Updated 22.08.2008

The final minor round game of the year was a preview to the Qualifying final the following week and it was crucial we started to fine some form leading up to the finals.

The reserves have gone through a horror stretch with player availability and with four under 17s having to play two games it was always going to be   a challenge against a seasoned Jervois team. Our boys battled hard but simply did not have the cattle.  It will be a completely remodeled team in the first week of the finals with around 9 first choice players becoming available to coach Bell. This team will be a very hard nut to crack throughout the finals.

The A grade boys made a great start to the game with Ryan Eyre and Ben Quast holding the gun Jervois forwards. Eyre provided super run and the wizard Michael Sumner booted three first quarter goals to give us a 19 point lead at quarter time.

Jervois hit back hard in the second term as our intensity dropped off.  The defence continued to combine really well and Jason Puaitti was instrumental in keeping us in the game.  Sumner goaled again and at the long break scores were level.

It was a scrappy third quarter as Jervois edged ahead but the boys hung tough and with  a late goal the margin was under a goal at the final change.

We really struggled in the final term as the intensity of the game took its toll and we were never really a factor. The final margin of 18 points was a fair reflection of our current position.  For the first time in a month the players worked well as a team and with further improvement a really strong showing can be expected in round one of the finals.

Ryan Eyre was easily our best player but the outstanding performance of Ben Quast did not go unnoticed.  These two were well supported by Jason Puiatti in defence. Michael Sumner finished with 5 quality goals while the balding one in Dion Newell was at his aggressive best in close.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

We ventured out to Mannum for the second time in a month knowing that they would be far more competitive given the fact that they needed to win to secure a finals birth.

The reserves were severely depleted with around 12 senior footballers not available for a variety of reasons. They were never really in the contest against a genuine premiership contender but with improve out of sight over the coming weeks as the playing list improves.

The A grade game was really competitive all day. Ben Trenorden and Brady Charles made there senior debuts while Damien Garrett played his first A grade game for the year after a stellar year in the reserves.  Matthew Kowald returned after a couple of weeks in the reserves and kicked our first three goals.  Several players had different roles and responded well. Due to match ups Travis Lienert went forward and immediately had an impact on the game. Our wingman in Ashlely Temby and Damien Garrett started the game really well. At quarter time we trailed by eight points. 

We played a poor second quarter of football. We allowed Mannum to break too many tackles and made some poor skill errors under pressure. Ryan Eyre did a great job deep in defence and was able assisted by Dion Newell and Jason Puiatti.  Tom Hines was attacking the ball hard up forward and also worked hard defensively.

We were fifteen points down at half time and really needed to play some good football.  A seven goal quarter followed that put us seven points clear at three quarter time. Travis Lienert had a great quarter up forward despite hitting the post twice and Nick Stephen also posed problems up forward. Our midfield got on top with Temby, Matthew Gogel and Daniel Girdham working well off a dominant Josh Charles rucking performance.

Our performance in the first twenty minutes of the last quarter quarter was disgraceful. Mannum scored five unanswered goals and our players fell asleep when in mattered most. Three late goals added respectability to the scoreboard but it was too little too late.

Matthew Gogel and Ashley Temby can hold their heads high while Ryan Eyre was super in defence as was Jason Puiatti. Daniel Girdham and Henry Hodge were our best midfielders while Tom Hines and Travis Lienert battled hard up forward.  Overall we again showed that our best is very good but if we are to match the top teams we need to put four good quality quarters of football together. That is the challenge over the next month.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

With two byes in the past month the players were really looking forward to playing some football.  The conditions at Mannum oval were extremely testing with a 5 or 6 goal breeze blowing straight down the ground.

The reserves were unable to score early against the strong breeze but worked their way into a winning position by three quarter time. They encountered a very committed opponent in the last quarter and were not able to make up enough ground, going down by under a goal. This was the team’s first loss for the season and gave coach Bell a chance to really see who can stand up under genuine pressure.

