Pies prevail to earn a finals berth

Port Macquarie's Kye Taylor looks for an option downfield to kick to against Northern Beaches. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing

IN a virtual elimination final at Wayne Richards Park, it was Port Macquarie who made it to the final four and Northern Beaches who ended up missing out.

Port Macquarie’s 26-point over the Blues means the Magpies will now meet the Lismore Swans in the knockout Semi Final at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium.

A couple of goals late in the second quarter to Braden Saggers and Jesse Schmidt turned an even contest into one where the momentum shift went the Magpies way as it gave them a 10-point buffer at the main break.

Three unanswered goals in the third term from the Magpies had them sailing towards the finals. Schmidt and Saggers were dangerous in front of goal kicking four and three goals respectively.

The strong third term was a key according to coach Matt Clarke.

“We knew the premiership quarter is the third quarter. It’s easy to come out after half time when you’ve had a bit of relaxation and be flat footed so we knew it was that moment that we had to come out real strong and our boys did,”  Clarke said.

“Once we figured out that if we pulled away from the contest and we manned up, then we actually created more space for ourselves because we were drawing them out.”

Port’s run and carry proved the difference between the two teams. Once the Magpies were able to get the ball into open spaces they looked dangerous. The longer the game progressed the more often it happened.

Northern Beaches coach Rory Evans, who was in charge of a team that was missing four players due to having to isolate for being at Covid exposure sites, admitted it was hard to stop Port Macquarie once the opposition got on top.

“The first half I think we controlled the footy through contested possession and once we stopped doing that, that allowed them (Port) to get their run and spread,”

“If we had have continued, no fault to our midfielders who battled it out all day without too many rotations but the result kind of went the way that it does if that happens.”

PORT MACQUARIE 1.3  4.4  7.8  10.10 (70)
NORTHERN BEACHES 1.2  2.6  2.6  6.8 (44)
Goals – Port: J.Schmidt 4, B.Saggers 3, M.Clarke, T.Dickson, K.Taylor. N.B: M.Huthnance 2, M.Flynn 2, J.Johnston, N.Webber.
Reserves: Port Macquarie 13.13 (91) def Northern Beaches 0.1 (1)

Sawtell/Toormina had to beat Grafton if it was to remain in second position on the ladder and earn a coveted double chance.

Doing so was a battle for the Saints with Grafton leading by 13 points at half time but Sawtell/Toormina lifted in the second half to record an important seven point victory.

The Saints turned it around in the third term kicking four goals to one to take a one-point lead into three-quarter time. Grafton would end up ruing their inaccuracy in front of goal in the third term.

GRAFTON 5.4  9.6  10.12  13.15 (93)
SAWTELL/TOORMINA 4.3  7.5  11.7  15.10 (100)
Goals – Saw: J.Perks 5, H.Anderson 3, L.Matthews 2, J.Peach 2, B.Cox 2, C.Perks. Graf: T.Churchin 6, L.Anderson 3, N.Wheaton 2, N. O’Neill, M.Luxton.
Reserves: Grafton 7.11 (53) def Sawtell/Toormina 7.6 (48)
Under-17s: Grafton 14.17 (101) def Sawtell/Toormina 11.8 (74)

The Lismore Swans did all they could to try and sneak into second position on the ladder.

The Swans overcame Nambucca Valley to the tune of 105-points but couldn’t climb a rung above Sawtell/Toormina after the Saints got past Grafton.

Nambucca Valley put up a good fight, especially early, but the Swans proved stronger in the second half kicking 10 goals to one to extend the margin.

Andrew Baker kicked eight goals to take his tally to 60 for the season and wrap-up the leading goalkicker award for the season.

LISMORE SWANS 6.1  10.4  15.9  20.10 (130)
NAMBUCCA VALLEY 2.2  2.3  3.3  3.7 (25)
Goals – Lis: A.Baker 8, J.Nicholls 4, D.Bruce 2, R.Richardson, E.McNutt, J.Ashby, T.Mowbray, P.Holden, J.McGuinness. N.V: R.McGrath 2, A.Boatfield.

Casino’s tough initiation into the AFL North Coast ranks came to an end with a heavy loss.

Facing the ladder leaders the Lions were no match for the Coffs Breakers with the match over as a contest by quarter time.

The Breakers had 14 individual goalkickers on the day with Aidan Wallace and Terrone Roberts-Potter leading the way kicking five goals each.

The Lions predicted that 2021 would be a difficult year as it set about rebuilding the foundation of the club that had been in recess for almost 15 years. With strong contributors like Liam Fitzpatrick, who was again among the Casino best on Saturday, Casino is looking forward to an improved season in 2022.

CASINO LIONS 0.1  0.1  1.2  2.2 (14)
COFFS BREAKERS 9.4  18.11  28.16  36.18 (234)
Goals – Coffs: A.Wallace 5, T.Roberts-Potter 5, J.Hayes 4, B.Neary 4, M.McMahon 3, J.Guthrie 3, O.McKenzie 3, K.Wilson 2, D.Walls 2, J.Hunt, D.Homan, R.Maher, J.Yole, J.Lansdowne. Cas: C.Reeves, J.Walker.

SENIOR LADDER

	P	W	D	L	WIN %	FOR	AGST	%
Coffs Breakers	14	12	0	2	85.71	1607	755	212.85
Sawtell/Toormina	14	10	0	4	71.43	1176	973	120.86
Lismore Swans	14	9	0	5	64.29	1451	810	179.14
Port Macquarie	14	9	0	5	64.29	1296	891	145.45
Northern Beaches	14	8	1	5	60.71	1133	725	156.28
Grafton	14	5	1	8	39.29	1235	1071	115.31
Nambucca Valley	14	2	0	12	14.29	615	1223	50.29
Casino Lions	14	0	0	14	0.00	312	2377	13.13

AFL NORTH COAST FINALS SYSTEM

1st Semi Final (3rd vs 4th) – Winner to Preliminary Final, loser eliminated.
2nd Semi Final (1st vs 2nd) – Winner to Grand Final, loser to Preliminary Final.
Preliminary Final (Winner 1st Semi vs Loser 2nd Semi) – Winner to Grand Final, loser eliminated
Grand Final (Winner 2nd Semi vs Winner Preliminary)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

At C.ex Coffs International Stadium

11.30am – Under-17s 2nd Semi: Grafton vs Sawtell/Toormina
1.20pm – Reserves 1st Semi: Grafton vs Northern Beaches
2.50pm – Reserves 2nd Semi: Coffs Breakers vs Sawtell/Toormina

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

At C.ex Coffs International Stadium

10.00am – Womens 2nd Semi: Coffs Breakers vs Northern Beaches

11.50am – Womens 1st Semi: Lismore Swans vs Port Macquarie
1.20pm – Seniors 2nd Semi: Coffs Breakers vs Sawtell/Toormina
3.30pm – Seniors 1st Semi: Lismore Swans vs Port Macquarie