GFL 2002 Season Review

PREMIERS	RUNNERS UP
Waverley Wheelers	Golden Grove Goannas


Brentford Bees	East Keilor Eagles	Golden Grove Goannas	Groovy West Greyhounds	Youngtown Racquets
Robert Thomas	Fortch Renda	Steven Dennis	Johnny Courcha	Ian Young
Dandenong, Vic	East Keilor, Vic	Golden Grove, SA	Maddington, WA	Mt Martha, Vic

Fitzroy Rovers	Tennessee Titans	EIB Warriors	Waverley Wheelers	Westar Wizards
Jimmy Tryphonos	Sean Chapman	Mark Taylor	Kevin Gan/Gary Adams	Geoff McInerney
Preston, Vic	Nashville, TN, USA	Knoxville, TN, USA	Waverley, Vic/Perth WA	East Perth, WA

A short selection of the main contributors from each team to highlight the team strengths:
Brentford Bees: Whitnall, Farmer, Everritt, Cornes, Dixon, O'Loughlin, Br.Holland, Caracella, Lockyer
East Keilor Eagles: B.Hall, Ph.Matera, Hird, Voss, Crawford, Leppitsch, Johncock
Golden Grove Goannas: Neitz, Thompson, Croad, Bradshaw, Stafford, Hammil, McRae, Schell, Riewoldt
Groovy West Greyhounds: Tredrea, Robertson, Medhurst, Green, Rioli, Lucas, Bruce, Judd, Salmon
Youngtown Racquets: Lloyd, N.Holland, M.Stevens, Graham, Alessio, Ottens, McLeod, Guerra, Beinke
Fitzroy Rovers: Tarrant, Nicks, N.Davis, L.Davis, Williams, S.Burgoyne, Fraser, Clayton, Bell, Saunders, Schwarz
Tennessee Titans: N.Brown, A.Rocca, Riccuito, Brad.Johnson, Wirrpunda, Lord, Cummings, Rodan
EIB Warriors: Richardson, Dew, P.Burgoyne, Bandy, Akermanis, Chick, Morrell, Lekkas, M.Lappin, Barker, Goodes
Waverley Wheelers: A.Lynch, McKernan, J.Longmuir, Burton, Wilson, Milne, Vardy, Burns, Headland, Darcy, Alvey
Westar Wizards: Kingsley, Welsh, S.Rocca, L.Harding, Pickett, Power, Loewe, Q.Lynch, Kouta, Fevola, C.Grant

ROUND 1 - March 28
Youngtown Racquets 16.8.104 v Westar Wizards 15.6.96 - The Tennis Club
EIB Warriors 15.3.93 v Waverley Wheelers 12.3.75 - Limbaugh Stadium
East Keilor Eagles 17.7.109 v Fitzroy Rovers 10.8.68 - Old Trafford
Brentford Bees 8.8.56 v Tennessee Titans 14.3.87 - Griffin Park
Groovy West Greyhounds 6.9.45 v Golden Grove Goannas 9.9.63 - Doodie Stadium

ROUND 2 - April 5
EIB Warriors 5.8.38 v East Keilor Eagles 11.4.70 - Limbaugh Stadium
Westar Wizards 14.9.93 v Fitzroy Rovers 4.10.34 - Swan River Oval
Golden Grove Goannas 13.11.89 v Waverley Wheelers 22.14.146 - Golden Nugget
Tennessee Titans 10.7.67 v Groovy West Greyhounds 7.7.49 - Nashville Colosseum
Brentford Bees 16.8.104 v Youngtown Racquets 6.9.45 - Griffin Park

ROUND 3 - April 12
Fitzroy Rovers 5.6.36 v Brentford Bees 6.7.43 - Eon Gardens
Waverley Wheelers 13.7.85 v Tennessee Titans 5.6.36 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Youngtown Racquets 11.9.75 v East Keilor Eagles 8.4.52 - The Tennis Club
Groovy West Greyhounds 9.9.63 v EIB Warriors 14.10.94 - Doodie Stadium
Westar Wizards 14.8.92 v Golden Grove Goannas 16.13.109 - Swan River Oval

