As he entered the ground, he gazed around Drummoyne Oval to see the significant changes going on at the complex. A new grandstand and improved spectator facilities were being built, new powerful lighting is scheduled to soon be started and there was evidence of construction work everywhere. He had been to this picturesque ground on the Harbour five times since he joined the Eagles in 2004 for his first senior game, and today he was playing his 100th.
He wondered whether the extensive recruiting drive the Balmain Dockers had undertaken in the off-season would reflect the improvements off the field, but sadly, as would find out three hours later, that was not to be the case. He proudly led his team onto the ground to recognise his milestone, but instead of taking up his familiar position of centre half-back, Glenn Garner had slotted him into full-forward to replace the suspended Peter Dugmore.
Kristian Pearson is not known as a prolific goal kicker but today would be different. When the avalanche mercifully ended at 4.30pm, ‘Pearso’ had six goals beside his name and felt as proud as the supporters who had watched him give his all. Teaming with Jamie Vlatko for the first time up forward, there was an excellent understanding between the two as together they went about kicking 45 percent of the 36 goals kicked by the Eagles.
Vlatko popped through ten to take his season tally to 23, whilst livewire small forward Ben Rogers kicked four, as did Damien Bowles who was playing against his old club. Eight other players contributed majors in a match where the only interest was really to see if the Eagles could win by more than 200 points. Twelve goals in the last quarter took the margin to an extraordinary 225 points; with the final score of 36.25 (241) taking the honours as the East Coast Eagles’ highest ever score in the AFL Sydney competition.
On a day such as Saturday, the forwards understandably dominated possession, but Mike Beardsley stood out in the centre where together with Ryan Fitton and Shane Ryan, they provided enormous drive to allow such a score to be achieved. In the backlines Steve Merkel and ‘Players’ Player’ Rowan Bilkey were great on the rebound, whilst Ben Physick deserves credit for his single minded defensive job on former Swan, Nick Davis.
Unlike the week before in the loss to Sydney Uni, the best player list this week could just as well have been “all played well”. East Coast simply did not have a passenger as each Eagle strove to be better in the next quarter than the last. From a Balmain perspective, the sad and sorry tale of the scoreboard reflected exactly that with the Eagles kicking five, nine, 10 and 12 goals in successive quarters.
Round five next Sunday, May 9 will however be a sterner test when East Coast take on Western Suburbs at Blacktown Olympic Park at 2.10pm.
Balmain 0.2 2.2 2.2 2.4 (16)
East Coast Eagles 5.7 14.12 24.16 36.25 (241)
Goal kickers: Jamie Vlatko 10, Kristian Pearson 6, Ben Rogers 4, Damien Bowles 4, Shane Ryan 3, Daniel Spiteri 2, Steve O’Connor 2, Damien Charleston, Jon Vlatko, Steve Merkel, Mike Beardsley, Jack Dimery
Best players: Mike Beardsley, Jamie Vlatko, Kristian Pearson, Shane Ryan, Steve Merkel, Damien Bowles
OTHER SCORES:
Division One
Manly Warringah 2.2 4.7 5.7 9.11 (65)
East Coast Eagles 1.2 2.2 6.3 7.3 (45)
Goal kickers: Jason Duss 2, Jared Patira 2, Daniel O’Connor , Tom McNamara , Matty Power
Best players: Jason Duss, Luke McLeod, Corey Durie, David Clinch, James Dwyer, Josh Shephard
Division Three
East Coast Eagles 2.1 5.1 8.4 10.7 (67)
UTS 3.2 5.2 7.4 7.7 (49)
Goal kickers: Ash Moeller 4, Nathan Peters 3, Liam Madden, James Ford , Ben Hynes
Best players: Adam Tovell, Ben Hynes, James Collis, Andrew Tumminello, Brent Trewin, Chad Herbert
Under 18 Premier Cup
Balmain 1.1 1.1 3.1 4.2 (26)
East Coast Eagles 3.1 9.4 17.5 24.6 (150)
Goal kickers: Ethan Barclay 9, Josh Patira 5, Jake Pianta 3, Jesse Clark 2, Matthew Newson 2, Michael Clinch, Nathan Campbell , Daniel Hoy
Under 18 Challenge Cup
Holroyd-Parramatta 1.3 5.5 9.6 11.9 (75)
East Coast Eagles 1.1 4.1 5.1 6.2 (38)
Goal kickers: Jackson Pecqueux 2, Adam Hutt, Jye Hines, Matt Lyons , Allan Leabeater
Best players: Daniel Claxton, Adam Hutt, Angus Baird, Jackson Pecqueux, Ciaran Fitzsimons
EXTRAVAGANZA
First Grade
Best:
Mike Beardsley owned by Maree Gawley - $210.00
First free:
Mike Beardsley owned by Maree Gawley - $45.00
Division One
Best: Jason Duss owned by Steve Gawley - $105.00
First free: Jared Patira owned by Maree Gawley - $45.00
Division Three
Best: Adam Tovell owned by Greg Bell - $22.50 each.
NEXT WEEK’S MATCHES
The club plays at three different venues next week in Round 5, with the U/18 Premier Cup Colts having the bye.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Rosedale Oval v Moorebank Sports
Division Three v Moorebank Sports - 6.10pm
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Blacktown Olympic Park v Western Suburbs
Premier Division v Western Suburbs - 2.10pm
Division One v Western Suburbs - Midday
Gwawley Oval v Southern Power
U/18 Challenge Cup v Southern Power - 10.00am
