Under 12-1 2009

Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8 Game 9 Game 10 Game 11 Game 12 Game 13 Game 14 Game 15

Game 10

Fitzroy 3.1 7.3 7.4 9.11 65

Ashburton 0.0 2.0 7.2 7.2 44

On a cold, still, and misty morning the U12 Golds hosted Ashburton at Ramsden St. Fitzroy had 19 players available, but Ashburton only 16, so by mutual agreement both sides fielded 16. We warmly welcomed Aidan as a permanent addition to the team. Louis and Jim were captains for the day and under strict instructions, if they won the toss, to kick to the less obviously favoured northern end. However Ashburton won the toss and obligingly made the choice for us.

Chas was in the ruck in the first quarter, consistently winning the hit outs, and following the ball. Aidan, Chas, Otis, Sapphire, Gus, Louis, Lucien and Ben were all prominent early in the quarter, without impact upon the scoreboard. Then Louis was awarded a free kick for a high tackle, on the end of passes from Chas and Eddie, and slotted a major. From the centre bounce the ball was propelled into the zone by Chas and Aidan, where Jim took a great mark with the flight, and spotted Sapphire in better position, who goaled. Courtesy of a great shepherd by Gus, Andrej was able to kick to Jim, who short passed to Aidan, who goaled. George registered a behind with a kick off the ground. Otis hit his head falling to the ground and seemed out of it, but after ingestion of the magic water sprung up, Lazarus style, to be on the receiving end of a pass from Andrej after he had run and bounced 4 times through the centre. With the benefit of hindsight this was the quarter that won the game for the 'Roy boys, against the slope and without any rejoinder from Ashburton.

The second quarter started with a behind from Chas on the end of a chain of marks from Declan, Harris, and Gus. Then courtesy of a feed that originated with Robbie at centre half back, through Declan and Louis, Gabe drilled a goal. Eddie thwarted a threatening thrust with a great tackle. From a ball in, Chas knocked the ball forward to Aidan whose 40 metre kick bounced through. Ashburton then responded with their first goal. In response Harry won the ball on the half forward flank and kicked to George who played on, wheeled around his opponent, and goaled. Whilst one shot on goal by Ashburton was thwarted by Harris with a great mark at full back, another sailed through at shoulder height with no one on the goal line. After the siren had sounded, Louis, who had just completed a mark courtesy of passes from Gabe and Gus, coolly kicked truly.

Come the third quarter the previously still conditions had changed to a slight breeze favouring the southern end. As Chas was absolutely spent at half time from his rucking and roving efforts, Harris relieved him at the centre bounces and dominated the taps. Ashburton had clearly been fired up at half time, for they registered 3 goals before there was a response from Fitzroy, a behind to Louis. Louis then appeared to take a great pack mark, but the umpire deemed that it had been touched in flight and Louis was pinged for holding the ball. After another goal and behind to Ashburton a rested Chas was moved back into the ruck. Eddie took a great mark but it failed to prevent Ashburton registering their fifth unanswered goal for the term. With 2 points separating the sides the game seemed to be following an ominously familiar script.

Validating the choice of ends at the toss, come the last quarter there was a 2 goal breeze favouring the downhill end. Rather than do it the easy way Fitzroy increased their lead to more than a goal, incrementally, with behinds to Angus, Aidan, Otis, Harry and George, before Aidan sealed it with a goal after winning a contested ball. The 'Roy boys were so dominant in this term that the ball never progressed beyond the half back line. Fittingly the game ended with a passage of play originating with Angus, through Ben, to Jim who, after laying off two goals earlier in the game, registered his first ever!

We have a weeks layoff before an appointment with our old nemesis Camberwell, which is undoubtedly a welcome respite for parents, and a source of great frustration for our boys. Go 'Roys!

"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)