Penno AFL Newsletter – Finals Round 1
September 6, 2024
Finals - Round 1
From the President
Week one of finals saw men’s premier division play Manly Warringah in a qualifying final and men’s division 1 play Parramatta in an elimination final at Blacktown International Sports park, on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Both of our last encounters with these teams in the home and away season saw a draw and a loss. We would have to turn this around. Out at Gipps Road Oval our Under 19.5 Division 1 played off against UNSW-ES in an elimination. Again, the last home and away encounter saw a convincing win to UNSW-ES. Finishing top of the table our division 3 men have a bye as they prepare to play this weekend in qualifying final 2, at Kanebridge Oval, against the winner of Camden v's UNSW-ES in the 1st Qualifier.
Very proud as a club to have four teams in with a shot at the premiership. Our tough, resilient, team based approached to the game puts us in good stead and puts fear in the opposition.
Training has certainly ramped up at home in intensity as teams prepare to vanquish the opponent.
After week one of the finals series, I can say I am very proud of how Pennant Hills goes about its business of playing football. Yes, we play a hard and tough brand, but it is within the laws. We pride ourselves on the contribution of all and not reliant on the fewer stars. Week one saw perhaps some of the less skilled players stand up and do their role exceptionally, contributing to success.
The Premier Division Qualifying Final also saw Stephen Wray play his 200th senior game for the club. Congratulations “Stinga” on this outstanding achievement. Be sure to read all about Stephen's achievements here.
AFL Sydney are to be congratulated on the organisation of the final’s series. The grounds, facilities, coordination, filming, broadcasting and podcast in the lead up certainly give this level of football the exposure it deserves. It seems to get better each year.
I thank you all for your support of the Demons. Without it we would not enjoy the success we do. Please, if you can, get out to the grounds and support our teams as they continue to press for a chance at premiership glory. Finals tickets can be purchased here:
Hope to see you around the grounds.
Todd Williams
President
Match Reports:
Premier Division Men's Match Report with thanks to ARA Group
Qualifying Final
Premier Division Men Vs Manly Warringah Wolves
(PH 8.5.53 Defeated MW 5.15.45)
The QF saw us against Manly Wolves who we draw with 2 weeks earlier at MKO in a bruising affair.
We welcomed back some key players and felt prepared for a physical contest. The game would be played in warm winter weather with a very strong breeze. The game was close for the entirety of the day, each break there was under a goal separating us. We knew that if we were close going into the last quarter we would prevail.
The last quarter was an absolute masterclass of what we have been working on, we were able to break away with a 2-goal lead and hold on to win by 8 points.
Our midfield was able to get on top lead by Blow, Skrivanic, Clark, Eynaud, Wray and Boag, with our backs keeping us in the game with their pressure early. Willey did a great job on a very good opposition player while generating run. Lee, Carroll, Mitchell, Hyams were all very good.
Our forwards worked hard all day with full ground pressure, Moraitis was massive all day with Hey kicking 2 critical 4th quarter goals.
We now move onto the undefeated bombers for a chance to get to the big dance.
Ben Roberts (Coach)
Best: Lachlan Willey, Cameron Mitchell, Stephen Wray, Nicholas Hey, Cooper Lee, Mitchell Blow.
Goal Kickers: N. Hey 3, J. Boag 1, B. Matthews 1, L. Skrivanic 1, T. Moraitis 1, M. Blow 1.
Under 19.5 Division 1 Match Report with thanks to Tyrepower Dural
Elimination Final
Under 19.5 Division 1 v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
(PH 7.3.45 Defeated UNSW-ES 4.17.41)
“We’re Going Deep”
Game of the year for us. To say we were excited is an understatement. What a great battle between two great teams. So much soul searching, research, conversations and training during the week to prepare after a 40-point loss to this team last week. Some tuff calls made re roles and structures. To the boys’ credit they responded to the honest feedback constructively and were really focussed to prepare well for this one which was to end the season for one of these teams. Let me share this great story.
3-4 goal breeze to one end so tactics and structures were critical to execute. We won the toss and chose to go with the wind and had to capitalise. The energy and focus was powerful pre-game and they brought this to the field. Early on we kicked two goals in 3 mins to Hawes and Chapple thanks to great mid field work by Roman, Lunna, Dylan and Este.
