Preliminary Final Weekend 1995


Reserves Statistics

ESSENDON.........0.4 2.6  2.9  3.12 (30)
SYDNEY...........5.2 7.4 11.8 15.9  (99)

Goals:

ESSENDON: Kirzner, D Fraser, Pitura 1.
SYDNEY: Carey 4, Bomford 2, Brunton, Rocca, Mooney, Barry, Chapman, McPherson, Myles, Luff, Arnott 1.

Best Players:

ESSENDON: Pitura, D Fraser, Kingsley, Cransberg, Berbakov.
SYDNEY: Chapman, Carey, Brunton, Scott, Mangin, Bomford, Caven.

Comment:

There will be many questions asked after this disastrous end to the reserves season for 1995. Only one game away from the Grand Final, and they looked like wooden spooners. The majority of our best players were supplementary list players. But we ask why this should be so, with thirteen, yes, no less than thirteen players who have played senior football (Hills, Prior, Lloyd, Wallis, Doolan, Cransberg, Flood, M Fraser, Lewfatt, Kirzner, Morgan, Moorcroft, and Olarenshaw (that list includes three premiership players!)). I think the answer can be found in a number of places. These players who had experienced senior football didn't really have much to play for, afterall, what does the reserves flag actually mean? Four of the players had come off a demoralising loss in the seniors the week before (although I though Doolan and Olarenshaw played quite well). In contrast, the Sydney players were experiencing finals football, many for the first time. They were more attacking in the air (especially on the half back line, where they out marked us nearly every time. It came down to the simple fact that they wanted the footy more than us. But other things were going wrong too. We had great difficulty kicking the ball, only a few players managed to kick with any length or accuracy. Granted, it was a poor night for football, raining and the centre of the ground a mud heap, but the Sydney players had to contend with the same conditions. In the end it was quite possibly one of the worst losses for the reserves for the season, and there will be a number of very disappointed players who would have been looking forward to their first league premiership.

However, the news isn't all bad. Out of the reserves this year have come a number of positives, in the form of our supplementary list players. And what form they have enjoyed too. Two players have stood out, Mark Pitura and Peter Berbakov. Pitura plays mainly on the wing, but sometimes it's hard to tell because he will run all over the ground. He has probably gained more possessions than any other reserves player this year, and would be a big chance for the reserves best and fairest. Peter Berbakov is a back line player, who has created many attacking moves out of defence (a la Gavin Wanganeen). He, along with Pitura, have been named most weeks in the reserves best players, and looks set to join senior ranks in years to come. Another supplementary list player who has had a great year is Darren Fraser (Mark's brother). He loves to run, and has shown great skills in his kicking and running through the mid field. These three guys will all be being looked at by other clubs in preparation for the November draft, and hopefully the Dons will be able to secure their services for years to come.

The Senior Preliminary Finals Results

Geelong 20.9.129 def. Richmond 6.4.40

No surprises here. Geelong had everything going for them, a week off, an easy win over Footscray in the qualifying final, Ablett coming back from injury and suspension, and form at the right time of the year. Richmond had it stacked against them. After a lucky win against Essendon due to circumstance, a loss to North Melbourne, and a feeling during the week like they had just won the flag (and thank ablett we do not have to put up with another week of tiger hype), they were bound to be flat, and no real match for Geelong. And that's the way the game went from start to finish. Geelong kicked away early and just kept going.

Carlton 18.10.118 def. North Melbourne 8.8.56

I don't think I've ever seen Carlton play as well as they did last night. They are extremely focused, focused on only one thing - the flag. Anything less is not good enough. After the past two seasons of finals flops, they are taking this finals series very seriously. Their play was polished and had premiership potential. North got a sniff in the third quarter, with three unanswered goals, but then Carlton regained its focus and went on to slaughter North in the last quarter.

Well the scene is set for a magnificent Grand Final, possibly the best since 1989. It's the runners up from the last two Grand Finals playing off - and one has to come away victorious. Geelong have been so disappointed in 89, 92 and 94; and Carlton have been up there for the last two years. This year one team will experience more of that disappointment, but one will be ecstatic. I must say I'll be barraking for Geelong, as we don't want Carlton to get any more flags as that would break the 15-all deadlock we've got at the moment. But Carlton do deserve to win for the unprecedented 20 wins and consistency all year. Either way, it promises to be one of the matches of the year - that one day in September!


Previous Round Grand Final Wrap-up Return to Game Listing
[Current Info...] [From the Archives] [Club Info...]
[Other Stuff...] [EFC Home Page]