Grand Final Match Report - Mt Roskill Saints Auckland AFL FC

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Wednesday, 5 December, 2007

The 2008 AAFL Grand Final was held in greasy playing conditions although the ground surface remained firm. Skills were down on the day with conditions restricting the Saints ability to carry out their game plan.

Mt Roskill Saints
0.0-0
1.3-9
2.4-16
4.5-29

University Blues
3.4-22
5.5-35
7.6-48
10.7-67

The previous encounter between the two sides in the first Semi Final had seen the Saints rack up the highest score of any team this season of 14 goals against the Blues. Unfortunately the oppositon kicked a hell of a lot more!

Jarrad Wallace was given the assignment of minding the talented Taverna and did very well in restricting him to 3 goals after he had kicked 15 in our previous encounter.
Jarrad. along with Peter and Michael Boyce were amonst the best for the Sainters.

The Saints midfield including New Zealand squad members Michael Tagg, Marcus Jones and Lewis Hurst needed to make an impact on the game early if the Saints were to make any challenge. Honours were fairly even in the mid field with the Saints missing the skill and hardness of guys such as Morgan Jones who was a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury as well as Dave Kay who broke his wrist mid season.

There were limited opportunities for the Saints forwards due to some poor delivery from the midfield. Down the other end of the ground the Blues benefitted from numerous free kicks in front of goal which made scoring a lot easier for them (favourites it seems with the Umps as well - 5 goals at least from free kicks).

Veteran Peter Boyce playing his last game for the Saints, added some spice in the middle nearing the end of the game and there seemed a small chance of an upset when The Saints goaled first in the last quarter. Boycey was voted best for The Saints by the umpires.

The main difference again between the two side was experience with Uni having a host of expereinced ex-pat players to call when things got tight. Their skill and decision making was a class above The Saints.
It would be an interesting match up between the two teams if only NZ Falcons qualified players were able to be selected.

It was also good to see the AAFL strictly enforce reserves finals qulaifications which effectively barred the Takapuna Eagle team from participating in the finals.

Perhaps next season the league should consider doing like wise with regards to ensuring all teams remain below the 6 person limit for ex pat Aussies and ensuring these players are distrubuted evenly throughout the competition.