This week we travelled to Canberra to play league leaders Queanbeyan in what would be a game to for top spot on the ladder. 

The game started in a tightly fought first quarter with both sides having plenty of opportunities to keep the score board ticking over. With Queanbeyan making the most of their forward entries and with their more accurate kicking on goal they were able to take 16 point lead into the first break.

The second quarter mirrored the first with the Tigers hunger at the ball and desire to work that little harder then their opposite number allowing them again to convert their forward 50 thrusts into goals. Again we were unable to convert our chances and went into the main break 34 points down.

In the third quarter the Tigers tightened the screws and didn’t allow the Eagles to get back into the game. The Tiger showed the Eagles how to stick to their structures and work hard together. The Tigers blew the game open and went into the final break with a 61 point lead.

The last quarter was a quarter where both teams went through the motions. The Tigers were happy to take the win and the Eagles trying to limit the loss and to get on the bus back to Sydney to lick their wounds. The Tigers ran out convincing 73 point winners.

The Tigers proved why they are on top of the ladder and are the team to beat in 2012. They are committed to their structure and appear to believe in it and each other. The Eagles will have learned from last weekend’s game and look forward to the challenge of taking on Sydney Uni this weekend, 

The Eagles were best served by Ryan Houlihan who continues to show why he was an elite user at the highest level, Callum Young who with his tireless work ethic was able to chip in with 2 goals as an on baller.  Damien Charleston worked hard in the ruck whilst giving away plenty of height.  

                             1QG 1GB Q1PTS   2QG 2QB 2QPTS   3QG 3QB 3QPTS   4QG 4QB 4QPTS
Hills Eagles             3       4       22          5      7       37          7      8       50           9     10      64
Queanbeyan           6       2       38         11     5       71        17      9      111        20     17     137

Hills Eagles
Goal Kickers: R. Houlihan 3, C. Young 2, S. Reed 2, M. Edwins , T. Strudwick
Best Players: C. Young, R. Houlihan, D. Charleston, D. Spiteri, M. Skuse, B. Bourke

Queanbeyan
Goal Kickers: J. Kavanagh 6, B. Fruend 4, R. Quade 3, T. Dickinson , W. Griggs , J. Bryce , K. Stevens , D. Campbell , T. Conroy , B. Klemke
Best Players: K. Klemke, J. Bryce, N. Irwin, S. Jolliffe, K. Stevens, J. Kavanagh

Round 6 saw us taking on one of this year’s Sydney AFL flag favourites in North Shore at Bruce Purser Reserve. 

Plenty of planning and preparation went into this game with all players having an understanding of the game plan and their roles for the day.  

The first quarter was played in very good conditions with North Shore kicking with the aid of a 2-3 goal breeze which was blowing towards the Commercial Road end.  The Eagles had started the game well and were on top in the middle lead by Rowan Bilkey and Ryan Fitton and our backs were holding the Bombers forwards.  The Eagles trailed by 15 points at the first siren. 

The Eagles had the advantage of the breeze in the 2nd quarter and took full advantage of it kicking 4 goals to 2.  Rowan Bilkey & Alex Foxall were winning the midfield battle and were being well supported by Kyall Walford who had started to come into the game and was finding plenty of the football.  Damon Steer playing at full back ran off his man to kick a great goal for the quarter and lift his teammates.  The Eagles went into half time trailing by 5 points although the game could have been tied up with Rowan Bilkey hitting the post after having a set shot after the half time siren.     

The coach Michael Sankey was relatively pleased with his sides’ level of competitiveness at half time and spoke to the players about fixing their disposal and maintaining their discipline by sticking to the game plan.  Unfortunately it turned out to be a game of two halves with the players leaving everything in the dressing rooms at half time.  The Eagles only managed to kick the one goal after half time with the Bombers piling on nine goals in the second half.  This kind of inconsistency will not win many games of football in the Premier Division let alone allow us to beat one of the better sides of the competition.   

Best on ground and “players’ player” went to Club Captain Rowan Bilkey who was playing in Premier Division due his unavailability for NEAFL on the Sunday.  Rowan lead the way in all aspects of the game and is a great example of the level our players need to aspire to reach if they want to compete at this level.  Other players to play well included Alex Foxall who worked hard in the ruck all day and Damon Steer who continues to improve with every game.  

                         1QG 1GB Q1PTS   2QG 2QB 2QPTS   3QG 3QB 3QPTS   4QG 4QB 4QPTS

Hills Eagles         1       0        6           5      2      32            5      3       33          6      7       43
North Shore        3       3       21          5      7       37          11     7       73         14    12      96

Sydney Hills Eagles
Goal Kickers: B. Rogers 2, J. Patira, A. Moeller, J. Gordon, D. Steer
Best Players: R. Bilkey, A. Foxall, D. Steer, K. Walford, R. Fitton, J. Gordon

North Shore
Goal Kickers: P. Codling 2, C. Murphy 2, T. Bransgrove 2, D. Fitzgerald 2, P. Brackin 2, D. Orr , L. Pryor , R. Lynch , S. Carruthers
Best Players: R. Lynch, B. Fitzgerald, D. Fitzgerald, S. Carruthers, N. Todd, M. Thomas

The AFL Sydney is pleased to announce that the Round 6 Rising Star nominee is Damon Steer of Sydney Hills Eagles.


19 year old Damon Steer has missed virtually the last two full seasons of football after shoulder reconstructions in both 2010 & 2011 which ended his season in both of those years.  This meant Damon’s move into senior football was delayed and he had to watch on as some of his young teammates enjoyed premiership success in the Premier Division. Damon, however, never lost his enthusiasm and was always helping out around the club with jobs-including stats and acting as a runner to make sure he stayed involved.  This year has seen Damon complete the full pre-season and the benefits of this are starting to show with his fitness levels and results in the top dozen at the club. 


Damon started the year at centre half forward but was soon moved to full back to cover for injuries and promotions.  Since moving to full back Damon has thrived and is yet to have a goal kicked on him after three games in this role.  This is a magnificent effort considering some of the key forwards he has played on during this time. In the Round 6 game against North Shore, Damon not only kept his man goalless but also gave plenty of run and drive out of the backline and managed to kick a goal himself whilst also having twenty plus possessions.   

The Sydney Hills Eagles are very pleased to see this recognition of such a great club man as Damon. It has always been known that Damon will excel on the playing field and if it were not for the injuries he has endured, he would surely have been recognised as the talented player he is much sooner.

 Congratultions to Damon on this recognition and we look forward to watching you career grow through the ranks.