Tackle pressure was amazing. Lunna was a bull in the first 10 mins with his relentless pressure at the contest. Cal Irish, Jack K and Jack R were picking up stats. Soon after Hawes had his second goal from good ball movement giving us a 3-goal lead.
Great intercept mark by Cooper D to go forward again. Then UNI got free for a few minutes and had the ball inside their forward 50 for a goal. Followed up by some great work from Cooper S to clear down back and another goal to Murda over the back of the pack. Soon after another defensive effort to force turnover and a run down the attacking side and chip forward by Chapps to Ben for an open goal.
Chapple and Lunna were amazing in the first qtr. Later Ese won a clearance with an amazing flick over the top handball to Lunna then to Dylan. More great work from our forward pressure and Jack K intercept mark and kick to Hawes and over to Pat for a goal.
6 goals to 1 in the first qtr. The best start we could have hoped for.
Q2 – The wind was just as strong. The test was to adjust to a lockdown defensive structure in the 2nd qtr and play some controlled red footy against the wind. Nath read the ball well and a huge tackle from Este early set the tone.
The battle between Lauff and their big Full Forward was like a scene from Gladiator. Two warriors going at it, and both were strong and ferocious at the contest. Lauff had the upper hand early but was this to continue later in the game? We were much better structured at stoppages than the week before and UNI had no loose players to spread the ball to. Chapple continued his good form in the 2nd with many contested marks and ground ball gets. Jack R was playing a controlled game by lowering his eyes in the 2nd and Este, Jack K, Lauff and Luka were rock solid down back. We milked the clock when we could and controlled the ball use better to make forward entries for them difficult. They had multiple opportunities and missed set shots and were goal-less in the 2nd qtr. I couldn’t have asked for a better first half from our team. No goals scored by either team in the 2nd so we kept our 4 goal lead. We had worked really hard and needed regular bench rotations. Time to rest and set for the next effort.
Q3 – Whilst the wind was still blowing and we had the attacking end, UNI came out and started to run free. They won contested ball and spread, and we went back to a zone defence rather than a lockdown man on man when they had momentum. The result was UNI playing the way they liked – open space and running football.
A great intercept mark by Luka was undone by a short pass to a 50/50 that didn’t come off. Chamberlian was their most dangerous player, and he started to have an influence with a big pack mark and goal. They started to get free and get the ball forward and the result was a couple of goals against the wind. Our pressure at the contest had come off a bit, but Lauff was down back to hold the last line of defence. They contained us well in the 3rd, kicked 2 goals to 0 and had much more forward entries. We let them run free and were too congested around the ball again.
With one quarter to go scores were 6.3.39 to 3.11.29.
Q4 – against the wind. It needed to be a relentless pressure game and well-structured at all stoppages. We were caught a couple of times out of position with them running forward. Then Chapple took a great contested mark out of defence. It was important for us to zig zag and kick short to a loose man to get down field, with hard gut running both ways to create opportunities forward against the wind. This needed to be a relentless grit of the teeth effort. Eliminate 50/50 contests and control the ball and time.
A couple of moments where we lapsed in concentration – leaving their players free in their forward 50. Not enough comms across the lines could have cost dearly if not for their poor kicking for goal.
Lauff was desperate at Full Back and the battle of the gladiators continued with Lauff having the upper hand and leading by example. At the 7-minute mark the two bulls went up for an aerial contest with both getting their hands on it and Lauff bringing it to ground. What a great spectacle this was.
They had so much of the ball in the middle 10 minutes of the last qtr. We couldn’t clear past the centre. They had 4-5 clear scoring opportunities but couldn’t convert. At the 15-minute mark they kicked a goal. By this stage players had worked so hard, and fatigue was kicking in. They were now for the first time in the game – in the lead – by 1 point. It was going to be close to the end.
Then at the 19-minute mark from a throw in at centre wing we got the ball clear to Murda on the run and a rebound kick by them found us and Robbo managed a mark and kicked the ball forward to Muz on the run who marked for a set shot 30 out on a 15-degree angle. The wind was still swirling, and this was by no means an easy shot. It was our only shot for the quarter. In fact, our only set shot since the first quarter. No pressure at all Muz.
Ice Man Muz took the kick at the 20minute 10 seconds mark and it sailed straight through. Clutch moment. 5 points in the lead with 90 seconds on the clock left. Next centre clearance was critical.
