2002 Dallas Trip Match Report

The Pies embarked on their first away trip for 2002 with memories of a Division II premiership in their last game, and memories not so fresh from the ensuing premiership pub crawl. However down in the Lone Star state we came up against some strong and committed teams striving for Division I status with full squads, and ended up returning to the Big Apple empty and with a number of areas to improve on to leading up to the beginning of the NEAFL season.

The games took a familiar pattern in the first day versus Denver and then Dallas; the Pies shot out of the blocks and were hard early, but a lack of fitness towards the end of each half saw the opposition put on a couple of quick goals and draw away. Considering we were introducing 5 of 6 new players who had never played the game before, there were many positive signs, such as hard tackling and aggression at the football, but ultimately lack of height was to prove costly.

Game 1 Review:

The Magpies got off to a very competitive start, and mid way through the first half were level pegging with Denver, however an injury to 2001 Nationals best-on-ground, Guy Luminato, robbed the midfield of drive, and Denver took over across the center and continually drove into the forwardline and were eventually rewarded with a number of goals just before the half time siren.

With hardworking midfield regulars such as Smith, Karver and Denyer, the Magpies got their fair share of the footy early in the second half, however Denver were able to rotate their onballers with hard running half forwards, who continued to deliver the ball to forwards to led with authority. Chris McIntyre continued to attack the football across the half backline with ferocity in an impressive debut, and Hardman Mullarkey at full back spoiled his opposite number impressively, however Denver’s fresh legs and better fitness in general eventually took its toll, with Denver again drawing away in the latter part of the second half. While the Magpies battled hard, they ended up losing comfortably.

Denver 10.2. 62

New York 1.0. 6

Goalkickers: Kelly

Best Players: Carver, McIntyre, Smith, Bell, Lewis, McClelland, Denyer.

Game 2 Review

There was a major interruption in the middle of the tournament due to an electrical storm, so we piled back into the vans and headed back to the hotel. After being told the rest of the days’ games had been postponed the Pies got ready for an early night on the town, but it was short lived, as the tournament schedule was reinstated after the weather cleared quicker than expected, and the Pies prepared for the second hitout versus Dallas. Unfortunately it would have been better if the Magpies had gone out on the town instead of fronting up for the rematch of the 2001 Nationals semi final.

The Magpies started well, and were level with Dallas for much of the first half until the pattern of the earlier game began to repeat, with hard efforts early sabotaged by mental lapses and lack of fitness, with Dallas going into half time with a lead of a couple of goals. In the second half new recruit Ojas “Juice” Desai was a live wire, kicking his first goal for the Magpies and along with Mark Kelly provided spirited contests across half forward. However, despite their efforts, a lack of interchange, height, and fitness led to a defeat and Dallas avenged their semi final loss to the Pies from the 2001 Nationals.

Dallas 8.9. 57

New York 2.2. 14

Goalkickers: Denyer, Desai.

Best Players: Smith, Kelly, Denyer, Desai.

After a false start earlier in the day, the Magpies were looking forward to some fine Texas hospitality, so jumped into the van which ventured around the corner to the Aussie Pub & Grub Bar, in a picturesque concrete jungle. While only a 5 minute car ride, it was long enough to pass a national icon, two time sports star Deion “Prime Time” Sanders on the highway. As the Magpies passed by his Datsun 180b, Deion was obviously excited by the presence of Chucky and waved excitedly at the Magpies van. Chucky steadfastly refused to acknowledge anyone dressed in a garish crimson and purple three piece suit. Deion was later overheard saying “It was just a dream come true to even get a glimpse of the great man. I mean, I still have posters of him on my wall back from his glory days playing footy in Toronto.”

Excited by the opportunity of ducking out to Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond for some bargain shopping in between pints, the Magpies didn’t hit the town too hard, quietly nursing beers and drowning their sorrows from earlier in the day. However upon review of the Pies sluggish performance in the next morning in a loss versus Kansas City, perhaps the Pies should have hit the town a bit harder.

Game 3 Review

In the third game in the Dallas invitational tournament, versus Kansas City, the Magpies kicked with slight breeze and controlled the majority of the play for the first half. Shane Smith, Eric Lerner and Nic Denyer were providing a lot of drive from the centre, however inaccurate kicking hampered the Magpies. Kansas City crowded their backline, providing headaches for the Magpies forwards, but hurt on turnovers, kicking two late goals while the Magpies failed to register a major, going into the break with only 4 points.

The second half began well for the Magpies with Shame Smith getting a couple of quick clearances to new leading forward, Andrew O’Flaherty, who quickly played on and created an open forwardline for running players Juice and Lerner. Mark Kelly, despite earlier cracking his ribs in a marking contest, provided a key focal point, quickly kicking two goals and putting the Magpies in front. However, due to loose checking in the midfield and the backline and some undisciplined tackling, Kansas City quickly regained the lead and held on in the last couple of minutes, kicking a goals near the final siren to draw away, winning by 17 points.

Kansas City 4.9. 33

New York 2.4. 16

Goalkickers: Kelly 2.

Best Players: Smith, Lerner, Denyer, O’Flaherty, Kelly, Kalhovd.

While returning winless, there were many positive signs to take on board leading up to the Anzac Plate in Boston; introducing 5 of 6 new players who had never played the game before; hard, if not completely legal tackling; and aggression at the football. However ultimately lack of height and an inability to travel with a more experienced touring squad was to prove costly.

Magpies Player of the Tournament: Shane Smith (4th overall runner up for the tournament)