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 11

Camberwell 0.0 1.1 1.1 5.1 31

Fitzroy 1.3 2.3 4.4 5.4 34

With some trepidation the 'Roy boys journeyed to the bourgeois belt to take on Camberwell, a side we had failed to defeat in 4 previous meetings, most painfully in last years preliminary final. There was a fresh wind from the nor'-nor'-east blowing across the ground but slightly towards the downhill end. Eddie and Harry J. were captains for the day, won the toss, and kicked to the favoured end. In his pre-match address coach Michael emphasised that with their running game, when Camberwell were in possession, every player needed to become a defender

In the first quarter Chas was in the ruck and consistently winning taps against no 14, his much taller opponent. Early on Aidan was awarded a free kick, kicked to Sapphire, who handballed to Andrej, whose kick registered a behind. Andrej and Lucien combined for a good 1-2 to move the ball through the centre but the thrust was repelled. Harry was awarded a free for a great tackle, kicked to Ben, who handpassed to Aidan in heavy traffic. Aidan evaded his opponents and kicked to Gus in the pocket, who marked and kicked truly. Chas kicked to the hot spot where Noah took a corkscrew mark and registered a behind. Noah was awarded a free, and scored another behind. Late in the quarter with the ball in Camberwell's attacking zone a Fitzroy player under pressure disposed of the ball. "That was a throw" came the strident call from the Camberwell bunker, "No it wasn't" shot back the umpire. The boys had come to play and had demonstrated the dividend from wanting the ball more.

Noah was swung into the ruck in the second quarter. Fitzroy cleared the ball out of defense to be marked by Louis. His kick was run on to by Aidan, who evaded an opponent, and kicked to Sapphire, who marked and converted. Fitzroy continued to maintain their air superiority with telling marks to Robbie, Ben, Noah, Harris, and a trick mark by Lucien. Ominously Aidan limped off the ground with a rolled ankle, and was joined on the bench by Aiden with an injured knee. Late in the quarter Camberwell registered their first score, a behind, and followed up with a goal when the ball was failed to be cleared.

Aidan was able to resume in the third quarter and registered a behind from a chain of passes from Lucien, Gabe, and Harris. From a throw in Aidan read the tap, kicked to Jim who hit Noah on the chest, and another major ensued. For much of the rest of the quarter the ball was locked up on the down wind flank with desperate work from Charles, Harry H., Eddie, Arki and Robbie to prevent Camberwell advancing it to within scoring range. Unfortunately Aidan rolled his ankle again and was back on the bench. A kick from Aiden was marked by Andrej and delivered to Gus, who marked and roosted a goal from centre half forward. Surely having dominated for 3 quarters Fitzroy weren't about to let this one slip.

Early in the last quarter a kick forward by Camberwell's imposing no 14 was clearly touched by Jim, but called a goal. Camberwell had another kick on goal, but a free kick for encroaching over the mark, gifted them a shot from point blank range. Incredibly two further unanswered goals to Camberwell gave them the lead for the first time in the match. With their last roll of the dice Fitzroy drove the ball into their attacking zone. Four times the umpire threw the ball up at centre half forward after bodies had piled on the ball, and four times Chas won the tap. Finally the ball came out of a pack into Chas' hands who snapped a goal to re-establish the lead. When the siren sounded players and supporters rejoiced as if it had been a final.

Gus deservedly won the medal awarded by Camberwell to the best opposition player.

Next we host Kew at "Hungry". Go 'Roys!

"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)