ROUND 4 - April 19
Youngtown Racquets 11.7.73 v Fitzroy Rovers 10.8.68 - The Tennis Club
Golden Grove Goannas 17.7.109 v Brentford Bees 6.4.40 - Golden Nugget
Tennessee Titans 15.4.94 v EIB Warriors 8.4.52 - Nashville Colosseum
Waverley Wheelers 8.8.56 v East Keilor Eagles 12.9.81 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Westar Wizards 10.9.69 v Groovy West Greyhounds 11.7.73 - Swan River Oval

ROUND 5 - April 25
East Keilor Eagles 2.1.13 v Golden Grove Goannas 10.8.68 - Old Trafford
Youngtown Racquets 14.10.94 v Groovy West Greyhounds 6.3.39 - The Tennis Club
Waverley Wheelers 11.11.77 v Brentford Bees 5.4.34 - Justin Longmuir Oval
EIB Warriors 18.9.117 v Westar Wizards 12.11.83 - Limbaugh Stadium
Tennessee Titans 4.9.33 v Fitzroy Rovers 10.6.66 - Nashville Colosseum

ROUND 6 - May 3
Westar Wizards 13.7.85 v Tennessee Titans 9.6.60 - Swan River Oval
Brentford Bees 10.9.69 v East Keilor Eagles 10.5.59 - Griffin Park
EIB Warriors 13.6.84 v Youngtown Racquets 13.7.85 - Limbaugh Stadium
Fitzroy Rovers 12.5.77 v Golden Grove Goannas 12.7.79 - Eon Gardens
Groovy West Greyhounds 7.5.47 v Waverley Wheelers 13.7.85 - Doodie Stadium

ROUND 7 - May 10
East Keilor Eagles 11.7.73 v Groovy West Greyhounds 3.6.24 - Old Trafford
Golden Grove Goannas 8.10.58 v Tennessee Titans 8.4.52 - Golden Nugget
Fitzroy Rovers 6.7.43 v EIB Warriors 8.4.52 - Eon Gardens
Youngtown Racquets 8.6.54 v Waverley Wheelers 13.9.87 - The Tennis Club
Brentford Bees 8.7.55 v Westar Wizards 16.8.104 - Griffin Park

ROUND 8 - May 17
East Keilor Eagles 7.10.52 v Westar Wizards 18.10.118 - Old Trafford
Golden Grove Goannas 20.9.129 v EIB Warriors 14.6.90 - Golden Nugget
Groovy West Greyhounds 14.6.90 v Brentford Bees 17.4.106 - Doodie Stadium
Waverley Wheelers 11.8.74 v Fitzroy Rovers 10.8.68 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Tennessee Titans 12.8.80 v Youngtown Racquets 4.5.29 - Nashville Colosseum

ROUND 9 - May 24
Youngtown Racquets 7.3.45 v Golden Grove Goannas 9.8.62 - The Tennis Club
EIB Warriors 14.4.88 v Brentford Bees 8.5.53 - Limbaugh Stadium
Fitzroy Rovers 10.4.64 v Groovy West Greyhounds 9.3.57 - Eon Gardens
Westar Wizards 17.14.116 v Waverley Wheelers 14.11.95 - Swan River Oval
Tennessee Titans 22.8.140 v East Keilor Eagles 12.7.79 - Nashville Colosseum

ROUND 10 - May 31
Tennessee Titans 4.9.33 v Brentford Bees 8.9.57 - Nashville Colosseum
Fitzroy Rovers 11.7.73 v East Keilor Eagles 10.2.62 - Eon Gardens
Golden Grove Goannas 9.3.57 v Groovy West Greyhounds 9.7.61 - Golden Nugget
Westar Wizards 14.13.97 v Youngtown Racquets 11.7.73 - Swan River Oval
Waverley Wheelers 16.6.102 v EIB Warriors 11.6.72 - Justin Longmuir Oval

ROUND 11 - June 7
Youngtown Racquets 4.3.27 v Brentford Bees 7.8.50 - The Tennis Club
Fitzroy Rovers 14.9.93 v Westar Wizards 13.7.85 - Eon Gardens
Waverley Wheelers 18.10.118 v Golden Grove Goannas 8.12.60 - Justin Longmuir Oval
East Keilor Eagles 7.7.49 v EIB Warriors 11.7.73 - Old Trafford
Groovy West Greyhounds 12.10.82 v Tennessee Titans 19.12.126 - Doodie Stadium

