In the final round of home and away matches for 2008, Benalla Saints were hosts to
Kyabram Bombers on Saturday 30 August |
| In Seniors football, the Saints' season ended and Kyabram showed promise for the finals |
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In the first quarter Benalla's Brady Green
managed to win this marking contest |
Brady then quickly played on to kick the ball
forward before a late tackle |
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Early in the second quarter James Dalton took
this impressive grab |
After taking a hotly contested mark, Josh Challis
wasted no time clearing for the Saints |
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Ben Fahey earned a mark of approval for this
in the third quarter! |
Ricky Symes goaled but by 3/4 time the Saints
had managed only 5 goals to Kyabram's 17 |
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Saints' ruckman Brett Cooper managed to
keep the ball in play in this encounter
in the final quarter |
Richard Bull was in good touch and put in
a solid four quarter performance |
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The old "holding the opponent's pants" trick
executed here by Brendan Stephens |
The end of the 2008 season for Benalla who
finished 10th on the ladder ahead of
Shepparton and wooden spooners Tatura |
| Final scores: Kyabram Bombers 20.10 (130) defeated Benalla Saints 10.13 (73) |
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| In A Grade netball Benalla lost to top side Kyabram to finish third on the ladder |
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One of GS Kellie Keen's goals, this one shot
late in the second quarter |
In the third quarter Saints' WD Marnie Joyce
safely passed this to WA Pip O'Donoghue |
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Always sharp and alert, Centre Sharon Mellington
eyed an opportunity to pass to a Benalla team mate |
Benalla GD Dempsey Marchbank in full flight |
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GA Dee Stevens carefully weighed up her
options before a pass to the goal line |
True to form, GK Cath Spencer displayed her
leap
and catching ability late in the second quarter |
| Final scores: Kyabram Bombers 47 defeated Benalla Saints 41 |
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Photos by Bruce Keogh |
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| Shepparton Swans came to Benalla to do battle with the Saints on Saturday 16 August |
| In Seniors football the Swans proved too good for the Saints |
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In the first quarter Benalla's James
Dalton was closely checked after a
spectacular stretching mark on the run |
No. 23 vs No. 23. After this encounter
Benalla's Brett Cooper gave away a 50
metre penalty to Shepparton Swans'
Jarrod Sutherland who goaled |
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In the second quarter Brady Green
took this solid chest mark in defence
for the Saints |
Brady Green again looked good, but
the Swans were looking too good on
the scoreboard |
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Benalla's young up-and-comers
continued to show great promise |
With very sore hands, Ricky Symes
kicked this goal on the half time siren
after receiving a free for kicking in danger |
Shepparton Swans continued on their winning way in the second half, running out eventual winners by 71 points.
The Saints' lack of height took its toll against the big Swans side.
Final scores: Shepparton Swans 19.30 (144) defeated Benalla Saints 11.7 (73) |
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| In B Grade netball the Saints put up a good fight against the ladder leaders |
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In the second quarter Saints' GA
Kylie Button shot this goal |
WA Anna Hooper showed plenty of
determination against the top team |
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Centre, Lauren Harper, looked for
an avenue to GA Kylie Button . . . |
. . . . and Lauren's plan paid off as Kylie
took possession for another move forwards |
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GS Jess Marshall was closely checked
but goaled with this shot |
WD Rebecca Ellis snuck this one between
Swans opposition to Centre Lauren Harper |
Final scores: Shepparton Swans 58 defeated Benalla Saints 34
while in A Grade the Saints lost by 7 goals - 33 to 40 |
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Photos by Bruce Keogh |
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| Benalla Saints took on Mansfield Eagles on Saturday 2 August |
Celebrations in Seniors football as Richard Bull played his 150th game
and the Saints scored a comprehensive win over the Eagles |
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Tempers flared in the first quarter as
Benalla took an early lead |
Tom Rockliff booted this one through
to stretch the Saints first quarter lead |
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Brendan Stephens showed his usual
speed and skill as he shrugged off his
Mansfield opponents |
Farran Priest managed an effective
kick forward before a solid tackle |
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Shayne McKean kept possession of the
ball on the forward line as Benalla's
dominance continued in the third quarter |
Richard Bull was chaired off at the end
of the Saints' winning match to the applause
of his team mates and the crowd |
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Richard Bull is no stranger to football achievements. His 150 game milestone for Benalla comes at 32 years of age, and follows an award-filled career that began in 1991 when he first donned the Benalla jumper for the Under 18's.
In 1993 he moved to the Murray Bushrangers and played for two years. In 1994 he came third in the Best and Fairest and won the Most Valuable Player Award.
During 2000 and 2001 he was assistant coach for Tarrawingee and won the Best and Fairest Award in both years.
