2012 SA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BERRI

FINAL WON BY SOUTHERN - July 1

by Terry Willoughby

Murray South-East won their way into the SA Country Zone championship Grand Final after two good wins in Saturday’s qualifying rounds. They conceded the first 3 goals against Central zone but then booted the last 5 to win by 16 points. In the 2nd round they were far too good for Eastern zone particularly after half-time when they slammed on 8 goals to win easily by 57 points. Outstanding players in the 2 games were Simon Berkefeld and James Paprotny of South Gambier, Tylah Saunders from Hatherleigh and Luke Harrowfield from the River Murray FL.

In Sunday’s final the MSE led at every change but were just unable to put the Southern zone away. Scores were locked together throughout with only 3 points separating the teams with a quarter to play. Southern kicked 3 goals from 4 scoring shots and just got over the line by a goal when MSE could manage only 1-4 in the last quarter. Southern 10-6 66 to MSE 8-12 60. Better players for the MSE were Matt Altmann who also kicked 3 goals, Tylah Saunders, Ben Quast, Richard O’Grady and Simon Berkefeld.       

Best: Southern - T. Johnson , T. Tedmanson, S. Munn, J. Kellock, J. Vick, J. Vivar. Mid SE - M. Altmann, T. Saunders, B. Quast, R. O'Grady, S. Berkefeld, J. Paprotny. Goals: Southern - T. Harman 2, S. Munn , J. Kellock , S. Baulderstone , M. Warmington , T. Johnson , M. Hodge , M. Burdett , J. Standfield. Mid SE - M. Altmann 3, J. McConnell 2, R. O'Grady , L. O'Neil , D. Dempsey

CENTRAL FINISHES THIRD - more from Kenn Rogers

The third place playoff between Central and Northern and was played as a four quarter game of 20 minutes with no time on.

Changes had to be made in the playing personnel as injuries from Saturday. Lucas Herbert in ruck of Blackwood had to pull out of the side and the ruck work rested on the shoulders of Adam Luitjes of Mount Lofty and he carried out the duties very well.

After a tight first half where Central led by seven points, a stroke of genius in player placement took place in the third term when Scott Wendelborn who had been playing well in the centre shifted to full forward . This move saw a revival in the Central side as Wendelborn booted three goals and with one each from Aiden Zwar and Trevor Harradine, Central led at the last change by 16 points.

The game was far from over as is the case as Northern bounced back by booting 2-3 to Central 1point until late in the term when a goal came from Wendelborn to seal the match and give the side third place with a final score of 11-6 to Northern 8-9.

Best players in this game were Adam Luitjes, Scott Wendelborn, Shaun Maxfield, Rowan Prior, Lachlan Michael of Balaklava, and Matt Barber of Bridgewater.

At the end of the game trophy winners were announced with Scott Wendelborn was named as best player, with Dillon Mansell of Moonta the best Under 21 player.

Justin Zwar of Moonta was the coach of the side.

Players from Central who made the team of the carnival were Scott Wendelborn and Zac Heir of RSMU, and Shaun Maxfield.

All in all this weekend was one of brilliant football and a well run carnival. 

3RD V 4TH  PLAYOFF

Best: Central - A. Luitjes, S. Wendelborn, S. Maxfield, R. Prior, L. Michael, M. Barber. Northern - L. Ellery, D. Pegler, B. O''dea, J. Kelly. Goals: Central - S. Wendelborn 4, T. Harradine 2, J. Martin , B. Murphy , A. Zwar , P. Hopton , R. Prior. Northern - G. Phillips 3, D. Hill , W. Hewett , R. Morris , D. Shillabeer

5TH v 6TH PLAYOFF

Best: Eastern - N. Schmidt, W. Nicholls, P. Bennett, B. Sugars, T. Schiller, S. Braun. Eyre Pen - J. Kenny, B. Mccurry, B. Hazelgrove, J. Bruce, G. Pedler. Goals: Eastern - B. Sugars 4, L. Jennings , P. Anderson , M. Foldesdy , S. Agars , M. Elliott. Eyre Pen - N. Franklin 4, M. Parker 2, R. Francis , J. Seal, M. Woolford

STANDINGS AFTER DAY ONE

CENTRAL WIN ONE LOSE ONE

by Kenn Rogers.

