2007 Grand Final a carbon copy.
The stage may have changed and a few of the actors had been replaced, but you would have been forgiven for thinking that the script hadn't changed. It goes something like this:
The Cougars start well out of the blocks, kicking early goals, including an important goal into the wind. The more fancied Blues are wasteful in front of goal and head into the main break trailing by a small margin, thanks to a swag of behinds. They come out in the third quarter and despite the aid of a wind, barely manage to take the lead at the last change. The Cougars, tiring by now and lacking creativity, fail to capitalize on the wind in the last quarter, only matching the Blues, who also kick a goal into the wind.
Throw in a nice pack-mark by Jamie Day who converted truly, the odd umpiring controversy and a score line that has the Blues winning with one goal less than the Cougars and you would be thinking "deja vu".
Well done to both teams for putting on a grand display and let's hope that some new actors are written into a new script in 2008.
Eastern Blues 4 17 41 def Uni. Cougars 5 7 37
Eagles win first final
Forget 2005 when they beat a fledgling Bulldogs in nothing more than a scratch match, this was a real win in the "big time" for the league improvers. The game was fast and furious and played in good spirit. The Eagles, with the tallest list in the CAFL, also have pocket rockets in Stanley Chung and Joe Kelly and it was their leg speed which prevailed over the gutsy Bulldogs. The Eagles were rewarded for all the hard work they've put in on the training track, whereas the Bulldogs will need to lift this aspect of their preparation if they are to avoid the wooden spoon in 2008.
Mid-Cant. Eagles 9 17 71 def Ch. Bulldogs 3 6 24
Final's Awards
Best on ground in Grand Final: Shaun Allison
Best and Fairest 2007: Darryl Cochraine (Bulldogs) 12 votes
Equal second with 9-votes: J Bowden and G Thomas (Blues)
Winter Sports Awards Nominations 2007 to be held 10th November at the Convention centre
Outstanding official: Steve Nolan
Outstanding Junior: Jamie Fanning
Coach of the year: Justin Davies
Team of the year: Eastern Blues
Player of the year: Darryl Cochraine