Home of the Central Blues Australian Football Club

Elliott Chun finds a way through traffic

The Central Blues have defeated the Guelph Gargoyles in a tough encounter. With the weather warm and humid, and playing at the Goyles home ground it is always a tough ask to sneak away with the 4 points. However after 3 months of training the Blues had the self-belief that this game was theirs for the taking. Jaye Macumber in his first game as coach did not need to remind his troupes that despite their preparations this was still not going to be easy.

With lingering memories of their disastrous finals game last year still on their minds the Guelph side came out with plenty to prove - and it showed with their desperate attack on the ball. The first quarter was an arm wrestle with both sides testing each other's defense. Jaye Macumber was knocked out early in the first quarter after colliding with an opponent as both players contested a high incoming kick to the Blues goal square. Macumber with fears suffering a concussion was immediately taken off the ground.

The Gargoyles hardmen continued to inflict damage to the Blues side - Mike "Scooner" Scoon who was playing a tremendous game running off the half back flank suffered a knock to the head and required a stint on the sidelines alongside Macumber to regain his bearings. Matt Clow replaced Macumber in the forward pocket, while Jason "Chief" Caissie making his debut in the Blues senior team went on for Scooner. With the absence of Macumber in the  Blues forward area, Rob Chapman stepped up as the new leader and was lively in the first quarter running rampant in his forward pocket. Chaps scored the first goal for the Blues 2009 campaign - but the Goyles were not going to let this game get away from them, fighting back to ensure that heading into the first break both sides would be neck and neck. New aussie Daniel "Junior" Anderson was sublime in his debut OAFL game running rampant in the midfield and constantly in the thick of the action.  

The second quarter saw the Blues control much of the play - however let themselves down with woeful kicking, missing a heap of chances for gettable goals.The Gargoyles used the advantage of their familiar surrounds making the most their limited opportunities up forward with deadly accuracy in front of the big sticks. New Australian Matty Hoffman gave the Gargoyles defense a headache winning possessions at will playing half forward. The burly Aussie missed a few opportunities which he would normally gobble up and will be looking to redeem himself next week. Scooner who had returned back onto the field after his knock - again found himself in trouble after receiving a bump to the shoulder and was once again on the sidelines receiving treatment. Strapped up Scooner was soon courageously charging back onto the field. The Gargoyles defense locked up the game late in the second half to ensure their side went into the long break with a 22-19 lead.

Rob Chapman takes one of his marks in the 1st quarter

Jaye Macumber who up until the 3rd quarter break was unsure what happened to him, and how he got off the ground rallied his side; reminding them of what they had been practicing at their training sessions, the team rules, and their game plan. Vice Captain Kien La, Mark Dobson and Jason Cain were pointed out as guys who needed stand up for their side after all three were outplayed by their opponents in the third quarter. Chris Staples and Elliott Chun who both had been sharing the centreman position were given the task of watching out for Ando who had been tagged heavily all day. And incredibly (despite the reservations of the club) Jaye Macumber returned to the field in the final quarter. And his return to the field was felt immediately with the Blues first forward thrust finding its way to the courageous Macumber who swung onto the right and snapped a skillful goal with his first kick of the day to spark the Blues revival bringing the Blues within a point. Suddenly the homeside found themselves under siege. Dobson, Cain and La were unrelenting with their attack on the ball after the spray from their coach. The threesome collected possessions at will with the Blues forwards and midfield working overtime to keep the pressure on the Gargoyles defense. The pressure became too much for the Guelph side, and a kick-in by their full back was a beauty, going directly down the throat of Knackers Dobson on his own 40m from goal on a slight angle resulting in a goal to take the lead for the Blues. Dobson was smiling as soon as the ball was kicked such was his glee at the easy possession - this was his first of two goals in the dramatic final quarter. Putting the final touch on their come from behind win for the Blues was Scooner who had shifted up onto the wing to provide more run, snapping a fantastic goal to put the final nail in the coffin for the homeside.

Ando proves white men can jump

In a great statement for the future of the developing Blues side is that the team consisted of an incredible 7 new 2009 players - 4 Canadians and 3 Australians. Canadians Mike Scoon, Evan Moses, Ivan Ouellete, and Jack Humphrey made their debuts in the OAFL and never looked out of place. Scooner won the Top Contributor for his ability to overcome the punishment he received early in the game to battle through and contribute tremendously with his run and attack on the ball. The Australians; Daniel "Ando" Anderson, Stu "Disco" Pearson and Matt Hoffman all lead from the front. Ando showed that he will be a classy player in the OAFL in his Best on Ground performance. While Disco was silky when thrown onto the ball and troubled the opposition with his ability to get through traffic. The Hoff was a strong presence in the forward and midfield area - throwing his frame around and crunching a few Goyles players. 

This is the first time in the Blues 4 year history that they have won their season opening game, continuing the form that they showed last season. After celebrating a well deserved win - the Blues now will need to steel themselves against last year's GF runner-up Toronto Eagles who will be eager to get a win under their belt after losing their round 1 match against the Roos - for the second their 2nd loss in a row to the Etobicoke side. The Eagles v Blues is quickly shaping up to be one of the highlight matches of round 2 and the Blues will need a 4 quarter team effort to get the result they want!