Fitzroy – Under 12 Gold

 

Match Report – Preliminary Final – 24 th August 2008

 

Ivanhoe - Binnak Park

 

A fine, still morning greeted us at Bundoora on preliminary final day. The ground itself was extremely muddy in the middle and only marginally better over the rest of the playing surface.

 

Our boys were asked to begin the game with the intensity we showed only in patches the week before and they did dominate the game in the first quarter. All the play was in our forward line and we had many scoring opportunities. Ivanhoe defended strongly and rushed several behinds and we were unable to find free players deep in the forward line. 6 behinds was a disappointing return for some terrific effort. This was especially true of Lewis, Lachy and Riley in the midfield and Ben Mc in attack. Harrison and Harry P were impassable in the backline and it seemed only a matter of time before our dominance in general play would be reflected on the scoreboard.

 

Unfortunately the second quarter saw a change in momentum with Ivanhoe's stronger-bodied players getting on top in the middle and creating chances their forwards took extremely well. Whist Daniel, Digby and Lewis continued to battle hard three goals was going to be hard to peg back in the conditions.

 

The third quarter saw our boys work extremely hard to firstly hold out a confident Ivanhoe team and then take control late in the term. Harry P, David, Lucas, Adam and Harrison were all tremendous in defense. Again, however, we were unable to grab our opportunities and despite attacking for most of the last part of the quarter couldn't snag the vital team-lifting goal we needed. Lachy lead the way on his wing and with great support form Fraser W, Frazer K, Harry DT kept the ball moving forward.

 

At three quarter time the boys had the required belief that they could create more chances and capitalize on them and an early last quarter goal might have been the spark. It was not to be, however, as Ivanhoe quickly scored after the break and that seemed to knock the stuffing out of our boys who lost their appetite for the contest shortly afterwards.

 

To lose both finals when we certainly hard our chances in each was disappointing but we should acknowledge that in both games our opponents played the better football in the conditions for most of each game.

 

Our success this season shouldn't be forgotten in the disappointment of our finals performance. In 2007 we won 5 games out of 13 to finish 7 th . This year we have won 13 games out of 16 and ultimately finished third. This sort of improvement is a great achievement and something all the boys should be proud of. Obviously the different focus in team selection policy was beneficial to our team but I think every boy in u/12 Gold should be able to say that they improved themselves as footballers this year.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all our helpers throughout the season: Louise D., Helen S., Michael W., John P., Vicki M., Rod L., Jayne H., Jim H., Narelle N., Chris G., Debra W., Joe D., Dean C., Michael H., Jerry R., Bob P., Gianna P., Anne C., Iain McK., Michael C., Andy L., Jenny T., Rocky R., Lachlan Mc., Michael K., Rob C., Mario C., Kris E., Andrea H., Kim T., Mary DeP., Sophie A., Simon P.,

Caroline L., Tim H., Fay S., Holly K., Lily P. & Sally G (& Owie).

 

Fitzroy      0.6-6       0.7-7       0.7-7             0.8-8   

Ivanhoe     0.0-0     3.3-21     3.6-24       8.7-52

 

See you all at the Presentation Day on 14 th September.