We won the toss in the A grade and kicked with the gale and within five minutes were two goals down!!  It was a disastrous start and it was hard to see how the team could turn things around.  As the term wore on we began to win more football and late goals to Ryan Eyre, Tom Hines and Shaun Clayson gave us a slender eight point lead at quarter time.

It was backs to the wall stuff in the second quarter.  The players were prepared to follow a specific set of instructions and really dominated the contest. Josh Charles played really well loose in defence and the hard running of Daniel Girdham, Matthew Gogel and Jason Puiatti allowed first Luke Harrowfield and then Michael Sumner to goal to allow us to go to half time with a surprising fourteen point lead.

We opened the forward line up for the talented Michael Sumner and Ryan Eyre who were both restricted by injury but they were still able to show their genuine class to put the game beyond doubt by three quarter time. Sumner goaled three times and Girdham twice. Ashley Temby and James McLaren got right on top in the midfield and all players contributed in a hard running and disciplined display of football.

Our last quarter was our best. Mannum rarely got the ball into their forward line and only bad kicking stopped the final margin being more than 68 points. 

Daniel Girdham was outstanding and was able assisted by Ashley Temby, Blake Harrowfield, James McLaren and Shaun Clayson in the midfield. Shaun played an excellent defensive game and will play an important role in this capacity in coming weeks.  Gogel and Puiatti led an outstanding defense while the forward line functioned extremely well.  Sumner and Eyre scored the goals and the role of Luke Harrowfield in having a presence across half forward and drawing players into dead space cannot be underestimated.

This was clearly our best performance for the year with not a single passenger and puts us in good stead in the run into the finals.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

With a week  of rest one would have expected us to meet Tailem Bend with a near full strength line up but it did not work out that way.  Henry Hodge finally got his opportunity at Sturt and Tyson Wait returned to Port. Injuries to Josh Charles, Jason Puiatti and Ryan Edwards and the season ending injury to Roger Puckridge meant our depth was really tested.

It was pleasing to be able to provide opportunities for several younger players which included the senior debut by the talented Shaun O’Brien. The return of Michael Sumner after a recovery from long term injury was also significant. Tailem Bend had been competitive against most teams and it was not a game we were taking lightly. 

We played some excellent football early in the game and had it not been for some shocking kicking the game would have been over at quarter time. Luke Harrowfield and Michael Sumner both kicked two goals in a quarter which saw us have fifteen shots on goal but only convert six times.  

Tailem Bend played some excellent football in the second quarter to kick six goals while another six point quarter and only two goals narrowed the margin to just eleven points at half time.

A major focus all year has been goal kicking accuracy and a sixteen goal eight point second half was a pleasing response.  The eight goal third quarter was sparked by Ryan Eyre moving into the midfield. He had only kicked one goal in the first nine games on the season but showed his extraordinary talent by kicking six goals in a half of football.  He has had a great year playing in defence but he gave supporters their first taste of the level he is capable of playing at if given a more attacking role, which will occur on a more regular basis as he matures as a footballer.

Overall it was a dominant third quarter led by Eyre.  Daniel Girdham ran riot and demonstrated he is a high class midfielder.  Michael Sumner was really special. He has not played since last years grand final but looked in good touch and if he can remain injury free he will have be really important come finals time.  Craig Pearson was getting some extended game time and looked at home on a wing.  By three quarter time the margin was out over ten goals.

Some fourteen goals were scored in the last quarter which lasted some thirty seven minutes.  Nick Stephen ran the game out really well and demonstrated he has the potential to be a long term ruckman for our club.

