Fitzroy faced stiff opposition against Kew in what has turned out to be our final game of the 2005 season. Unfortunately, Max Wilson, Chris Stuart and Raymond Chen were all out of the side for this important game. Kew needed to win this match to be sure of a place in the finals, while the Roys are now sadly out of contention for this year. On one of the few bleak afternoons of the season, Declan Canavan got the job as captain for the week and lined up in the ruck against a player who must have been Spider Everitt’s taller, younger brother. Spectators complained that they could not see the clock on the Richmond Town Hall each time this lanky lingerer ran in front of it.
Kew were desperate for a win and started strongly. They led Fitzroy to the ball and were making the most of their distinct height advantage. (Memo to all parents: Plenty of vitamins and growth hormones over the summer months- we are the shortest team on the field each and every week!) Kew led the game by two points at Quarter Time and had stretched that to a 10 point lead at the main break. However, it was still only two goals to one and Fitzroy were showing signs that we were right in the game, thanks to some strong defence and some rugged work at the bottom of the packs.
After listening to the coach’s last Half Time speech for the year, The Roys were inspired and pounced into action in the Second Half. The rejuvenated Lions piled on three goals in the Third Quarter and kept a stunned Kew scoreless. Highlights were a great goal and mark from Raphael Symons (thank goodness we decided not to rest him for the last quarter) and some hard and tough work at the bottom of the packs by Zeb Clarke.
As expected, Kew came out firing in the last quarter. Fitzroy quickly steadied with two goals, before Kew really started to pour on the pressure. Kew kicked three unanswered goals and were fast closing the gap. However, it was a magnificent defensive mark deep in the back line by the Roy’s ‘Rock Of Gibraltar’, Magnus Gillberg, standing firm against six desperate high flying Kew forwards, that finally put paid to Kew’s last challenge. Luke Demilis was fantastic against the giant No.23, while Patrick McBrearty and Christian Sullivan-McNeill led the midfielders continually to the bottom of the packs. There were some solid efforts from players like Lachlan Calder and Hamish Ramsay who stuck to their guns and played with discipline when things got close. But really, it was just a fantastic effort from each and every player that saw us finish the season with a great, fighting win.
Once again, well done to all. We did not make the finals, but we finished with 9 wins, counting the byes, and in the top half of the ladder. We won six of our last eight games. There will be a few teams playing off next week who will be glad Fitzroy are not there. It was an excellent achievement, especially considering our slow start to the season. Congratulations on a very satisfying year.
Final Scores: Fitzroy1.1 1.1 4.6 6.7 (43) Kew1.3 2.5 2.5 5.6 (36) Goals:Christian Sullivan-McNeill 2, Edward Bryan 2, Raphael Symons 1, Declan Canavan 1.
For a Complete Season Summary Click Here
Despite our first loss for six weeks the previous Sunday, it was an optimistic Fitzroy that travelled back to Bulleen Reserve for our return clash with Ivanhoe on yet another sunny Sunday morning. We had lost our Round 4 match by only nine points and recent results suggested we were in with a good chance.
However, in the opening term it was Ivanhoe who came out running hard. Many of the Fitzroy players were left standing flat-footed as Ivanhoe controlled the first quarter and kicked two important goals. The opposition really poured on the pressure in the second quarter. While we managed to kick two goals ourselves, it was again Ivanhoe who were playing the better football. By Half Time, we were down by 32 points, with Ivanhoe's tall marking and fast moving players running amok. Our back line was working overtime with Alex Taylor our best defender, continually working himself down to the bottom of the packs.
The coach called for long kicking and more play-on football in the Second Half. The team responded well and the rest of the match was relatively even. Alex Hasiotis, Andrew Skoullos, Adrian Codognotto and Patrick McBrearty all helped lift our standard of play. Will Lovett and Sam Hogan also contributed well. Unfortunately for Fitzroy, Ivanhoe continued to play well and, sadly, their tall marking players did not get any shorter.
A much better performance in the Second Half, but the Roys paid the penalty for a fairly lacklustre start to the game. Congratulations to Ivanhoe whose classy style of play seemed to contradict their current position on the ladder. They were definitely one of the better teams we have played this year.
Next week we play Kew in the final game of the year. Disappointingly, no finals place for us, but it's a chance to let Kew know that Fitzroy are one of the better teams in the competition. Hope we get lots of supporters to come along for the last game and also join us later in the day for a 'post season' get together at 5.00PM at the Peacock Hotel in High Street, Northcote.
Final Scores: Fitzroy0.1 2.2 4.4 4.4 (28) Ivanhoe2.3 7.4 9.5 10.9 (69) Goals:Andrew Skoullos 2, Luke Demelis 2.
