ADF team mounts comeback to win

After trailing for most of the match, the men’s ADF Anzac Aussie Rules team drew on a never-say-die attitude, surging to a last-minute victory over the Australian Combined Emergency Services (ACES) in front of a crowd of 5000.

Playing at Adelaide Oval on Anzac Day in the curtain-raiser to the AFL Round 7 Port Adelaide versus Geelong clash, the ADF team was four or five goals down midway through the second quarter.

“Our game was shortened as the curtain-raiser, so that makes the margin even harder to come back from,” forward Flt-Lt Blayke Lane said.

The strategy was to control the ball, make the emergency services work hard to defend, ultimately wearing them down towards the end.

“Which ended up happening,” Flt-Lt Lane said.

The momentum swung in the third quarter, sparked by an epic goal from the 50m boundary by Pte Zach Fuller.

“We were down all game, then in the last quarter, it was a flurry of goals to win right at the end,” Flt-Lt Lane said. It was his 13th Aussie Rules game representing the Air Force and the ADF, but his first win.

The final score was ADF 10.5 (65) to ACES 9.3 (57).

An honourable mention went to Army’s Lt Sam Woods.

“He got absolutely poleaxed by the emergency services’ captain,” Flt-Lt Lane said.

“It looked like a car crash. He got up 30 seconds later and played the rest of the game, which was pretty inspiring.”

Full-forward AB Jaxsen Shimmers said the emergency services was a formidable team.

“They carried more physical mass than us and used it,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we were quicker on the legs.”

After the match, the team changed into service dress for the Anzac Day march around the oval, held before the main match in front of a crowd of 40,000.

Sgt Roger Morris, playing on the wing in his fifth Anzac match, said the lap of honour never gets old.

“Everyone’s clapping, kids are coming up for high-fives, you’re seeing friends and family. It’s always the best feeling,” Sgt Morris said.

Man of the match Army Cpl Simon Mackie was awarded the Jack Hammond Medal, and the Maj-Gen Matt Hall players’ player award went to Tpr Adam Justice.