We are getting close - Number 2 on the countdown of Palky’s
favourite Saturday teams … The 2010 Saturday A’s.
I have been on the record in my 500 Game blog from last year
saying the 2009 Saturday A’s were the best Saturday team … and now they don’t
make the Top 5 (they aren’t Number 1). I had a rethink while writing this and
the most dominant A’s team was the 2010 A’s team.
The 2 differences from 2009 to 2010 was the 2009 team had
the best ever Old Red Nic Blair (or 2nd best depending on where Liam
factors in … Liam has 8 A Grade titles – it is a Bill Russell/Michael Jordan
type argument). Nic left in 2010 to play ABA and win an ABA title with
Forestville. Madman also left the team to play B’s. These 2 guys were ably replaced by a returning Ben Darsow and
one of Purge’s mates – Dave Bowley. Dave had recently retired from ABA where he
captained Sturt. I remember when he walked in the stadium during the 1st
game and you could see guys from other clubs annoyed that we had recruited him.
Look at that team – so many scorers – Darsow was at the top
of his game, Jack back when he looked for his shot a bit more, DB, Mike, Liam, Goody and Stu.
At the start of the season – Goody was
having the best start of all. Goody was a post scorer and when he was hitting
his fall away jumper no one could stop him.
This team rolled through the season – there were a couple of
really bad teams in this league and Darsow would dine out – he scored 30 and 29
in back to back weeks. The league was probably the strongest it ever was at the
top with 6 good team - Knightsbridge added a former 36er in the squad that made
the GF the year before, Saints had arguably their best team ever, the B’s were
pretty good (a young Orken, Leo, G, Yates), Somerton were good as they always
are and Modbury (with a young Corey Gaard and a bunch of kids who have all gone
on to play ABA). After losing to Knightsbridge in Game 1, the A's went on an 8 game
winning streak and they were just crushing teams and they went into the finals
having only lost 2 games.
Midway through the season, I came in late to a game and went to the bench and the score
was 47-17 in the 1st half. DB was on the bench
and I said “you winning?” He said “Nah man – getting pumped”. I was shocked – I
couldn’t believe it. Then we scored 6 of the easiest points you have ever seen before
halftime and I thought “how are they losing to these chumps – well it is 47-23 –
maybe they can come back”. I looked up at the scoreboard – it was 53-17 … DB
was messing with me. That was this team – relaxed and in command the whole time.
The A’s won the Intercol in overtime – the next year, the rule
was implemented that we were only allowed to play 1 non-Old Scholar … fair
enough.
Then came the Qualifying Final against Saints – the Reds
were missing Darsow, Stu, Liam and Mike. For the first time all season – the A’s
looked terrible. They were bickering a bit and just couldn’t get in sync. They
lost. They would face Somerton the next week – Somerton beat Knightsbridge on
the craziest half-court shot on the buzzer from James Smith … that guy is clutch.
The Prelim was the game that the Captain came of age. He was
absolutely on fire - he scored 14 in the first half and 13 in the second. He
made 5 threes and got a crazy tip in as Somerton were coming back. It ranks
high on the best games by an individual in the A’s – multiple Dan Garrett
games, multiple Blair games but his 40 points stands out, Dar’s 27 points in a
GF in 1996 and Stu 25 the day he did his knee. Here is the game report:
The A’s were minus DB and Darsow up against a full strength Somerton.
The A’s were coming off their worst game of the year and really needed to be
back at their best to beat Somerton. The A’s started Captain Jack, Purge, Stu,
A and Goody with Liam and Hilluson off the bench. Somerton started Tommy,
Kerwin, Galway, Sleep and Smith with Gondolf, Nick and Howie off the bench.
