After a compelling two days of competition at the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival, South Australia have surprised a number of more fancied sides and will meet Vic Major on Sunday to contest the Landmark Cup and the vie for the title of national country champions.
The 2010 preliminary round has been hailed one of the most interesting in the carnival's history and according to Australian Country Football Council President, Glenn Scott, the final standings weren't decided until all the games were completed.
"While Vic Major have been the most consistent team it's been the most interesting preliminary round we've had in a long, long time," said Glenn Scott.
"I think if someone had sat down to pick the final four prior to the carnival they would really have struggled to come up with the sides that have finished in those top places.
And according to Glenn Scott the format of six games over two days - each featuring two, 17 ½ minute halves
- has meant teams have had to play their best football in each game and not become complacent.
"The games are very quick and if a team doesn't hit the ground running or takes their opponent a touch lightly they'll be beaten," said Glenn Scott.
"There have definitely been cases during this preliminary round where a team has watched their next opponent and thought they could beat them only to find their complacency has seen them on the losing side," said Mr Scott.
The format has obviously worked for South Australia - a team who by their own admission are surprised to be in the final. Coach Barry Pilmore is thrilled with his team's efforts.
"We went into today hoping to build on yesterday and now after some really good performances we're able to have a crack at the final," said Barry Pilmore.
"We had a good day yesterday but we allowed Vic Major to run over us and during our game today against the ACT it looked like that would happen again. To the players' credit we were able to come back and post a win against a really high quality side.
"The players are over the moon to be in the final. They've been rewarded for the hard work and commitment they've put into this team over the last few weeks and despite losing to Vic Major yesterday we think we're in with a good chance.
"We've come through the carnival pretty unscathed and over the four quarters we may be able to set up better against them. In saying that they're pretty quick out of the blocks and we'll have to make sure we don't give them too much room," said Barry Pilmore.
For Vic Major coach, Peter Knights, the secret to the team's success thus far has been playing as a cohesive group.
"Our strength is our evenness of the group and the depth we have. Since the very beginning we have spoken about ‘the 25', and about the importance of each and every player. Today that clicked and we look forward to a full match hit out on Sunday," said Peter Knights.
"We were much happier with our overall performances today. I think after the three games yesterday the guys were able to get to know each other on the footy field - what each of them are capable of and where their strengths lie."
"We came into today after tweaking our game plan slightly and with areas we needed to work on - to the credit of the players, they took it on board and the results showed," said Peter Knights.
At the end of day one, the ACT team were undefeated and looked favourites to retain, or at least compete for, the Landmark Cup on Sunday, but after an inconsistent day were left lying third ahead of Queensland. Both teams will now play off on Sunday at Manuka Oval for the number three spot and according to Glenn Scott every team involved in the carnival has something to play for.
The top two teams obviously play off for the Landmark Cup and the ACT and Queensland are playing to see who finishes third," said Glenn Scott.
"It's always good to come away from a carnival and say you've finished the number three team and as for fifth, sixth and seventh they will all play off to see where they finish. WA, NSW and Vic District will all be trying very hard to make sure they don't finish last," said Glenn Scott.
In a coup for the carnival organisers, AFL legend Kevin Sheedy will be at the grand final at Manuka Oval - speaking firstly at the Landmark clients' luncheon before being part of the presentation function on Sunday evening where he will speak to players and present the All Australian Jumpers to those selected.
Glenn Scott says it's really important for the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival to have someone of Kevin Sheedy's calibre involved.
"Kevin was an ambassador for us at the 2008 carnival in Shepparton and we're really pleased he's again agreed to support us," said Glenn Scott.
"It's very important that we have someone of his standing to extend the appreciation that we all have to Landmark as a sponsor. It's also fantastic for the players, coaches and officials to see someone like Kevin Sheedy show an interest in the carnival and take the time to mix with and speak to players so they go home having heard some words of wisdom from a high profile AFL personality.
"From Kevin's perspective Canberra is now officially a part of the GWS zone and given that the team is making a massive thrust into this market it's important for him to be here as well," said Mr Scott.
On Sunday (25 July), all the teams involved in the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival will feature with WA, NSW and Vic Districts playing a round robin format at Ainslie Oval to decide fifth, sixth and seventh spot. Queensland and the ACT will vie for third place at 11.45am at Manuka Oval raising the curtain for Vic Major and South Australia who will compete at the same ground for the Landmark Cup at 2pm.
By Di Darmody
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|