|
Grand
Final Match Report
28th
August 2005 - Home Game Versus Park
Orchards at Greythorn Park
Fitzroy |
4-8-32 |
Def
|
Park
Orchards |
2-2-14 |
By the time the fog lifted on Saturday morning, the boys were
well into the final training session of the season. Groups of
parents stood around, some shifting from one foot to the other.
There were cries of support, urging and clapping. Plenty of second-guessing
about Park Orchards: how big were they?
How strong were they?
Nothing beats grand final eve, whatever level you play. It gets
to you.
"You know what," Michael Woods said, "this is our
first season and we're in the grand final.'' His were not the
only pre-match wise words.
Mick Power, in the midst of an extended family holiday in northern
Australia, sent an email to the team. It read: ³Try not to
think of the pressure.... Have fun and play your best.¹¹
And around 2pm the next day, at Greythorn Park, coach Kinens brought
the boys together for the pre-match address.
Earlier, he had taken each of the boys aside, telling them where
they would play, and if they would start on the field or on the
longest bench in junior footy.
Now he coaxed them into a new way of thinking. He wanted each
of them to close their eyes and think about doing well, playing
their best, playing as a team and then to try to imagine hearing
the roar of the crowd when the game was theirs.
The boys were quiet. It was a moment of reflection and anticipation.
It didn't last long. Within a moment they were back, boisterous
and keen to go. Fitzroy won the toss. The banner was unfurled:
"Go Roys, Grand Final Boys.''
And then they were through it, out the other side and ready for
the game.
Park Orchards looked as big and strong as we had feared. Some
of them had their hair shaved and tinted with the club's colours.
The sun was out - perfect spring weather, perfect finals weather
- but there was a tricky wind. And Park Orchards had it for the
first quarter.
They started well too, using their height to best advantage and
setting up their forwards with some polished play. Fitzroy, as
it had all season, struggled to make an early impression.
And it came as no surprise when at the end of another forward
thrust, Park Orchards scored the first goal of the match. Michael
W thumped the ground but never dropped his head in the difficult
minutes that followed.
Fitzroy's defence was under fierce pressure. Josh was again defiant,
Frazer was tenacious and Ben S,in typical form, darting from half-back
to half-forward, dodging and weaving, searching for an opening.
Slowly, Fitzroy started to push the ball forward, and then tried
to lock it in. Riley hit the post with a set shot to register
the Roys first score, and then Casey took a strong mark to kick
another point.
At quarter time, there was only four points the difference and
Fitzroy, with the wind at their backs, started the second quarter
with a burst of energy.
Max was fierce in his attack on the ball and Sam M took a strong
mark up forward and then added to the growing list of points.
Harry S was busy, searching for an opportunity.
Then, almost by magic, Lachlan found himself on the end of a bouncing
ball in the goalsquare. In a blink Lachlan knew what to do: he
latched on to the ball and kicked it in mid-air, soccering through
a remarkable goal to give the Roys the lead.
But Park Orchards was not going to surrender. They regrouped and
started to kick the ball long on to the forward line. Ben C down
back was calm and unhurried in defence, repelling several Park
Orchards attacks. Harry P was working hard against taller opponents,
tackling intently and creating pressure around the packs where
Finn's speed was vital.
But such resistance could not last, and in the final moments of
the second quarter Park Orchards goaled again, to go into the
main break leading the Roys by three points.
Some of the boys would say later that they knew the game was theirs
for the taking at half time. Perhaps so. Coach Kinens was more
concerned about the boys picking up the ball in the second half.
The boys on the bench were a triumph of concentration and commitment.
Each of the boys, from Kieran, to Jack, to Miles, to Oscar J and
Oscar O, Sebastian and Dominic were ready for the call, never
protesting and always making a contribution once they got their
chance.
Coach Kinens rotated them expertly, keeping the flanks and the
wingers fresh, and leaving the key positions players to hold the
line.
Struggling against the wind, the Roys pushed hard. Jules cut a
swathe through his opponents winning the hard ball and kicking
a vital goal.
Ben S was given a free and found Harrison in front of goal. Harrison
had fought the flu all week, but his kick was calm, measured and
never in doubt.
The goal put the Roys back in front.
Now Park Orchards had to rally, and with the wind, they responded.
Once again, the Fitzroy defence was put under pressure, but Patrick,
fresh off the bench, pushed hard from the back flank, taking some
telling marks so that by three quarter time, the Roys led by 13
points.
Importantly, Park Orchards had not scored with the wind.
So it came down to this - only a few minutes left. And the Roys,
armed with the wind, knew what they wanted. In a moment, their
teamwork started to click. Himi, Sam R and Lucas were helping
to create opportunities, pumping the ball forward where goal sneak
Ben McDonald was lurking. But it was Scobie who kicked the sealer,
taking a chest mark in front and coverting for the Roys' fourth.
A few more points followed, stretching the Roys' lead. Park Orchards
struggled to move forward, and when they did there was plenty
of resistance from what was now an impregnable Roys' defence.
Suddenly, there was no doubt that the Roys would hang on. They
loved the moment. They kept running, looking for each other, finding
each other, just as they had done all season.
And in the midst of that, the final siren sounded. Casey flopped
to his knees, the others jumped and embraced each other.
Ben S was named the player of the final, narrowly edging out Jules.
And then later, coach Kinens let it be known that he was retiring,
a premiership coach at his first attempt.
Yet he told the boys it was their pennant, and indeed it was,
but he had been there, coaxing, imploring, yelling and supporting
them all, from the sugar-free Wednesday afternoon training sessions
to the deep chill of Sunday mornings.
But the one thing that was theirs, and never shaken, was the Roys'
self-belief. They knew they could do it and somehow, they managed
to pull it off YJFL under-10 blue premiers 2005.
Under
10 Blue Ladder
Under
10 Blue Ladder |
For more
photos from this round
Under
10 Blue Photos |