Both teams opened in a 3-2 to neutralise the 3 point shooting threats of both
teams – this did not really happen. Kerwin opened with a banked 3 – not the start
the A’s were looking for but they settled quickly - Jack hit a 3, Purge scored
on the break with a lovely spin, A hit Stu with a pass inside followed by Jack
hitting 2 of 2 from the line after a great pass from Purge – A’s up 10-3. The
A’s were dominating the offensive glass – getting second and third shots almost
every possession. Somerton were getting to the line and making free throws then
Hillusion came off the bench to haunt his old team – he hit a floater in the
lane and followed up with a quick basket inside. Tommy hit an open 3 for
Somerton which was quickly countered by Jack’s second and third 3’s and a Purge
foul line jumper – A’s up 22-11. Somerton went to their meal ticket – Smith
inside. He scored for the 7000th time in his career on his little
jumper inside but the next time he tried it Mike blocked his shot ... but then
for the 7001st time he scored again on the same jumper off the
subsequent inbounds pass. Mike hit a great turnaround and then Jack hit his
fourth 3 – A’s up 30-15. Kerwin hit a 3 just before halftime and the A’s were
up 12 (30-18). Jack had 14 points at halftime.
The 2nd half Stu opened with an early 3 to make the
lead 15 again but there was not much scoring for either team in the first five
minutes of the half. The A’s were again dominating that glass but could not get
the shots to fall. Then Somerton mounted their comeback. Smith scored on a
baseline jumper, Tommy hit a couple of free throws and finished on the break
and Smith scored again ... Somerton were on a 12-4 run (34-27). The A’s offense
was look stagnant – there was no movement and the lack of baskets was making
the offense tight. Then Captain Jack step up and killed the game off with 11
minutes to go. Jack pulled out a 3 from nowhere and then made the play of the
game. Liam shot a 3 from the corner – it missed - but with a perfectly timed
run-up, Jack majestically launched himself and got a crazy tip-in and he
followed that up with a short jumper from the wing (41-27). The game went back
and forward but it was all pretty much over when Tommy fouled out with 5 to go
after slamming Liam. Liam and Jack capped the game with some decent foul
shooting down the stretch and Goody was the recipient of two amazing passes –
one from Purge as Goody cut baseline and one from Jack as he did a crazy spin
dribble passed the Somerton defenders on the break. The game was then capped
with another Jack tip-in and the A’s won 55-37. An 18 point win was more than
expected against a strong Somerton team. To Somerton’s credit they played
really well – in the end it was the depth of the A’s that got them over the
line with Somerton’s starters matching it with the A’s ... but their bench let
them down a bit.
Somerton were very gracious in defeat with James Smith saying some
kind words to the boys after the game – the point resonating that the A’s will
only defeat themselves cos when they are on, no one can get close. This is the
6th Grand Final in a row for the A’s – such an amazing effort.
This is what Somerton wrote:
And
so it was at yesterday's preliminary final. Last week Prince Alfred were the
1989 Joker. They played OK but nothing like the 2008 Joker and when Heath
Ledger appeared in a PAOC uniform yesterday, the game took on a whole different
look. Somerton played OK but not many teams would've knocked off this version
of PAOC. The maroons burst out of the blocks and had a 7-point lead early that
they would hold most of the way. Thunder guards Penn (2 triples) and Halman (1
triple) offered some resistance but big men Sleep and Smith (4 points a piece)
found the going tough, while Jack Harford (4 triples for 14 points) and his
PAOC colleagues went into the half up 30-18. The Thunder came out strong from
the half and got it to 7 points again but no closer as the Jack Harford show
rolled on. The 2006-07 PAC prefect kept everything ticking and his 27 points
led PAOC to a 55-37 victory that should see them roll on to the title. But what
about St Peters? Like we said, not many teams would've knocked this version of
PAOC and if you haven't seen "The Dark Knight", come back when you
have and you'll know what we mean.