Scott Wendelborn, Brodie Murphy, Zac Heir, Shaun Maxfield were chosen from the Central side to represent the squad for the Australian Championships in July

A Central side made up of players from Yorke Peninsula, North Eastern, Adelaide Plains and the Adelaide Hills joined forces to make up the Central side and take on the best from around the state at Berri on the weekend.

The side jumped away to a brilliant start in the first half of their game against the Murray South East to lead at the first change 3-2 to 3 behinds and that was as far as they went as South East ran away with the game in the second half by not allowing the Central side to score again, in fact the ball did not enter Central forward lines for the half and the lads went down 3-2 to 5-6.

Better players for Central were Tom Riggs of (BBH), Ryan McDermid (Min/Man) captain Scott Wendelborn (Ironbank), Toby Haseldine and Aiden Zwar (both Moonta) and Shaun Maxfield (Mt Barker).

Disappointment changed to elation in the second game after a nerve racking win over Eastern one by two points, that saw them into a playoff for third spot.

At a good first half, Central were leading 4-4 to 1-2. But as in the first match the team fell into a false sense of security and Eastern fought back well to have the scoreboard at the final siren showing both sides on 5-4 each. Yet nearly everyone in the stand had the score at 5-5 each only to see the goal umpires confer and the scoreboard changed to have Centrals home by two points 5-6 to 5-4 to assure them of a playoff for third or fourth place on Sunday. It was confusion all round, but in the end Central were awarded the win.

Best players for Centrals were Scott Wendelborn and Shaun Maxfield of Mt Barker, Rowan Prior of Southern Saints (NEFL), Brodie Murphy from South Clare, Jesse Edwards (Onaparinga Valley) and Toby Haseldine of Moonta.

The win in this game assured the team they would play for third place on Sunday.

SCORES FROM SATURDAY JUNE 30

Round One

Murray SE 5.6 (36) def Central 3.2 (20)

Best: Mid SE - T. Saunders, L. Harrowfield, T. Wait, S. Berkefeld, D. Dempsey, L. Medhurst. Central - T. Riggs, R. Mcdermid, S. Wendelborn, T. Haseldine, A. Zwar, S. Maxfield. Goals: Mid Se - J. Mcconnell 2, L. O'Neil , D. Dempsey , L. Harrowfield. Central - J. Gillings , J. Martin , T. Harradine

Northern 7.6 (48) def Eyre Peninsula 2.1 (13)

Best: Northern - M. Purcell, D. Hill, R. Foulis, B. O'Dea. Eyre Peninsula - J. Telfer, G. Pedler, M. Parker, P. White, J. Bruce. Goals: Northern - D. Hill 2, R. Morris 2, M. Purcell 2, R. Foulis. Eyre Pen - M. Parker 2

Central 5.6 (36) def Eastern 5.4 (34)

Best: Central - S. Wendelborn, S. Maxfield, R. Prior, B. Murphy, T. Jenkin, T. Haseldine. Eastern - T. Schiller, W. Nicholls, M. Ruwoldt, N. Schmidt. Goals: Central - J. Gillings , J. Martin , S. Wendelborn , P. Hopton , R. Prior. Eastern - L. Jennings , S. Agars , P. Barrett , J. Warnock , B. Sugars

Round Two

Southern 14.12 (96) def Northern 3.3 (21)

Best: Southern -  M. Warmington, J. Vick, S. Baulderstone, S. Brown, T. Harman, J. Kellock. Northern - M. Purcell, L. Kapitola, S. Nowak, J. Palmer. Goals: Southern - T. Harman 4, M. Warmington 3, M. Burdett 2, J. Vivar , M. Hodge , T. Pinyon , T. Neale , J. Vick. Northern - R. Morris 2, G. Phillips

Murray South East 12.6 (78) def Eastern 3.3 (21)

Best: Mid SE - S. Berkefeld, L. Harrowfield, J. Paprotny, T. Wait, M. Thompson, J. Kay. Eastern - N. Schmidt, T. Schiller, S. Braun, M. Ruwoldt, P. Barrett. Goals: Mid SE - J. McConnell 3, A. Kurzman 2, A. Kilsby 2, L. Harrowfield 2, J. Kay , J. Paprotny , L. O''Neil. Eastern - B. Sugars 2, M. Ruwoldt

