Chargers claim TAC Cup
12:55:45 PM Sat 30 September, 2006
Matt Burgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
CALDER CANNONS: 5.3 11.4 12.7 16.7 (103)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS: 5.1 8.5 16.8 19.16 (130)
GOALS - Calder Cannons: Maric 5, Caruso 3, Gazzo 3, Allen 2, Daniher, Horne, McErlain
Oakleigh Chargers: Kelly 6, Batsanis 3, Sheldon 2, Otten 2, Reid 2, Carey, Gray, Melhem, Smith
BEST - Calder Cannons: Horne, Maric, Allen, Caruso, O'Dwyer, Williams, Gazzo
Oakleigh Chargers: Kelly, Batsanis, MacKay, Smith, Goldstein, Carafa, Kelly
UMPIRES - McCarthy, Mills, Ritchie
At the MCG
The Oakleigh Chargers have created TAC Cup history after they won their first under-18 Grand Final thanks to a super third quarter comeback against the Calder Cannons at the MCG on Saturday in the lead-up the AFL Grand Final between Sydney and West Coast.
The Chargers 19.16 (130) defeated the Cannons 16.7 (103) to deny Calder a fourth TAC Cup premiership which would have equaled the Northern Knights' record of four flags.
Instead, Oakleigh achieved a fairytale ending to 2006 after it finished sixth at the end of the home-and-away season. The Chargers won 11 of 18 matches before accounting for the Sandringham Dragons, Geelong Falcons and Gippsland Power in the finals.
After trailing by 17 points at half-time in the big one, Oakleigh bounced back with a stunning second half. The Chargers booted 11 goals to five to cap off a stunning end to the season.
Dean Kelly was instrumental in the win with six goals and he was duly rewarded with best-on-ground honours. His third term was pivotal in Oakleigh gaining its inaugural flag.
Midfielder Nathan Batsanis won 38 disposals in a super display while David MacKay (28 possessions) and Nick Smith - who will be attending next week's NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra - was also crucial with 26 touches.
Calder's Addam Maric was in fine form up forward with five majors while teammate Andrew Horne was the Cannons' leading ball-winner with 30 possessions. Matt O'Dwyer gained 27 touches.
Dual Morrish Medal winner Fortunato Caruso also bagged three goals and 25 possessions.
Oakleigh started positively with the opening two goals in an entertaining first term. The Chargers led for the majority of the quarter until Calder's Maric and Caruso bagged consecutive goals deep in red-time giving the Cannons a two-point lead at the first break.
The Chargers again posted a couple to start the second term but when Calder registered its first for the quarter via Darcy Daniher the pendulum soon swung in the Cannons' favour. From that point, Calder booted six goals to one and by half-time had a 17-point lead.
Maric had four goals to his name by half-time, while Calder teammates Horne and O'Dwyer had 18 disposals and Caruso 16 touches each by half-time.
Batsanis was the leading ball-winning during that period, however, notching up 20 possessions for Oakleigh.
Oakleigh produced a remarkable turnaround in the second half booting eight goals to one in the third term to gain a 25-point buffer entering the final stanza. Maric was the lone goalscorer for the Cannons as he landed his fifth.
Kelly was scintillating with four goals in the third term, while Sam Sheldon - the son of three-time Carlton premiership player and former St Kilda coach Ken - also bobbed up with two majors. Batsanis also notched up his third for the match in the third term.
Calder gave the Chargers a slight scare mid-way during the final quarter booting three in three minutes from the 11-minute mark to close the margin back to 19 points. But then Andy Otten jagged two in a row to make it safe for the Chargers.
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