Sydney Uni American Football Club

The term “legendary” is greatly overused.  It is now a stock phrase of sports commentators in their incessant drive to maintain the hype.  It is thrown around casually by advertising creatives for comic effect.  Yet, deep down, in a place where our sporting heroes clash in the grainy, black and white newsreel images of a more innocent age, we all still recognise the truly legendary.

Last weekend, Anthony “Animal” Sinton played his 200^th game for the Sydney Uni Lions in the 2012 Waratah Bowl as the Lions won their 10^th straight title.  It was only fitting for Sinton’s legendary status that the stars aligned to grace this milestone with such an important game.

Anthony Sinton joined the club in 1994 in the first intake of players for its new juniors team, the Cubs.  Still only 14 years old when he joined, Sinton took to the game like a natural.  Taught the fundamentals of tackling and blocking in the old-school style brought to the club by Bert Engel, and handed down by his Cubs coach, Andrew Ogborne, Sinton soon began to terrorise opponents with his direct running and devastating tackling.  All sinew and bone, shins and elbows, Sinton had a knack for making the big play.

Coach Ogborne presenting the award

After being a key part of a Cubs team that had two undefeated championship seasons in 1994 and 1995 (a sign of things to come), Sinton was left as the lone veteran in 1996 as the first wave of Cubs players graduated to the senior ranks.  Sinton took over as captain and quarterback of a young Cubs squad which would face the more established juniors teams from the returning Premier League clubs for the first time.  Sinton lifted the Cubs on his shoulders that year, leading the team in rushing, passing, scoring, tackles, interceptions and fumbles caused.  He carried the team past the Premier State League champions – the Penrith City Chiefs – scoring all of the points in a tough 8-6 win in the Semi-Final before running riot in the Championship game against a Dave Ward-led Lansvale Trojans team.  Sinton was simply unstoppable that day as he ran for four touchdowns and threw for one more in a 36-14 victory.

In the meantime, Sinton’s rare athletic ability and mature football brain meant that he was good enough to play for the Lions while still a junior.  He first played for the Lions in 1995 as a defensive back and was part of a team that went undefeated and took the NSWGFL championship with a win over the ACT Astros in the Waratah Bowl.  He has been a big part of the Lions’ success ever since.

Current players and supporters may not appreciate just how influential Sinton has been in shaping the fortunes of the Lions.  A few big plays of many will have to suffice.

In the 2004 Waratah Bowl, the game was delicately poised going into the second quarter with the Lions leading 12-7.  On a field made greasy by a heavy downpour shortly before kick-off, the Pirates were forced to punt and Sinton was sent back to his own goal line to return.  Showing his courage and natural balance in the slippery conditions, Sinton fielded the ball, stepped his way through the teeth of the onrushing coverage team and sprinted away for an 80 yard touchdown.  The score ignited the Lions to a 32-7 victory and the GNSW title.

A long time Special Teams great, Animal leads on a kick return

Fast forward to the second quarter of the 2006 Waratah Bowl and the Lions and Gators were tied at 7 all.  Again, the Lions forced a punt and sent Sinton back to return.  This time, the ball bounced high on the artificial turf over Sinton’s head and he had to double-back into the endzone to field the ball.  No matter, as Sinton set off on a weaving, tackle-busting, length of the field touchdown run which mesmerised the defence and brought the crowd to its feet.  Sinton also picked off an interception late in the game and returned the ball to the 5 yard line to set up a further touchdown.  Sinton’s contributions were crucial to the 34-26 Lions victory.

But it has not just been the big plays (although there have been plenty of them), it has also been the consistency of his play that has marked Sinton as special.  Sinton has lead the Lions in interceptions for many seasons and stands second in Lions career interceptions (averaged).  He is in the top ten Lions players for career scoring, career receiving and career tackles.  He holds the Lions record for most returns for touchdown (6).  He has always been too talented to be pinned down to one position and has readily answered the call to play where the team needed him most.  Sinton is the only player to ever lead the Lions in rushing (2001) and passing (1999) in two different seasons.  There are basically six ways you can score a touchdown in Gridiron – rushing, receiving, interception return, kick-off return, punt return and fumble recovery.  Of the over 600 players who have taken the field for the Sydney Uni Lions in its 29 year history, only Sinton has scored a touchdown by all of those means.

Sinton has played at the highest level, being a member of the National Champion Wolfpack teams of 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010 and representing Australia in 2003 at the Goodwill Games, in 2007 in the World Cup qualifier against South Korea and in 2009 on the successful tour to Great Britain.  He has remained a pleasure to coach and a gentleman both on and off the field.

Animal was a regular on the Australian teams

But perhaps the ultimate proof of Sinton’s status comes from a question asked by a freshman player at a recent Lions team function: “Is it true Animal once tackled a player so hard the other guy swallowed his mouth guard?”.  Now that, my friends, is a marvellous story of ancient times.  It also happens to be true.  Legend.

Ferocious doesn't begin to describe Animal's hitting.