The sweetest win of all

Stuttgart Emus win Grand Final day play-off game — Claim 3rd place for 2011

Munich Kangaroos 8-13-61 versus Stuttgart Emus 9-11-65

Not many games of footy are won in the first quarter. But looking back on the most sensational victory in the short history of the Stuttgart Emus football team, you’d have to rate the first 20 minutes of the Grand Final day playoff game for third place in the 2011 AFLG season between the more favoured Munich Roos and the Stuttgart Emus as the best team performance Stuttgart has ever produced.

It was not finesse footy – Stuttgart converted only three of its nine scoring shots in the first quarter into goals – rather, it was robust, tough, determined footy that got the Emus to the first break 17 points ahead of their rivals.

The Roos were stunned, and came out more determined in the second quarter. By half time they’d shaved the Emus lead back to six points. Coach Chris Robertson demanded concentration, continued hard tackling and running, and more talk from his players. In the end, it could have gone either way. Munich had opportunities to put themselves into the lead in the final quarter but buckled under pressure.

Crucial to the Emus win was good ball distribution from the centre square, determined contestation for the ball up and down the park, and quick release into the forward line to create scoring opportunities. Aaron Wedge and Flo Walz did well to hold their nerves in front of goal when it counted. Solid work in defence by Jake Quintel and Matt Book was matched by excellent displays of running, kicking and marking in the midfield by Jakob Jung and Glen Smith (Man of the Match). But other wonderful moments – such as the sight of Michael Räumschüssel breaking free from the pack, ball in hand, charging for goal, in the first quarter or the grit and skill shown by small-statured Jan Plank, standing firm to take a crucial mark in the midfield with just a minute to go in the game – will remain in the minds of Emus players well into the new season in 2012.

The magnitude of this victory deserves to be savoured: Munich had thrashed the Emus by around a hundred points in each of the two league games in the 2011 season. But in the game that counted most, the Emus found a way to capitalise on a fired-up start and maintain a lead to the end of the game. Congratulations to all who contributed to a great game and a wonderfully hosted Grand Final day. Bring on 2012!

Match Report: Geoff Rodoreda