It was rivals round throughout the AFL at the weekend and it was no different in round 3 of the SAFL where the Reptiles (Vipers, Crocs) teamed up to take on the Furs (Tigers, Bears) to battle it out in a hard fought, up and down tussle in the blistering heat of RMIT. With ICC just around the corner and the summer holidays creeping up behind, the final round of SAFL was an important one to put down a marker for a position in the starting line ups in 2 weeks in Siem Reap and end the local league on a high. Both teams kitted out in our new training guernesys. It was Tigers/Bears wearing white and the Vipers/Crocs in the red.

Q1
There were some new faces and some position changes down back for the Furs and it wasn’t the start they were looking for as the Vipers goal sneak Warner opened up the scoring for the day turning the inexperienced defence inside out and slotting the first of the day and set the Reptiles up for a magnificent first quarter where they went on to score 3.2 with young forward Sam also adding to his tally after kicking a lovely goal and leaving the Furs with just the 1 goal from fit again player/manager Wayne and 2 points.

Q2
Tish appearing on the scene in the second quarter would only bolster the Tigers/Bears hopes of turning this around and with a few more postion changes with all rounder Cam Pirret adding some much needed experience down back, it started to change with Jono banging his first of the day storming through the middle of the park lifting the confidence of the Furs. Just the one goal in the quarter, should of been 2 when Tish missing an absolute sitter from 5 meters out. Loads of great midfield work from the Irish contingent. Brodie and Eimear keeping each other busy all afternoon and Mcfeely on more than one occasion went bursting through the middle breaking tackles only to have his kicking leave him down.

Q3
In the second half the Furs managed to wrestle into the lead after coming out with a new lease of life and banging 2 quick goals in the first 2 minutes and another later on in the quarter. And the defence were looking alot more solid with Jakob taking in a number of great marks against fellow American Wayner. Returnee Rowan after a 2 year absence looked more and more comfortable in the back as the afternoon wore on, while in the goal square Mary was keeping Amy quiet after coming off a 5 goal first quarter against Malaysia. It was all to play for going into the 4th with just a kick in it.

Q4
It looked as if the Bears and Tigers just had to go and bang in a goal or two more to finish off the beaten looking Vipers and Crocs but with Matty switching down back to seal up the leaks after scoring his second goal of the season, the Reptiles lifted up in the forward line, Big Kev getting a well deserved goal and Warner turning little Vinh inside out on more than one occasion to blast away into the lead and there was no come back in the last few minutes for the flat Bears and Tigers. It was a great effort from both teams on steamy day where on a few occasions it looked as if it was only going one way until the pendulum swung back.

Congrats to the Crocs who are now top of the ladder on 3 wins, the rest all with the 1 win. There will be another post soon on a summary of the first half of the season. Stay tuned.

FINAL SCORE.
Tigers/Bears 1.2   2.4   5.2   6.5   (41)
VIpers/Crocs 3.2  3.4    4.2   7.6   (48)

Goals
Tigers/Bears. Jono 4,  Tish 1, Wayne 1.
Vipers/Crocs Warner 4,  Sam 1, Kev 1, Matty 1.

Best of luck to all the Swannies heading off to Siem Reap at the weekend to defend our ICC title. HONK!!!