Under 10 Blue >>

FITZROY vs HAWTHORN CITIZEN'S

20 June 2004

Back form the Queen's Birthday long weekend and with their first ever Team Reporting Night function that evening, the Fitzroy u-10 Blue's were eager for a win against the might of the Hawthorn Citizens.

Unfortunately, they didn't trouble the scorer at all in a disappointing day at Ramsden St . It was just as well really. Yours Truly accepted the task for the first time and learnt that being Scorer also included being the Timekeeper and with Hawthorn scoring regularly and watching the clock and the umpire, I had my hands full and more scoring would have really complicated the whole thing!!!

The Royboys were not disgraced, far from it! Captained proudly by Sam Gritzalis and Spencer O'Brien, they were valiant all day against a team largely in their second year as a team. Sean O'Neill was awarded the FFC ball for his outstanding defensive play. Sean was asked to tag an exceptionally talented opposition player and did it superbly. Tagging roles are not the natural bent of the u-10 beast, but Sean played to Coach Grant's instructions and did it for the team. Congratulations and keep it up Sean!

On to the Team Reporting Night! First one for most of us!! Very enjoyable!! Putting faces to names and hearing about the other teams and levels. Amongst it all, I was reminded of why we chose Fitzroy as a club for our son. The giant pennants hanging around the room confirmed for me that to some degree it is about winning. As my son says “that's why we keep score!” But as each team got up and spoke, I realised those pennants are only part of the achievement but there is more and at Fitzroy, this is celebrated also. The rest of the achievement is the relationships and this is where I felt the most excitement. Relationships between teammates, between coach and player, between parents and the ultimate relationship – the relationship between the competing teams. I noticed that the teams enjoying success this year all spoke of a rivalry with another club. A rivalry that had developed over more than one season, a rivalry that stirred passion in them, a rivalry that gave them a mission. A rivalry that provided anecdotes and lessons. Each team measured themselves against their rival, that is how they defined the task and it was how they measured success. When you have a rivalry, you have a history, you have tradition. You are a team.

So based on that, the u-10 Blues, scoreless on Sunday, can still be considered hugely successful. The boys from different schools, different suburbs who barely knew each other at the start of the year are now good friends, team-mates. Coach Grant and his assistants: Bruce and Martin have obvious affection for the boys and vice-versa. The parents are always ready to help and we are beginning to etch out a history within the competition, our own rivalries that we can draw on for inspiration and motivation over the coming seasons. I can't wait!!!

Thanks again to all the parents who help on match day. I would like to make special mention of our lovely Team Manager, Carolyn who rallies everyone every Sunday!! It is a thankless job always done with a smile!!

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