Southern 9.5 (59) def Eyre Peninsula 1.5 (11)

Best: Eyre Pen - M. Wilson, T. Derham, G. Phillips, M. Hodge, J. Vivar, J. Standfield. Eyre Pen - G. Pedler, J. Williams, J. Seal, J. Telfer. Goals: Southern - T. Harman 2, G. Phillips 2, S. Munn , T. Johnson , J. Vivar , M. Hodge , T. Neale. Eyre Peninsula - M. Parker

Western wins 2011 state title at Port Pirie

by Rob McLean - Wed 13 July 2011

Eyre Peninsula based Western Zone has provided the surprise of the SA Country Football Championships by claiming the title for the first time since 1999.

Widely predicted to feature towards the rear of the pack at this year’s tournament, Western benefited from an interchange blunder on Saturday, when Southern committed the cardinal sin of having 19 players on the field deep in the second of two halves.

The four goals removed from the Southern scoreline saw Western take the lead and ultimately win the contest before defeating Central in its second match of the day.

The free kick from Southern should not undermine the achievement, though, of Western taking out the title, having to overcome a very strong Murray South East in Sunday’s final.

A five goal to zero first half set the scene for the 30 point win in the deciding match.

Fittingly, the victors had six players named in the Team of the Championships at the conclusion of the two day carnival: Harry Miller Jnr, (Mallee Park), Waylon Johncock (Koonibba), Tyler Baldock (Wirrulla),  James Pedler, George Pedler (Cummins Ramblers), Carl Semmler (Tasmans), Levi Konitzka (Waybacks).

Grand final:

Western:                                       5.3     6.5            9.7            9.8            (62)

Murray South  East:                 0.1     2.2            3.3            4.7            (31)

Best: Western - C. Semmler, M. Keatley, H. Miller Jnr, G. Pedler, T. Baldock. MSE - T. Wait, N. Smith, L. Davey, L. O'Neil, B. Cordy.

Goals: Western - K. Miller, T. Baldock 3, M. Parker, W. Bilney, C. Semmler. MSE - J. McConnell 3, A. Kurzman.

What they said about the championships:

“This is one of the closest championships that we have witnessed in a number of years.” SANFL community football manager Glenn Rosser, The Transcontinental.

“The Pedler brothers were very good, Matt Keatley was another one, he made the state squad, the young lads in Tyler Baldock and Levi Konitzka, so it's been a really good effort. We've got a lot of young blokes but we always had that experience there." Western coach Simon Chase, ABC Local Radio.

"In the grand final we played Western who jumped us very early. They had four goals on the board in the first 10 minutes of the game and were in front 5.3 to one point at quarter time and after that we pegged away and chipped away but they were too good in the end." Murray South East zone director Scott Duncan, ABC Local Radio.

“It was a genuine mistake. In the excitement of trying to give everyone a run we made an error early in the second quarter. But, really, there had been only a minute’s play, no-one had scored in that time and it had no bearing on the result. I don’t think the whole thing was in the spirit of the game.” Southern coach David Earl, Southern Times Messenger.

“We played very well in that game. We started off a bit flat but we picked it up and ended up with a win.” Western zone director Darryl Montgomerie, Port Lincoln Times, speaking of Saturday’s second game against Central.

Final standings: Western, Murray South East, Southern Districts, Eastern, Northern, Central.
Leading goalkickers: Travis Oakley, Northern (8), Paul Smith, Murray South East, Ky Miller, Western (6), Luke Mensforth, Eastern, Andrew Ross, Central (5).
U21 Player of the Championships: Levi Konitza (Western).
Player of the Championships: Matthew Woolford (Northern).
Coach of the Championships: Symon Chase (Western).

Team of the Championships:

Forward - Tim O’Brien (Murray South East), Travis Oakley (Northern), Josh Vick (Southern)

Half Forward - Brodie Murphy (Central), Tyler Baldock (Western), Marcus Burdett (Southern)

Centre - James Vandeleur (Central), Harry Miller Jnr (Western), Waylon Johncock (Western)

Half Back - Nathan Smith (Murray South East), James Pedler (Western), Tom Carroll (Southern)

Back - George Pedler (Western), Phil Bennett (Eastern), Jason Farrier (Southern);

Ruck - Luke Wells (Eastern), Carl Semmler (Western), Matt Woolford (Northern);

Interchange - Levi Konitzka (Western), Luke Davey (Murray South East), Matt Hodge (Southern), Geoff Appleton (Northern), Tyson Wait (Murray South East), Josh Taylor (Eastern), Luke Duncan (Murray South East).

