AT the start of the 2009 football season Carey Park league coach John Baggetta assessed his playing list, decided it was good enough and asked the boys to make a pact of presenting the football club with its first ever back-to-back premiership flags.
And after soundly defeating South Bunbury by 53 points in last Sunday's second semi final at Hands Oval, maintaining an unbeaten record for season 2009 and moving directly into the grand final they are certainly on track to achieve.
Second semi final
The game opened up with everything the big crowd had come to see.
Michael Finn for the Park and David Lucas for the Tigers were staging the anticipated clash of the match with both being effective ruckmen but also with good marking and work around the ground, Adam Harper lined up on leading goalkicker Shane Nani and Michael McMillan and Travis Gowland were opposed, as were Scott Roche and Dylan Bairstow and James Sebire and Brynn Francis down the spine.
Throw in the on-ballers and centreliners and for a quarter and a half the game had everything with an intensity not normally seen in qualifying games, neither side gaining ascendancy and with a very even scoreboard.
Dylan Harper, Dylan Bairstow, Rhys Pagararo, Kaz Black and Ryan McKenzie were in everything for Souths while Scott Roche, Brendan Carlson, Travis Mc-Guire, Matt Virgo, Kirk Ugle and Cody Garlet were equally as effective for the Panthers.
However, it was at this point halfway through the second quarter that Baggetta made what I considered to be the winning move in the game when he moved McMillan to half back and Gasper to half forward.
Followers will remember (Baggetta did) that in their previous clash Gowland had given McMillan a bit of a “touch up” and it was a master stroke to move him to the other end where, not only did he become a dominant player, but Gasper excelled at half forward taking eight big grabs inside the 50.
Aaron Hill and Viv Blurton began to make the difference up forward and it was becoming obvious that the pace of Carey Park was going to trouble South Bunbury.
The Tigers would be ruing the loss of the pacey Matt Henson to injury earlier in the year.
When the half-time siren sounded the Panthers had turned a six point quarter time deficit into a 17 point lead and were looking ominous.
Big Irishman Finn produced the play of the day by chopping off a South Bunbury kick out of defence with great anticipation, running hard with the ball and kicking a long goal to bring the crowd to their feet.
The sting had gone out of the Tigers while Carey Park had the ascendancy all over the ground.
Leading by 26 points at the final change the reigning premiers were never going to lose and it was a credit to their fitness that they ran the game right out to record a resounding 53 point victory and leave Souths with some big questions to be answered by their playing group and coaches.
Best for: Carey Park, Scott Roche, Michael Finn. Aaron Hill, Michael McMillan, Brendan Carlson and Damian Gasper Gasper. Best for: South Bunbury. Dylan Harper, Dylan Bairstow, Ryan McKenzie, Kaz Black, Travis Gowland and Beau Tann.
First semi final
Harvey Brunswick Leschenault eliminated Collie Eagles from the competition when they defeated them by 14 points in the first semi final at Payne Park.
It was two goals scored by HBL wingman Chris Strano that made the difference at the end and they will now play South Bunbury in the Preliminary Final at Hands Oval Sunday to determine who has the right to challenge Carey Park in the 2009 grand final to be played on Sunday, September 20.
Highlights
The performance by boundary umpire Allivia Bartlett in the second semi final. Not much of Allivia but by gee she has a big throw in on her. Well done.
Lowlights
The condition of the cricket pitch on Hands Oval is disgraceful. Perhaps the Health Department officials should pay some attention to that.
I mentioned last week that South Bunbury had three teams in the second semi finals.
Well they all lost.
This week’s games
Venue: Hands Oval
Times: Colts 10.15am, Reserves 12.20pm, Lea-gue 2.30pm.
Colts:
South Bunbury v Busselton
Reserves: South Bunbury v Eaton Boomers
League:
South Bun-bury v Har-vey Bruns.Lesch.
THE BUTLER'S TIPS: South Bunbury
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