Wildcats come from behind to defeat Putney while Lions defeat Swans

The exciting 2011 AFL London season continued its twists and turns on Saturday when the North London Lions ran out winners 17.11 (113) to 8.8 (56) over an undermanned London Swans team, in a game that now leaves the Swans with the simple equation in the last round of the year, beat Putney or don’t qualify for the finals! North London on the other hand are really starting to loom as a major threat in the finals as they appear to be peaking at the right time.    Best for the Lions were Chris Capsalis, 2010 league medallist Daniel Morland and Quentin Keeble who booted nine goals for the second week in a row to shoot to the top of the league goal kicking table, whilst for the Swans Will Green and Brian Kelly battled hard.

In the earlier conference game, the Regents Park Lions like their seniors are now looming large in the finals race in the weeks ahead with yet another awesome performance over the Swans with Tom Parsons, Greg Snow and Rob Reynolds with nine goals (on top of his five last week) the most valuable performers for the Lions, whilst Ben Butlin and Michael Deer worked hard for the Swans.   In the social game the Bounds Green Lions put a dent in the top two aspirations of the Reading Roos with a solid win.  Best for the Lions were Chris Armstrong and Mick Hambley who booted 6 goals.

In the second Premiership game of the round, the West London Wildcats came from being behind all day to overrun the Putney Magpies by just six points. The result leaves the Magpies staring down the barrel of going from 2010 Grand Finalists to not making the finals in 2011.   Best for the Wildcats in their  15.13 (103) to 15.7 (97) win was ex Richmond player Craig Ednie, captain Steven Puhar and coach Nathan Costley with five goals whilst the dynamic goal kicking duo of Andrew Slevision with eight goals and Pete McGettigan with four, the best players for the Magpies.

In the Conference game the Shepherds Bush Raiders remain undefeated heading into the finals and had a huge win over the Magpies, with Fergus Adamson and regular Emus player Raa Newcombe best for the Raiders, whilst for the Magpies Andrew Morgan and Luke Jackson were the better players. 

In the final Premiership game of the round the Wandsworth Demons defeated the Wimbledon Hawks 9.18 (72) to 7.9 (51) in yet another close game for the Hawks.  that was a winnable game which has been the sorry story of their 2011 year.  Best for the Demons were Damian Fenoughty and James Fitzgerald. 

In the earlier social game the South London Demons ran out easy winners over the Balham Hawks. Ex Tigers full forward Matthew Richardson and James Geale were the best players for the Demons. 

All eyes now turn to the final round of the season where some fast and furious AFL London action is guaranteed with the Wildcats and Demons squaring off to decide who will be the minor premiers, whilst the Swans and Putney will be fighting out for the last spot in the finals in a winner take all encounter!

AFL London Round 10 preview

The final round of the 2011 AFL London season will see some cracking games with the Putney Magpies and the London Swans facing off in a massive encounter with the winner taking all.   Both clubs have been up and down all season and in what could be a toss of the coin game.  Both clubs have the firepower to sneak into the finals and cause some real damage and in a close encounter the Magpies are tipped to win this game with the forward line maybe a touch too powerful for the Swans. 

North London host the Wimbledon Hawks in somewhat of a dead rubber as the Hawks cannot now make the finals whilst the Lions are guaranteed to finish in 3rd spot.   Even though the Lions may decide to rest a few of their star players leading up the finals they will still have too many big guns up forward for the Hawks. 

In the final round game of the year, the Wandsworth Demons host the West London Wildcats in a match that will not only decide who will be the minor premiers but it will also give the winner a massive physiological boost leading up to the second semi final next week.   In a close encounter the Wildcats are tipped to win this one and finish the season as minor premiers.