| MATCH REVIEW by Ian Dunstan 1st Semi Final Played at Digger Daws Oval Saturday August 25th.
Kalgoorlie 4.3 6.8 11.15 14.16 (100)
Boulder 3.3 7.7 10.8 13.11 (89)
Goalscorers Kalgoorlie: Peter Lehmann 4, Dale Beeson 3, Justin Langridge & Andrew Cullen 2, Ric Butterfield, Rhys O'Loughlin & Murray Pitts 1.
Goalscorers Boulder: Tama Blackman & Shane Cable 3, Chris Bowie & Adrian Hooks 2, Damian Dunlea, Michael Worthington & Henry Papertalk 1.
Best Players Kalgoorlie: Justin Langridge, Dale Beeson, Wes Miller, Murray Pitts, Cameron Brown & Owen Millwood.
Best Players Boulder: Henry Papertalk, Clinton Rudd, Matt Gibb, Matthew Wellstead & Chris Bowie
Umpires: Field> Matt Hosking, Paul Matthews & Colin Grove. Goals> Graham Davis & Bernie Miller.
The 2007 finals series started with a big upset in the 1st Semi with the Roos putting an end to the Tigers 07 season with a hardworking 11 point victory. Despite failing to defeat the Tigers in 4 Home and Away clashes, the return of quality ruckman Owen Millwood and Half Forward Murray Pitts gave the sense that the Roos might be in for a big night.
The first half was even and was highlighted by some great goals to Peter Lehmann for the Roos and a long range bomb from Tiger Michael Worthington. The Tigers went to the main break 5points ahead with Chris Bowie and Henry Papertalk winning plenty of ball in the early stages while the Roos Owen Millwood was providing the likes of Justin Langridge and Lee Boath with possession opportunities.
After half time the game did change with Roos dominating the third quarter and if it was not for wastefulness in front of the sticks may have locked the game away in this term, lesser known Roos like Ric Butterfield, Michael Roberts and Mitch Smith all had impacts when they came on the ground, while Langridge was still prolific and Wes Miller and Dale Beeson being their usual effectiveness. Tama Blackman was a shining light up forward for the Tigers but strangely seemed to spend periods on the pine which would have been better served in providing his teammates a target, while Shane Cable was clever when near the ball, but poor conversion in front of goals marred his performance.
The Roos turned for home with a 13 point advantage and with moments left in the game the Tigers had clawed this back to a 5 point deficit, only to see the clever Roos in David Clarke and Dale Beeson combine for a time consuming passage of play which ended in Beeson's 3rd goal seconds before the final siren to put the result beyond doubt.
Second Semi Final Played Sunday August 26th at Digger Daws Oval.
Mines Rovers 4.2 5.6 6.8 8.10 (58)
Railways 0.2 2.3 4.5 7.7 (49)
Goalscorers Mines: Matt James 3, Jason Boyd, Russell Walton, Jolan Fleay, Lee Mourish & Kerion Giblett 1.
Goalscorers Railways: David Stubbs 2, Meshek White, Aaron Rymer, Carl Armstrong, Anthony Frayne & Dave Harring 1.
Best Players Mines: Mark McQueen, Trent Moon, Rob Hansen, Nathan Mourish, Chris Brabazon & Steve Dewar.
Best Players Railways: Rhett Foster, Daniel Colling, Aaron Rymer, Anthony Frayne & David Stubbs.
Field Umpires: Paul Matthews, Anthony Kerr & Matt Hosking. Goal Umpires George Gale & Bernie Miller.
In absurdly blustery conditions the Diorites have earned the right for a shot at their 38 GFL Flag, after surviving a late Railways fight back to take the 2nd Semi by 9 points.
The Diorites set the foundations for the victory when utilizing a strong wind to kick four goals the none in the first quarter, where forward Matt James started the game with a burst of 3 goals including some clever set shots and a terrific snap shot from distance. Against the breeze in the second quarter the Diorites kicked just the one goal but importantly held the Panthers to two and headed to the change rooms at half time 21 points ahead. A change of forward plan for the Panthers in the 3rd quarter snuck them back into the game with Conan Wheatcroft forced to improvise in the absence of Dick Robinson Medal Winner Michael Towns. Aaron Rymer, Meshek White, Anthony Frayne and David Stubbs all at times were the key forward with none of those above 6 foot, and gave the Panthers a sniff at three quarter time coming home with the roaring 40's. In the last Mines experience did hold sway with Rob Hansen, Mark McQueen, Trent Moon and Russell Walton working hard to keep the advantage and despite Railways drawing to within 3 points a Russell Walton snap shot sealed the match and earnt the Diroites a very hard working 9 point result.
