Demons Run Riot at Clapham as Round 3 Serves Up Footy Fireworks

Round 3 of AFL London brought all the usual thrills—hard hits, slick goals, and nail-biting finishes. While I spent the weekend soaking up the sights (and slobber) at Goodwoof with the wife and hound, it’s fair to say the entertainment on display there gave AFL London a run for its money. From dominant displays to down-to-the-wire battles, here’s your full wrap-up of all the Round 3 action.

Week 3 saw another big day, with ten games spread across three venues, and featuring some of the big hitters in the Premierships, Conference and Social competition.

Over at Clapham Common, the Demons hosted their indigenous round, and the biggest day of the season to date, with a massive five matches raising £4.1k for Thailand Serpents & Waalitj Foundation.

Opening up proceedings were the reigning Men's Premiers who hosted a North London Lions side, who would have been buoyed by their huge opening day victory at the West London Wildcats. The premiers though are in no mood to relinquish their crown, and a dominant performance saw them come away with a tough 12.8.80 to 5.9.39 win.

The second game of the day saw the Demons Women's Conference side host the first of four games against the London Swans. The Demons had lost their opening game of the season, whilst the Swans had one win and one loss in their games. The Demons were solid throughout and picked up a second win of the day, 4.4.28 to 0.0.0. Next up was the Men's Socials and the Demons men picked up their second win of the season, and handed a first loss to the Swans, coming out on top in a tough battle by 5.4.34 to 2.4.16.

The penultimate game of the day at the Common saw the Womens Premiership sides do battle. The Swans were unbeaten and had been in imperious form last time out notching 66 points against their Sussex counterparts, however at the Commons, the Demons were solid defensively and limited their opponents to just one goal and one behind. In a low scoring game, the Dees did enough to come out on top, 1.9.15 to 1.1.7, leaving three sides locked on 8 points at the top of the table.

The curtain on a successful day on and off the pitch for the Demons came down with the Men's Conference and a fifth win for the hosts. Unlike the Womens Premiership game, this was full of goals and points with the Demons outlasting their opponents by 10.4.64 to 5.10.40.

Dukes Meadow is the next venue, hosting three games for the West London Wildcats on their Ladies Day - with all monies raised going to the Women In Sport charity. The Women's Premiership clash saw the Wildcats continue their revival after their opening day defeat, as they eased to a 3.9.27 to 0.2.2 win over the Sussex Swans - thus joining London Swans and the Demons on 8 points. For Sussex, they sit bottom, yet to pick up a point.

The Ealing Emus picked up their first win of the season in the Men's Socials, when they fought off a spirited Wimbledon Hawks, to record a 6.12.48 to 5.3.33 win, whilst in the Men's Conference, the Shepherds Bush Raiders are still looking for their first points of the campaign, as they went down to the Hawks, in a battle between two winless sides. The Raiders must have feared the worst having looked at the Hawks result against the London Swans (the Hawks only losing in the final quarter), and so it was to prove, with the Hawks picking up an 11.6.72 to 6.9.45 win.

Finally, there were two games at the Rye, as the Giants hosted the Sussex Swans in the City v the Sea Community Cup in the Men's Conference, and the North London Lions in the Womens Conference, collection food and resources for Peckham Pantry plus raising £184 in donations throughout the day. In the Women's game a tight first quarter saw the Lions go in 0.1.1 to 0.0.0 ahead and a similarly tight second quarter followed, with neither side scoring a goal, and at the end of the half, the Lions held a 0.4.4 to 0.0.0 lead. The Giants got on board early in the third quarter with a behind, but the Lions scored the opening goal of the game to stretch their lead, although the Giants responded fairly quickly and at the end of the third quarter the Lions led 1.4.10 to 1.1.7. Midway through the last quarter the Lions struck again to effectively seal the win, and went on to record a 2.6.18 to 1.1.7 win.

The Community Cup saw Sussex score the opening goal inside the first couple of minutes and increased their lead towards the end of the first quarter to go in 2.0.12 to 0.0.0 ahead. The Giants struck back early in the second quarter with a goal of their own but Sussex scored again, and although the hosts got a late goal to end the half, it was Sussex who went in 3.1.19 to 2.0.12 ahead. There was just one goal in the third quarter and it went to Sussex again and they took a 4.1.25 to 2.0.12 into the final period. A dominant last period saw Sussex pull clear and they ended up with a 6.3.39 to 2.2.14 win.

Photos courtesy of: South East London Giants (@southeastlondongiants) & Rachel King (@rachelkingphotography)