Match Report

Round 04

Fitzroy U-14 Blue 24.21 (165) d Parkside 5.3 (33) at Ramsden St, May 2, 2010 Let's talk about this match in a different way. Let's not talk about it like any other game, where the footy zigs and zags up and down the ground or gets trapped in a pocket. Or the scores see-saws up and down and the weather is brutally cold, and even the mums and dads want to be home in front of a fire. No, let's talk about this game against a new team in the competition in a measured way, so those of us who were there can reflect on what happened on Ramsden St on a cool Sunday afternoon when the Roys had 45 shots on goal. For a start, there were 13 goalkickers (Well, perhaps 14 - it was getting hard to keep track.) - Wiz and Connor kicked four each, Mo got three, Nix and Jaqan two. But it was an even effort - step forward Sebastian, Al, Mu, Ahmed, Max, Alex, Sam and Digby. Then there were those around the ground - Charlie, rucking tirelessly all day and being creative around the ground, Sam and Andre roving like demons. Now Andre, there's a story - in doubt before the match with a sore hand, he managed to convince the doctor he was good to go. And Patrick, back from a week off crook, took four grabs in the first quarter; and Kent, composed and dashing down in defence, with Luke so creative in close and Lochie burning up the grass with some withering solo runs. And what about Jesse, tenacious and hard all day, and Kieran getting the ball out with expert touch with hand and foot. Gee, it was that kind of day when the Roys played like champions and the match unrolled like a magic carpet. Parkside struggled for numbers, especially after the ugly clash of heads that meant stitches for one boy, concussion for another and an ambulance just to make sure. But they were tough and never gave up. They will be better next time around. As for the Roys, well it was some win. Percentage can sometimes be important but confidence is more elusive and harder to calculate. The Roys have a bit of both at the moment. The season is well and truly underway. Nick Richardson

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