ROUND 12 - June 14
EIB Warriors 16.13.109 v Groovy West Greyhounds 13.5.83 - Limbaugh Stadium
Golden Grove Goannas 15.7.97 v Westar Wizards 19.11.125 - Golden Nugget
Tennessee Titans 7.5.47 v Waverley Wheelers 10.3.63 - Nashville Colosseum
Brentford Bees 12.9.81 v Fitzroy Rovers 11.6.72 - Griffin Park
East Keilor Eagles 4.9.33 v Youngtown Racquets 8.9.57 - Old Trafford
[SPLIT Round over 2 weekends]

ROUND 13 - June 28
Groovy West Greyhounds 8.6.54 v Westar Wizards 6.9.45 - Doodie Stadium
EIB Warriors 17.9.111 v Tennessee Titans 5.8.38 - Limbaugh Stadium
Brentford Bees 12.9.81 v Golden Grove Goannas 14.8.92 - Griffin Park
Fitzroy Rovers 6.9.45 v Youngtown Racquets 9.6.60 - Eon Gardens
East Keilor Eagles 17.6.108 v Waverley Wheelers 14.6.90 - Old Trafford

ROUND 14 - July 5
Westar Wizards 7.4.46 v EIB Warriors 15.7.97 - Swan River Oval
Fitzroy Rovers 12.7.79 v Tennessee Titans 15.11.101 - Eon Gardens
Golden Grove Goannas 12.8.80 v East Keilor Eagles 2.4.16 - Golden Nugget
Brentford Bees 8.8.56 v Waverley Wheelers 23.12.150 - Griffin Park
Groovy West Greyhounds 15.7.97 v Youngtown Racquets 13.8.86 - Doodie Stadium

ROUND 15 - July 12
Youngtown Racquets 6.10.46 v EIB Warriors 8.5.53 - The Tennis Club
Waverley Wheelers 19.8.122 v Groovy West Greyhounds 10.13.73 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Tennessee Titans 9.7.61 v Westar Wizards 14.9.93 - Nashville Colosseum
Golden Grove Goannas 17.9.111 v Fitzroy Rovers 10.6.66 - Golden Nugget
East Keilor Eagles 13.4.82 v Brentford Bees 8.5.53 - Old Trafford

ROUND 16 - July 19
EIB Warriors 10.4.64 v Fitzroy Rovers 9.4.58 - Limbaugh Stadium
Westar Wizards 13.5.83 v Brentford Bees 10.7.67 - Swan River Oval
Waverley Wheelers 21.8.134 v Youngtown Racquets 13.7.85 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Groovy West Greyhounds 6.7.43 v East Keilor Eagles 4.3.27 - Doodie Stadium
Tennessee Titans 14.8.92 v Golden Grove Goannas 11.8.74 - Nashville Colosseum

ROUND 17 - July 26
Youngtown Racquets 13.7.85 v Tennessee Titans 16.4.100 - The Tennis Club
EIB Warriors 7.9.51 v Golden Grove Goannas 11.9.75 - Limbaugh Stadium
Brentford Bees 7.6.48 v Groovy West Greyhounds 8.9.57 - Griffin Park
Fitzroy Rovers 9.9.63 v Waverley Wheelers 21.13.139 - Eon Gardens
Westar Wizards 15.11.101 v East Keilor Eagles 7.3.45 - Swan River Oval

ROUND 18 - August 2
Groovy West Greyhounds 12.3.75 v Fitzroy Rovers 15.6.96 - Doodie Stadium
Waverley Wheelers 7.3.45 v Westar Wizards 12.7.79 - Justin Longmuir Oval
Golden Grove Goannas 14.5.89 v Youngtown Racquets 5.6.36 - Golden Nugget
East Keilor Eagles 8.6.54 v Tennessee Titans 14.3.87 - Old Trafford
Brentford Bees 11.8.74 v EIB Warriors 10.7.67 - Griffin Park

ROUND 19 - August 9
Elimination Final
EIB Warriors 16.12.108 v Tennessee Titans 4.4.28 - GFL Park
Qualifying Final
Golden Grove Goannas 14.11.95 v Westar Wizards 16.5.101 - GFL Park