It was an early morning start and a howling north easterly wind that confronted the Roys as they ran onto the ground for their all-important game against SFX Whitehorse Colts. The Colts had given us a footballing lesson and a 57 point spanking earlier in the season, but nothing other than a victory in the return game would keep our final hopes alive.
Fitzroy began positively by winning the toss and kicking with the wind in the opening term. The Colts showed good defensive skills, but fortunately it was the Christians (Kristians) who saved the Lions, with Christian Sullivan-McNeill & Kristian Nagel scoring goals to make sure we were ahead at Quarter Time.
The second quarter was an exhaustive test for our back line, with Colts putting on the pressure with the aid of a blistering breeze. Our defence staged a gallant resistance and only coughed one controversial goal to their relentless opposition. Nevertheless, thanks to a flurry of behinds, Colts had crept to a narrow two point lead at Half Time.
It was up to Fitzroy to make the most of the wind in the third quarter. However, the Colts continued to make things difficult and, at the final change, we held a slender but shaky six point advantage. With the Colts coming home with the aid of Cyclone Tracy in the last quarter, it was clear we were in more trouble than Steve Vizard's Legal Team! As it turned out, the Roys stuck steadfastly to their task, but still ended up losing by a respectable nine points- thanks to some poor kicking under pressure from the Colts. It was a positive result in the context of our game earlier in the year against this talented team. But unfortunately, it means that our slim chances of finals football are now all but over. We will now need some amazing results in other games to stay in the hunt.
Whether we make the finals or not, everyone should be very proud of how we fought out this game and we only have to look at our earlier Round 3 result against the Colts to see how far we have come during the season. Some great efforts from Luke Demilis in the ruck and Alex Hasiotis, Kostas Varnavides and Magnus Gillberg in the back line, to name only a few. Filippo Palermo and Andrew Skoullos were again also very important players in the midfield.
Final Scores: Fitzroy 2.0 2.0 4.3 4.3 (27) SFX Whitehorse Colts 0.2 1.8 2.9 3.18 3.18 (36) Goals:Christian Sullivan-McNeill 2, Kristian Nagel 1, Harry Borland 1.
Fitzroy were coming off a two week break, including last week's Bye, as we again headed for the bush for our important clash against Warrandyte. We were aiming for four wins on the trot (five if we count the four points for the Bye!) and a win was a must if we were to stay in the fight for a spot in the finals.
The effects of the break were very evident in the first quarter when Fitzroy got off to a sluggish start kicking with the wind. It seemed many of our players were still on school holidays and we did not manage to kick a goal. Only some good defending, particularly from Sam Walker, Alex Taylor and Lachlan Calder, helped to keep us from falling too far behind. In the second quarter, Warrandyte started to kick way. Their taller players were beating us in the air and the rest of their side was constantly getting first to the ball. By Half Time, we looked in danger of repeating our Round 2 loss to the same team.
The third quarter saw a much more determined and committed Fitzroy. Many players who were quiet in the first half were now getting their hands on the ball. Kristian Nagel, Adrian Codognotto, Filippo Palermo and Andrew Skoullos were giving us plenty of drive through the midfield and by three quarter time, we had fought back to be within two points.
There was still plenty of work to do with Warrandyte coming home to the scoring end in the final term. However, Fitzroy proved to be up to the test, finishing with two more goals to end the game full of running. Raymond Chen and Sam Horsburgh were just two of many players who were prepared to play in front and be first to the ball. In the end, we had managed to keep Warrandyte scoreless in the Second Half. By the time the Warrandyte train whistle tooted at full time, we had turned a 17 point Half Time deficit into a hard earned 10 point win.
It was another great effort from everyone, especially in the second half. The win was a very good indicator as to how much we have improved since the early rounds of the season.
Final Scores: Fitzroy 0.3 1.4 3.7 5.7 (37) Warrandyte 1.0 4.3 4.3 4.3 (27) Goals: Andrew Skoullos 2, Sam Hogan 1, Max Wilson 1, Dylan Buckley 1.
It was a sunny afternoon, it was an AFL free Sunday and there was an offer of a free feed from the coach after the game. These three factors meant there was a great crowd in attendance to see Fitzroy attempt to string together their third win on the trot, this time against Macleod at Citizen's Park.
As usual, the first quarter was another tight one. We conceded an early goal, but then we saw a classy, inspirational solo effort from Andrew Skoullos which culminated in surely the best goal seen this season- anywhere! (Yes, Andrew- the big crowd loved it!) It was a hard and physical first quarter, but our players were able to concentrate on getting the ball and doing the important but less flashy things, such as shepherding teammates and pushing the ball forward. There were some good contributions from Chris Stuart and Sam Walker in the opening term.
