 (Melbourne), and 1933 (Sydney) to finish fourth overall to the big three – Victoria, SA and WA.
At carnivals in Hobart in 1924 and 1947 NSW were well beaten by the Taswegians.
NSW also had no success in the Escort Cup games that superseded national carnivals for the minor states in the 1980s when Tassie again proved superior on home soil.
A bold attempt was undertaken by NSW coach Sam Kekovich (when coaching Newtown in the Sydney competition) at North Hobart Oval in 1982 to win in Tasmania.
On arrival Sam told the players that was comprised of Sydney players that they were going to “Burn the boats” just like Alexander the Great did when he invaded Persia in 334 BC.
Unlike the Greek General Sam’s team did not conquer Tasmania and they went down by 45 points in a high-scoring game, 11.19.85 to 20.10.130. Among the best players for NSW were speedy East Sydney winger Enzo Corvino, North Shore hard-nut Hayden Bray, ex Melbourne defender Gary Hardeman (Newtown) and ruckman Greg “Huey” Harris (Easts captain-coach).
This is why the Sydney-Canberra wins are so meritorious particularly given the alien weather conditions of a howling nor-west wind in the first half and steady rain throughout the 2nd half in last Saturday’s match.
The combined team was coached by ex-Sydney Swans premiership star Ryan O’Keefe, the coaching director for AFL NSW/ ACT, and capably led by North Shore’s Jake Veale ably assisted by former West Coast Eagles star pair Alex Witherden (Sydney University) and Jackson Nelson (like his skipper a Willoughby junior) now back in Sydney playing for Norths.
Best players were forward Kale Gabila (Manly Warringah Wolves), who was awarded the medal for best player, his teammate Zac Youlten with four goals including the sealer in the dying minutes, and defenders Ethan Grace (North Shore Bombers) and Cooper Kilpatrick (UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs) and versatile mid-fielder Jordan Endemann (Bulldogs).
Greater Sydney and Northern NSW manager- Sam Zikman, who has built-up the representative program over the past two years said, “The program has gone from strength to strength since representative football was reintroduced two years ago. Importantly, elite talent across both the Sydney and Canberra competitions are fully buying into the vision and taking pride in representing their leagues and state.”
“We’ve already seen several men’s players earn VFL opportunities, while in the women’s program, Caitlin Reid, Caitlin Fletcher, and Sophie Kavanagh have all been drafted into the AFLW from last years program.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Kristie Whittard, the women’s side have also gone 2–0 against Tasmania over the past two years. This program not only opens doors for top-end talent — it carries a great responsibility for all involved to raise the standard and deliver”, added Zikman.
Skipper Aimee Whelan played superbly throughout the match and was awarded the medal as best Sydney/Canberra player on the ground.