ROUND 20 - August 16
Semi Finals
Waverley Wheelers 13.7.85 v Westar Wizards 9.5.59 - GFL Park
EIB Warriors 15.8.98 v Golden Grove Goannas 20.9.129 - GFL Park

ROUND 21 - August 23
Preliminary Final
Golden Grove Goannas 15.12.102 v Westar Wizards 14.11.95 - GFL Park

ROUND 22 - August 30
G R A N D F I N A L
Waverley Wheelers 21.8.134 v Golden Grove Goannas 13.6.84 - GFL Park

GFL#2 essentially continued over from Season 2000 although a few old hands had to leave for greener pastures while a number of other faces remained: Titans (USA), Goannas, Wheelers, Racquets, Bees and Wizards being those. A second North American team also joined ensuring not only a well balanced international league but a very competitive one at that. Other new faces included Greyhounds (from the West), Kingfishers (from Ballarat who seemed to take off where the unrelated Cougars team from 2000 left!) and Tigers (from QLD which meant more rugby expertise than AFL, but the coach was going to give it a red hot go!). But this season was the most competitive in the history of GFL on the Internet with essentially all but one team able to make the finals even two rounds before the conclusion of the minor round!! It was an amazing scenario.

What an interesting year it worked out to be in the end with the eventual Grand Finalists two teams who joined the competition together back in 1999 veying off for the ultimate honour to show both coaches had come full circle that day. In this year the Waverley Wheelers were champions, but long time serving GFL coach Kevin Gan had found greener pastures in his personal life and internet access became an issue, in stepped Gary Adams to take on the role as coach of the club and he continued what the former coach had inspired into his team for already much of the year. Gary was ruthless in his decision making at draft time While the final game of eight was no real different to the side drafted on day one, there had been lots of changes in the list. The team had a very good year with the likes of Burton, A.Lynch, Milne and McKernan having consistent and good contributions. Sometimes the likes of Alvey and Darcy chipped in with four goal efforts. Wilson missed many of the later games of the year, but repaid the coaches faith in being one of the first draft selections with five goals in the Grand Final. Ironically, as the coach later pointed out, the team kicked the same Grand Final score as the 2001 Premiers and had the same average score per game as the leading team did in 2001. Quite remarkable really, especially when the team was kicking 20+ goal efforts after about Round 16!

Bridesmaids... and not for the first time, Golden Grove Goannas made a surprising first choice selection at the pre-season draft picking up Daniel Bradshaw at about 3rd or 4th selection. Surprising, because no one expected he would be in the top 10 goalkickers of the year based on recent season form - and he wasn't! But as it turned out they left their true draft selection to the second round, D.Neitz, and of course history says he went on to win the Coleman Medal, including one game of 9 goals, the first time since 1966 (or something along those lines) no player kicked 10 goals in a match for the season. Using a cliche, it would be fair to say that the Goannas had a fairly up and down season, and Neitz was their barometer. The likes of Thompson, Croad and Hammil were more frustrating than they were reliable, often missing in games that needed to be won. On the bright side Matty Primus was up forward more this year and a return of 21 goals was his best effort yet - considering in his 4 previous years at the Power, he had only kicked 37 career total anyway. And rising star certainty Nick Riewoldt was a bonus up forward, and kept the Goannas in the Grand Final contest kicking 6 goals - best career effort.

Perennial Finals contenders Westar Wizards would have been disappointed in the end that their finish was third on the ladder after what promised to be a stellar season for them. They have contested the finals every time since joining the competition and as yet have not finished lower than third place at seasons end - something which must be a source of some frustration at East Perth, even though I am sure a number of other coaches would gladly take their record. Kent Kingsley certainly stood up this year, and headed the goalkicking table for most of the time til about Round 14, when he decided he would declare that the Coleman Medal was his for the taking - he kicked less than 20 goals for the remainder of the year, 10 of which were achieved in two games. Had've his form continued, there is probably little doubt the Wizards would have been holding some sort of trophy (prolly runners up) at the end of the season. But one thing the Wizards did keep in tact was their superb coaching record, again taking out honours of the best coached team in the competition - a prize he has won each year since entering the competition, and a formula that seems more closely guarded than the Colonel's secret herbs and spices recipe! Scott Welsh average more than two and a half goals a game before he was struck down in Round 10 and was never seen in a Wizards guernsey again, while Sav Rocca who had a good year, was also struck down by injury near the end of the season. Fevola was the teams biggest liability, at second draft selection a miserly contributor. A balanced side that could have gone places if injury and form were not such huge factors in 2002.

