MATCH REPORT
Anzac day clash match report - By Ed from WA
In the light of dawn, the break of day,
Through the waters chill they fought their way;
Like their sires of old, to the Motherland
They came o’er the sea, and they sprang to the strand;
And the blood of the Angles, the Scot, and the Celt
Grew hot in their veins as the war fire they felt.
We were all set up for a great game.The BBQ was fired up,esky chockas full of cool drink,didnt see any of the pre game as channel 9 Perth didnt want us to.
So when they eventually crossed to the G,the players ran out on the ground,and all stood reverently still while the trumpet played the last post.
60000 fans were spellbound,not a sound could be heard except the trumpet and next doors lawn mower which fired up on cue as soon as the trumpet started playing.I have the neighbours from hell.
Bombers win the toss and kick to the BBQ side of the screen.
Game on. We begin with Didak,Richards,Shaw and King on the pine bench.Cam Cloke is onfield for his first game in the big time .
Umpires start badly,paying a mark to essendon that was clearly a free to Burns.Then they make it 2 blues in 2 minutes when they pay the bombers a free in front of goal for no good reason,but they miss and open the scoring with a point.From the kick in we go our familiar route via the boundary chalk,turn it over and the bombers get a free dead in front and goal.Then Clements kick into our fwd line is smothered by Hird and they goal again.
We are down 14 nil on field,but are winning at humpo bumpo as rioli and johnson of essendon can vouch .
As usual our fwd set up is a shocker,and when we reach 50 its stalemate.Brodie broke the world record for a kick when the ump said play on he just stood stock still and nobody came to him and he didnt kick for about 2 minutes until eventually just bombing long.Josh got a free at the ball up and goaled.
I cant work out why ruckman get treated different to other players,the umpires must hate them.So many times they bewilder me by paying frees at almost every ruck contest.Its unaustralian.
Our backline are looser than grandmas undies,and when we get to the 50 its no point being there as nobody is home.Cheesy seems to have no idea at all what to do when he gets the footy,i suggest he goes to willy and find out.
The difference in attacking method is stark,bombers direct and using ball well,us via the cape causing me heartburn.
Bombers slam on 3 goals late to go in 33-8 up at qtr time
In the light of noon, in the bright sunlight,
They fought up the cliffs from height to height;
And the sun shone down on that scene of strife
Where the ‘Soul of Australia’ came to life,
As the blood of Australians was shed on the sod,
For Australia, for Britain, Humanity, God.
We go fwd to start the second term,turn it over but it comes back and didak dribbles thru a daicos special.
Bombers go fwd twice for one point and an OOF,Woey marks
on the now very familiar boundary chalk and goals. Great kick.Then MCG
roves a ruck tap from josh and bangs it thru.
We rebound a bomber sortie,Lokan gets on the end of a handball from
Burns and slams it thru for a sausage roll.
As he celebrates ,MM drags him. Burns then puts us in front with a goal from the flank.
But for the rest of the half every time we go fwd its the same thing,no one home,bombers rebound and goal. 41-54 down at half time.
Shall Australia mourn for the sons she has lost-
Should Australians weep? Nay! Great though the cost,
Joy mingles with grief, and pride mingles with pain,
For our boys died like heroes, and died not in vain.
And the ‘Soul of Australia’, new-born on that day
When her sons died at ANZAC, shall never decay.
Second half opens with MCG getting the clearance boms long to Ant who marks and goals.
next bounce ditto except rocca missed this time,but Didak chops off the kick in and its a seven point play.
Its good hard footy,the differnce being Hird and the way both sides set up the fwd line.
Ours as usual is the MM shammozzle fwd set up.
really although we are in it on the scoreboard,there isnt a hope in hell of us kicking enough goals to win the way our fwd set up is.
Only highlight is Didaks mark of the year,and goal.
Just to rub our nose in it with 21 secs on the clock before 3/4 time the bombers kick in and goal.after rioli broke The chosen ones running without a bounce record.
I have said it before,but ill say it again,the umpires this year are a disgrace.So are the rules they try to interpret.
69-85 down and sinking fast.
I saw a boy marching, with medals on his chest,
He marched alongside diggers, marching six abreast,
He knew it was Anzac Day, he walked along with pride,
And did his best to keep in step with the diggers by his side.
And when the march was over the boy looked rather tired.
A digger said. "Whose medals son?" to which the boy replied,,
"They belong to my Dad, but he didn't come back.
He died up in New Guinea, up on the Kokoda Track".
The boy looked rather sad, and a tear came to his eye,
But the digger said, "Don't worry son, I'll tell you why,"
He said, "Your old man marched with us today, all the bloomin way,
All us diggers knew he was here, it's like that on Anzac Day.
The boy looked rather puzzled he didn't understand
But the digger went on talking, and started to wave his hand,
"For this great land we live in, there's a price we have to pay,
To keep Australia free, and fly our flag today.'
I think MM must have given up at 3/4 time becuase he set up the fwd line so that there was absolutely no hope of us kicking a goal unless from outside 50 or the odd miracle occured.
But This is Anzac day,not easter and miracles were not on special.
As expected every sortie we make stops at about 30 out in the arms of a bomber or three and they give MM a lesson in how to go fwd every time as they bang shut the coffin lid and look for a spot to bury us.
MCG snapped a goal on his left foot from the boundary line, a minor miracle in itself but that was the only joy.
In fact we were taught a lesson all round in that last qtr.
An improved effort on recent weeks,we must continue to play the kids,Obree and Matty Lokan could be willy bound,as Mullins gets a try.and Bucks or Taz come back in.
Next week could be very ugly if we dont re structure the fwd set up.
'Yes we all love fun and merriment in this country where
we live,
"But the price was that some soldier his precious life must give,
"For you to go to school, my son, and worship God at will.
"Somebody had to pay the price, so our diggers paid the bill."
"Your dad died for us my son for all things good
and true.
"And I hope you can understand these words I've said to you".
The boy looked up at the digger and after a little while,
His face changed expression, and he said with a beautiful smile,
I know my dad marched here today, this our Anzac Day,
I know he did, I know he did. all the bloom'n way!"