In the context of the Imperial Football Club this was a watershed game. Many of our younger local players were given extended game time and performed really well and this provides great hope for both this year and also the long term success of this football club. Besides Daniel Girdham, Kane Tonkin and Jason Puiatti all other players either live in the Bridge or are Imperials locals.  There are exciting times ahead.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

After two disappointing losses we really needed to win against the improving Mypolonga if we wanted to establish an all important top three minor round finish. A major focus was to start the game well and it was really pleasing to kick three goals to one in the first quarter. Luke Harrowfield kicked two of these and was benefiting from good midfield work from Henry Hodge and Tyson Wait as well as excellent run out of defence by Ryan Eyre and Jason Puiatti.

Myolonga played some really defensive football and for the first time in my memory we were unable to score for the whole of the second quarter meaning we went to half time with a 10 point lead.

The third quarter was much of the same and it took a 5 minute burst from Luke Harrowfield who had shifted into the midfield to change the game. He kicked three goals and together with a goal form Matthew Kowald turned a 6 point deficit into a 19 point three quarter time lead.

The final quarter was a real slog as we outscored Mypolonga three goals to one to record a tough 31 point victory.  Henry Hodge continued his sublime form and linked really well with our Port Adelaide loan player in Tyson Wait. Luke Harrowfield was the match winner with seven goals. The defense was excellent all day with Puiatti, Eyre and Michael Hines all impressive. It was great to see Travis Lienert also put in a good performance against a top opponent.

Overall it was a satisfying win against a team who will be a factor come finals time.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

We headed over to Ramblers knowing that we would be in for a really tough challenge against a team that had only lost one game and on paper looked stronger than the one we played in round one.

The reserves continued on their winning way to record their seventh straight win. The opposition was much improved than earlier in the year but our boys gradually got on top to record a convincing win. Johnnie Vogan played a great game and it was great to see veteran Dion Newell get through his first full game since the first game of the year.

The A grade team seemed really focused on starting well after a disappointing loss the previous week. Ramblers were able to get off to a really fast start and before we knew it we were six goals down. The opposition played really aggressive football and this meant that every turnover became very costly.  Several position changes stemmed the flow and we had our best period of the match just before half time but 5 consecutive points meant we were unable to bring the margin to within 5 goals.

Tyson Wait hit the post with the first shot of the third quarter and from here Ramblers had a really dominant period which pushed the margin out to 10 goals by three quarter time.  The players dug deep in the final quarter to ensure we reduced this margin but we were never really in the game against a team that deserves the title as clear premiership favourite.

Luke Harrowfield has dangerous all day while his angry ant brother Blake had a presence around contests all day. James McLaren played his best game for the year while Henry Hodge again contributed well.

The game clearly showed several areas that we must work hard at as a team if we are going to be competitive later in the year.  We will have a well earned rest this week before a crucial game against Mypolonga which could well secure a top three spot.

To be uploaded

Meningie oval has never been a happy hunting ground for the Imperial Football Club.  With the threat of wet and windy weather and 15 players unavailable across both grades for a variety of reasons we were expecting tough competition in both games.

The reserves controlled the game early but could not break away from a determined opposition. Persistent showers made ball handling difficult but having man mountain Nick Stephen proved the difference as he was continually able to out mark and goal against smaller opponents.  Coach Bell was able to give a run to several players who have not had much game time and the form of Rob Matthew was particularly pleasing. Goal of the day went to fill in Rob Solley in his one and only outing for the year!  In the end the reserves ran out 4 goal winners in a tough game.

The A grade team won the toss and kicked with the aid of a very strong breeze. Meningie played very defensive football early. They did not look like scoring but were clogging up our forward line. Eventually weight of numbers won out and goals to Matthew Kowald, Martin Baillee and Daniel Girdham allowed us to set up a handy lead which blew out to 32 points by quarter time.

Meningie were far more offensive in the second quarter which helped the game as a spectacle. Our midfield led by ruckman Ryan Edwards and onballers Roger Puckridge, Daniel Girdham, Henry Hodge and Blake Harrowfield were starting to get on top which gave Kowald and Baillee regular opportunities to score.

The third quarter was all one way traffic and we did not have a passenger. We added nine goals to a solitary point to put the game beyond doubt. It was great to see younger players like James McLaren, Brent Cananway and Loius Paech contribute well.

