Reigning premiers fly over Emus

Reigning West Kimberley Football League premiers Cable Beach were through to this year’s grand final after overcoming Bidyadanga Emus last Saturday.

Last year’s champions topped the ladder after the regular season, beating the Emus in the final round before the finals.

The Broome-based side made it two wins over Bidyadanga in the space of three weeks at the weekend, prevailing 13.8 (86) to 6.6 (42) at Haynes Oval.

The community side started the brighter, with the ominous presence of Jason Crusoe dominating the ruck in the first 20 minutes.

Goals from Ronald Yanawana, Nathan Hunter, Angelo Thomas and Brenton Bangu put Bidyadanga into the ascendancy, with the visiting side holding a 12-point lead after the first 20 minutes.

The Emus were reduced to 17 players in the second quarter, with Thomas sent to the sidelines, which played a role in turning the game in Beach’s favour.

Cable Beach full forward Sonny Dann started to dominate the aerial battles, with the competition’s top goal kicker slotting two majors in the second quarter and ending the game with a seven-goal haul.

Bidyadanga’s lead was reduced to one point by the half-time mark, with the score 5.4 (34) to 5.3 (33) in their favour.

In the second half Beach showed just why they are the team to beat, with the victors keeping the ball well and nullifying the passion and dynamism of the Emus.

Jordan King was a driving force in the midfield in the absence of Jackson Leach, while livewire attacker CJ Oakley was a constant threat.

A late flurry of goals extended Beach’s lead and drove home their advantage.

In the end a 44-point defeat will be disappointing to the Emus, who will need to go back to the drawing board ahead of this Saturday’s preliminary final against the Peninsula Bombers.

Bidyadanga showed in prolonged periods that they have the players to go toe-to-toe with Beach, but need to keep their discipline and stamp out costly turnovers if they are to end 2015 victorious.

Emus assistant coach Andy Henshaw toldBroome Advertiser that his side remained confident in their ability and used their victory over Cable Beach in the regular season as a reason for optimism.

Cable Beach president Jay Cassidy said it was his team’s fifth consecutive appearance in a grand final and that his team were motivated to retain their crown.

He also picked out midfield veteran Jo Dann for specific praise and said he would be a crucial player if Beach were to be 2015 champions.

Beach had a week off this week and await the victor of Bidyadanga and the Peninsula Bombers.