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 7

St Mary's 2.2 6.3 7.4 9.7 61

Fitzroy 0.2 1.2 2.3 2.4 16

After rising at the crack of dawn and setting out with a map and a compulsory water bottle, the boys from the plague ridden inner northern suburbs assembled at Greensborough to take on one of the Godzillas of the competition, St Mary's. Charles was captain for the day, the ground was swathed in fog, and Fitzroy were kicking to the slightly uphill, western end.

St Mary's jumped out of the blocks and had the ball camped in their attacking zone for a return of 2 goals 2 behinds. Late in the quarter the tide turned and Fitzroy started to move the ball with assurance. Aiden received a free kick and a 15 m penalty. Ben delivered to Lucien whose kick forward was rushed through for a behind. Then Harry J. was the beneficiary of a free kick in the centre, kicked to Chas, whose kick to the goal square was picked up by Noah whose snap registered a behind.

Noah relieved Chas in the ruck in the second quarter, and won the majority of taps with balletic leaps. Nonetheless St Mary's continued their scoreboard domination with three unanswered goals. Finally Louis and Otis stamped their mark on the game. A promising move out of centre from Noah to Louis, who ran and passed to Otis was repelled from the goals square. Then Declan took a good mark at centre half back, kicked deep to Otis, whose lay off came back to him, and he delivered to Louis in the hot spot, who goaled. Despite gallant defense St Mary's scored another major in the last second of the quarter.

Twice early in the third quarter Andrej and Louis combined to move the ball through the centre but the thrusts were repelled. Fitzroy registered a rushed behind from a promising buildup originating from a 1-2 between Robbie and Charles, and a free kick and 15 m penalty to Aiden. Robbie and Harris' defensive efforts continued to thwart St Mary's and limited them to one goal. In the shadows of three quarter time Robbie won the ball, and kicked to a contest where George took a strong mark. His kick forward was gathered by Charles who evaded 3 opponents, bounced and kicked a team lifting goal.

This had been Fitzroy's best quarter and coach Michael asked the boys to believe that the gap could be bridged.

The ball was funneled up and down the creek wing early in the last quarter for a return of 2 rushed behinds to St Mary's. Notable defensive efforts by Harry J., Ben and Ollie were in vain as St. Mary's scored two goals to put the game out of Fitzroy's reach. Otis was unlucky to register a behind from a promising build up from Chas and Noah, and Aiden received 2 successive 15 m penalties bringing his tally for the match to four. Far from being a blowout the 'Roy boys had really taken the game up to a side used to easy wins.

In a fortnight's time we meet Canterbury at "Hungry", knowing that there are no soft opponents in this competition.. Go 'Roys!

"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)