Sproule Sports Focus

𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐍

Broadmeadow Magic have secured their place in the NPL Women’s Northern NSW finals after grinding out a 1-0 victory over Charlestown Azzurri at Magic Park on this afternoon.
Magic entered the Round 21 clash knowing victory would guarantee them a top-four finish, while Azzurri were playing for pride.
It proved to be a dour contest, with neither side able to find any real rhythm despite creating opportunities at both ends.
The decisive moment came in the 19th minute.
Meg Janikowski sent a long ball forward looking to put the Azzurri defence under pressure, with centre-back Taren King attempting to deal with the danger.
King's header sailed over the advancing Danielle Bartells & into her own net, handing Magic a 1-0 advantage.
Both sides had opportunities to add to the scoreline as the contest progressed, but neither could find the finishing touch.
Bartells produced a number of wonderful saves to keep Azzurri in the contest, while Magic goalkeeper Mali Blanch was equally impressive when called upon at the other end.
With their season effectively on the line, Magic did enough to protect their slender advantage despite Azzurri continuing to threaten.
There would be no late drama, with the home side seeing out the 1-0 victory to collect the three points they needed.
It wasn't the prettiest of victories, but at this stage of the season the result was all that mattered.
Magic are finals-bound.

𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐃

Maitland have capped off a remarkable regular season by claiming the NPL Women’s Northern NSW Premiership following a 3-1 victory over Adamstown Rosebud at Adamstown Oval.
The Magpies entered the final round knowing victory would secure the title and opened the scoring after 14 minutes.
Marion Dunbabin was on hand to slam home the rebound after Buds keeper Olivia Sneddon had made the initial save.
Adamstown responded just 10 minutes later through former Magpie Mary Ntsweng.
Maitland keeper Anabella Thornton stumbled while attempting to deal with a backpass, gifting Ntsweng the opportunity to level the scores at 1-1.
There was little separating the sides for the remainder of the half, with scores still locked at the break.
With their season on the line, Adamstown threw everything at the visitors knowing they needed at least a draw to keep their finals hopes alive.
At the other end, Sneddon was producing a masterclass between the sticks, pulling off save after save to keep the Magpies at bay.
But Maitland finally found a way through in the 68th minute.
Natalia O'Driscoll produced a beautiful through ball for Georgia Amess, who raced onto it before beating Sneddon at her near post to restore Maitland's lead.
The Magpies were then awarded a penalty in the 77th minute after Tanya Jones & Sophie Nenadovic collided while contesting a loose ball.
Both appeared to make contact with the ball at almost the same time, but the referee pointed to the spot, with little protest from the Buds players.
Elodie Dagg stepped up & made no mistake, converting from the spot to give Maitland a 3-1 advantage.
The Magpies saw out the remaining minutes to clinch the Premiership, finishing three points clear of New Lambton.
It capped an outstanding campaign for Maitland, who dropped points in just two of their 18 matches – one loss & one draw.
They also finished as the competition's leading scorers with 76 goals while conceding just 11 at the other end.
A dominant season & a well-deserved Premiership for the Magpies.

𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐒’ 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍
Edgeworth have produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat BelSwans 3-2 in their NPL Northern NSW Elimination Final at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
BelSwans made the perfect start, Reece Newton heading home from close range in the fourth minute after Edgeworth failed to clear.
Dean Pettit doubled the advantage in the 27th minute, finishing on his left after Marco Geuli played him through on goal.
BelSwans took a 2-0 lead into the break, but the contest changed dramatically after halftime.
Edgeworth came out with far greater attacking intent, creating a host of chances only to be denied by keeper Nate Archbold & some desperate last-line defending.
The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute when Tyler Harrison rose highest to meet a Reece McManus cross, heading over an outstretched Archbold to make it 2-1.
Harrison & Xander Woweries also kept BelSwans danger man Geuli quiet for much of the second half, while Andrew McGee endured a frustrating afternoon under close attention from the Edgeworth defence.
Jarryd Sutherland & Jaidyn Stewardson were introduced in the 70th minute & immediately added another spark.
Sutherland had a golden opportunity after being played into the box by the dangerous Finn Goodman, but fired over the bar.
At the other end, Geuli forced Ben Conway into a save in the 74th minute with a powerful strike from the top of the box.
Kye Schumacher then went desperately close to an equaliser, seeing his volley tipped over the bar by Archbold after a BelSwans clearance fell invitingly to him.
But Edgeworth would not be denied.
The Eagles finally drew level in the 82nd minute when Sutherland's shot from the edge of the area took a deflection, leaving Archbold stranded as the ball found the net.
With all the momentum behind the home side, the turnaround was complete just two minutes later.
Aaron Niyonkuru found the back of the net with a close-range header in the 84th minute to send Jack McLaughlan Oval into celebration & Edgeworth into the next week of the finals.
From 2-0 down at halftime to a 3-2 victory, the Eagles keep their season alive.
Edgeworth will now travel to Maitland for a cutthroat final against the Magpies, who went down to Weston in a penalty shootout in their Qualifying Final.

