HFA Grand Final 2022, Pickering Brook V’s Chidlow at Chidlow Oval
This was the event the Pickering Brook Football Club, supporters and sponsors had been looking forward to all season as the Hawks had dominated the competition and had gone on to beat the Chidlow in the second Semi-Final by 20 points; they were favored to win the Flag!
As they have done in previous seasons the Chidlow ‘Cougars’ would have re- considered their playing strategy. This was evident at the preliminary final against Mundaring where they trounced them by 81 points 19.15 to 7.6, serving a warning to the Hawks!
Chidlow would have been peeved with their loss to Pickering Brook in the 2nd Semi-Final and they looked a far better side than they displayed against the Hawks at Percy Cullen Oval. Their skill, run and ball movement was precise in putting Mundaring ‘under the pump’ all day.
The Cougars Shane Fitzgerald, followed by Luke Elliot, Matt Mallaby and Adam McKinlay kicked most of the score and demonstrating the threat they posed to the Hawks.
I wrote in last week’s topic that the Hawks would have to be at their best in the Grand Final, as it was scheduled to be played on the Cougars home ground at the Chidlow Recreation Centre. The game would be a ‘Battle Royale’ as the Pickering Brook boys were looking to break the drought, having played in 8 final round appearances in the last 11 years, losing 5 of those in Grand Finals!
During last week several interested supporters asked me what chance the Hawks had of bringing the flag home. I replied that this was the best team they had fielded for a number of season’s and everyone was feeling very positive.
The large crowd saw the Hawks ‘burst out of the blocks’ in the first quarter by kicking 2 goals, giving Hawks supporters a glimmer of hope that their team were on their game and were going to give Chidlow something to think about! However, Chidlow immediately replied and the quarter finished with Chidlow leading by 2 points.
In the second quarter it was evident that this match was going to be a battle of attrition, with the Hawks full forward Mick Brescacin leaving the field with a re occurrence of a hamstring injury. Other team members continued to limp off with soft tissue injuries caused by the Cougars fierce tackling.
With Brescacin off the field, the Hawks lacked a tall forward and most forward moves were repulsed by the Cougars who moved the ball quickly down the ground through Forbes, Mallaby and Schorer to McKinlay who was marking everything that was aimed at him.
The score board at half time had the Hawks in front by 2 points thanks to John Armstrong, Brad Jetta and Steve Outridge who kicked 3 goals.
In the third term the Cougars took the game over booting 4.3 to the Hawks solitary point with hard run-on football which put the Hawks under pressure leading to skill mistakes and turn-overs.
Despite the urging of Coach Outridge at three quarter time and the large crowd of Hawks supporters, the Hawks could only muster 2.3 to the Cougars blitz of 6 goals in the last quarter, to win by 45 points at the final siren!
This was a disappointing end to a season which promised so much, leaving the Pickering Brook supporters wondering if their team was ever going to win a premiership in the HFA.
Final scores: Chidlow 15.13 – 103, Pickering Brook 8.10 – 58
Best players: Steve Outridge, Jack Giancono, Brad Jetta
Goals: John Armstrong 2, Luke Outridge, Steve Outridge, Tim Mcquoid, Brad Jetta, 1 each. (2 missing if someone can advise)
Adam McKinlay from Chidlow won the Bob Gardiner Medal as the best player in the GF.
This represents the second loss in a Grand Final to Chidlow by over 40 points and the 6th Grand Final Loss by the Hawks.
The question is, where do the Hawks go from now as several of their key players are about to retire. The club would not want to see the dilemma faced in 2014 when Mike Oliver was coaching when he was trying to find enough players for his first elimination final against Parkerville. (Hawks lost by 3 goals).
Our spectators and sponsors were shocked at this performance however when you consider the Hawks had lost over 20 good players in the previous 12 months, disaster was looming despite being in third spot on the HFA ladder. The worst part for Mike Oliver, was these missing players were good footballers and very hard to replace as the Hills Football League does not have a Reserves competition. Recruitment of new players must be a priority item at the clubs Annual General Meeting.
This post is dedicated to Dave & Nathan of Robust Contracting at 8 Valencia Way, Maddington, WA 6109, who proudly sponsor the Pickering Brook Football Club. Telephone: (08) 9452 8261
