Broadview Hawks Football Club

Hawks Shot Out of the Sky by Eagles September 30th, 2009

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Sunday descended upon the Toronto Eagles versus the Broadview Hawks in an OAFL Preliminary Final match or, as some backwards people like to call them: a semi-final; this was déjàvu from last year's playoffs. Anticipation was high in the air as to how the game would unfold. The Hawks had been flaring back into swing, regaining the semblance of the 3rd seeded team that it was last year, while the Eagles were still the favourite to win this game.

From the opening horn, the ball was quickly won out of the centre and fed downfield towards the Hawks' forward line. It was a promising and exciting start to see the possibility of our boys finally beating the Eagles after years of defeats. The records show that the Toronto Eagles have faced and beaten the Hawks in the OAFL Grand Final 3 times since both the respective clubs' inception into the league in 1989. Alas, the ball was turned over and effectively passed down the field into the Eagles' forwards. There was a precision to their keeping possession of the ball that made the impression that this would not be an easy game at all for the Hawks. Every time the Eagles scored a goal it was like watching Bill Murray bowl in the movie, Kingpin: you just didn't want him ever to get a strike and, at the same time, you couldn't reduce his exploits down to blind luck. The end of the quarter saw the Eagles with an oppressive lead with 3 goals and 7 behinds to the Hawks' solitary point.

The next quarter, the Hawks' defence was fired up more and did a better job of quelling the Eagles' attempts at goal. Mario "Death-metal and Little Rat-Dogs Together at Last" Pareja, Stefan "Insert Gajillionth Pale Joke Here" Leyhane, Rhys "New Hobbit Civic" Harris were all notable in their effectiveness of regaining possession for Broadview. However, on the other side, the Eagles were able to completely shut the Hawks out of scoring even a behind this quarter.

After the half, the Hawks were able finally to put a goal onto the scoreboard which spawned others afterwards. There was going to be no shutout here. After trading goals and behinds, the quarter ended with a crack that sounded like lightning splintering a park bench. In a vigorous contest for the ball, a mid-air collision between Captain Leyhane and an Eagles forward occurred that resulted in Stefan flipping in the air and crash-landing on his head. He was able to walk off the field with a ginormous bump on the shin (the crash of bone heard earlier) and would later be diagnosed with a sprained neck, of which he is recovering nicely.

Without everybody's favourite back-line ghost, the Eagles were able to capitalize in the remaining quarter, making the gap in score impossible for the Hawks to overcome. And yet, with their final breaths, the boys in yellow and brown were able to post 3 more goals and 2 behinds to make the final score: Eagles 85, Hawks 34. The Eagles will be fighting for their 12th time at being OAFL champions this Saturday at Humber North against last year's champs and undefeated this year, the Etobicoke Kangaroos.

Previous to the main game, the Hawks reserves were able to achieve victory over the 2nds of the Kangaroos by a solitary goal, scored by Martin "Right, okay?" Walter. The 2nds will also be advancing to the Reserves grand final against the Quebec Saints to fight for the inaugural Mike Pyke Cup this Saturday before the main game between the Roos and Eagles.

Following the end of the main game of Hawks vs. Eagles, Martin "What the F is this? Water, Marty." Walter announced that he was retiring as head coach. The sheer volume of dedication and support that was heaped on the Broadview Hawks by Marty in his time as head coach cannot be thanked or honoured near enough as deserved. He leaves in his final season as head coach with the first Australia.com Canadian National Championship win under his belt, a free trip to Australia, a Sirius Satellite Radio package, and a guaranteed role in Peter Jackson's upcoming prequel movie, "The Hobbit". This reporter would like to thank him for his extremely generous efforts over the years and wish him well in all his future endeavours.