It was a mixed bag with positive signs for the Victorian Country Teams competing at the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival today.
All matches were played over 17 minute halves in a round robin format. The remaining games will be played tomorrow before heading into full match finals on Sunday.
Games were played in perfect winter conditions in Canberra with the sun shining all day, and not a hint of breeze.
The Victorian District League played 4 matches today in the heaviest schedule of all teams competing.
They finished the day with 1 win and 3 losses, with an excellent performance against NSW and a painful narrow defeat to the ACT.
The boys from the Districts worked their hearts out all day, and had moments where their football was as good as any seen on the day. For many of the players, the day was as grueling and challenging as they have had in their careers.
Kahn Beckett from Irrewarra said the matches were played at top pace,
"The pace of the footy is really quick. With the short format it is all out attack from the first bell. The key to it is to go hard at the contest when it is in your area, and for us down the back to turn defence into attack as quickly as possible."
Coach Ron Thomas thought his charges were unlucky to have the ledger sitting as it is at the end of day 1,
"I am so proud of these guys, they did not give up, did not give one inch all day. They had the heaviest schedule and they showed in all games that the were willing to work their guts out for their mates. The ball didn't really bounce our way all day, and there were a few decisions that may have made the difference in the results, but all of the team can hold their heads high tonight."
The Victorian Major League team started their campaign against South Australia at Manuka Oval and showed ominous form at the start of the day.
The team then moved to Quenbeyan oval where they were defeated in a fiery contest with 2008 co-finalist ACT and then accounted in the end for the Vic District team.
Peter Knights and his group should be happy with the day's results, after other fancied teams dropped games that they thought they should have won.
"There is improvement to come from this group, today was a good stretch of the legs, and though we dearly would loved to have gone through undefeated, we will be better for these matches. We are confident of building on our strengths tomorrow to get us in the best position for the finals on Sunday", Knights said.
The match between our two sides was a very entertaining affair - nothing was held back in the contests and the spirit of the match was ‘willing'. The Major team had a handy 26 point lead at half time, but again, workrate and tenacity saw the District Team claw their way back to within 8 points late in the second half. A goal after the siren to Travis Baird stretched the finishing result to 14 points.
Well done guys - you did your respective leagues very proud.
Tomorrow the Vic District will play WA and SA - both winnable matches given the inconsistent results from both today. The Vic Major team will play NSW, QLD and WA - all at Ainslie Oval.
By Jock Allan
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