This week in Round 13 of the Legend International AFL Mount Isa season, the Rovers would be hoping to keeping their unbeaten run in tact when they take on the Buffs, the winner of this game would take outright second position on the ladder and the all important second chance in the finals series.
After the last round of football, the record books have been changed, in was the closest round of football in AFL Mount Isa since its first year in 1957. With one draw and the second game divided the teams by a solitary point.
Buffs this week would be without ball magnet Charlie Johnstone who was serving a 2 week suspension and Anthony Berg who services would be sorely missed, fortunately Buffs Cargill Medal favourite Kyle Juracic would return after work commitments, a big boost.
Rovers answer to Collingwood’s succession plan with coach Mick Malthouse passing on the coaching position to Nathan Buckley next season, the same appeared to be unveiled at Legend Oval yesterday with Dan Cleary taking the reigns as Head coach in the absence of mastermind and half centurion Billy Cook, rumours have it a 3 year contract is being discussed.
With Cleary in the hot seat and second position up for grabs the game started at a fast pace, plenty of pressure applied on the ball and the man from both sides, neither side could get the upper hand, Buffs appeared to be the taller side but failed to capitalise on this advantage, Rovers up by one point a quarter time.
Rovers in the second quarter provided accurate delivery into the forward line from their midfielders Mattie White and Sam Stevens saw the Rovers put on 4 goals, Stevie Ross booting a ripper from about 40 metres out on the boundary line, Buffs chipped in with a couple of goals to keep in touch, Kyle Juracic was in everything and veteran Paul White was showing the younger lads how it’s done, Rovers stretched their lead to 13 points.
Dave Glossop was dominating around the ground in the air and at ground level, the big fella has a big heart and covers a lot of territory and needed some support from his smaller team mates, Rovers backman had to stand tall without captain Dale Atkinson who was resting due to injury, and of course Cleary who was running the show from the boundary line, were he could be heard all over the ground. The standard of football was getting better as the game progressed, although Rovers maintained a 2 goal lead, the Buffs gave their all, both side battled their guts out, the half time margin was stayed the same, Rovers up by 13 points, a last quarter was heading to be another cracker.
Buffs started playing the better football, they appeared to want the football more, and kicking with a handy breeze the Buffs crowd began to be more vocal. With only a few minutes to go the Buffs booted a goal through Kyle Juracic, bringing them closer to a victory, the pendulum had swung in the Buffs direction, they maintained possession for the majority of the quarter, but failed to capitalise up forward, with the clock winding down, a 50 metre penalty against the Buffs put the Rovers into their forward line and a goal resulted, that appeared to swing the momentum back to the Rovers who ran out the game strongly and kept the Buffs at bay to win by 7 points and move up to second on the ladder.
Rovers coach Dan Cleary said it was a great win for the club in a tight contest, he believes his side winning the contested ball throughout the game along with the boys keeping a positive attitude all day helped them across the line. Cleary also stated the coaching role only seemed a natural progression in his long AFL journey.
Buffs were unavailable again for comment, however they once again failed to get across the line, rumours of a rift in the club at this time of the season are disappointing, a time were all the boys should be linking together, it is obvious they have the cattle, they need to get behind their coach, they are a very proud club that has held their head high in very lean times, they have a great opportunity in season 2012, it would be a shame to see it get wasted, they need to step up to the plate, the ultimate prize awaits for those who desire it the most.