𝐊𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐋𝐞𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
Kahibah FC will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Pro-Rel Play-off semi-final after coming from behind to defeat New Lambton FC 2-1 at Alder Park on this afternoon.
The home side made a dream start in front of a healthy Alder Park crowd, taking the lead spectacularly after just nine minutes.
Dylan Christofferson spotted Kahibah goalkeeper off his line & audaciously tried his luck from just inside the centre circle, sending his long-range effort over the stranded keeper & into the back of the net to give New Lambton a 1-0 lead.
Kahibah responded by probing for a way back into the contest & peppering the New Lambton goal, but the hosts stood firm to take their one-goal advantage into the half-time break.
As the light began to fade at Alder Park, the visitors continued to push for an equaliser before finally finding their breakthrough in the 70th minute.
Skipper Robbie Turnbull sent a long ball into the box which found Daniel Byrne at the back post.
Byrne headed the ball back across goal into the path of Billy Eick, who volleyed home to level the scores at 1-1.
Just two minutes later, Kahibah had completely turned the contest on its head.
Justin Houtzager delivered a long cross from the left which found substitute Riley Parker on the right side of the six-yard box.
Parker headed the ball back across the face of goal, where fellow substitute Blake Robinson was waiting to volley home & put the visitors ahead 2-1.
The quick-fire double proved decisive, with Kahibah holding firm over the closing stages to secure the victory & take a one-goal advantage into the return fixture.
The two sides will meet again at Fred Wright Oval for the second leg, with Kahibah holding a 2-1 aggregate advantage & New Lambton still very much alive in the tie.

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞-𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨-𝐑𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫

Newcastle Croatia and Wallsend FC will head into the second leg of their Pro-Rel Play-off all square after an extraordinary 6-6 draw at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Speers Point.
In a match that had just about everything, the two sides traded goals throughout a remarkable 95 minutes, with Wallsend snatching a dramatic equaliser through an own goal deep into stoppage time.
Newcastle Croatia opened the scoring after just six minutes when Jake McGuiness pounced on a mistake at the back before beating Wallsend goalkeeper Kye Abrahams low to his left.
Wallsend responded seven minutes later.
Croatia goalkeeper Cesar Serpa did well to keep out a free kick, but Bailey Newton was quickest to react to the rebound and made it 1-1.
Wallsend hit the front in the 21st minute when Ty Paulson delivered from out wide, and Bailey Ryan nodded home.
Just two minutes later it was 3-1.
Paulson was again involved, combining neatly with Cody Halpin, who produced a composed finish from inside the box.
But Croatia's response was immediate, led by the outstanding Yuhei Sato.
In the 25th minute, Sato beat two defenders out wide, cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a superb strike from the top of the box into the top-right corner.
Two minutes later, he had his second.
A long throw from Luke Jovcevski wasn't dealt with by the Wallsend defence and bounced through a crowd before Sato improvised brilliantly, backheeling the ball past Abrahams to make it 3-3.
Remarkably, the scores were level for barely a minute.
De Grandis failed to control a cross into the Croatia area and the loose ball fell to Ryan, who slammed home his second from the top of the six-yard box to restore Wallsend's lead at 4-3.
Sato almost completed a stunning first-half hat-trick in the 34th minute, only to be denied by an outstanding Abrahams save from long range.
After seven goals in a frantic opening 28 minutes, Wallsend took their 4-3 advantage into the break.
Croatia needed just three minutes of the second half to draw level.
Jovcevski produced a wonderful long ball over the top for Beau McDonald, who raced beyond two defenders before beating Abrahams from close range to make it 4-4.
Croatia then reclaimed the lead in the 54th minute.
Sato was again at the heart of it, racing down the right before delivering a cross for Gui Dos Santos, who controlled the ball before beating the keeper for 5-4.
Abrahams came to Wallsend's rescue again five minutes later, producing another excellent stop to deny De Grandis from close range.
That save proved crucial when Wallsend equalised just a minute later.
Croatia failed to clear the ball from their penalty area and Paulson reacted quickest, taking a touch before beating the keeper from just inside the box to make it 5-5.
Croatia regained the advantage in the 75th minute, with Sato again involved.
He drove towards the Wallsend penalty area before finding De Grandis out wide, whose pinpoint cross picked out John Majurovski for a point-blank finish and a 6-5 Croatia lead.
It looked as though that would be enough to give Croatia a one-goal advantage heading into the return leg.
But Wallsend would deliver one final twist.
In the 93rd minute, Cody Halpin swung a corner into the box where brother Aiden Halpin flicked the ball on at the front post.
The ball flew towards the back post and struck the unfortunate Jovcevski at pace, deflecting into the net for an own goal and a dramatic 6-6 equaliser.
The final whistle arrived two minutes later, bringing an end to an extraordinary afternoon in which both sides demonstrated their attacking firepower, but also exposed defensive frailties that will give both coaches plenty to think about.
Sato was the standout for Croatia, scoring twice and having a hand in two more, while Paulson was instrumental in much of Wallsend's best attacking work.
After 12 goals and 95 minutes of chaos, nothing separates them.
The two sides meet again next week at Ladbroke Gardens for the second leg, with the equation simple.
Win, and a place in the Pro-Rel Play-off Final, and a shot at promotion to the top flight, awaits.

