World Footy News

In a repeat of last year’s final the Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs, established in 1973, were gunning for their fourth title in a row and their ninth since 1996 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007-09). They were playing the Hutt Valley Eagles who had won their only Premiership as the Upper Hutt Eagles defeating the Bulldogs in 1995. In an interesting aside the Bulldogs' current, and 4 times Premiership, coach John Jackson was in his first season as a player that year. The teams had met 3 times over the season and the Eagles had come out ahead 2 – 1. This year’s final was expected to be a hard fought close battle between two teams, a reflection of their meetings over the past season.

The WAFL season had been very disappointing to this point. Originally the season was scheduled to commence in September but due to unavailability of grounds it did not get underway until November. This created a split season with a four week break through the summer. A break in a season which is not planned for can just lead to players taking the break and never coming back. The North City Demons did not even get to the break before they were in trouble. After only Round One, where they brought the bare minimum of 15 players, the next two games they turned up short resulting in scratch matches and after that were unsighted. When trying to keep the other teams keen, often with half their teams new to the code, this is lethal in creating commitment to the sport. After the Christmas break it was the Wellington Saints turn to not be able to field a side so the last two rounds became dual forfeits after the Bulldogs and Eagles had their great January clash. This was the only round robin game that actually went ahead in the second part of the season.

The Bulldogs despite winning the last 3 Premierships have been hit particularly hard with player losses over the past 2 seasons. Their 3 Premierships in a row matched their previous best run of 3 flags in the 80’s as the Western Suburbs Bulldogs. Overall the best run of flags in the Wellington competition was from the Wellington Central Tigers (predecessors of the current North City Demons) who won 4 in a row, also during the 80’s. The current Bulldogs, from a match hardened outfit with stars throughout have continually lost key players over the past two seasons. In 2009 they were able to cope with this but it wasn’t to be in the 2010-11 season finale. This was evidenced with only 5 of their top 10 in their Best and Fairest returning from 2008 for the 2009 season and then the same again happening between the 2009 and 2010 seasons. To put this in perspective I guess you could say it is like Carlton losing Judd, Simpson, Waite, Kreuzer and Murphy one year and then losing Gibbs, Jamison, Yarran, Walker and Betts the next. At some stage, it has to hurt! The team had just 9 players who were in their 3rd season or more with 11 in their initial or second season. Most of those 11 blokes have played less than 10 games of AFL in their lives.

That said, they were lead by their inspirational captain Danny Morgan and coached by ex New Zealand Captain John Jackson. In their last round robin game which was viewed by this correspondent they triumphed over the Eagles in a game that highlighted the great improvement in the Wellington competition since I had last seen a game nearly 7 years previously. High and contested marking was a feature as was the ability to run and carry with ball in hand. Positioning was far smarter as was decision making. Despite the game being wind affected it was obvious the skill level was far improved with the ball rarely being bottled up in pockets or within a congested area.

The Eagles have matured into a very good football team with a split of youth and experienced players. They have worked well this year under a trio of coaches. Wellington champion James Kusel took on the main roll of coach due to injury at the beginning of the season. He was helped out on a Sunday at games by regular NZ Hawks squad member Lenny Reeves and newly immigrated Australian Daryl Ward, whose son plays. Their squad has some real talent, highlighted by the brilliant Kusel, the tough Reeves, the fantastic ball carrier Hayden Shrijvers, very experienced captain Lachlan Brooking and regular Wellington players Sam Sherring and Troy Lavery. With Aussie Chris Teniseli at Full Forward their structure is very sound and a credit to the work and commitment that has been put in by the likes of Kusel, Reeves and Brooking over the past decade.

For GF day Wellington turned on almost perfect weather with temperatures of 27 and a slightly more than light breeze. Under the guidance of three umpires Chris Newlove, Mark Langdon and Carl Ellis with goal umpires Danny Garrick and Nathan Rose the game commenced with both teams very hard at it. A lot of work was being completed off the ball, shepherding the ball carriers in a very physical start to the game. The defence for both teams did not ease up and by the end of the first quarter all players needed the break.
Eagles up 3 / 2 20 to Bulldogs 2 / 0 12

The second quarter was again very even with both teams working the ball around the ground giving the umpires a great work out. At the break the Bulldogs had gained a slight lead.
Eagles 4 / 5 29 to Bulldogs 5 / 3 33

The third quarter surprised everyone with the Eagles playing a great team game out classing the Bulldogs at every turn making certain the Premiership quarter was well named.
Eagles 9 / 8 62 to Bulldogs 5 / 4 34

Whatever the Bulldogs coach said at the break seemed to work because they came out fighting – and certainly had urgency in their game. They were unlucky to have many of their attempts at goals either touched or slightly off centre but certainly had far more ball possession and control. Too late however and the third quarter had set the eagles up for their best day in 15 years.
Eagles 11 / 9 75 to Bulldogs 7 / 10 52

Goal Scorers Eagles: Chris Teniseli 3, Hayden Shrijvers 3,Troy Lavery 1, Lachlan Brooking 1, Matt Poole 1, Alex Wood 1, Sam Sherring 1

Eastern Suburbs: Danny Morgan 2, James Terry 2, Stan Chung 1, Paul Horton 1, Tom Robinson1

Congratulations Chris Teniseli - Hutt Valley Eagles -BOG

Teams: Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs
John Jackson(Coach), Danny Morgan (Captain), Andrew Eastwood, Wayne Harvey, Stan Chung, Matt Dacombe-Bird, Doug Jones, Gareth Bruce, Tom Robieson, Adam Saxton, Ben Harris, Mike Severinsen, Nick Lawton, James Terry, Brett Tibbits, Matt Baker, Stu Holden, Ethan Terry, Howard Pauling, Josh Hunt, Paul Horton.

Hutt Valley Eagles
Coaches: Darryl Ward, Lenny Reeves(also player on the day), James Kusel, John Gregory, Matthew George, Alex Wood, Ash Baker, Elijah Ward, Lachlan Brooking(Captain), Byron Mabbett, Joe Lal, Matt Poole, Chris Tiniseli, Mike Williams, Brendan Garrick, Troy Lavery, Hayden Shrijvers, Jordan Mueller, Jalan Farris, James Ferrari, Jono Bryan, Sam Sherring.