RESULTS - JULY 10

FINAL WON BY WESTERN

Best:  Western - C. Semmler, M. Keatley, H. Miller Jnr, G. Pedler, T. Baldock. MSE  - T. Wait, N. Smith, L. Davey, L. O''Neil, B. Cordy. Goals: Western - K. Miller 3, T. Baldock 3, M. Parker , W. Bilney , C. Semmler. MSE - J. McConnell 3, A. Kurzman

OTHER SUNDAY RESULT - 3rd and 4th playoff

Best:  Southern - T. Carroll, M. Burdett, J. Farrier, J. Vick, B. Lockett. Eastern - B. Schiller, L. Wells, A. Turrell, P. Bennett, J. Taylor. Goals: Southern Dists - C. Bradwell 3, M. Burdett 2, J. Ramsey , M. Hodge , B. McKeough , J. Vick , B. Miegel. Eastern  - N. Brown 3, L. Mensforth 2, J. Campbell , T. Roberts , S. Walton , J. Zanandrea

5th and 6th Playoff

Best:  Northern - T. Price, R. Hobbs, M. Woolford, G. Appleton, T. Button. Central - J. Vandeleur, T. Jenkin, B. Murphy, A. Hamilton, A. Pitt. Goals: Northern - T. Oakley 3, R. Hobbs , R. Morris , B. Woodall , G. Appleton , T. Button , J. Warren. Central - A. Ross 2, B. Murphy 2, J. Skinner , J. Lawson

JULY 9

Best: Western - M. Keatley, H. Miller Jnr, W. Piggott, G. Pedler, C. Mason. Southern Dists - S. Brown, J. Vick, J. Farrier, D. Irvine, T. Carroll. Goals: Western - K. Miller 2, D. Montgomerie , W. Johncock.

At one point late in the game Southern Dists had 19 players on the field and had their score wiped.

Best: Eastern - J. Taylor, L. Wells, W. Nicholls, N. Schmidt, J. Campbell. Northern - M. Burford, M. Woolford, J. Neary, T. Price, T. Oakley. Goals: Eastern - L. Mensforth 2, S. Schubert , R. Bignell , M. Underwood , L. Westhoff. Northern - T. Oakley 2, J. Neary , R. Morris

Best: Western - C. Semmler, M. Keatley, H. Miller Jnr, K. Miller, T. Warmington. Central - T. Haseldine, B. Murphy, S. Wendelborn, D. Mansell, J. Vandeleur.  Western. Goals - M. Parker 3, C. Semmler , T. Baldock , K. Miller , N. Franklin. Central - B. Murphy 2, A. Ross , J. Skinner

Best: Murray South East - L. Duncan, S. Berkefeld, L. Davey, L. O''Neil, P. Smith. Northern - B. Rose, B. Camilleri, T. Underwood, T. Oakley, M. Woolford. Goals: Murray South East - P. Smith 3, S. Berkefeld 2, A. Kurzman 2, J. McConnell , C. Povey.  Northern - T. Oakley 3, M. Woolford 2, T. Underwood , G. Appleton

Best: Southern Dists - J. Farrier, S. Brown, T. Brown, Z. Perry, M. Hodge. Central - J. Vandeleur, T. Haseldine, S. Wendelborn, A. Pitt, D. Mansell. Goals: Southern Dists - J. Ramsey 2, B. McKeough 2, B. Haskett , M. Burdett , J. Vick. Central - A. Ross 2, S. Wendelborn , B. O''Donohue , D. Cutting

Best: Murray South East - L. Duncan, A. Davey, S. Duldig, L. O''Neil, L. Davey. Eastern - A. Prior, L. Westhoff, N. Schmidt, M. Underwood, W. Nicholls. Goals: Murray South East - P. Smith 3, T. O''Brien 3. Eastern - J. Langdon , L. Mensforth , B. Schiller , M. Underwood