The final quarter was a bit of a slog and we were able to again hold the opposition scoreless while adding a further four goals to stretch the margin to over 20 goals.

It was really difficult to determine best players because so many players were part of the action. Ryan Edwards played his best game for the year. Ashley Temby destroyed a highly rated opponent on the wing as did Shaun Clayson in the key defensive post. The midfield  of Hodge, Puckridge, Girdham with four goals teamed well with Ryan Eyre and Blake Harrowfield.  Josh Charles was excellent up forward and both Baillee and Kowald finished with five goals.

It was a pleasing team performance which will put us in good stead for the return bout with Jervois this week at home.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

Imperial Football Club

Mannum have a great record against us at home winning two of the last three encounters.  They were coming off a very disappointing lost the previous week so everything pointed to a closer result than many anticipated.

The Reserves cruised to a 4 goal lead by half time and nearly learnt the hard way what happens if you do not give the opposition enough respect. The reigning reserves premiers dug deep and challenged hard in the last quarter. A Mannum goal on the final siren closed the final margin to just 4 points.  It was a bit of a wake up call for a team who has had an excellent start to the year.  Damien Garrett continued his excellent early season form. Rick Fischer and Dale Leech played their best games for the year while birthday boy Clay Leckie and 150 gamer Craig Kempe also contributed well.

The A grade team got off to a flying start kicking the first three goals with Luke Harrowfield and Matthew Kowald dominating across half forward. We also learnt what happens if you take the foot off the gas. I think the players were expecting a similar result to last week but we rudely awakened by a six goal Mannum burst which saw them out to an 18 point lead late in the first term.

We were able to gain more midfield possession in the second term and with a defence led by the impressive Ryan Edwards and Travis Lienert returning after 18 months off after a knee reconstruction held Mannum goalless in the second term. We managed to kick four goals to go in to half time with a handy break.

The third term was a real slog and every time we opened up a handy lead Mannum hit back. Henry Hodge and Roger Puckridge were giving real drive through the midfield and the big man in Martin Baillee continued to pose problems up forward. We held a handy 4 goal lead until late in the game when two Mannum goals closed the margin to 11 points.  A controversial free kick allowed Matthew Kowald to goal twice and put the game beyond doubt.

Henry Hodge was superb all day and was ably assisted in the midfield by Roger Puckridge and Blake Harrowfield.  Our three key forwards in Baillee, Kowald and Luke Harrowfield proved a handful all day. Ryan Edwards was our best defender while Jason Roberts played a great game in ruck.

It was a really tough game and although we did not play our best football it again highlighted the fact that this is a very even competition and I have no doubt Mannum will upset more favoured opponents as the year progresses.

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach

Imperial Football Club

After a really good trial win over Flagstaff Hill in the A grade and a draw in the reserves we headed out to Mypolonga on a warm afternoon to take on a club who were reported to be much improved this year.

The reserves were terrific all day. Coach Bell has real competition for spots and he is able to demand quality performances from all players.  In the end they ran out easy victors against a team that will be highly competitive in the finals.  Brent Canaway played a great game and continues to push for A grade selection. Brady Charles and Damien Garrett were other players who had really good games.

The A grade game was very evenly contested in the first half.  The pressure around the ball was immense and no team could gain ascendancy.  The Harrowfield boys, Roger Puckridge and Henry Hogde were enjoying the quality of Jason Roberts ruckwork which allowed us to consistently get first look at the football.  We were getting some excellent run out of defence led by Jason Puiatti and Matthew Gogel, and Josh Charles was providing a real presence across half forward.  Unfortunately some poor discipline allowed Mypolonga some easy goals and really hampered our ability to break clear on the scoreboard.

