World Footy News

The Wellington AFL (WAFL) competition has just concluded with the Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs easily accounting for the North City Demons in the Grand Final. The Bulldogs have now lost just one game in the past two seasons, and that was midway through 2008 when the Demons trounced them during the home and away season. The Bulldogs used that to focus for the remainder of the season to go through and take their third Premiership in the past four years.

The Wellington City Saints missed the finals, though had played out the season without regular forfeits, which is often the bane of a competition’s worst team. This is a big slide for this proud outfit as they had played off in the GF the previous season where they copped a shellacking from the all conquering and undefeated Dogs.

The Bulldogs had finished second due to percentage deficit of about 2%, so they tackled the Hutt Valley Eagles for the right to front up on the final day of the season. This went as planned for the Doggies with a comprehensive Preliminary final result in their favour.

Both squads were strong with 26 selected in each, with more available. In a four team competition with no Reserves Grade at present, there is more to be gained from having an extended bench than limiting numbers to a more easily managed 22 for the coaching staff. Of each team's selected players, only approximately two from each side are ineligible for the National side which highlights the small role that ex-pats play in the Wellington competition.

The game commenced with the Bulldogs on fire, 34 points clear at quarter time and the Demons yet to trouble the scorers. With young ruckman Andrew Hawkeye Eastwood to the fore the Bulldogs midfield with former 2005 Falcon Guy Ferguson and former TAC Cup player Johnny Iosefo in the square the talltimber of the Bulldogs forward line were getting quality service. The Bulldogs had 3 tall targets in the forward line, all around 6 foot 6 in the old scale, with former NZ Falcons in Mike Severinsen and Wayne Yoda Harvey alongside boom new recruit Ambrose Plaister, the WAFL's leading goalkicker in his rookie year. With a 4.6 (30) to zip quarter they would have been even further in front if not for inaccuracy.

However the second and third quarters saw the Demons get their running game up and away. Given the size difference, this was their opportunity to get back into it. With a propensity to run at every opportunity and use the whole field, often moving the ball short by hand and foot, the Demons worked their way back to be only 3 goals down at the final break.

Demons captain and former NZ Falcon James Kerse was instrumental, along with new young recruit James So’oalo. Bulldogs captain and former International Cupper Byron Roff was to the fore in defence, eagerly assisted by the youngsters Stan Chung at halfback and the flashy wing Laith Rua.

The last quarter saw the Doggies bring their number one game, kicking 5.2 (32) to nil, the cup back in their hands. Guy Ferguson was unanimously Best on Field with his untiring efforts as an in-and-under player. Tinged with a great sense of satisfaction for the Club was the realization that this would be the last game for Bulldogs 42 year old legend Al Hunter. Al came to the Doggies as a 27 year old in 1995 and as the coach at that stage I was hopeful I might get two or three years out of him. 14 seasons later the four time Club Best and Fairest, League Best and Fairest, twice named World Team member at the 1997 and 1999 Arafura Games and also very close to the honour of the tournament team at the 2002 International Cup has declared it is time for him to give it away. He has said he intends to support his good mate Bulldogs Coach John Jackson off-field in the future and no doubt the Wellington competition as and when he can.

For those involved in International footy it is important that we do focus on youth but it can also be the mature age recruits who can really stick and make a difference, especially one of the quality of Al Hunter on and off the field.

For coverage from the local print media, see this article from the Dominion Post.