Trailing by a goal at three quarter time, the home side kicked 4.3 to 1.1 in the final term to record a third consecutive victory to start the season. Outstanding young prospect Tim Archer had 11 possessions, seven marks and three goals in the second half, as assistant coach Robert’s decision to swing him from the ruck to centre half forward paid dividends. The Coasters started strongly, kicking the first four goals of the match. Big Plumber was lively early, kicking two goals as the locals made it look easy.
Uni fought back in the second term, closing the margin to just two points at the main break, as the Tigers suddenly looked out-of-sorts going forward, and a little lazy going back, much to the frustration of the coaching staff and the surrounding peanut gallery.
An indifferent third quarter didn’t instil huge amounts of confidence, as Uni kicked three straight to 1.4. But, as one member of the aforementioned peanut gallery said during the opening minutes of the final term, this side can out-guts the gutsiest side that ever guts’d out a gutsy victory. Given your humble scribe’s girth, he knows a bit about guts. And the final 20 minutes was gutsy stuff. Lots of gut-busting running from the likes of Jossy, Dunny, Cutler and Bossie as well as the increasing dominance of Arch up forward sealed yet another tight win.
Coach D’Alessandro praised the gutsy nature of his side, describing the win as character building. “We never gave in, which is a credit to the boys, their fitness and terrific self belief, as well as our effective use of rotations throughout the game.” D’Alessandro said. “We have plenty of things to work on before this weekend’s clash with Wembley, but we’re heading in the right direction and I’m confident we can continue to play good footy.”
Goals: T Archer 3, S Randall 2, M Crofts, J Cutler, B Bennet, J Fishlock 1.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | ||
| West Coast | 4.4 | 4.6 | 5.10 | 9.13 | 67 | |
| University | 0.4 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 53 |