We played some quality football in the third term. This was assisted by some key injuries to the opposition but even when we were a player down through a yellow card we were able to dominate the term. Martin Baillee had a really dominate patch and kick four goals and it was good to see Daniel Girdham starting to show his class. By the time the siren had sounded we had piled on 10 goals while Mypolonga only added a single major.

The final quarter was a slugfest with both teams tiring badly. A magical Tom Hines goal was the highlight of the term and hopefully it will make ‘Almost Football Legends’ sometime during the year.

All of our midfielders played really well but Luke Harrowfield and Roger Puckridge were clearly our best two players while Blake Harrowfield did an enormous amount of hard work in close.  Henry Hodge and Daniel Girdham showed their class while Ashley Temby continued his excellent early season form.  Jason Puiatti and Matthew Gogel led a tight defense while the efforts of Michael Hines and Ryan Edwards in containing key forwards deserves a mention.

The win now sets up an absolute classic against arch rival Ramblers. It will be well worth venturing over to Johnstone Park at 5.00pm this Saturday to see country football at its best.

Updated 6.4.08

After an excellent preseason we ventured down to Jervois for the Grand Final replay.  The reserves played really well and demonstrated the depth the club has with several of these players looking set to push for A grade selection in coming weeks.

The A grade match was an absolute cracker.  We got away to an excellent start with both Martin Baillee and Matthew Kowald causing problems up forward.  Jervois dominated the midfield in the later part of the quarter and went to quarter time a goal up.

We really struggled in the second term and had real difficulty picking the ball up under pressure and this is obviously an area we need to work at  before our next game.  Jervois gradually got on top and apart for some excellent work from Ashley Temby and Jason Puiatti we would have been further than 16 points down at half time.

We played some good footy straight after half time to kick the first three goals to hit the lead but from here it was all Jervois and they turned for home five goals up.

The lead blew to 37 points early in the last quarter and we looked in real trouble.  We started to win some clean ball in close and Roger Puckridge, Henry Hodge and Temby started to control the midfield giving Baillee numerous opportunities and when he kicked his seventh we had kicked 5 unanswered goals and the margin was just 6 points.  An excellent set play allowed Shaun Day to grubber a goal to level the scores. Both teams had opportunities to score in the dying minutes but the siren sounded to signal an exciting draw.

In the end we were lucky to come away with a draw after really struggling to match the intensity of the opposition for a majority of the game.  We were thrashed in the middle and made too many basic skill errors to really be competitive. The major positive was the belief the team showed to come back from an impossible position.

Skipper Ash Temby was terrific all day on his wing and Jason Puiatti displayed his extraordinary skills across half back.  Martin Baillee was outstanding and will pose problems to all defenders.  Roger Puckridge and Henry Hodge were our best midfielders.  Blake Harrowfield and Michael Hines need to be acknowledged for playing important team roles.

The result has given us plenty to work on and probably confirmed what most already knew – Jervois are a quality football side but we have the cattle to match them.

March 2008 - 9 More trainings!

Last weekend saw the end of official preseason and the start to in season training. We held a training camp at Victor Harbor which culminated in an internal trial at Meadows on the Sunday.

It was an excellent weekend where the players competed in a series of physical and mental challenges. The run to Granite Island was by far the most demanding activity and by tea time on Saturday the players where looking rather tired.  They all enjoyed some social time at the pub on Saturday night before being joined by a host of teammates who could not attend the training camp for the internal trial.  Teams were picked so that all players who had attended the whole weekend played against ‘the rest’. Although having a real advantage in energy levels ‘the rest’ could not match the intensity of the weekend campers and were easily defeated.  It was a great trial with many players putting their hand up to play in the first round. All the recruits performed well while the endeavor of Blake Harrowfield, Shaun Clayson, Shaun Day and the Hines boys was extremely pleasing.

It is going to be really difficult to pick a first round team in both grades and the internal trial next week on March Tuesday 11^th starting at 6.45pm will be an important match for all players to further push for selection.

Stay in tune,

Tony Fielke

Senior Coach