February 2003 Volume 84 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Football

National Police Football Carnival

The SA Police football team suffered a 57-point grand final loss to its Victorian counterpart in Melbourne last October. The game was the last of the week-long National Police Football Carnival at Victoria Park, which most know as the home of AFL club, Collingwood.

As the home team, and with a full squad, Victoria was rightly favoured to win. Injuries from earlier matches had left SA to go into the game with only 21 players. Nonetheless, SA started brilliantly and surprised the Vics with its attack on the ball.

Although signs of tiredness had set into the SA side by the second quarter, the Vics led by only two goals at the 21-minute mark of the third quarter.

Then, the wheels seemed to fall off the SA machine, as the Vics kicked two goals in the dying moments of the third quarter, and another two at the start of the last. The Vics now had a six-goal break on SA, which, with tired legs, continued to run on courage.

The final score flattered the Vics, who were pretty worried for most of the day. But SA, undermanned by about five players, had not been able to take the game right up to the opposition.

Unfortunately, the West Australia team was a late withdrawal from this year’s event, so Victoria fielded a second side (Victoria A).

In the first round, on Monday October 7, SA played Victoria A, while Tasmania took on Victoria. The Vics belted Tasmania, and SA – much to its relief – easily disposed of Victoria A. Outstanding performances came from SA players Matt Kluzek and Steven Pitt, who scored eight goals.

Sadly, star centre half forward “Diesel” suffered a suspected broken wrist, which sidelined him for the rest of the week. To lose him in the first game was a huge blow to the SA team.

On Wednesday, Victoria easily defeated Victoria A, as SA went up against Tasmania. After a slow start, with Matt Kluzek kicking five points in a row, SA played some of its best football for the week and won by a massive 178 points. Playing from the forward pocket, Kluzek had, at one stage, kicked 1.7, but soon started to find the goals to finish with an incredible 12.10. Steven Pitt kicked five goals but spent most of the second half “feeding” Kluey.

SA’s best players were Simon Quinn in the centre and Rob Gregory on the wing. Les Buckley had a run and kicked two goals, while ruckman Julian Snowden gave several players an easy kick with his pinpoint taps.

The victory, however, left the SA side with another injured player, Sam Bailetti, who turned an ankle.

At a presentation night at Victoria Park, Matt Kluzek and Victorian player, Adam Henry, tied for the Lewis-Allemand Medal for best player of the carnival.

Colin “Fossil” Miller – who had contributed to the SA team as trainer, secretary and manager since 1992 – was awarded Australian Police Football life membership.

Coach Chris “Banger” Baldwin and his support staff picked Simon Quinn as SA’s best player for the carnival. The coach’s award went to Darren Rayner, while the “one per centers” award went to captain Anthony (Max) Merchant.

SA players Simon Quinn, Steven Pitt, Matt Kluzek, Max Merchant, Julian Snowden and Darren Rayner won selection for the all-Australian team.

The SA team of 2002

Coach
Chris Baldwin
Players
Sam Bailetti, Ryan Bowman, Les Buckley, Will Cornish, Danny Diestel-Feddersen, Brett Girardi, Rob Gregory, Ricky Grimes, Brett Humphrey, Tim Kerber, Matt Kluzek, Damien Kschammer, Mick McGuinness, Tony Merchant, Steven Pitt, Simon Quinn, Paul Schwartz, Martin Short, Julian Snowden, Russell Stanborough, Darren Rayner, Adam Waller, Brad Warner.
Officials
Colin Miller (team manager).
Darryl Crossman (trainer).
John Dicker (acting president, treasurer, assistant team manager).

MATCH RESULTS

SA	3.6	7.11	12.16	18.21	(129)
Vic A	1.1	2.3	3.4	4.4	(28)
Goals: Pitt 8, McGuinness 4, Kluzek 2, Diestel-Fedderson, Girardi, Stanborough, Warner.
Best players: Kluzek, Pitt, Diestel-Fedderson, Quinn, Merchant, Snowden, Rayner, Warner.

SA	5.8	16.14	24.20	31.24	(210)
Tasmania	3.1	4.1	4.2	5.2	(32)
Goals: Kluzek 12, Pitt 5, Schwarz 3, Girardi 2, McGuinness 2, Cornish 2, Buckley 2, Gregory, Bailetti, Merchant.
Best players: Quinn, Gregory, Kluzek, Pitt, Bowman, Merchant, Girardi, Snowden, Short, Bowman.

Vic	3.1	4.5	7.10	13.12	(90)
SA	3.0	3.3	4.3	5.3	(33)
Goals: Short 2, Merchant 2, Schwarz.
Best players: Quinn, Pitt, Girardi, Merchant, Rayner, Snowden, Short.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLICE FOOTBALL TEAM
The South Australian Police Football Team thanks the following sponsors for their support in 2002.
EXCEL RENT A CAR
SANTA FE CUISINE
WEST END
CHANNEL 7
CHANNEL 9
CHANNEL 10
STAR CITY CASINO
PEDDERS SUSPENSION
CADDLE CRASH REPAIRS
TIP TOP DRY CLEANERS
PARTEK INDUSTRIES PTY LTD
REX HOTEL
BROADWAY HOTEL
HAVELOCK HOTEL
DULWICH SUPERMARKET
HOLDFAST HOTEL
BRIDGESTONE PORT ADELAIDE
BRIDGESTONE CROYDON PARK
PAINT SUPPLIES SA
SMITHS HOLDENS

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