The A’s were in another Grand Final – their first against
their old arch rival. Here is my game report:
Previous Meetings:
Game 3: Win – 56 to 52
Game 10: Loss – 35 to 41
Intercol: Win – 44 to 43 (in overtime)
Qualifying Final: Loss 38
to 47
The A’s had their full line-up for only the second time this year coming
up against Saints A’s who were missing Scammell and Two-Step Tonkin.
Every game this year has been close and hard fought – Saints are tall and
athletic, they play tough D, the rebound well, they are hard at it and they
have some decent shooters. The A’s started in a man with Captain Jack on Cain,
Purge on McMichael, Liam on Will, DB on Kong and Goody on Hautop. Darsow,
Hillusion, Stu and A off the bench with Charles
Newland, Heim and Killington.
1st Half – The A’s wanted to get off to fast start and did so when Captain
Jack hit Goody with a nice pass for 2 off a slick pick and roll but Saints were
up for the task - McMichael hit a nice lefty hook and W. Good hit a 3 and
Saints were up 2-6. DB took Kong off the dribble for 2, Liam and McMichael both
hit 2 of 2 from the line (7-8), Captain Jack then hit a 3 which was followed by
Cain hitting a ridiculous reverse lay-up and the game was all tied at 10 at the
10 minute mark. Saints were in early foul trouble and were already in the
penalty – this was a little inexperience on their part cos these finals are
notoriously called soft. Stu hit 2 of 2 and Dars got a steal and hit Hillusion
on the break. DB got called for two soft fouls and Charles came off the bench
and started to cause a few problems – he plays quite well facing the basket and
got to the line converting 3 of 4 and then hit a short j over A’s outstretched
hand. Goody was crashing the O boards super hard - he got a put-back and also
got fouled on the next possession and hit 1 of 2 FTs (17-15). Cain then hit a 3
and Liam got fouled after getting a lovely pass from Purge under the basket –
he converted 1 of 2 and the score was tied at 18.
2nd Half – Good start for Saints
with Kong getting an offensive board and put-back, Purge then hit DB for 2,
McMichael scored on the break, Captain Jack hit a 3 off a high pick and then
Purge hit DB with an alley-oop (27-22) – Reds up 5 with 15 minutes to go. Play
of the game – Saints gave Hillusion the lane – he drove, was hit midair and
threw up a tough shot ... swish and the foul – he made the FT and the A’s were
up 30-22. Cain then hit his second 3 from way outside, Darsow got a nice steal
and was fouled – he made 1 of 2 and then McMichael scored in the lane (31-27).
Darsow then made a massively important 3 with 7 minutes to go to make the
buffer 7 (34-27). Saints then mounted their last charge - Kong scored inside
and WG hit a tough 3 and the lead was back to 1 (34-33) with 4.30 to go. It
then became Captain Jack time. After Goody went 1 of 2 from the line, Jack
crossed Cain over at the top and got into the lane and finished a lovely lefty
(37-33), Kong got fouled and went 0 of 2, Jack got the huge board and was
fouled – Saints were in the penalty and he went 1 of 2 (38-34). Cain missed a 3
– Jack the board and fouled – again 1 of 2 (39-33), the A’s got another stop
and Jack was fouled again on a defensive board – this time he went 2 of 2
(41-33) with 2 minutes left. Saints kept coming – McMicahel hit 2 of 2, the A’s
missed and WG had a shot for 3 – DB rotated perfectly and got out to the shot –
A’s get the board, Liam got an open look, miss, DB tipped it to Jack who once
again went 1 of 2 (42-35 with a minute left). Cain then hit a humungous 3 right
in Jack’s face (42-38). Saints were looking to foul but couldn’t get the ball
out Jack’s hands so they had to foul him – 2 of 2 (see; Harford’s clutch-ness
gene) – (44-38). A’s get another stop, Saints foul The Captain again – again 2
of 2 (46-38). Up 8 with 16 seconds to go – all over right? Wrong! Purge commits
probably the stupidest
foul ever – intentionally fouling a 3 point shooter giving him 3 shots and the
ball on the side (a possible 6 point play) ... except of course Steve manages
to mess up the call and only gives him 2 FTs. Hautop hit the first and missed
the second. Saints missed the 3 on the inbound – Saints foul Jack again and he
makes 2 of 2, Saints go down and miss and the A’s won 48-39.
