The Aussie Hotel Yass Roos hold top spot on the ladder of the AFL Canberra 4th Grade competition after a hard fought win over the ANU Griffins last Saturday (April 30) at Joe O’Connor Park. This match was seen as a gauge of where the Roos rated in the new look 4th Grade and it is now clear they rate in the top tier. ANU have always been a strong club and it has been a long time since the Roos could claim a victory over them, so this win was worthy of celebration.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was also a celebration of two player milestones with Damian Philippa playing his 100th game for the Roos and Steve O’Brien notching up 50 games. The win made the occasion even sweeter for the two.
ANU started strongly with plenty of possession and forward pressure. They scored the first two goals of the match and the Roos could only manage two behinds early in the first quarter. As the quarter progressed the Roos started to knuckle down to the task and came back strongly to finish the quarter on top with momentum in their favour: Yass 3-3-21 to ANU 2-2-14.
The second quarter proved to be decisive as the Roos turned defence into attack several times, finishing with goals. Steve O’Brien proved his versatility and value in this game when Coach Terry Lemon switched him from his usual Centre Half Forward to Full Back to match up on one of the leading forwards of the competition: Tim Robb. Steve shut down and frustrated Robb all day and limited ANU’s main path to goal. By half time, the Roos had extended their lead (7-5-47 to 4-3-27). An unfortunate accidental collision in a contest for the ball saw young Roo George Elliot leave the field with a broken collar bone in the second quarter.
The pressure was immense on both sides in the second half. ANU did not want to contemplate a loss to the Roos and the Roos sensed victory over long-time nemesis ANU but could not afford complacency. It was an epic battle that threatened to explode a couple of times as both teams were frustrated in their efforts to seal the win and also understand some of the umpiring decisions (or lack thereof). To their credit though, the players of both sides played out an intense, physically tough match in good spirit.
ANU were grinding away at the Roos' lead and closing the gap (9-8-62 to 7-6-48 at three quarter time) but the Roos kept responding when needed with superb defence. When the siren blew to finish the game the Roos led 9-12-66 to ANU 8-10-58. The Roos had maintained a lead from late in the first quarter to the end of the match. It was a fine win from a strong Roos outfit.
Best players for the Roos were: Steve O’Brien, Toby Serafin, Daniel Smith, Jarrad Forlonge, Tom Hanson, Jon Randles, and Ben Serafin.
Goals were scored by Daniel Smith (three), Heath Lowry, Jak Willcox, Cam Attwell, Damian Philippa, Ben Serafin and Jarrad Forlonge (one each).
The Roos have now set themselves as front runners in the competition and as such will be seen as a scalp to claim by other contenders. This week it will be the UC Magpies turn to try their hand. The match takes place at "The Nest" (Hardwick Crescent, Holt) at 12 noon this Saturday (May 7).
Be there to cheer on the Roos as they aim for another win!