In 2005 he moved to Milawa as coach and in that year he won both the club's and Ovens & King League's Best and Fairest Awards, and capped off his time at Milawa in 2007 by winning the club's Best and Fairest.
Now, once again back at Benalla, he has notched up his 150th game for the club where he won the Seniors Best and Fairest Awards in 1997 and 2002.
Congratulations Richard! |
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| Final scores: Benalla Saints 24.11 (155) defeated Mansfield Eagles 14.6 (90) |
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| In A Grade netball the Saints eclipsed Mansfield |
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WA Kylie Button was quick and accurate
with her throws to her team mates |
GA Dee Stevens scored a bag of goals
for the Saints - this one in the third quarter |
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GS Kellie Keen took this grab after a pass
from Kylie Button |
GK Dempsey Marchbank shone in defence,
repeatedly clearing the ball back into attack |
| Final score: Benalla Saints 58 defeated Mansfield Eagles 34 |
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Photos by Bruce Keogh |
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Seymour Lions travelled to Benalla to take on the Saints on Saturday 12 July.
In Seniors football the Lions proved too strong for the Saints. |
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Brett Cooper didn't manage to mark this due to
interference from Seymour's Rodney Van Reit.
No free was paid. |
Casey Robertson moved the ball forward for
the Saints late in the third quarter |
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Benalla's Rowan Priest marked strongly at
the start of the final quarter |
Seymour managed to keep the ball in play
and clear, after this bruising turnover
on the boundary line |
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Shayne McKean flew for a mark in the final
quarter but Seymour were proving too strong |
Peter Symes took a gutsy ground-level mark
and kicked a well-deserved goal for
Benalla late in the match |
| Final scores: Seymour Lions 10.13 (73) defeated Benalla Saints 6.6 (42) |
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Photos by Bruce Keogh |
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| Benalla Saints were hosts to Euroa on Saturday 5 July |
| In Seniors football, Ricky Symes kicked 7 goals for the Saints |
Ricky Symes booted seven goals against Euroa as he nears his 100th Senior game for Benalla.
He began playing for the club aged 14 years, and later played for the Murray Bushrangers from 1996-1998. In 1999 he was drafted to the Western Bulldogs where he played in the Reserves, and in 2000 he transferred to Werribee, in the VFL, where he played for one year.
The Symes family tradition at the Benalla Football Club is a long and proud one. Ricky's two brothers, Peter and Daniel, currently play for the Saints, and their father, Brian ( "Sam"), won two Best and Fairest Awards and is a Life Member. Brian's father, Roy, was a Best and Fairest winner and also a Life Member. Brian's father-in-law, Clive Ferguson, was a Life Member and a President of the club. Seniors coach, Timothy Symes, is Ricky's third cousin. The Symes family's dedication to the Benalla Saints lives on. |
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Ricky Symes . . . eyes on the ball, about to
take a mark |
And again, eyes firmly fixed and another mark |
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| Yet another fine grab for another shot at goal |
. . . and Ricky follows through for another goal late
in the final quarter with seven goals for the match |
| Final scores: Euroa Magpies 13.18 (96) defeated Benalla Saints 13.10 (88) |
| In A Grade netball, the Saints had a good win over the Magpies |
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GA Kellie Keen and Euroa's GK fly for the ball
after a rebound |
Saints WA Dee Stevens hurls the ball forward |
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GD Cath Spencer looks for the best option up
forward for the Saints |
GS Sarah Mellington goals for the Saints |
| Final scores: Benalla Saints 55 defeated Euroa Magpies 25 |
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Photos by Bruce Keogh |
| Benalla Saints played at home against Shepparton United on Saturday 7 June |
| In Seniors football . . . |
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At 3/4 time the match was evenly poised.
Benalla Saints coach Timothy Symes urged
his
players on to their first victory of the season. |
Despite tough defensive work by Shepparton
United, the Saints controlled the ball
well
on the forward line. |
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Benalla's Mark Mackenzie took this fine mark
on the half forward line. |
This mark was missed but Jarrod Roscoe
backed up to keep possession for the Saints. |
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Goals rained for the Saints. This one
kicked by Jarrod Roscoe. |
The final scores. After being level early in the
last quarter at 66 popints apiece, Shepparton
United did not score for the rest of the match. |
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| In A Grade netball . . . |
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Goal Shooter Kellie Keen looks for a Benalla
Saints team mate in good position. |
Catch! Saints Goal Attack Georgia Rodger. |
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Georgia Rodger moves the ball forward
after her gutsy grab. |
Benalla's Wing Attack Pip O'Donoghue
flies for the ball. |
A Grade netball final scores: Benalla (32) were defeated by Shepparton United (42)
Pictures courtesy of Bruce Keogh |
