Round 17 Match Report - Seniors

One more time, with feeling

Hinterland 14.12-96 def Redcliffe 14.4-82

I’m not sure if this game could have been scripted much better if we tried. The setting? Last home game for the year, 3 wins on the board with a number of missed opportunities, playing a team who had already beaten us twice (convincingly) and the last game in charge for our Senior coach. Couple that with a couple of key players unavailability (Belly-Hamstring, D.J.-indiscreet weeing) and you have the groundwork laid for a glorious come from behind victory. I’m glad that’s how it panned out too otherwise writing this article would really suck.

We started to script with Woody kicking a goal in the opening few minutes to kickstart our game. We kicked another shortly after to skip out to a 13 point lead before our footskills and decision making let them back into the game with the next 3 goals. We would set up well behind the ball and then move it up to the wing with skill and precision before deciding it was too easy and kicking it to the opposition to have a go. Luckily for us their full forwards’ radar was a bit off as he kicked 3 points in the first quarter that could easily have been 3 goals. Luckily again, we managed to work the ball forward at the death to get a set shot at goal right on the siren. I can’t remember who kicked it (maybe Jordan?) but it was an important one as we came into the break down 2 points but with the momentum.

That momentum was quickly given back to the opposition in the second quarter as we again failed to move the ball successfully into our forward 50. It wasn’t really any one particular player or line as everybody got involved in the turnover game. If it wasn’t a poor kick the bloke on the other end would run under it or drop an easy mark and be tackled. The 10 minute period where we excelled at turnovers could have been sped up and played with some Benny Hill music it was that comical. The resulting 4 goals to the Tigers pushed the margin out to a game high 26 points with only a few minutes in the second remaining. Then something strange happened. We didn’t capitulate, we worked and fought and scrapped and even hit some targets to kick the last 2 goals and claw our way back to 13 points at the break. One of those was perhaps contentious as we received a free kick for a deliberate out of bounds and Woody had to run 50m to be the ‘closest’ player and take the resulting kick. I’m sure that had nothing to do with him being a left footer in the right-hand pocket. That and Dan bagging his first after the siren meant we yet again came into the huddle down on the scoreboard but up on momentum.

The second half was an arm wrestle with both sides taking the lead and momentum before the other regained it. Redcliffe kicked the first 2 goals of the 3rd in quick succession but strangely enough it didn’t feel like it cost us. They were both from relatively lucky plays where the ball got out of the back of the pack and we were dominating most of the general play so the boys just put the heads down and reset each time. We went on to have a purple patch, kicking the next 4 goals in what was an intense and often spiteful period of play. Kin was playing in the ruck and did an outstanding job, he won plenty of hit-outs but his follow up work was even better essentially playing as an extra midfielder. The opposition mustn’t have liked it as they got into him a bit before giving him a free and then a 50m penalty. The bloke who gave it away even tried to get a reversal, going down like he’d been shot after Kin brushed past. For me, that is always a good indication of when you are on top. Redcliffe kicked the last of the quarter in the dying minutes to take a 4 point lead into the last break.

So, the scene was well and truly set. Last quarter, tight game, one more talk to the playing group. This quarter had a number of heroes in a game that was flush with them, but if it came down to it Dan and Kratzy owned the last 30 minutes of our season. Kratzy started on the ball as Dan was pushed to full forward with Jordie giving us some pace in the middle. Redcliffe kicked the first early before Dan kicked 2 in a minute to snatch back the lead. One was from a contentious paid mark but the conversion from the pocket was top shelf. The Tigers struck back with the next 2 to lead by 10 points halfway through the quarter. It was a tense period with another Tiger goal nearly being enough to win the game but our boys were having none of it. Another mini purple patch from Dan and another 2 goals in a minute saw us take the lead for the final time with about 10 minutes remaining. By this stage the tails were up and the intensity with it. Our backline was rewarded for their organisation behind the ball, constantly rebounding the ball forward after Redcliffes’ attempted clearance. We continued to pepper the goal with inaccuracy the only negative, kicking 5 goals 6 behinds for the quarter. It didn’t matter though as our points eventually getting us past the 2 goals margin that makes you feel safer in the dying minutes. It was fitting that Kratzy kicked the last goal of the game after such a dominant quarter.

Siren goes and the relief and joy that goes with winning a tight game hit. There are hugs and backslaps for a deserving and memorable win in front of a good crowd at home. Steve gets a chair off after going out a winner and the changeroom is full to overflowing with everyone wanting to get involved in the final chance to sing the song for the year. These moments are the ones we play, coach or even barrack for, there hasn’t been as many as we would like for the year but perhaps that’s what makes these sort of underdog victories all the sweeter. We had winners everywhere, Astley had the better of his battle with their full forward, eventually seeing him move to the midfield to escape him. Lachie Smith was industrious all day taking the oppositions best mid at stoppages and was complimented well by Robbie’s outside run (before being unceremoniously shoved into the fence in the last couple of minutes). Simmo cramped late but was his usual heart and soul self before then. Wardman kicked a wonderful left foot goal, Blake was killing them all day on the wing, Sammy Noble continues to improve every game he plays and Fairy did his usual general in the backline role. Everyone contributed and stuck together when the going was tough and the win starting to slip out of our grasp.

So ends another long season. It’s draining and frustrating but equally joyful and uplifting in a way only a team sport can be. We look back and can point to individual improvements and team improvements over the course of the year and I only hope that everyone who can stick around does so, you guys deserve to reap some rewards from the hard work you have put in and the platform you have laid. Thanks also to everyone who has come along and supported this year, whether that be behind the fence or helping out the team in other ways, we truly appreciate your effort too. Hopefully you have enjoyed some of the reviews this year, I’ve (mostly) enjoyed writing them and look forward to improving them next year. Lastly a shout-out to Steve. As I’ve discovered this year, coaching is 90% frustration and hard work and about 10% enjoyable. He’s stuck with the club through a difficult period and we have come out the other side in a far better position. Thanks for the great work mate.

For the last time this year, Go Blues