ROUND EIGHT AFL MASTERS OVER 35’S
by Nick Kossatch
The Power lost another match; however it was in the form of Portland Power, this time to the Riverland Superdogs at Rosewater Oval on Sunday by eight points. The visitors welcomed new players Dean Romeo, Barry Gavranich and ex-Superdog and Central Districts and Hawthorn player Robert ‘Chopper’ Handley into the fold. Reigning ‘Dog Tag’ winner Paul ‘Weeds’ Matthews also played his first game for the year after rib and knee soreness.
All acquitted themselves well as the Doggies were off to a flier with two quick goals to Sam Ingerson. The defence were superbly led by Anton ‘Wow’ Coates at fullback who plays the game in a 1980’s way – a la Rod Carter at the Sydney Swans. The Power worked their way into the game but the Superdogs persisted through player coach Darren ‘Titty Blankets’ Tieste, who got rid of last week’s blankets. Romeo was tremendous off half back in a defence that had to be revamped after Nick ‘Kossy’ Kossatch suffered a rib injury early in the second quarter. It was not the only ribbing he usually gets either. That was on the bus trip home. A painful bus trip too.
Portland were in front at three-quarter-time but the Riverlander’s held firm and Andrew Giles snapped a goal that put his side back in front. It was a tense final and Peter ‘Hoffy’ Hoffmann, who rucked tirelessly all day, suffered a hamstring injury and was put to full forward. The ‘Big Hoff’ slotted another through with clever use of his ample body to give breathing space for Riverland.
Other better players were Brett ‘Greeny’ Greenslade, Shane ‘Rowdy’ Healy and Handley who played prominent roles in the final quarter fightback.
SCORE:
Superdogs 7.13 (55) d Portland 7.5 (57)
GOALS: S. Ingerson; R. Handley 2, P. Hoffmann; S. Uren; A. Giles
BEST: A. Coates, S. Healy, D. Romeo, B. Greenslade, D. Tieste, R. Handley
Tall and intelligent and athletically built who calls a spade a spade. Love sports writing and sending letters and texts to the editor about AFL and the Port Adelaide Power – win, lose or draw. I do not sit on the fence. Soon to be 57! I played basketball and supers football having accomplished two Aust Masters Championships with the SA o35s (2006) and o40s (2009) and two All Australian Masters guernseys in 2008 and 2018. Have played amateur footy and a bit of cricket and basketball when living in Adelaide, Renmark, Paringa, Alice Springs and now Gladstone in Aueensland. I was also a sport newspaper journalist in the Alice (2013-15) and Gladstone (2015-20). Now I’m a postie and run a sport website Clear Play Media.
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