Round 10 - A Dark Blue Day For The Roosters
On the Queen's Birthday Holiday our mighty Roosters ventured to Unley to play in Sturt's House on Oxford Terrace. Some unforseen changes were thrust upon us on game day. On top of the announced changes, the long awaited return of Ladhams didn't eventuate and 2008 Fos Williams Medallist Clint Alleway was out. So too was Ryswyk.
In the first stanza we went forward, Coulter marked on the lead at half-forward, a Sturt opponent crashed into him and went down like a "sack of spuds". He made a miraculous recovery when the umpy gave him the free. I didn't see who it was but you could give him the name on any recent Academy Award winner! Sturt scored moments later after a rather soft free was given against McIntyre. After Allan narrowly missed a shot, Sturt banged on another 3 majors. North broke the sequence when Matt Wright received a free at half-forward. He went BANG. Another couple of chances went becoming then Sturt went on another "Hot Streak" of 4 goals in succession. At the first huddle North trailed 1-3, 9 to 8-3, 31 and had no idea what had hit them!
In the 2nd term we had to make early inroads. We tackled this task well early after our first foray was unsuccessful. Clarke and O'Hara teamed up through the middle to boot it to half-forward. Younie received a free in the contest. He drilled it. Sturt replied in quick fashion. The skipper was leading by example as he contested desperately after Sporn sent the ball into attack. No major resulted however as Sturt ran it down the other end to score. The Roosters then went on their first 2 goal run. Clarke and Gill sent Lonie away across half-forward to goal on the run. Then Coulter goaled from a free in front. Sturt then evened the 2nd term ledger with a goal. North then went forward after the foundation was set by Wakelin and White. This lead to Gill goaling from a free at half-forward. Just prior to this, Younie went down in a contest and had to be assisted from the field (this one was not an Academy Award Performance). Sturt came up with the next 2 goals. We remained positive however, Krieg and Allan had a hand in moving it to half-forward. Wright got a free in the contest and goaled. After an even 2nd term tussle, we dropped our guard in time-on and the Double Blues kicked two. We trailed 6-5, 41 to 15-5, 95 at the half. The outcome pretty much settled.
In the premiership quarter we moved it forward swiftly. Young Wright was at the heart of the contest again, got a free and booted his 3rd sausage roll. Minutes later, my favourite Umpy - not , Dick Williams, handed Sturt their 16th goal on a silver platter ( House Brothers wine optional). The tireless workaholic Allan then booted our 2nd for the term (and wasn't offered a Silver Service). Sturt kept 3 steps ahead of us with the next 2 majors, including one from a spectacular mark in the goal square by Michael Coad. Moments later a good combo from Arehard and Allan saw Thompson gain possession and ran across 50 to score. North then wasted 2 opportunities that were punished by 2 goals on the rebound to Sturt. Just before the siren Chambers added another for good measure. At lemon time we were on the canvas 9-5, 59 to 21-9, 135.
Sturt got the first goal of the last term. North came up with a skilful reply. Archard booted it to the pocket, Wright gathered it and snapped it onto the path of Thompson. He ran in to an open goal. Once again Sturt replied quickly. If the Roosters faithful thought it couldn't get any worse, they were wrong. Sturt piled on another 4 goals to add to the Roosters misery. The final scores;
North Adelaide 10-8, 68
Sturt 27-12, 174
Kym Chaplain
Match Reporter
June 11th 2008