2009 - Round 8

Round 8 Match Report.

Tempe, Arizona - Today was a Grand Final for the Marshals, lose and they were done for the season. Win and they continued their remarkable Cinderella story keeping the dreams of their players and all true footy supporters alive. The Marshals looked dashing in their bright blue uniforms and from a distance they resembled tall, fierce warriors, eager to do battle. The Devils on the other hand came to the ground looking like something the cat dragged in. Disheveled in their outfits with various color shorts and unkempt facial hair. The crowd of approximately 1,500 was hoping that they played better than they looked.

The Devils started the game out strong with Mike "Grizzly Adams" Spielman taking a few big marks and kicking straight for a goal in the quarter. Spewey Montagna also pinched a goal but it would be the only quarter that he enjoyed on the day. Like the Cobra Kai’s in Karate Kid, the Devils were overly confident of the win and played that way. The Marshals got a late goal in the quarter from Joe Swierupski and notched 5 behinds to keep the score close ending the period down 11-16. The difference might have been greater but Rob Dollar for the Marshals paying in the backline thwarted numerous attempts by the Devils to score much to the delight of his admirer on the sideline (rumor has it she was Miss Arizona Motocross in 1998).

The second quarter marked new tactics from the Marshals. Team Captain Darren Toohey used his Mr. Miyagi like wisdom to make some line-up changes with his young Daniel-Sans. Joe "Crusher" Butler moved into the middle and Danny "D-Train" Reidy tagged Montagna and that made all the difference. The Marshals had probably their best quarter of the season and scored 4 goals. Two by Robbie Luto, one to Troy Anderson and one to D-Train. It was a great team effort and all players were involved. Wyatt "The Prototype" Glaze was winning the ruck contests and easily had his best game in a Tombstone uniform. Crusher Butler used every pound of his well tuned muscles in banging his way to the ball every chance he had. Jimmy Scanlan was like a pesky mosquito and he flew/buzzed around the field sucking the blood from his opponents. In response Montagna scored the only goal for the Devils and there were no behinds. Jared "Sneaky" Jones had to leave the field during the quarter for the Devils and did not return for the remainder of the game and this hurt their offensive power. At the half the Tombstone Marshals lead with a score of 36-22.

In the third quarter D-Train Reidy took the mark of the season when he used Montagna like a step ladder to soar into the air to take a great grab. Reidy was playing only his second game of footy in 3 years due to him having two ACL reconstruction surgeries on his knee. Montagna won’t be happy that a guy with a broke knee and who is 14 years older than him was all over him like the rash he got that spring break trip in Mexico (Reidy was buying cigarettes and stealing cars in 1988 when Tim was born). Troy "Angry" Anderson got the fire back that has been missing since last season. His tough play and relentless effort was the main reason the Marshals played so well. For the Devils team Captain Brad "Porkchop" Palumbo had his usual consistent game and the Trojan Warrior, Ronan Barrut finally came alive with a goal. Spielman scored his second and he was using up a lot of energy yelling at players, the umpires, the fans, a guy walking his dog, and some small kids playing baseball in a nearby playground. Simon "K.O." Daniels was as effective as a Laki’s one wood in a golf scramble. Denis "Pudge" Kelly battled hard and he won the ball several times and he was followed by Daniel Rogan who played well but didn’t have the supporting cast around him to help make him shine. For Tombstone big Adam Smark took a good grab to score his first goal of the game and Crusher Butler scored the first goal of his Australian Football career. Swierupski was nimble on the field and scored his second. Ryan Luto was making his first appearance for the team after breaking his ankle at the beginning of the season. He showed no fear and took some nice marks in the midfield. At the end of the third quarter the Marshals held on for a 57-35 lead.

In the Devils huddle you could hear them saying they had to come out tough and stop getting slapped around like a beach ball at a cricket game. Pork Chop’s talk must have worked as Eric "Moose" Nichols scored a goal. Moose was again was an angry man on the field. It appears that coaching the fitness training twice a week is taking a toll on the once happy lad and he showed his aggression in his tacking. Barrutt scored his second but while he played a good game he was well contained on the day by the Marshal defense. Mark "Spidey" Stoecker helped keep the game close with some good defensive play that prevented several marks for the opposition. Tombstone again came out solid and Robbie "The Wrestler" Luto used his low center of gravity to win the ball off the ground and give out some good kicks. Toohey led by example and despite having the Mexican Swine Flu and not being able to kick straight still was a presence on the oval. David "Donger" Peck played at both ends of the grounds and held his own in a tight 4th quarter. Smark tightened up the backline playing fullback and his booming 60 meter kicks helped ease the pressure. As the clock winded down so did the spirit of the Cobra Kai Devils and the Marshals held on to win the game 66-50. Like Daniel San who used the "crane" move to win in Karate Kid the Marshals used the "D-Train" to knockout the Devils.

Game Notes: The win today for the Marshals makes the ladder interesting. If they can win in the final round next week against the Kingsnakes it will come down to a 3-way tie for all the teams with goal difference determining which two teams will make it to the Grand Final.

Mr. Watty Update: The editors of the match reports were extremely excited to hear from Mr. Watty last week as he emailed us. He had some interesting things to say and he gave us some fitness workouts that he would like Jack to start doing at training to lose some of the beer fat he has put on. Jack was umpire today and he did a decent job. He even wore his t-shirt today while he umpired (usually he goes topless to work on his tan). The team finally got to meet Janelle and the ANZAC day party and you will be happy to know she is a nice lass and Mrs. Watty would like her. She is now actually more popular in the club than Jack. You might not hear from your son over the next 2 weeks as exams are coming up and I am sure he will be studying hard and not partying at all (Jack – just got your text, I will meet you at the bar in 20 minutes for happy hour).

Final Score - Marshals 9.12 (66) d. Devils 7.9 (51)

Goals - Marshals: J. Swierpuski (3), Ro. Luto (2), T. Anderson, J. Butler, D. Reidy, A. Smark

Goals - Devils: R. Barrutt (2), T. Montagna (2), M. Spielman (2), E. Nichols

Best - Marshals: Reidy, Anderson, Dollar, Butler, Swierpuski, Glaze Devils: Montagna, Speilman, Barrutt

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