MISSING IN THE WET by Whispering Jack

[Demonland 72,185]

The much vaunted midfield of the Narrm Football Club came crashing to the sodden earth of Adelaide Oval at the hands of Yartapuulti‘s young guns.

The local youngsters were headed by three scintillating quarters of magic in the midfield from ZaK Butters and Connor Rozee and a few magical party tricks from the makeshift Yartapuulti forward line such as Sam Powell-Pepper‘s goal over the shoulder early in the game and Rozee’s late match winner. A controversial mark paid to Ollie Lord that appeared to have touched the grass helped, as did after-the-siren goals at the end of the first and third quarters. Together the grabbed the limelight on the AFL’s Friday Night stage.

Narrm had just one quarter of glory when an uncharacteristically quiet Christian Petracca together with Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney restored life and clearance dominance to the team. They surged with seven goals from a game-high deficit of 25 points to a 17 point lead in the driving rain. It was also the only period of time in the game when their defence, led valiantly by Steven May (who can be proud of his Sir Doug Nicholls Round performance). Unfortunately, a couple of late frees that culminated in that last ditch goal gave succor to the home side.

 

The Demons’ final term was weak, with some poor decision-making that let Yartapuulti back into the game and rewarded them with their ultimately well deserved victory. Overall, there were too many passengers among the Narrm small brigade up forward that went missing in the wet. The taller forwards were often caught behind during the first, second and last quarters when the game was won and lost. The ultimate four point final margin was flattering to say the least.

 

Coach Simon Goodwin has some work to do as his team has a tough month ahead and if it doesn’t revert to a more desperate kind of play, they might well lose touch with a top four berth.

 

NARRM 1.2.8 3.5.23 10.7.67 11.10.76 

 

YARTAPUULTI 3.2.20 5.7.37 8.8.56 11.14.80

 

GOALS

 

NARRM Fritsch McDonald 2 Chandler Hunter Grundy Petracca Pickett Spargo van Rooyen

 

YARTAPUULTI Butters Finlayson Lord 2 Burton Horne-Francis Houston Powell-Pepper Rozee

 

BEST

 

NARRM Oliver Rivers May Hunter Viney

 

YARTAPUULTI Butters Houston Rozee Bergman Burton Horne-Francis

 

INJURIES

 

NARRM J. Bowey (calf)

 

YARTAPUULTI Boak (ribs) McKenzie (concussion) 

 

REPORTS

 

NARRM L. Hunter for rough conduct on C. Rozee

 

YARTAPUULTI Nil

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

 

NARRM J. Jordon (replaced J. Bowey in the third quarter)

 

YARTAPUULTI J. Mead (replaced T.  Boak in the third quarter)

 

UMPIRES Curtis Deboy Hayden Gavine Jamie Broadbent Leigh Haussen

 

CROWD 37,565 at Adelaide Oval