Ever since our 2009 season ended in a 13-point semi-final loss to the Eastern Hawks, the Redbacks had been looking forward to a chance at redemption against our archrivals. The two times the club met in 2009 were classic encounters, and with both sides bringing experienced and skilled sides for this match, another great game was on the cards.
Over the offseason, Nagoya lost several key players to injury or repatriation, but had recruited well to minimize those losses. Having said that, the Redbacks had been unable to train much with a big circs having set up shop at our traditional training venue. Going into the game, we knew we had the talent, but just didn’t know how well the boys would gel (several players met for the first time on that day), and we weren’t sure if we had the fitness to go with our much better prepared opponents.
Once on the field, however, those concerns soon evaporated as the Redbacks got off to a very strong start. Journeyman midfielder, Adrian English, opened the scoring with an early major. That was soon followed by a great passage of play that saw James under pressure on the wing delivering the ball to first gamer Dion McKay. He in turn delivered a pinpoint pass to Dillon, who slotted a second major for the home side. The Redbacks continued to dominate the midfield early, with some disciplined positional play and constant drive out of the midfield led by English, Luscombe and McKay, who were all taking advantage of Dowey’s ruck dominance. Captain Dowey chimed in for a classic goal pivoting deep in the pocket, aiming to chip to the top of the goal square, only to see his kick go over everyone’s heads and bounce through for another six pointer. The Hawks new recruit, Kuno, chimed in with a goal late in the quarter to steady things a little as the Redbacks paid the price for getting greedy and all rushing forward only to see the mobile Hawks get an easy rebound goal. The home side went to the first break an ironic 13 points up.
Returning to premiership football from a break in the second half of last season, big man Ben Abraham opened the major scoring in the second quarter with some solid body work and ensuing snap for goal early. A brilliant Hawks smother in defence denied James a goal, before Gifford played a brilliant cameo mid way through the quarter with some strong marks, and two goals in as many minutes to leave the stunned Hawks more than five goals down at the half.
All the talk in the Redbacks huddle at the half was that they could not rest on their laurels, as the always proud and dangerous Hawks unit would come at them hard, and come the Hawks did once the third quarter was underway. Some early behinds came for the Hawks before Hoshi injected himself into the game with three goals as the Hawks attacked relentlessly throughout the quarter. The Redbacks stood by as the Hawks held them goalless for the quarter, slashing their lead to only 9 points at the final change.
The Redbacks managed to control the ball and field position far better in the final quarter in a great team effort, but the Hawks simply refused to lie down. As the final quarter went on four Hawks behinds narrowed the margin to five points. The Redbacks only point of the half came with about 90 seconds left, and their defense was able to shut the game down from there, running out winners 6 goals 6 behinds (42) to the Hawks 4 goals 12 behinds (36).
Despite the atrocious second half, the Redbacks not only walked away with the points, but also the knowledge that they had unearthed some great new talent. The experienced Dion McKay played a great game, but it was the efforts of first gamers Phil K and Matt Wallace that really impressed. Taking on the game on the back of only a handful of training sessions, the boys played an integral part in our victory.
Best on ground for the visitors were Hoshi with his 3 goals and Yamatake. Nagoya’s best were the combination of McKay and English in the midfield.