The second quarter was another strong one from Fitzroy and the hard 'second efforts' by all of our players were extremely pleasing. We managed to keep Macleod scoreless in the second quarter and sneak away to a handy 26-point lead at half time.
The second half was a much closer, with both teams working hard for the ball and easy possessions difficult to come by.
Both teams kicked a goal each in the third quarter and this was also the case in the last quarter. The result was another hard-fought win for Fitzroy- this time by 25 points.
We had many good players. There were great contributions from players such as Will Lovett (obviously enjoying his role as captain for the day) and Hamish Ramsay who played his best game yet for the team. Raymond Chen showed he is fitting into our team nicely, Sam Hogan broke free from some 'close checking' for some important possessions and Adrian Codognotto managed to pick up just as many kicks when he moved to the backline as he did when he was playing well on the wing.
Another great 'team' effort from everyone. We had 22 players who were hungry for the ball and concentrated on working hard and supporting their teammates. That same effort and hunger was repeated for the coach straight after the game when the team quickly polished off his sausages and soft drinks with similar determination.
So, that's three in a row and a couple of weeks off to prepare for our next match against Warrandyte.
Final Scores: Fitzroy 2.2 5.3 6.5 7.5 (47) Macleod 1.1 1.1 2.2 3.4 (22) Goals: Andrew Skoullos 2, Christian Sullivan-McNeill 2, Will Lovett 1, Filippo Palermo 1,
Kristian Nagel 1.
Fitzroy were keenly eyeing off Park Orchards B's position on the ladder when we travelled to the rustic setting of Stinton's Reserve for today's clash between 6th and 7th.
After winning the toss and kicking with the wind, The Roys conceded the first goal, but struck back to hold a narrow two point lead at Quarter Time. However, a strong second quarter saw Fitzroy kick two goals and hold Park Orchards goal-less and so hold a handy lead at Half Time. Our mid-field was well and truly on top, with Kristian Nagel & Patrick McBrearty dominating. Filippo Palermo showed he was back to his best and Christian Sullivan-McNeill was enhancing his reputation as the team's 'goal sneak'.
Fitzroy's lead was extended with a strong three goals to one third quarter. In a worrying sign, the notorious 'Park Orchards Doctor' blew in and the home side suddenly had a howling wind behind them for the Final Quarter. While failing to score in the Final Term, the Roy's defence held firm and we were able to record a hard fought 13 point win against tough opposition in tough conditions. Our defenders, led by Sam Horsburgh, Magnus Gillberg, Alex Hasiotis & Kostas Varnavides were magnificent all day and played a major part in a terrific win.
That now puts us sixth on the ladder and only a game and percentage out of the four.
Once again, well done everybody.
Final Scores: Fitzroy 1.2 3.3 6.3 6.3 (39) Park Orchards B 1.0 1.1 2.1 4.2 (26) Goals: Christian Sullivan-McNeill 3, Kristian Nagel 1, Lachlan Calder 1, Declan Canavan 1
The Roys faced a daunting task when lining up against third placed Greythorn
at Citizen's Park. Last year, Greythorn thumped the Roys by a whopping
110 points in the Preliminary Final and probably had today's clash pencilled
in for an easy four points.
What the unsuspecting Greythorn failed to realise is that the Lions
are on the improve and today we shocked last year's Grand Finalist with
a stunning 19 point victory that puts us well and truly back in the
race for a spot in the finals. The Roys picked up where we left off
from the 5 goal final quarter against Surrey Park last week and held
a narrow one point lead at Quarter Time. The lead was extended to 3
points at Half Time, with only three goals being scored in the match to that time.
In the Third Quarter, Fitzroy kicked 3 goals to one to lead by 12 points
at the last break. The final quarter was a desperate struggle with Fitzroy's
defence holding Greythorn goalless.
Christian Sullivan-McNeill top scored with 3 goals and took the Mark
Of The Season for Fitzroy so far.
Every player contributed to this wonderful win, but we must make mention
of Luke Demelis' heroic efforts in the ruck. The back line was magnificent-
especially in the second half, and the forward line made the most of
our opportunities. The midfield kept running all day and never let their opponents get away.
A fantastic performance from the whole team. It was clearly our best effort for the year. Well done, everybody!
Final Scores: Fitzroy 1.1 2.1 5.1 6.4. (40) Greythorn 1.0 1.4 2.7 2.9 (21) Goals: Christian Sullivan-McNeill 3, Max Wilson 2, Lachlan Calder 1.
