As the usual Fall weather rolled across TO on Saturday October 3^rd it looked likely that we were going to have a wet and scrappy day of footy ahead of us. The footy gods must have been looking down on Canada as the rain stayed away, and it set the stage for the big game between the two current OAFL superpowers, the Etobicoke Kangaroo’s and the Toronto Eagles.

 

As the patrons began to roll through the gates the boys from the OAFL Country and OAFL Metro sides were already on the field battling it out for this year’s rivalry honours. Many current OAFL greats were to feature in the game; Shuttleworth, Buczhowski, La, Stewart, Floppy, Settle, along with the ever hungry little Bulldog himself ;-) The game started well with both sides hitting the scoreboard early in the first half, however it was the Metro team that seemed to control most of the play late in the piece as the Country team struggled to keep their pace as well as holding the strong forward attack of the City side. There wasn’t much in it at the main change, but the Dingo’s through La (BOG) and Stewart (6 Goals) ran out the game well, 5 goal victors. It was actually a pretty good game of footy regardless of the scoreline with plenty of run from both sides, and some good free flowing footy. Thanks to all the lads for showing up early to help warm up the crowd! 

OAFL METRO “ALOT” DEF OAFL COUNTRY “NOT ENOUGH”

 

 

The 'Mike Pyke' Cup

 

 

Game 2 saw the Quebec Saints take on the Broadview Hawks in the division 2 Grand Final for the first ever Mike Pyke Cup. You knew it was going to be a long day for the home side, the Hawks, as Marty Walter managed to find himself in a jumper.. Long long day indeed.. However, the Hawks came out hard early and to everyones suprise, the elusive quick legs of the one and only Marty Walter managed to get a touch in at some point. The Saints trailing at quarter time. The Hawks definitely looked the goods, they were taller and looked far more skilled than their younger opponents, the Saints. But as the saying goes; The bigger they are the harder they fall, and like a plane from the sky the Hawks came crashing down. Simply they ran out of legs by half time. The younger Saints outfit ran hard right up until the siren led by captain Cam Stark (BOG) and managed to turn the quarter time deficit into a full time victory. Great effort by the Saints side whom had to travel to TO for all their games this year. Best of luck next year chaps.

 

 

 

  QUEBEC SAINTS6.7.43DEF BROADVIEW HAWKS3.6.24  

 

 

 

Finally the time had come. Can ANYONE beat the roo’s? What does Azza have up his sleave? Will Chippa make his flight? Yes, MP, and no. That answer your questions? The commentary mic’s were turned on much to the disappointment of the crowd Butch and Bulldog began the day off with the Australian National Anthem (which incidently was almost played twice in the one sitting, noice) followed by Oh Canada (does anyone else find it strange that the Canucks national Anthem could be a title of an illicit film?). It was finally time and from the first bounce it was clear that the Eagles were here to play. Both times this year the Eagles have been beaten by the Roo’s not just by a small margin, but convincingly. So what was to change? Well not exactly a change, but a welcome finals addition. The return of the one Mark Peterson.                   
                The first 10 minutes as you could’ve expected, were scrappy. Both teams were hard at it, there was no doubt about that.. But it was the Eagles who once again as they had done all year, held strong in their defence only allowing through the one major while kicking 2 of their own, Eagles up by 6 points at the first change. The 2^nd quarter saw a far more fired up Roo’s outfit kicking 2 early ones with Trav and Emile both chipping in, but still the Eagles seemed to find the ball in safe hands down forward kicking another 5 of their own. The match ups just didn’t seem to be working for the undefeated Roo’s getting beaten across the middle aswell as in their forward and defensive halves... Ok, they were being beaten all over the ground. At the main change the Roo boys were down by 5 kicks, while Azza was already looking at a way to close the game out. While the boys were getting revved up by their respective coaches, we had the half time entertainment of... nope.. not a half time sprint (that was to follow) but of Butch attempting to set up a “Superboot” competition!! What a laugh!! Shuttleworth with his first, and the first of the competition proved to be the winner! Great work mate. Shortly after was the half time sprint where Fraser from the Hawks had talked the talk and was the hot tip to win it. But as we were soon to find out in the Div 1, its not always the favourites that come out on top!! It was Mike Karas from the Dingo’s who slipped his way through the pack to come out victorious! Incidently, it was Mikes THIRD WIN of the day, playing in both the OAFL Metro and Quebec Saints sides!! Top work mate.               
                With Peterson moving into the centre in the third term, season long hard nut Lombardini was forced to sit on the pine, while Bates was then switched into the guts to try and battle the big guy. Nothing seemed to work for the Roo’s as the Eagles piled on another 4 goals in the 3^rd term to the Roo’s solitary 2 points. Big Trav Mckenzie was searching for the ball, but in the wrong places forcing to play alot of his game down on the half back line making him far less effective. The Eagles backline with Dimacakos and Bachinski were rebounding almost every attack. Bernstein in the ruck was also impressive in the first half winning alot of the taps out of the centre.                   
                The last term the attempted fat lady cried very early, as the game was all but over at the change, but after the Eagles first and only goal in the last term it was sealed, Eagles take home the Conacher Cup! It was really an impressive sight to see the Eagles play such great footy to bring the roo’s down a peg or two, most people had predicted (myself included) an Etobicoke victory on the first Saturday in October. For the losers; Manny, Bates and Jacobs all tried hard but had too few mates while the entire Eagles outfit should’ve walked away with the BOG mug (MP was later to receive it).

Congratulations Eagles!! Well deserved!!

 

        TORONTO EAGLES 12.13.85 DEF ETOBICOKE KANGAROOS  3.10.28