Payneham Norwood Union sinks to 0-2 after loss to Brighton Bombers in Adelaide Footy League
2020 has not been kind so far to Payneham Norwood Union. With a growing injury list and pressure mounting after a 0-2 start, can the Adelaide Footy League’s reigning premiers respond?
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First it was a trio of key departures, then a string of significant injuries.
This year has not been kind to Payneham Norwood Union.
After slumping to a second-straight loss to begin the season, the Adelaide Footy League’s reigning premiers are in need of recovery.
And the Falcons have a tricky task ahead of them after a six-point defeat to division one opponent Brighton on Saturday, which followed a 21-point round one loss to Rostrevor Old Collegians.
It is far from how the PNU would have envisaged its premiership defence and Falcons’ player/coach Jace Bode was aware a slow start in a nine-round season could be decisive.
“The boys gave it a crack (on Saturday) pretty significantly undermanned in the key position stakes,” Bode said.
“If you take your key bookends out of any team, you’re going to be up against it.”
Bode was referring to star forward Liam Davis and defender Dylan Auciello, who both missed the 8.16 (64) to 8.10 (58) loss to the Bombers at Edwardstown Oval through injury.
Davis’ presence in attack was sorely missed as the Falcons cried out for a marking target.
Nick Jolly, Lewis Klemm and star recruits Callum Barlett and Strato Agorastos were also absent and on the medical list.
Add in ruckman Cam Milne and key position players Alex Forster and Pierce Seymour leaving the club in the off-season and this PNU side is missing plenty of the punch which took it to last year’s flag.
This Saturday’s clash against struggling promoted side and old rival Athelstone has become a must-win fixture.
The Falcons then face Port District and Unley Mercedes before a tough run against Prince Alfred Old Collegians, St Peter’s Old Collegians and Goodwood Saints.
With almost every division one club counting injuries following the delayed start, durability could be a defining factor this year.
Brighton coach Joel Tucker may have summed it up best.
“Most clubs are going through it (injuries) and we’re no different,” Tucker said.
“Whoever can keep their squad the fittest might be the ones there at the end, we’ll see how it pans out.”
Despite Payneham’s injury toll, nothing should be taken away from this Brighton side after it continued its impressive start to the season.
The Bombers were valiant in victory as they led most of the day but fell behind midway through the final term, before snatching back victory in the final minutes.
The fixture was played at Edwardstown with Brighton’s redeveloped home not yet fit to host matches.