Mc Queen was brilliant in the Ruck and around the ground, while Steve Dewar and Chris Brabazon showed all some class when it mattered. Railways were well served by Rhett Foster and David Stubbs who never gave up while Anthony Frayne did some great work throughout the game as did Aaron Rymer.
Mitchell Medal Awards Night 2007
Some achievements from Mitchell Medal Awards Night Held Monday August 27th
Kalgoorlie Miner Footballer of the Year was Mines Trent Moon (Mines Rovers)
Life Membership to Hugh Gallagher (current chairman of the GFL)
Dave Harring of Railways the 2007 Rookie of the Year.
Umpires Votes in the Mitchell Medal were...
1st Railways Ruckman James Langley 36
2nd Pre Count Favourite Mines Rovers Midfielder Trent Moon 33
3rd Railways onballer/small forward Aaron Rymer 28
4th Railways midfielder Rhett Foster 26
5th Kambalda midfielder Matt Johnston 25
Colts Fairest & Best Justin Giles Railways
Reserves Fairest & Best Luke Elsbury Kalgoorlie
Champion Club Mines Rovers.
Congratulations is extended to Railways ruckman James Langley who in his third season in the GFL secured the most treasured individual prize the Mitchell Medal. Langley who has played 43 games for Railways (including 14 in this seasons home and away therefore missing 2) has won his clubs fairest and best in 2005 and 2006. Sadly for Langley he missed last seasons finals series (including Railways Premiership) with Pneumonia, so in taking this award in his stride will be striving for Railways to win the Preliminary Final and set up a further opportunity against Mines Rovers in this seasons decider. Langley is regarded by some at Railways to be the most consistent and effective Ruckman at the club and in the GFL in the past 10 years.
Preliminary Final 2007 Railways v Kalgoorlie Preview
Round 2 Railways 19.14 (128) def Kalgoorlie 9.7 (61), margin 67 points.
Round 7 Railways 8.11 (59) def Kalgoorlie 8.9 (57), margin 2 points.
Round 12 Railways 10.9 (69) def Kalgoorlie 10.5 (65), margin 4 points.
Round 17 Railways 14.12 (96) def Kalgoorlie 11.9 (75), margin 21 points.
Last Time They Met in a Final 2005 Preliminary Final Kalgoorlie 11.14 (80) def Railways 10.7 (67).
Railways Last Finals Victory v Kalgoorlie 2002 Preliminary Final Railways 22.10 (142) def Kalgoorlie 3.7 (25).
Railways have held sway against their arch rivals and co-tenants by an average just under 24 points.
It should be noted that aside from their round 2 clash all contests thereafter have been extremely tight with Railways winning Round 7 and 12 with virtually the last kick of those matches. In the most recent clash in Round 17 the Roos did close to within a goal during the last term but Railways steadied to kick away. Kalgoorlie could consider themselves unlucky to have lost the last 3 clashes against the red and blacks as they did have opportunities to win, but alas poor conversion and execution let them down.
The Roos are a side that has got better as the season has progressed and with the inclusion of Ruckman Owen Millwood, to now battle the 2007 Mitchell Medallist in James Langley will be a game highlight. Other contests of note will be the match up between Roos Deputy Vice Captain Cameron Brown and Railways Full Forward and 2007 Dick Robinson Medallist Michael Towns who should play after missing the Second Semi Final due to injury. The midfield battles of Roos Justin Langridge, David Clarke and Andrew Cullen against Panthers Rhett Foster, David Stubbs and Aaron Rymer should be engrossing, together if 2007 Rookie of the Year Panther Dave Harring is matched up against the 2005 winner of the same award in Lee Boath. Wes Miller and Dale Beeson do seem to save their best footy against Railways, while backman Brendan Sacilotto & Christian Robinson will perform important defensive tasks for the Panthers. This game may be won and lost by the ability of the players ranked 18-22 in each side, as Kalgoorlie gave a full team performance in the second semi whilst Railways did not enjoy such a luxury in the Second Semi.
In short the game should be another absorbing and physical contest, with Mines Rovers licking their lips in witnessing a tough and embracing contest, with match prediction being that scores will remain close all game with Panthers only pulling away late exactly as the did in Round 17 and this time around will record victory by 23 points and an opportunity to confront Mines Rovers for a chance at back to back Flags.
The Current GFL Premiership Ladder currently stands at..
Mines Rovers 37
Railways 28
Boulder 26
Kalgoorlie 12
Kambalda 3
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