Quote Originally Posted by true waterboy View Post
I was basing my comments on performances against us. But I'm glad I was wrong. Hope you guys aren't too sore this morning after last nites partying.
As for your comments about their grubyness, it was a similar story in our semis against them. Wasn't suprised to hear that player get sent after the game after his displaces during and after our semis.
I gotto admit I didn't mind talking to a few of their guys just that a few others carry on.
I'm in the same boat. A few of the guys are quite nice, level headed blokes, and good for a chat. Unfortunately the majority of the team, including the agro captain, cant keep their cool and want to escalate things, on a fairly regular basis.
Win or lose, do it with class (or at least some dignity).

As for 1st grade, i think anyone spectating would agree there probably wasnt a better grand final to watch across all the divisions, as the game really had everything. After starting well, i think halftime helped Charlie as it gave us a chance to regroup just as it looked like Mussy were going to get over us in the centre of the park. I thought we had the better of the first 25 and were unlucky not to take the lead, but Mussy finished the half well and also couldve taken the lead.
Second half was a more one sided as a whole, Mussy offered little threat against the breeze and Charlie took a deserved 2-0 lead. Could/should have been 3 as I think we had one goal line scramble cleared off the line at least twice, and then the 'incident' made things interesting with 10 v 9 for the last 20 minutes!
The incident being what it was, a brain snap, and an inexplicable boot to the head of our player on the ground, after already standing on his hand (accident or otherwise). Charlie guy sent off for escalating and throwing a few jabs during the ensuing melee, and i believe the 2nd Mussy player was sent for a combo of dissent/gesturing/escalating etc. the ref actually was looking to send another player off, but the linesman couldnt help him identify the player (so im told by our sideline spies).
From there, it was awkward to defend the lead and man advantage, or keep attacking.
The crucial goal came from a poor decision imo. All players want is some clarity and consistency in handball decisions. After not giving Charlie a penalty in the first half where a shot clearly struck an outstretched arm as the mussy player tried to block a shot because the player wasnt looking at the ball, hence deemed not intentional, i find it bizarre that he then gives a penalty when the ball hits a players arms in front of his own chest because he was looking at the ball as it was hit into him from 2 meters away. That makes no sense to me, and we could argue over the handball rule/interpretation for months.
They scored, it gave them an obvious lift with about 15 to go, and they came home like a house on fire. After struggling all day to hit water from inside a boat the previous 85 minutes, an optimistic 30 yarder found its way into the bottom corner and it was 2-2.
Rightly or wrongly, Mussy kept pushing as they probably sensed blood in the water, and with about 90 seconds left were caught on the counter, and Charlie got a winner which I feel we deserved on the day. Cue mass celebrations as Charlie did the 1st/Res Grade double for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.
Great atmosphere in 1st grade provided by both sets of supporters, and a fitting finale to the season.