MacTier Cup Review

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MacTier Cup Review

Will Taylor – AFL Europe

It was a day to remember in Northern France on Saturday, when the inaugural Robert MacTier Cup took place in Péronne to mark 100 years since soldiers liberated the town from German occupation in 1918.

On a weekend that meant much more than just a football contest to all involved, players, officials and supporters embraced the friendly community to honour the heroics that took place in the small town all those years ago.

Arriving on Friday, many players took the bus from London crossing the French border before arriving in Péronne for the jumper presentation at the local Town Hall.

It was here that speeches were given by the Mayor of Péronne, Thérèse Dheygers and Managing Director at Ryebuck Media, Tim Gurry OAM.

As both teams were presented their jumpers, the captains for both sides were announced.

For The ANZACs, Hamburg Dockers star and coach Pete Richter was given the honour of leading the men in white out to the ground for the contest.

For The Liberators, Brad Agnew from the Glenelg Tigers in the South Australian Football League was selected to skipper the men in red.

Arriving at the ground that once made up the battlefields of Somme territory on Saturday, players were firstly involved in a kids clinic with local children from the area.

Teaching kids the unique code while emphasising just how fun the sport can be to play, players set up goal-kicking, handball and marking stations to ensure the little legends were exposed to all the skills of the game.

The clinic was an emphatic success as the game continued to capture the hearts of young ones around the continent.

After the clinic, the talented local Pipe Band performed as part of the pre-match entertainment, before the attention of the spectators was taken away by a couple of individuals floating high up in the sky.

Two parachuters with one carrying a French flag and one carrying an Australian flag made their way onto the deck before the national anthems were belted out by both sets of players.

In a mark of respect, both teams agreed to take a joint photo together and just minutes later the game was underway.

It was The ANZACs who got off to a quick start in the French town as they quickly escaped away to a two-goal lead minutes into the opening term. Threatening to break the game open, it was The ANZACs who looked the goods early before The Liberators found their way back into the contest.

Repeated efforts from Brad Agnew and Adrian Del Campo were instrumental in the side’s recovery in the backend of the first quarter. At the first change, it was the ANZACs by just one point and the game was on for young and old.

Coming into the second term, The ANZACs once again looked to capitalise on a slow start from The Liberators.With many targets down forward, it was Ben Polmear who seemed to be the biggest concern for The Liberators defence as he became The ANZACs first multiple goal-scorer. It was his side that took control in this quarter and gave themselves a 16-point lead heading into the main break.

Needing a response after half time, The Liberators managed to keep The ANZACs goalless in the third term. Having six shots at goal themselves, The Liberators failed to capitalise on multiple chances to take the lead as they kicked 2.4 in ‘The Premiership Quarter’ to trail by just two points at the final change.

In a tight and tense final quarter, both teams had chances to break the game open but the scores still remained extremely tight throughout the duration of the quarter. After The Liberators kicked a goal with just under a minute to go in the contest, The ANZACs were on the canvas and their lead was in severe trouble, but the men in white just held on.

The final margin was a slender five-points in a cracking game of Australian Football proudly honouring the occasion at hand.

 

Final Score:

The ANZACs  2.1 6.5 6.7 9.11 (59)

defeated

The Liberators  2.0 4.1 6.5 8.6 (54)

Goal Scorers: 

The ANZACs: Ben Polmear (3), Alex Pictrus, Tate Gladresco, Pete Richter, Pierre Lechasles, Ryan Davey.

The Liberators: Tyson Vitale (3), Broadie Borg (2), Brad Agnew (2), Adrian Del Campo.

 

 

The weekend’s proceedings finished with a trip to the Sir John Monash Centre on Sunday to reflect on the sacrifices made by some of the bravest men and women in Australia’s short history as a nation.

As a museum and interpretive centre that commemorates Australian servicemen and women who served on the Western Front during the First World War, this was once again another reminder of the significant sacrifice made by some remarkable individuals.

A big thank you must of course go to those who worked tirelessly to ensure this event happened.

A big congratulations must also go to all the players, the coaches Jeff Castles (The ANZACs) and Peter Jeffrey and Heather Muir (The Liberators) and our brilliant umpire Katrina Stopinski for the way in which they all approached the day and the weekend’s events.

The entertainment delivered by the local Pipe Band to the post-match performance by indie folk/rock band Belle Roscoe were greatly appreciated by all in attendance.

But the day could not of gone ahead without the work of Chief Organiser of the Australian Cultural Day Celebrations Matthew Gurry and his father Tim that were fantastic in ensuring that all involved could have a magnificent time in Péronne.