Gaelic Football in South Australia

[rupert]

Here we are on the eve of the big day. Last weeks womens game went to script with the Irish Blues easily accounting for the Nafianna ladies. The Blues were well led by Jane "I can't hep it if I am everywhere" Fitzgerald and Bel White. Rumor has it that after being sledged by a couple of Irish men from behind the goals that Georgie Smith was seen around the middle of the field on a solo run...and no it wasn't half time change ends stuff either. In the mens game the Nafianna juggernaut rolled on with the lads getting over the Goats in a close one. While the goats were missing some talls and a few playmakers, the NaFianna lads desparation and defensive pressure caused numerous turnovers. Jolly Nick was excepational in the air and looks like the footy preseason has done him well while young Javor silenced the critics who questioned his selection in the team of the year with a vinatge performance in the goals.

For this week expect some bumper crowds for the big day. Get their early to get the best vantage park or be exposed to the errant hurler slotting one through your window. Hopefully the power playing at the ampitheatre in gawler won't result in too many traumatised soles and all can make it back in time for sunday. Unlike others I think I may head out to the game to try the free bouncy castle. At the very least it should be a good place to hide and rest for the afternoon. Hopefully the kids and Zeuses of the world don't try to take over and I can take a little nap in the corner.

The womens game will be played between this seasons best two sides with Onkas taking on the Irish Australian Blues. The undefeated Onkas come into the game as the hot favourites after cruising through the season undefeated including a five point semi final victory a fortnight ago over the Blues. The Onkas team has been the most offensive side in the competition and contains a number of State Representatives including Michelle O’Brien, Amber Cooper, Elizabeth Grosvenor and Lauren Daniel and is coaches by one of the stars in the mens competition in Wade Saunders. For the Blues a lot will be riding on the tactical genius of coach Tom Greenshields and getting an even contribution from his side led by Caroline Gardener, Bel White, former Australasian representative Kate Dawes and Anita Doecke. This should be expected to be a tight game with the margin decided late in the game.

In the mens game we again see the Onkas side represented and taking on the NaFianna side who have progressed from fourth at the end of the minor round. The Onkas side have been the class side all season with a good blend of experience and youth together with some very talented Irish players. Big things are expected from Joe Pedler, Wade Saunders, young gun Jamie Conlon and the return from injury of last seasons best and fairest Gabe Phillips. The offensive power of Danny O’Grady, John O’Leary and Anto Keogh will present plenty of problems for Dan Bryant, Matt Hill, Bruno Rocca and youthful goalkeeper Tom Javor. In contrast to Onkas the NaFianna team play a very patient controlled style of game. They rely on quality ball movement and a suffocating miserly defence. Big man Nick Jolly will be required to control the air and provide quality runners and ball users like medallist Gav O’Reilly and Dylan Turner with opportunities to find the key forwards in Chris Hennessey and Ken Fay. Onkas coach Matt Whitford will be wary of the sides recent finals history with no success from finishing top the last three years and if he can have the boys firing early expect the margin to be hard to bridge. If NaFianna can make the game tight then doubts may set in and an upset could be on the cards.

[Footy Chick]

You clearly have no idea - you put 'youthful" and "Tom Javor" in the same sentence

Anyhoo, just got wind that Onkas were the winners.

[valleys07]

The big friendy giraffe would be in fine form right about now

[Cheese Twisties]

Onkas by 6 points over Na Fianna in the mens grand final.

Irish Blues over the previously undefeated Onkas in overtime in the womens GF.

Flinders by plenty in the mens Div 2 final.

St Brendans still the Gaelic7s champions...

An awesome day at St Marys Park! Gaelic Footy - the game they play in heaven (and more so Ireland)

[BFG]

The big friendy giraffe would be in fine form right about now

not feeling the best this morning it has to be said. and yes at 1125pm last night i was in very very fine form!

