South Coast AFL
First grade, first semi-final
Kiama 20.19 (139)
Wollondilly 7.4 (46)
KIAMA has set up a preliminary final showdown with the loser of next weekend’s second semi-final following a comprehensive win in Saturday’s start of the South Coast AFL finals series.
And the team’s form in Saturday in easily disposing of the Wollondilly Knights sounded an ominous warning to whichever of Northern Districts and Bomaderry the Power faces in the year’s penultimate match.
Kiama coach James Walton warned his team would get better in the next two weeks while preparing for the preliminary final, with two more players due back from injury.
On Saturday the Power welcomed back four players who had missed at least six weeks - last year’s SCAFL best and fairest Dan Herbert, club captain Terry Little, Ben Rawson and Walton.
And they gave the team more bite, particularly in front of goals.
That was most evident in the opening stanza when the Power took full advantage of what appeared to be a three to four goal wind was blowing straight down field at Tom Smith Oval.
The Power had slammed through four goals before the Knights were able to move the ball far enough forward to threaten the score sheets, and in fact that game could easily have been over by the first break had the Kiama forwards not missed several set shots on goal, most of which sailed just to the right of the posts.
Walton said Kiama had placed a strong focus of starting well, and much as possible having a game won by half-time.
“It’s probably been our strongest point this year,” he said.
The Power had too many options up forward, with Rod Richards, Scott Phillips, Walton and Herbert proving effective.
Herbert and Phillips were particularly dangerous, providing valuable links between the centre of the ground and the scoring zone as they continually delivered the ball to the team’s forwards.
They even managed to bag a few goals themselves.
In fact it was not until Wollondilly tagged Herbert and Phillips after half time that the Knights started to claw their way back into the game.
Wollondilly coach Russell Andrews was pleased with the way his team finished the game.
While the loss was disappointing, Andrews was pleased with the side’s efforts making the finals in its first year of first grade footy.
Kiama 8.6, 11.9, 15.14, 20.19 (139)
Wollondilly 1.1, 2.3, 5.3, 7.4 (46).
Goals:
Kiama: Rod Richards 4, James Walton, Dan Herbert, Scott Phillips 3, Geoff Dwyer, Sam Riddington 2, Josh Walton, Jaya Hartgerink, Matt Rafferty 1.
Wollondilly: Jason Haddock 2, Matt Beard 1, Shawn Paget 1.
Best:
Kiama: Josh Walton, Dan Herbert, Sam Wolf, Scott Phillips, Ryan Bridge.
Wollondilly: Jason Haddock, Daniel “Budd” Hockey, Russell Andrews, Matt Beard, Derek Tibbles.
ON TARGET: Kiama coach James Walton leads in a chase for the ball during Saturday’s big first semi-final win over Wollondilly, which was Walton’s first game back after missing six weeks through injury.
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