US born and bred EIB Warriors had their most successful season in the competition with a fourth placed finish that in the end would have been a real disappointment for a team which had for most of the year been up in the top three placings. Having based a lot of their draft selection on previous proven performers the Warriors clearly had the knowledge it took to come out at the other end grinners if not for a late season form slump that saw a seemingly cemented double chance go begging, right in the last round of the premiership season to a team that could not make the five, but was determined to shape it. In another twist of fate, had've they managed the double chance, the team would most likely have gone on to play in the Grand Final (and possibly the premiership since it was likely they would have beaten the Wheelers in the First Semi). But as they say, that is history, but it does give you some idea of what a huge step this American based club took in 2002. Richo was of course the main source of frustration - much maligned for his onfield bursts of frustration and yips in front of goal, as well as MIA for many a round due to hamstring injuries that occurred in Round One - but late in the season he hit some form, to seal his fate as a Tiger, when even that looked in jeopardy. Morrell was a shining rookie, in one match he kicked five goals, and was reliably scoring a goal each game. Akermanis was also a bonus for the club, kicking some 40 odd goals for the season, most of which were in spouts of threes or fours, and a match winner in his own right. The side was then balanced out by those who could contribute their three's etc on a good day. On the disappointment side, a pre season injury to Barker kept him out of the picture for much of the year, and if he ever kicked more than one goal in a game, I am sure it only happened once, while Matty Lappin mirrored his AFL wooden spooners efforts and quite simply had a shocker.

Rounding out the Final Five and finals contenders was the other US based squad, Tennessee Titans who were much quieter this year than in previous ones since they joined the competition, but ensured that at least there was the first (Australian Based) all non-Aussie GFL finals match played. Much like the AFL had problems with scheduling a Port v Adelaide Final at Footy Park (or AAMI stadium as it changed to mid-season) or at the MCG, the GFL comission were faced with the same issue here - in the end they relented and the game was played at the Warriors home ground in front of a rabid packed out crowd. The Titans would also probably look upon their year with some disappointment - at times they were absolutely brilliant, especially when Nathan Brown was firing after returning the season with over 50 goals. But they had their share of MIA stars, Cummings and Hudson had little impact when they played, and between them probably even only managed a third of the season in game time. Wirrpunda and Lord also had their moments - when they were playing forward, while Riccuito roved the half forward line to return with 30 odd goals himself. At one stage the Titans were in the dumps, sitting 7th or 8th, but a late season fight back ensured a berth in the finals, as well as a few other matches falling their way.

Brentford Bees rounded off the season with a memorable win that shaped the way the finals were played, and quite possibly the eventual premiers, let alone the grand finalists, beating the very team that this related to. But that was probably their highlight in a season that would have been frustrating for a side that just could not seem to get it together when it mattered most. Names like Dixon, Waterhouse, Everritt, Farmer, O'Loughlin and Whitnall headed their team of goalkickers, but only one or two occasions did four of those six actually line up together. A combination of form (O'Loughlin, Farmer & Dixon) and the ever annoying injury plague (Waterhouse all season & Whitnall late season) were telling factors in the Bees not making the finals. There were of course some flashes of brilliance, Brodie Holland kicked 8 goals in a very early season game (and probably only five for the remainder of the year!) and in a couple of matches where they kicked around 50 points, kept their opponents to lower scores.

Matthew Lloyd headed an impressive spearhead attack for the Youngtown Racquets who were certainly destined for loftier heights than their 7th placed finish really suggested. Brad Ottens, Beinke & Nick Holland were all expected to kick goals this year, and there was even a rumour of a possible early return of Carey at one stage. Mark Stevens certainly stepped up, and if it wasn't for the likes of Tredrea, could have been given the all-Australian Guernsey for CHF of 2002. But when Lloyd was struck with a hand injury that kept him out for the best part of 8 weeks, the team which was so potent around the goals was suddenly five goals less dangerous, a factor that proved the undoing of the side in many a match. The sporadic form of the above mentioned players - the middle one kicked more goals in a pre-season match against Melbourne than he did all year! - was costly and the Racquets could not live up to the expectations that were placed upon them pre-season in having the first draft pick.