They won the clearance with a kick and mark at half forward. But played on with a handball and miss kick where Lauff marked deep. Solid Lauff. Slow it down and control this kick. 22 mins had gone, we were well into time on and a stoppage on their half forward. The ball bounced forward and Henry laid on a great tackle to contain Chamberlain and force a stoppage. Ball gets knocked clear from the ball up and a Uni player grabs it with Chapple tackling and the ball spills out. One umpire with a clear view and 15m from the contest calls play on while the other 30 m away calls holding the man? It was crazy confusing, but the free kick stood.
Then the siren went. UNI NSW had the ball 35m out with a tail wind and a 20-degree angle. A goal would win the game by a point to them. A miss would see a win to Pennant Hills. Everyone held their breath.
The shot was wide and went through for a point. No one was allowed on the field until goal umpires confirmed scores.
And it was confirmed – a win to Pennant Hills by 4 points to end UNI NSW season.
WOW. This was the win of the year for us and a game these boys will remember for eternity after the substantial loss to this same team only 1 week ago. What a performance turn around.
Best players:
Josh Chapple – best on ground performance for 4 quarters. Marking, contested ground balls, tackles. Everywhere man. Great game.
Ryan Lauff – the gladiator down back. Beat their bull FF and had massive influence today.
Dylan Bonham – back to best form winning ground balls and finding players from the stoppage and working both ways. Exceptional.
Lunna Fraser – what a bull. So hard at blocking protecting, tackling and winning contested ball. Lunna worked so hard and was so influential today.
Roman DV – tireless ruck work and battles around the ground. Fit and strong. Super performance Roman.
Kalan Murray – CHF up and back running, forward pressure, and that CLUTCH GOAL to win the match. A moment to remember forever. ICE ICE BABY !
Battle 1 done. With only the best teams left, we need to play 4 consistent quarters of footy. More to come as we prepare for SYD UNI this week.
Justin Kerley (Coach)
Best: Joshua Chapple, Ryan Lauff, Dylan Bonham, Lunna Fraser, Roman de Vallance, Kalan Murray
Goal Kickers: R. Hawes 2, 1, B. Waring 1, A. Murdoch 1, K. Murray 1, J. Chapple 1, P. McMurrich 1.
Division 1 Men's Match Report with thanks to Pennant Hills Toyota
Elimination Final
Division 1 Men's v Parramatta Goannas
(PH 10.10.70 Defeated PG 6.6.42)
After facing Parramatta Goannas a fortnight ago and going down by 48 points we were due for some payback come Sunday. Hot temperatures and a hot footy we went to work to put our mark on this finals series and our response was uplifting.
Our first quarter we hit the ground running kicking 4 goals to 1 with the wind behind us, the boys ran with the momentum not letting Parra get a lick. Some great forward hand passes and tap work allowed us to move quickly and hurt them on the board. We came in at quarter time feeling energized and composed and knowing the fight was far from over.
The second quarter we went back out against the wind but not backing down from the fight. We kicked the first 2 goals of the quarter but unfortunately Parra found their momentum and came back hard. They found their flow and kicked 4 unanswered goals bring the margin back to just 5 points, going into the halftime break knowing we had a battle.
The message at halftime was composure and first to the footy. The idea was to choke Parra off from the ball and play our style. The guys did an amazing job using the wind to kick the first 3 goals of the quarter and limiting Parra to just 1 goal. Our backline stood tall and midfielders dominated allowing us to go into the 3rd quarter break with a 22 point lead.
Last quarter we were against the wind again but our message was possession and to not let Parra have the chances to fight their way back in. The guys finished off strong and didn’t concede any goals and we even managed to kick 1 ourselves.
It was a great game and great win for the lads which sets us up to take on North Shore in next week’s semi-final.
Warren Atwell (Coach)
Best: Aidan Russell, Zac Elliott, Matt Carey, Mitchell Trenaman, Oliver Williams, Myles Collins.
Goal Kickers: M. Carey 4, M. Hall 2, D. Carnahan 1, M. Weathers 1, M. Trenaman 1, J. Preedy 1,
Division 3 Men's Match Report with thanks to Eylex Ptd Ltd
BYE
What’s on This week
Get ready for the PHAFC 2024 Presentation Night!
We hope you have Friday 8th November marked off on you calendar for PHAFC nights of nights!
To be held at The Epping Club, be sure to start organising your table of twelve. More details to follow soon.
We look forward to celebrating with you all.
