The Party Continues In The Clare Valley

Let's Talk Footy...Supertigers Head To The Top

A trip to the world famous Clare Valley to play a game of footy against a talented Mid North Eagles outfit was seen to be a test and a challenge...

The challenge was to field a full quota of players and the test was to not over indulge in the fine wines and hospitality of this wonderful part of South Australia...the Hill's Supertigers came through with flying colours...23 players, 1 coach & 1 goal umpire and only a sniff of a hangover.

Unfortunately, Supertiger Kim Pearce did not make it out of the change rooms, Blaming a sore back from carrying the team for so long, the reality was that Pearce had an unfortunate experience with the tube of Deep Heat and just did not want to brave the blustery wet conditions at the picturesque Mintaro Oval...the inquest continues!

The home team jumped the Tigers early in the first quarter causing super coach Dave Piro to ring the changes. The Eagles registered 3 early goals and the Tiger supremo called on his players to show some commitment & guts, unlike his beloved Port Power FC.

He had the desired effect with the Eagles not registering another goal for the remainder of the game.

The incredible form of on-baller Richard Kleemann continued...it is understood that the statisticians ran out of paper as Kleemann tore apart the Eagle's on ballers and defenders, finishing with 6 goals and a number of assists.

Again it was the 'wall like' structure of the Tiger's defence that gave confidence to the forward section players and allowed them to play freely in the trying conditions. The rebounding defence of Dave Wundtke, Dale Wylie and Ron Berry and the strong marking and spoiling of Andrew Frohling, Paul Zoontjen and Damian Ryde continued.

The forward line welcomed the reappearance of goal kicking machine Gary Magee (5 goals) after his hamstring injury. 'Foreman Legal Leading Goal Kicker' leader, Tommy Hancock, continued to add to his tally with another 3 goals and Ross Wall finally registered 2 majors including a contender for 'Goal of the Year' with a fine snap from deep in the pocket.

The mud bespattered efforts of big man Aleks Bojanic were acknowledged by the canteen lady with a free sausage after the game. A great award and much appreciated by the hungry ruckman.

First use of the ball at clearances, attributed to the dominance of Damon Wilson and Bojanic in the ruck, allowed clearance players, Mark Jaensch, Wayne Seymour (1 goal), Simon Kemp, Neil Thomson & Kleemann to continually hit up leading forward targets in Sean Watt , Chris Hill (1 goal), Magee, Hancock and Matt Ormsby with 2nd gamer Richie Slater collecting the crumbs.

The heroics of Alex Tucker and David McGill were again on show, constantly being at the bottom of a pack and 'dishing out' some very good ball.

But again it was the overall team commitment to run and support and the higher than average skill level together with the fantastic decision making of legendary Tiger's goal umpire 'Fryar Tuck' Tucker that allowed the Hill's Supertigers to continue in their quest to 'conquer' all in 2009.

The next 3 games, (PHOS, Gawler & SHOC) shape to put the Supertigers to the test and they look forward to the challenge.

The Wall File...Tigers v Mid North Eagles

COMETTI DOES CLARE

The split round of AFL matches provided Dennis Cometti with time off and the opportunity to sample a different level of football.

The Hills’ Superules match at Clare on the weekend was the perfect escape from his hectic schedule but his compulsion for commentating meant the game had its own colourful, verbal account.

On a freezing day, characterised by strong winds from the South Pole along with incessant drizzle, the Mid North and Hills’ teams battled gallantly on the Mintaro Oval. The ever perceptive Cometti immediately embraced the essence of the match. Within minutes the ample frame of burly Hills’ full forward, Gary Magee, landed with sickening force on top of his much smaller opponent, only metres from the goal line. “They’ll be drawing a chalk outline of the body in that goal square”, was Cometti’s assessment of the situation.

As conditions worsened, the game was characterised by heavy body clashes, untidy disposals and high levels of player frustration. The antics of an extremely annoyed Alex “Tuck” Tucker attracted Cometti’s attention. “I wonder what the team psychologist will make of that: Tuck dropped that mark and immediately shouted out his own name”.

The home team, inspired by a vocal and supportive crowd scored the first two goals of the match, only to surrender the lead and ultimately the momentum by quarter time. “This season Mid North have blown more leads than Inspector Clouseau” was the profound appraisal by the Channel Seven guru.

As players fearlessly threw themselves into packs, Wayne “Chucky” Seymour distinguished himself by being more reckless than anyone should ever be. “Chucky’s my man, he never takes a breather. If he was a postman he would finish his round in 20 minutes, stopping only to bite a few dogs along the way”.

Richard “Dick” Kleemann was so dominant that the skill he displayed in nailing one of his six goals prompted Cometti to describe it as follows: “A truly magnificent goal. He just strolled between three defenders who until that moment were having delusions of adequacy”.

Three quarter time, with drizzle continuing to be driven across the ground by the icy wind, was Cometti’s finest moment. Confronted by a wafer thin and shivering Dave “Runt” Wuttke, the commentator assessed what he saw. A completely purple body topped with a black beanie prompted the question, “Is this a bulimic Tele Tubby?”

Cometti displayed his true professionalism by researching some of the history of a number of the Hills’ players. In relation to Chris Hill he observed that, “When Chris debuted in 1987 petrol was 50 cents a litre, “Faith” by George Michael was number one and Michael Jackson still had a nose”.

The hyper active “rubber man” Dave McGill also caught Cometti’s eye with his athletic ability to dive under packs, take a hit and emerge with the ball without breaking stride. “He’s so tough he’s made a career on liniment, pain killers and smelling salts”.

Simon Kemp also impressed in treacherous conditions with his ability to keep his footing when those around him tumbled. “Simon has a very low centre of gravity. He is like a fire hydrant, which is great unless you’re playing the Bulldogs”.

Tommy Hancock, who thrived on his role up forward, made no secret of the pleasure he derived from kicking goals. “The goals beckoned and when Tommy realised he had so much time his eyes lit up like Paris Hilton spotting a water bed”.

The tragic adventures of Paul Zoontjens, who was one of 22 players to make the trip to Clare, gave Cometti cause for comment. “Paul bounced violently off one opponent and into another, leaving him bruised and battered. If you watch the replay backwards I bet it would say Paul is dead”.

The match continued the amazing unbeaten run of the Hills’ team as they eventually demolished the courageous Mid North cohort. The Supertigers can now look forward to bigger challenges from PHOS Camden and then a titanic clash with Gawler at Lobethal the week after.

HILLS 18 – 11 MID NORTH 3 – 4
Best: Kleemann, Wuttke, Seymour, Hancock, Jaensch, Tucker, Kemp
Goals: Kleemann 6, Magee 5, Hancock 3, Wall 2, Seymour, Hill 1