[wristwatcher]

Congrats to Onkas on their first Hannigan Cup Win. Well deserved as they were the best team all year. Some extrodinary video, audio and other footage is available from around 4am and again at 5.30am of some of the Onkas antics

[Cheese Twisties]

Congrats to Onkas on their first Hannigan Cup Win. Well deserved as they were the best team all year. Some extrodinary video, audio and other footage is available from around 4am and again at 5.30am of some of the Onkas antics

Send it thru and perhaps it will make it to the Gaelic website...!!

[the milky bar kid]

Contratulations to Onka's best team all year.
Couldn't be more proud of my team tho, fantastic effort to make it & already looking to right the wrong next season.
It was good that the boys all united & drowned the sorrows heavily together. Hopefully most are ready to go again tomorrow night
As for the footage, i'm looking forward to seeing the video/audio of the call made to Tony the waterboy at 5:30am... As for the other footage, could it be a touch contreversial?
Congrats to the committee on a very well ran day. Maybe the presentations should have been made after each game... It was a bit painful for everyone to sit through each presentation, especially some of them that perhaps didn't require a presentation

[fongfc]

Contratulations to Onka's best team all year.
Couldn't be more proud of my team tho, fantastic effort to make it & already looking to right the wrong next season.
It was good that the boys all united & drowned the sorrows heavily together. Hopefully most are ready to go again tomorrow night
As for the footage, i'm looking forward to seeing the video/audio of the call made to Tony the waterboy at 5:30am... As for the other footage, could it be a touch contreversial?
Congrats to the committee on a very well ran day. Maybe the presentations should have been made after each game... It was a bit painful for everyone to sit through each presentation, especially some of them that perhaps didn't require a presentation

which ones were they?

[fongfc]

the reffing in the final was interesting to say the least, I thought TG struggled to keep a lid on things and seemed more concerned with people off of the park rather than the fights and high shots on it, i know these come in a hi pressure game but i think he struggled

Big Zues did an excellent job in the div 2 final and was calm for the whole game, wonder why he wasn't appointed for the big one seeing as anto, kenny and TJ, who are the most experienced refs, were all playing

[schimma]

the reffing in the final was interesting to say the least, I thought TG struggled to keep a lid on things and seemed more concerned with people off of the park rather than the fights and high shots on it, i know these come in a hi pressure game but i think he struggled

Big Zues did an excellent job in the div 2 final and was calm for the whole game, wonder why he wasn't appointed for the big one seeing as anto, kenny and TJ, who are the most experienced refs, were all playing

well considering the display of umpiring the week before was less then par and that person who had an interest in the game. I am sure TG did his best. we have had him twice during the year and he was good. He should have did the semi final or Zues.

[the milky bar kid]

Contratulations to Onka's best team all year.
Couldn't be more proud of my team tho, fantastic effort to make it & already looking to right the wrong next season.
It was good that the boys all united & drowned the sorrows heavily together. Hopefully most are ready to go again tomorrow night
As for the footage, i'm looking forward to seeing the video/audio of the call made to Tony the waterboy at 5:30am... As for the other footage, could it be a touch contreversial?
Congrats to the committee on a very well ran day. Maybe the presentations should have been made after each game... It was a bit painful for everyone to sit through each presentation, especially some of them that perhaps didn't require a presentation

which ones were they?

I think the 7's title should've been awarded at the 7's GF & the Div 2 final

[Cheese Twisties]

I thought TG did an admirable job last Sunday. The men's GF was a bit of a nightmare fixture in regards to men's umpires, as it ruled out "the big 3" of Javor, Anto, and Kenny. TG is the next most experienced ref so hats off to him for doing the job. Zeus who umpired the Div2 final (and had to be talked in to doing that) was umpiring only his 3rd game for the season (and 5th of his umpiring career) so wasn't experienced enough to ref the big dance, which left only the club umpires of Tony the Onkas Waterboy, Steve Francis, and Flinders ref Christian. All who would admit aren't experienced to umpire the grand final!