Newcastle Croatia 6: Sato 2, McGuiness, McDonald, Dos Santos, Majurovski
Wallsend 6: Ryan 2, Newton, Halpin, Paulson, own goal

Newcastle Croatia FC
Wallsend F.C.

The Newcastle Jets’ AFC Elite Draw has been conducted, with their home and away opponents now confirmed.
Match dates and kick-off times are yet to be announced, and it is not yet known whether the Jets will begin their campaign at home or away.

🖤🤍 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐈’𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 & 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 🖤🤍

I’ve been a Collingwood fan since the age of 7 and a member since 1992, and in that time I’ve been lucky enough to watch some incredible footballers pull on the black and white jumper.
Steele Sidebottom sits comfortably among the very best.
When Steele hangs up the boots at the end of this season, we’ll be saying goodbye to a genuine Collingwood champion.
He debuted in 2009 and, 17 seasons later, has played 373 games — with at least three more still to come.
🏆 Two-time Premiership player
⭐ All-Australian 2018
🏅 Copeland Trophy 2017 & 2018
🏅 ANZAC Day Medal 2016 & 2025
🏅 Gary Ayres Medal 2018
⚫⚪ Vice-captain 2015–2022
🔵 Victorian representative 2020

But the numbers and awards only tell part of the story.
I’ll remember the gut running.
His ridiculous ability to keep going when everyone else was cooked.
The left foot, the right foot, the ability to find space and, most importantly, his habit of standing up when the counted the most.
His 2018 finals series was extraordinary, even if the way that season ended still hurts.
Then came 2023.
One moment will always stick with me.
Late in the Grand Final.
Collingwood leading Brisbane by four.
Steele gets the ball outside 50 and, at 32 years of age after running all day, launches it from beyond the arc.
Goal!!!
The MCG erupts.
A few minutes later, Steele Sidebottom is a two-time Premiership player.
It was a moment his career deserved.
Steele has been there for almost half of my time as a Collingwood member.
Through the heartbreak, the near misses, the incredible 2022 ride and finally the glory of 2023.
For 17 seasons, number 22 has just been there.
And remarkably, he’s still playing bloody good footy.
There are at least three games left.
Hopefully there are a few more than that, because I’m not quite ready to see number 22 walk off for the final time.
Enjoy every remaining game, Pies fans.
Players like Steele Sidebottom don’t come around very often.
A Collingwood champion and one of the greatest Magpies I’ve had the privilege of watching.
Thanks for everything, Steele. 🖤🤍

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