Touted by a number of coaches as the obvious choice for wooden spooners, the East Keilor Eagles were really up against the wall from the very moment they ran out on the field - having a hell of a lot to prove to their critics. They caught the Rovers by complete surprise in Round one, not only thrashing them, but kicking the highest score for the round and taking up the enviable "top of the table" position immediately - in a tale of ironies, it silenced the critics and astounded many others, and for a moment it looked like the GFL had unleashed its own Denis Pagan among the coaching ranks. After four rounds the team was still equal top - not bad considering there were many a player - eg: Leppitsch, not highly regarded as a regular goal contributor for the side. But they did have Phil Matera and Barry Hall - the latter most certainly a contender for Coleman medal if not for a late season five match suspension - and at times these two presented as a deadly duo. But at their highest point also came the lowest, they managed just two goals against the Goannas in Round 6 who were not going to take them lightly in one of the poorest efforts in GFL history, and the eventual margin of only 55 points must have been a relief for them. From there it seemed their true colours were raised and the Eagles struggled to win many games from thereon after - but on a positive note, they didn't finish bottom as many others thought they would!

Possession of obviously very goalkicking knowledge is not always the formula for success as the Fitzroy Rovers found out in their opening GFL season. With draft selections, it seemed fate was against them, picking up a player who would not be in form for the year when their next or previous player was. It was hard for a team to do much on a season that started off in this vain! Tarrant, Chris Grant (later traded for in form Leon Davis), Nick Davis and Josh Fraser were all quite viable goalkickers for the side, but there would have been very few occasion, if any, when even two of those kicked multiple goals at the same time. The Rovers for much of the year languished on the bottom rung of the ladder, but were still able to pull off a couple of memorable and amazing victories - perhaps their Round 11 victory over the Wizards their finest hour, their third successive win. They weren't to win another game until the final round of the season, and that was against the wooden spooners. Nicks and Saunders started off the season in promising fashion but by mid year both were relegated to drinks duties more often than not.

The final team to discuss in GFL 2002, is of course the team which finished in the cellar, feeding cheese to the rats! And while the Groovy West Greyhounds will be less than flattered with this title, at least they finished first in one of the IFFL competitions, as a underlying statement that most of the competition fortunes comes from luck and not much else! Can't recall exactly but it was a toss up between Tredrea and Medhurst in who was their leading goalkicker for the season - not bad for the latter named since it was his first AFL (& GFL) appearance!! Tredrea was first draft selection from memory, something that was frowned upon by a few others, and not without some reason I might add, although the Groovy west coaching staff had to make some selections with a very late draft pick anyway. Tredrea had his usual frustrating season, missing shots at goal directly in front medium range out and on one occasion missed six times in a match (for a return of 4 behinds, two outta bounds) and then following that up one or two weeks later with six goals straight. Robertson took half the year before he realised that he should be consistently adding to the scoreboard but it was all too little too late for the Greyhound boys. On a positive note three of their season's wins were against two of the top three final finishers (Goannas and Wizards) - an unbeaten record against the latter.

#	Team	W	L	D	R/T	C/P	For	Agst	%	PTS
1	Waverley Wheelers	15	5	0	2761	75.26%	1962	1404	139.74%	60
2	Gldn Grv Goannas	15	7	0	2443	75.92%	1911	1692	112.94%	60
3	Westar Wizards	12	9	0	2220	84.66%	1850	1613	114.69%	48
4	EIB Warriors	12	8	0	2286	75.58%	1611	1423	113.21%	48
5	Tennessee Titans	10	9	0	2034	77.60%	1362	1365	99.78%	40
6	Brentford Bees	8	10	0	1720	76.36%	1127	1364	82.62%	32
7	Y'ngtown Racquets	7	11	0	1834	76.96%	1159	1370	84.60%	28
8	East Keilor Eagles	6	12	0	1790	74.88%	1070	1313	81.49%	24
9	Gvy W Greyhounds	6	12	0	1874	73.50%	1112	1431	77.71%	24
10	Fitzroy Rovers	5	13	0	1788	78.99%	1169	1391	84.04%	20