Still need more men's refs on the books - perhaps with the recent influx of Irish players coming into the comp, some of these will be willing to get involved in reffing.

Also i concur, presentations for each final should be held straight after the match, and the minor premiership trophies should be awarded at presentation night. Was still a top day down at Gaelic HQ tho IMHO! The crowd (especially in the women's game) was big and loud!

[Look Good In Leather]

I thought TG did an admirable job last Sunday. The men's GF was a bit of a nightmare fixture in regards to men's umpires, as it ruled out "the big 3" of Javor, Anto, and Kenny. TG is the next most experienced ref so hats off to him for doing the job. Zeus who umpired the Div2 final (and had to be talked in to doing that) was umpiring only his 3rd game for the season (and 5th of his umpiring career) so wasn't experienced enough to ref the big dance, which left only the club umpires of Tony the Onkas Waterboy, Steve Francis, and Flinders ref Christian. All who would admit aren't experienced to umpire the grand final!

One of the Onkas players later found out he had been presented with the Umpires medal, looks like TG got himself a winner's medal out of it!

[Cheese Twisties]

Photos of grand final day are on the website! Check out the PHOTOS section and select "2010/2011 Grand Finals" that website again is www.gaelicfootballsa.com.au!

[Cheese Twisties]

The 2010/2011 Champions

Onkas - Hannigan Cup Champions



Irish Blues - Tom Finn Memorial Cup Champions


Flinders O'Neills - Division 2 Champions


St Brendans - Gaelic7s and "the peoples champions"

[the milky bar kid]

Good photos...

Anyway, lets hope all the teams did the right thing last night & got on it!

I know all the Fins lads had a tremendous night! The express entry rights with a Na Fianna jumper were brilliant!
Saw a few of the FON lads having a couple for the cause as well.

[wristwatcher]

WRISTYS END OF YEAR AWARDS...SURE TO ANNOY SOME!

1. Wade Saunders - The only person i know involved with the GFHA of SA who was able to eloquently explain to me that he deserved the HANNIGAN CUP title more than me this year. Long serving, dedicated, passionate and worthy of the States richest prize. Worked long and hard to achieve it and thorougly deserves it. Onkas would not have won without him in my opinion. Was desperately unlucky not to become the first ever person to win a Hannigan and Coach the girls to a Tomm Finn Cup all in the 1 day. Also lost the 7 a side Cup in over time. Potentially nearly had the best Gaelic season of all time unseating....never mind

2. Lee Hayes - put her hand up for the big job knowing the challenges that every President faces. Its not just the work, its the time and the responsibilitie of carrying on this States proud traditions. Dealing with some of the other States at Council and other functions is challenging at the very least and being willing to even have a crack at that challenge deserves more than an award LH deserves a medal. Good luck Lee, please dont let NSW have all 25 as Visa players

3. Tommy Javor - Thats right, TJ. Based purely on the fact that he apparently played (17) or officiated (54) in 71 games in the Gaelic seasons either as a player or official. Despite losing his mate and mentor did his best to help clubs like Flinders, Steve Irwins, The Mighty Dingos and others the way the great Normy would have. Rumour has it that he is looking to help Big Steve and Milush Zaluski with the 7,s comp next year but has been upgraded to Co-Coach of Na Fianna which in his opinion should make him ineligeble for reffing State League.


4,5 and 6. Millsy, Jase and Anto - State Coaches with oppurtunitie, last time we were there we won one....Its time we won again. Good luck guys, i think you would win the ultimate 2010/11 award if you could bring home an Australasian Title.

Special Mention ; Matt Doecke....Just getting in first

[wristwatcher]

Any word on the State Teams as a few people have asked me in recent weeks???

[schimma]

Heard the great Pie CArt is making acomeback to goals for the Goats this year. just to show up Tommy out of my house.