World Footy News

In a Grand Final re-match from last season, the perennial Auckland AFL champions, University Blues, squared off against last year’s opponent, the Waitakere Magpies. Despite many years in the AAFL competition Waitakere had yet to win a flag but with the Club supplying a large contingent to the Senior NZ Hawks in recent years it has only been a matter of time.

These were 2010’s top two teams. One win each during this season’s regular rounds, plus a better for and against percentage, gave Waitakere top spot on the ladder and bragging rights over Uni entering the finals. However when both teams met again in the semi finals the Blues won very well and deservedly went straight through to the grand final, the Magpies had to pick themselves up to play against North Shore in the preliminary final in a week. A great win over North Shores Tigers saw the Waitakere Magpies through to another grand final against the foe.
At the end of the first quarter the Blues lead by 3 goals and one could be forgiven to be thinking yet another Uni Premiership was in the making. However in the second quarter the Pies got their game going. They attacked the ball and kept Uni goalless to take a small advantage of 5 points into the rooms at the major break. In the 3rd quarter, with the breeze advantage, Uni were expected to take control however the opposite happened with the Magpies kicking 3 goals to zip giving the them the wind and a handy 22 point margin going into the final term. With the breeze, and an air of confidence, the Magpies could smell the Club’s first ever senior premiership and relentlessly piled on the pressure to kick 6 goals 7 behinds to Uni's 2 goals straight to win in a canter.

Final score
Waitakere 15.18 108 def University 8. 7 55

The Wells Medal for Best on Ground Aaron Harris (Waitakere)
The Umpires award went to Mike Gawn (Waitekere)

In the Reserve Grade Final the lead changed at the end of every quarter with the aid of the breeze a determined University team over came a gallant Mt Roskill side in the final term to get home by 3 points. Veteran Tim "Tiny" Stevens outstanding performance in defence for Uni was key to the win which resulted in him winning both the AAFL medal for best on ground and also the Umpires’ player of the day award.

Final Score:
University 6. 8 44 def Mt Roskill 6. 5 41

The AAFL also recently held their major awards night and named their ALL Star team-

The recipients were:-
Best 1st Year Player - Michael Thomas (Waitakere)
Best & Fairest U 17 Player - Jordan Bunce (University)
Best & Fairest Reserves Player - Josh Cunliffe (North Shore)
Top Goal Kicker of the Year Dr Terry Gay award- Dan McGregor (Waitakere)
McKenzie Medal AAFL Rep player of the Year Michael Tagg (Mt Roskill)
Terry Carroll Cup AAFL Volunteer of the Year
Rob Greenwood for his outstanding efforts over the last 5 years in securing our new AAFL home clubrooms at Onepoto Domain (in addition to his duties as President of the League and umpiring as well!!!!
Umpire of the Year - George Hauiti
Coach of the Year- Mick Coultard (Waitakere)

AAFL Best & Fairest Award 2010 -
Runner Up- Vandyn Hartman (Manurewa)
Winner- Andrew Crighton (North Shore)

Team of the Year

Forwards Tamati Young Brendan Clark Aaron Harris
(Waitakere) (Mt Roskill) (Waitakere)

Half Fwds Michael Thomas Matt Hacket Tom Woods
(Waitakere) (Waitakere) (North Shore)

Centres Andrew Marsden Andrew Buckthought David Rattenbury
(Waitakere) (University) (Waitakere)

Half Backs Michael Tagg Andrew Crighton John Maling
(Mt Roskill) (North Shore) (Waitakere)

Backs David Cory-Toussaint Andriu Sucu Adam Simpson
(University) (North Shore) (North Shore)

Followers Mike Gawn Damien McDowell James Monaghan
(Waitakere) (University) (University)

Interchange Kiwi Kapene-Belcher (North Shore), Ben Hick (Uni), Dan McGregor (Waitakere), Nigel Middleton (Takapuna), Mike Gregson (Waitakere) , Robbie Gore (North Shore).

Coach Andrew Congalton, Manager Jarrod Darlington