Down to the last week of the Fall games of the Atlanta Australian Rules Football League and it was like the same time last year, last game was to decide the Premier team of the season. Again the teams were greeted with fantastic weather and it sure is a great time of the year to be playing this game. All games for this Fall competition have enjoyed sunny mild conditions.

First up though it was 3rd v 4th and the good news of the competition has been the coming together of many new players on the Roswell team. With Druid Hills failing to get enough there to play a legitimate game a full scale trial game was played.

Roswell v Druid Hills

It was clear from early in this game Roswell were going to have their best result of the year. With the Micklovski brothers Nick & Bill improving each week and the experience of Kewley, Crist and Frost on the field the Rebels were looking the goods. Andreas Shoredits and Pete Eckman goaled early for Druid Hills but there were plenty of replies from Roswell. Thomas Berry kicked the 'Blues' first goal then it was followed by three by Crist and another by Kewley to start and put a winning score together for the Rebels for the first time this year.

Toward the end of the term live wire Carl Garofalo and Nick Micklovski also added to the total as Druid Hills could only find one more goal for the term through Alan Mobley. At the first break it was Roswell 6.4.40 leading Druid Hills 3.0.18

The second term brought more of the same with Garafalo playing great and along with Ben Crist they shared 5 goals between them. For Druid Hills some inaccuracy crept into their game with only two goals from seven scoring shots. So at the break it was Roswell who were looking very confident leading 11.8 to 5.5

The game had been reduced to three terms after a late start but Roswell completed their task with a great last term. New player Cameron Rile got amongst the action with 4 goals for the Rebels as Ben Crist showed his class with another 3 and a 9 goal haul for the game. Eckman & Shoredits shared in three goals for the "Hills".

So as a curtain-raiser it was great to see so many new guys trying out the game and also playing really well. The game officially counts only as a 60-0 win for Roswell but their effort was commendable to play out the last week the way they did. Druid Hills undermanned and will be looking for a better time of it in the Spring.

Best Players

Druid Hills - Shoredits, Mobley, Eckman, Aparo
Roswell - N.Micklowski, Crist, Garofalo, Kewley, Riley

Midtown v Decatur

So it was down to the main game of the day and the chance for both teams to take the Premiership trophy home. Amazingly both teams were to be missing several key players that was to test their depth. Missing from Midtown was powerhouse Curtis Jones as well as Dan Heffernan and Jimmy Glenn, all huge stars in recent weeks. Decatur were not much better off with key players in Jason Clark, Mick Bent & Adam Stevens not there.

To add to the fun Midtown rolled out a few from moth balls in Brent Bacon and Ron Sheffield, both with huge experience levels over their Decatur rivals. So it was on and perhaps the first indication of things to come was Damien "Dogger" Sheehan dashing out of the first midfield contest and kicking a long goal after only 15 seconds of play. A huge tussle was to follow in the ruck between Midtown's Adam Jennings and Decatur's Josh Spencer. Spencer who is a rookie this year had beaten Jennings clearly in their round three clash but would it be the same today?

Other interesting match ups were Brent Bacon for Midtown up forward against Eric Baker for the Devils. Would the experience of Bacon be too much for his smaller opponent? Baker had played some great games though this year for Decatur and for the Kookaburras, his opponent might have been also short of a run or two.

With Sheehan opening the scoring for Midtown it became an interesting game of tug-of-war as both teams let their offensive games go full steam ahead. Warren Ballagh kicked probably the biggest goal of the year from a set shot close to the center circle and the undeniable clever delivery of Kraska to Ballagh was causing concern for the Bombers. The Midtown outfit seemed to have more options though with goals to Bacon and Sheffield their goals appeared to come a lot easier. In their backline also they were on top early with Shane Wamsley showing good early form. At the end of the first quarter there was plenty of heavy breathing going on in the huddles but Midtown were just in front 4.1.25 to Decatur 3.2.20.

Second term and wow!, the ball moved like lightning from end to end, goals were all class and some great hard footy was being played. Again Midtown were showing their versatility with goals to Cave (another comeback and retirement game) and Jennings. If Decatur left Sheehan alone he punished them as he swept through midfield kicking another two goals himself. Strangis was on the end of a few of Warren Ballaghs good work and Kraska also chipped in for a goal. In the middle though Jennings was winning that battle over Spencer and players like Wayne Mitchell and Ron Sheffield were making valuable contributions. At the half it was Midtown still holding that 5 point lead 8.2.50 to Decatur 7.3.45.

They say the third quarter is the Premiership quarter in Aussie Rules footy, so was it to be today? Again it was the combination of players of Midtown that was hurting the Decatur team. Everything the Devils could do the Midtown Bombers answered. The Bacon v Baker due was a ripper and still even at this stage. Kraska's delivery to Ballagh and vice versa definitely the key to the Decatur success with far less options going forward. The game was there to be won and it was Midtown who continued to be on the front foot in the center via Adam Jennings. His leap and timing was able to give Sheehan a far better chance at gaining clean possession. So it was the last break, Midtown came in full of confidence having outscored the Devils again and lead 12.4 to 10.4 a 12 point lead kicking with the aid of a slight breeze in the last term.

Last quarter of the year and Kraska goaled early for the Devils but Sheehan equal to the task answered back immediately and soon after another is added to Sheffield on the run. All players were feeling the effects of the running involved in the game and Midtown were certainly making good use of their interchange. Ballagh and Kraska were perhaps at the end of their efforts and although trying hard to the end it was Midtowns all over the ground presence that kept them in front. For that you could say it was a great team effort by the Bombers.

The final 'hooter" blew and it was Midtown perhaps a surprising winner after going down to Decatur earlier in the season taking the Premiership trophy with their 5th win of the year. A 19pt victory to Midtown and a nice send off for Damien Sheehan and Greg Cave who both are heading for greener pastures next month. Decatur can be disappointed having led the comp for four weeks fell over the last two and had to settle for a runners up prize. Their improvement though in 2007 was been good for the competition as for one thing it has shown if you get a regular bunch of guys t commit to playing each week things happen a lot easier.

Decatur Devils                      3.2  7.3  10.4  12.7 (79)
Midtown Bombers               4.1  8.2  12.4  15.8 (98)

Best Players

Decatur - Ballagh, Kraska, Baker, Spencer
Midtown - Wamsley, Jennings, Sheehan, Sheffield

Goalkickers

Decatur - Ballagh 6, Strangis 4, Kraska 2
Midtown - Sheehan 6, Cave 3, Sheffield 3, Jennings 2, Bacon 1.