It wasn’t a great spectacle but as they have done all year the A’s
got the stops when they needed them and made plays in offense to keep the
scoreboard ticking over. It was a fantastic year by the lads – a great team.
Saints were unlucky – I would argue that this is the best A’s team ever and
that this is easily the best Saints team ever. Remember my Unbreakable
analogy ... well they are Mr Glass! Three-peat baby!
In the end smashed the A’s smashed Saints like this girl
got smashed in the face
by a watermelon.
This team was the most dominant A Grade team I have ever
seen and it was the best A Grade team I have ever seen – I am sure that others
will argue that … but I am writing this – and I’m a little biased.
PAOCBC Team Stats 2010
|
||||||||||||||
Saturday A's
|
||||||||||||||
Date
|
Result
|
|||||||||||||
Player
|
Games
|
Points
|
Pts Avg
|
FTA
|
FTM
|
FT%
|
3's
|
Fouls
|
FO
|
Hi
|
1-May
|
Loss
|
||
Darsow
|
15
|
190
|
12.7
|
26
|
16
|
61.5%
|
36
|
9
|
0
|
30
|
8-May
|
Win
|
||
Harford
|
17
|
175
|
10.3
|
57
|
37
|
64.9%
|
23
|
31
|
0
|
27
|
15-May
|
Win
|
||
Bowley
|
11
|
141
|
12.8
|
30
|
10
|
33.3%
|
9
|
21
|
0
|
21
|
22-May
|
Win
|
||
Hill M.
|
18
|
113
|
6.3
|
31
|
12
|
38.7%
|
15
|
16
|
0
|
11
|
29-May
|
Win
|
||
Golding
L.
|
14
|
92
|
6.6
|
43
|
26
|
60.5%
|
8
|
20
|
1
|
12
|
5-Jun
|
Win
|
||
Good
|
17
|
90
|
5.3
|
26
|
8
|
30.8%
|
0
|
31
|
0
|
10
|
19-Jun
|
Win
|
||
MacDonald
|
14
|
84
|
6.0
|
16
|
11
|
68.8%
|
11
|
25
|
0
|
15
|
26-Jun
|
Win
|
||
Purgacz
|
15
|
62
|
4.1
|
34
|
15
|
44.1%
|
3
|
34
|
1
|
10
|
3-Jul
|
Win
|
||
Williams
A.
|
15
|
23
|
1.5
|
12
|
7
|
58.3%
|
0
|
31
|
0
|
6
|
17-Jul
|
Loss
|
||
Orken
|
1
|
16
|
16.0
|
2
|
2
|
100.0%
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
16
|
24-Jul
|
Win
|
||
Eley
|
1
|
13
|
13.0
|
2
|
1
|
50.0%
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
31-Jul
|
Win
|
||
Williams M.
|
1
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
~
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7-Aug
|
Win
|
||
Totals
|
19
|
999
|
52.6
|
279
|
145
|
52.0%
|
109
|
219
|
2
|
83
|
27
|
14-Aug
|
Win
|
|
Opposition
|
678
|
35.7
|
54
|
18
|
21-Aug
|
Win
|
||||||||
28-Aug
|
Win
|
|||||||||||||
4-Sep
|
Loss
|
|||||||||||||
Total
|
Streak
|
Minor Round
|
Playoffs
|
11-Sep
|
Win
|
|||||||||
Wins
|
16
|
8
|
1st
|
Champions
|
18-Sep
|
Win
|
||||||||
Draws
|
0
|
0
|
||||||||||||
Loss
|
3
|
1
|
||||||||||||
