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The Footy Almanac 2007 Round 6 – Kangaroos v Sydney

 

The first printed edition of The Footy Almanac came out in 2007, before we had a website. In the absence of a real 2020 season, we will be publishing the 2007 pieces for the first time ever on www.footyalmanac.com.au. Follow the season!

 

 

Kangaroos versus Sydney

7.10pm, Saturday, May 5

Telstra Dome, Melbourne

By JAMES MASSOLA

 

 

IT WAS WITH SOME SYMPATHY FOR THE ROOS, who’d been the subject of constant speculation over their probable move to the Gold Coast, financial difficulties and a coach under siege, that I settled in to watch these two teams play at the Docklands Stadium for the first time. And I do mean settled in. I have never much liked Docklands, and my decision to watch from my couch was a one- man protest.

 

Actually, it turned out to be a one-man and one-woman protest. That’s right. I had taken the risk of allowing LPP (La Principessa Pintado) to share the couch. LPP’s form in front of the telly during the English Premier League season had been excellent. I was willing to take it one football code at a time.

 

Leo Barry won the toss and the Swans kicked to the Coventry end. Kieren Jack was playing his first senior game, with father Garry Jack, a rugby league legend, watching from the stands. Adam Goodes lined up for the Swans, having escaped censure for belting Simon Godfrey the week before.

 

The Kangaroos dominated the first quarter. Seven goals to one told the story. Shannon Grant was starring for the Roos, Michael Firrito was holding Barry Hall, and Goodes looked listless. The move of Jesse Smith on to Michael O’Loughlin was paying dividends, too. The Swans were falling down across half-forward.

 

The pressure was on in the second term. Despite a full and frank discussion before the game about interruptions, LPP had decided to make nachos. I smiled sweetly, made room on the couch, and hooked into the chips and cheese. One goal for the Roos and two for the Swans was the tale of the second quarter. The Roos led by five goals at half-time.

 

The third quarter was more open. The Swans started kicking truly. Glenn Archer was immense for the Kangas, his running off the backline belying his age, while Aaron Edwards, in his fifth game for the Roos, proved he was still under the radar by becoming a useful target. For the Swans, Nick Malceski provided run from half-back, Barry was solid, and Hall, though he looked likely to blow a head gasket, managed to kick a goal. The Roos’ lead blew out to 37 points before the Swans wrestled their way back into the match. The lead at three-quarter time was still five goals.

 

The fourth quarter began with Firrito giving away a free-kick and 50-metre penalty to Hall, who kicked a goal. Drew Petrie pinched the ball from Darren Jolly two minutes later and kicked one. Then Bazza kicked another from another free, and almost immediately. Ben Mathews kicked one. Five minutes later Barry kicked another goal – he was concentrating now.

 

The game was alive and even a football novice such as LPP, who had been in a nachos-induced coma, could see it. The Kangaroos’ lead was now only six points and I wondered whether it was inevitable that the Swans would win. Weren’t they the masters of slowly strangling the opposition and wresting a game back? It seemed the Roos would wilt.

 

Instead they kept scrapping. Grant bobbed up with a goal. After kicking eight straight, the Swans missed. Goals by O’Loughlin and Peter Everitt were answered by goals from Matt Campbell and another from Grant. And the Roos hung on. This was a gutsy, backs-to-the-wall win.

 

Dean Laidley’s men, beset from all sides, had shown the fortitude lacking in other AFL teams that seemingly have it easier (my beloved Dees, for instance). They fully deserved the win. With the match over, I commenced the nachos clean-up operation.

 

 

Kangaroos  7.3 8.7 12.13 16.15 (111)

Sydney  1.5 3.7 8.7 14.11 (95)

 

GOALS

Kangaroos: Grant 4; Jones, Campbell 3; Petrie 2; Harris, Brown, Grima, Edwards.
Sydney: Hall 4; Mathews, O’Loughlin 2; Malceski, Everitt, Schneider, Jolly, Ablett, Crouch.

 

BEST

Kangaroos: Grant, Wells, Jones, Harris, Edwards, Firrito.

Sydney: Fosdike, Jolly, Barry, Kirk, Goodes, Ablett.

 

MILESTONES: Davis (Sydney) 150 games, Grant (Kangaroos) 300 goals.

DEBUT: Jack (Sydney).

UMPIRES :  Sully, Ellis, McInerney.

CROWD 27,045

 

OUR VOTES:  Edwards (K) 3, Goodes (S) 2, Grant (K) 1.
BROWNLOW:  Grant (K) 3, Wells (K) 2, Fosdike (S) 1.

 

 

 

For more Round by Round reports of the 2007 season click HERE

 

Printed copies of The Footy Almanac 2007 can be purchased here.

2007 Footy Almanac

 

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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