Grand Final Eve 2010

For the 2010 Grand Final Eve match, we had Ken Hunter the former Carlton premiership player, and Rhett Biglands, the former Adelaide champion gracing the confines of the Manila Polo Club for the sixth Grand Final Eve night match. As tradition has dictated, we pretty much left it to the legends as to what level of participation they would like, which is usually either playing, coaching or umpiring.

At the beginning, Carlton Legend Ken Hunter, was designated with coaching the Eurekas whilst Adelaide Champion Rheet Biglands, assumed the coaching role for the Dingoes.

Soon after the game started, despite the strength of the Dingoes on paper, Captain Maston insisted for Biglands to pull on a playing kit and get out there to give it to the Eurekas. This move seemed to inspire the Dingoes, and although they conceded the first goal to Peter “the Malacca” Tsiros for the Eurekas, the Dingoes proceeded to put on a procession, slamming home 5 unanswered goals. Dingoes debutants Nick Bonner (4 first quarter goals) and Ben Tasker were winning the ball from the centre tap, and taking advantage of the smaller ground by bursting into the 30 metre arc to pepper the goals, and put the Eurekas well and truly on the back foot although they managed to score a few late goals reducing the deficit to 12 points at quarter time.

However, the Eurekas, through Peaks great on-field leadership, and Hunter’s mobile coaching, were able to lock the ball in the centre contests and slow the tempo of the game, and started to put a stranglehold hold on the free-flowing Dingoes to great affect with some unsociable football. By half time, the Eurekas had stemmed the flow and had clawed their way back into the game trailing by only one straight kick.

The third quarter saw the Eurekas kick 3 goals whilst holding the Dingoes to a solitary behind. The Eurekas were swinging the changes and sensing the Dingoes were getting tired, took advantage with some strong play all around the ground. At 3 quarter time, the Eurekas had staged a remarkable comeback and now led by 13 points. Could they hang on?

The last quarter was very entertaining as both teams pretty much traded goals with everyone getting in on the action and both teams showing glimpses of running away with the match. Nick Bonner now playing at full forward bagged 4 for the quarter to take his match telly to 8. The two Greek boys contributed well in front of goal for the Eurekas with Malacca Tsiros snapping a great goal as the Dingoes threatened to runaway with the match. To the credit of both teams, they fought back when it mattered and kept the game alive until the dying seconds. The game was there for the taking with the clock ticking down but in the end, the Eurekas managed to just hang on and ran out victors by 7 points.

Final scores:
Dingoes: 6.1, 9.4, 9.5, 13.6 (84)
Eurekas: 4.1, 8.4, 11.6, 14.7 (91)

As usual, the BBQ was fired up after the game, and the beer and wine flowed as we all relaxed and enjoyed the company of the legends and the PAFL circle of friends as a prelude to the biggest day on the Australian sporting calendar.