An end to all that and a moral victory!

Taroona won a moral victory today in the final match of the season - the Knockout Cup final at KGV. South Hobart won the game 4 - 1 but Taroona played their best football in the second half for the whole season.

South Hobart are undefeated this season, are coached by a professional coach, train three nights a week, approach the game like a machine and generally don't look to have much fun. Taroona have a Super Coach, train one night a week, approach the game with a healthy attitude and have great fun.

Taroona scored the last goal of the season - a Jack O'Sullivan classic which brought the vocal Taroona fans to their feet. All played very well - Man Manager Geoff brought the best out of his team with a number playing their best games for the season - Angus, Tom and Joseph all played their best. Will Hunt - contemplating life on the road - refused to let the South boys have it their way -stealing the ball from the South attackers on numerous occasions . The out ball was back - Mat Etherington sending it back towards the Derwent and the Showgrounds on numerous occasions - and he didnt muck around. The game was interrupted on a number of occasions for the ball to be retrieved, or a new ball sought.

Ben Wisby was very unlucky not to have scored - the ball hitting the post and deflecting the wrong way in the first half. Joey went on a run that went wrong - unlike his run against Kingborough yesterday that ended level with the penalty box. This time Joey didnt get as far and had to scamper back to the box. South had a shot and missed - such is Joey's force! He didn't even have to be there to make them miss!

Joe Atkinson, James Doyle, James - I'll deal with that injury later - Cherry, Aaron all played well. Liam Own Boots O'Donovan made the wings his own - enjoying the space that KGV provided. Liam showed no signs that he was about to wing away to Paris today - his determination would see him get there on foot if he wanted. Sam James was superb - showing the South Hobart boys on numerous occasions that if you want the ball you can often have it no matter who had it before you.

Jack's goal was a real beauty!

The game was well refereed - well done to the tallest ref I've seen.

After the game Match Manager Tim the urbane O'Sullivan addressed the players and parents - highlighting the quality of the character of the team, the injuries suffered, the parents who put in and of course Super Coach Geoff Atkinson. Why he was not in the running to take over from Pym is a mystery to me. I admit I am flummoxed. Yes he has a real job, yes he would turn Frank and Ben Buckley down, yes he would have to move but he is the man to take us to the World Cup in 2014.

Taroona started the season in Division 2, were promoted mid way, held their own in Div 1, won two nail biting penalty shootouts, made it to the Cup final, played to instructions and will have a superb summer. South Hobart will be training.

John Wisby started this team on the road to success. Geoff stepped in and made it happen.

Before I watched this team I didn't understand the game.

Thank you linesmen, thank you ball boys!

Nil all draws

Returned to the pitch on Saturday - outside the Goulburn St Polling booth first of all, then at Prince of Wales Bay for the latest joust with the Knights. After a midweek downpour the pitch was a paddling pool, adding something to the game with a Pinball-like slow down, no-roll area.

A late inclusion for the Pirates - from the Premier League - was Sam James. In the first two minutes he had twenty touches! Taroona had much of the play but when the Knights went forward they looked more dangerous! However, in their way was Joey The Imposing Taylor - who played a blinder.

After some nail biting - not from Joey who strode imperiously from the box to repel the attackers - the game ended as did the previous encounter - nil all. After Supercoach Geoff addressed his charges at the end of the game, the Knights Quartermaster approached the Taroona Camp in peace and praised the Taroona boys for their efforts, their spirit and their approach - predicting that at some point one of the teams would score.

Meanwhile in Canberra the result is the same - Nill all.

Time for a rematch?

Soccer update

Been quiet on the pitch lately - three weeks ago - son was sick and didnt play. (The team lost 1 Nil - the mercurial Zac suffered a hideous injury) The next week son and Aeorspace engineer Joe went to Melbourne - apparently now named Melbz! (The team lost 4 - 1 at Ranelagh). This weekend much of the team went to New Zealand for a band tour - or was it a squad training camp? (The team forfeited).

Season over: Junk Time

The commentators are often heard calling the last few minutes of a game - once the result is clear - "junk time". I think that is the stage we are at with the AFL season - it's over and we may as well start the finals. What do you think?