Under 11 - 3
Fitzroy Under-11 3 10.18 (78) d Banyule 2.2 (14), May 6, 2007
 
You have to be careful watching the opposition warm up: it can give you ideas. You also have to be careful about being seduced by a nice piece of decking, snazzy clubrooms and a cafeteria with a coffee machine. All is not what it seems. The Banyule Boys did some impressive drills before the game on Sunday. They had tall players, robust players. They could have been giants. They kicked long and took confident marks. Then the game started and things started to change. Nothing drastic, mind you. At first, in fact, it was set for an even contest. A handball from Sam to Patrick in the goalsquare was the first goal of the match, but Banyule soon replied. The Roys did not appear to be struggling - they had winners, including Digby, who was a launching pad from centre half-back; and Atticus with his clearances, or Nick B, in and under, and out with a quick kick or handball. But at quarter time, Banyule was in front after kicking their second goal. Terry pinpointed the problem: the Roys weren't first to the ball.
Then, somehow, it all changed. Fraser was at his creative best, darting through tackles, Charlie stood tall and rucked magnificently, and Kent started to win a lot of the ball on the forward line and finished off with a goal. Martin was his usual self - he chased, hounded and tackled any opponent who came between him and the footy.
Walt rolled a goal through to give the Roys' the lead, and then Max confidently kicked his first of the season before casually handballing off to Walt for another goal. By half-time, the Roys were 20 points in front.
Life became harder for the Banyule Boys after half-time. The Roys seemed to find another gear and kept pumping the ball in to the forward line, locking the ball in to the forward pocket where a number of Roys drifted down to have a crack at goal. It became congested and difficult to score. Fitzroy had more than 10 shots for the quarter, and managed three goals. But the effort was superb.
Sebastian, back in the team after a pre-season hamstring injury, combined brilliantly with his brother Jaquan and Jesse to get the ball moving from the centre. Downfield, Adam's tackling and tenacity led to him kicking a goal. After Nick N defied a tackle to take a strong mark and goal, it was almost three quarter time. But Kent took a mark and converted after the siren to give the Roys a big lead going in to the last quarter.
Banyule's strength turned out to be its smaller players, who kept running and chasing in the face of Fitzroy's growing confidence. Dave was creative in the back half while Aleks went off on several searching runs down the wing that put the Banyule defence under pressure. After a Banyule kick-in went astray, Walt trapped it and kicked his third. Moments later Will was on the end of a Charlie pass that became the Roys' 10th goal for the game. It was a convincing win, built on teamwork, effort and belief in each other. |
