Emus continue top form

With finals football approaching, Bidyadanga Emus continued their top-of-the-table form by beating Derby Tigers in a scintillating game last Saturday, while Cable Beach, Peninsula Bombers and Looma Eagles all won in round 11.

The clash of the weekend came in Bidyadanga, as Derby undertook the 670km round trip to face a buoyant and unbeaten Emus side.

After being whitewashed on home turf by Looma the week prior, the Tigers had their work cut out to curtail a Bidyadanga side full of dynamism and purpose.

Despite the Emus being buoyed on by an ardent home crowd and the visitors only travelling with 20 players, Derby put in a committed performance and ran the competition’s form team very close.

Bidyadanga found themselves behind for a prolonged period, but fought back to show why they have spent 2015 unbeaten, eventually winning an enthralling clash 8.9 (57) to 6.12 (48).

Kieren Tumbler and Angelo Thomas were stalwarts for the victors, while Linton Thomas’ two majors proved decisive.

The Tigers managed to keep Bidyadanga’s in-form forward Isiah Stevens quiet, with Derby’s Kurt Robb putting in a best-on-ground showing to cut supply to the former Greater Western Sydney AFL draftee.

Derby, despite fielding a number of inexperienced player and being undermanned, were inspired by captain Gerrick Weedon, while David Altham and Michael Embley also put in excellent showings.

Derby coach Warren Greatorex said it was disappointing to lose after such an admirable team performance but he was delighted with the effort his side put in.

“After losing to Looma last week we knew we had our work cut out and it was a mental challenge to bounce back,” he said.

“We stuck to our guns and put our mind to the task at hand – it shows just what can be achieved if all the players are pulling in the same direction.”

Following defeat, Derby find themselves eight points adrift of Bombers in the battle for fourth.

However, Greatorex said he remained confident of clawing back the deficit, with a mouth-watering clash against the Bombers in Broome on the last day of the regular campaign potentially deciding which team plays finals footy.

Cable Beach kept the pressure on the Emus at the top of the pile by recording their fourth-straight win, beating Broome Bulls 9.13 (67) to 3.5 (23) at Haynes Oval on Friday night.

Despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise, the reigning premiers did not have it all their own way and had to weather an early Bulls storm.

The defeated side were clearly motivated to take it to their Broome rivals, with Bulls holding a slender lead after the first 20 minutes and within a couple of points at the interval.

A strong second-half showing ensured Beach claimed the four points, with the pace in the victors’ midfield and forward line hard to contain.

Sonny Dann added to his season tally with four majors for Beach, who are starting to build momentum at the right time.

Bulls midfield combination of Luke Richards and Hayden McLeod were standouts for the losing side.

Looma Eagles built on their Boab Cup annihilation of Derby the week prior by showing bottom side Saints no mercy, winning 19.21 (135) to 2.3 (15) in a landslide victory.

The community side were too quick and direct throughout the contest, with Saints struggling to get close to a Looma with the finals in focus.

The Eagles were without key goal-kicker Deromitt Wilson for the clash, who picked up a facial injury against Derby seven days earlier. However, exciting young pairing Kieran Wallacy and Jeremiah Green stepped up in the forward line and ended with four goals apiece.

Looma look destined for third place, with last season’s defeated grand finalists back to their ominous best in recent weeks.

Saints have Derby, Cable Beach and Bidyadanga left to play before their tough campaign concludes.

Finally, Peninsula Bombers bolstered their hopes of finishing in the top four with a hard-fought 12.11 (83) to 9.5 (59) victory over Towns.

The defeated side haven’t had the bounce of the ball at times this year but looked motivated to add to their one solitary 2015 win with a committed showing here.

It was the Broome side that started the stronger, with Towns holding a four-goal lead at half time.

However, the quality of the Bombers shone through in the second half, with the Dampier Peninsula side closing the deficit by three-quarter time and sealing victory in the final stanza.

The Towns hierarchy will be pleased with the effort shown by their young side, but damaging turnovers of possession cost them a chance at claiming a scalp.

With three games of the regular campaign remaining, third plays fourth this Saturday as Looma and Bombers clash in Broome in the game of round 12.

Derby and Bulls are locked on 16 points apiece and clash this weekend, with the losers’ slight finals hopes set to end.

Top two Bidyadanga and Cable Beach will be highly fancied as they step out against Saints and Towns respectively.