Both sides had players out, for West; Winders, McDonald, Norman and Brad Smith and for Roopena; Maher, Burgess, Williams, Boddiner and Seely.

Roos club veteran Shannon Tomney celebrated his one hundred and fiftieth game, youngsters Matt Goodwin and Chris Waugh would make their senior debut.

Umpires Churchett and Hellowell were in charge in what was a lovely night for football.

Roopena attacked early in the first quarter.

Their attack on both body and ball was intense, Zucker goaled after good play from Elliott to register the Roos first.

The game was evolving into a battle of the young guns, all over the ground youthful exuberance was on show and this ensured the game was quick and the tackling fierce.

Tragedy struck for the Dragons when exciting youngster Dillon Everett left the ground with a shoulder injury.

Cook and Matt Manfield were solid for the Roos and youngsters Brereton and Kwaterski good across half back.

The first quarter was marred by a couple of missed opportunities by Roopena.

The game was a battle between half back and half forward both defences were on top.

Quarter time scores: Roopena 1.3, West 0.2.

Both sides attacked early in the second quarter and the pressure applied was great, the game was quick and feisty at times.

Zucker kicked his second goal for the Roos then at the seven minute mark after a 50 metre penalty Nowak registered the Dragons first goal of the game.

Another 50m penalty could have cost the Roos, however the Dragons failed to capitalise in front of goal.

West continued to attack but once again poor kicking would let them down.

Then in a great piece of football youngster Chris Waugh ran the ball into Roopena’s forward line to find Grund, then smart work from Hannemann to Sumner resulted in a goal.

The Dragons not to be denied went forward, then another silly 50 metre penalty resulted in a goal to Nowak.

Roos replied when Zucker got his third goal.

At the long break Roopena held a slender eight-point lead in what had been a fantastic first half of fierce committed football by both clubs.

Both sides had many fine players up until half time; Brereton, Fiebig, Cook, Manfield, Hannemann and young Kwaterski for Roopena.

West were best served by English, Manfield, Patterson and Ware.

The Dragons goaled within a minute of the third quarter, a lucky bounce resulted in a gift for Nowak, to bring up his third.

Then a costly turnover in Roopena’s back line allowed the illusive Ware to swoop on the ball and this time to the relief of Dragon supporters the young man finally found the big sticks.

Then another West goal after a free kick and in a space of four minutes the Dragons had not just grabbed a 10-point lead, but had stolen the ascendancy from the Roos.

The Dragons were cleaner around the packs, Sawford imposed himself on the game shovelling out some wonderful reflex Sawfordite like handpasses to his fleet footed youngsters.

Stix Manfield across half back further launched himself into the fray with some inspiring rebounding runs and some great dour defending.

The tackling and the intensity of the game lifted once again, the crowd became animated, Westies sensing they had an opportunity to break clear, Roopena led by their skipper Fiebig fighting tooth and nail to stay in the contest.

Roopena hit back when Hannemann took a strong mark to goal, then at the 16-minute mark young Wes McClean, under fierce pressure, produced a great pack snap to goal for the Dragons.

West continued to have the edge around the packs Leigh Symond, Sawford were now getting plenty of the football, however Roopena were still getting enough of the football in their forward 50, but a combination of resolute defence by the Dragons and skill errors denied them scoring opportunities.

At the 19-minute mark Ware hit the post for Wests, the last score of the third quarter, to grab an 11-point lead.

Roopena 5.4, West 6.9.

The last quarter was like the other three -arm wrestle.

Ben English continued his good form and bobbed up to hurt the Roos, Stix Manfield continued to block Roopena’s attacks, both defences were on top.

Kane Grund who had worked hard all evening came into the game big time, taking timely marks and rebounding well for the Roos.

The Dragons had two scoring opportunities to break clear but poor kicking denied them.

Roopena kept attacking, West defended stoutly and rebounded well, then Roopena would defend and hit the Dragons on the rebound.

It still was a very keen contest then at the 15-minute mark English broke through the Roos defence to score West’s only goal for the quarter, but what a valuable goal it was, with five minutes on the clock the Dragons had broken clear by 19 points.

Roopena once again went forward but try as they liked could not find a winner up forward.

They finally got the ball to Hannemann at the 19-minute mark who goaled on the siren to reduce the margin to 13 points to end an entertaining absorbing contest.