Round 4 Match Report

VS BEVERLY HILLS 20 MAY 2007

The Fitzroy Colts 1 team hosted Beverley Hills for our second home game of the year in what was expected to be another challenging test. Despite kicking against a stiff breeze, Fitzroy started the first quarter very well and repeatedly won the ball around the packs, courtesy of tremendous work by co-captains Rory & Jesse as well as Isaac Anderson.

Sam Baker was making life tough for the Beverley Hills forwards as he used his excellent reading of the play to continually clear the ball back Fitzroy's way whilst Stiabhna Baker-Holland was providing a helpful avenue of attack via his wing.

Up forward, Will Pickering was proving a headache for Beverley Hills, consistently out marking his opponents including a one handed ripper, however for all our good work we could not capitalize on these opportunities, kicking just the two behinds.

Fitzroy again dominated the early part of the second quarter however poor use of the ball into our forward line permitted Beverley-Hill's extra defenders to continually rebound the ball back into a spacious Beverley Hills forward line where poor manning up resulted in a 3 goal burst to our opponents leaving Fitzroy 13 points behind.

Jesse and Isaac lifted their intensity through the midfield, whilst Sam Baker and Ross Borland stood tall across half-back however a frustrated Fitzroy still couldn't get any rewards for their efforts until Nick Demelis gave the team a lift firstly, by taking a soaring mark across half-forward, and then kicking a much needed long left footed goal to put us within 7 points of Beverley Hills at half-time.

At the half-time break, the team articulated their disappointment at being behind after having so many opportunities and entered the third term intent on improving their use of the ball, which is exactly what they did, breaking the game open with a powerful performance. Nick Demelis continued on his good work in the first half to snap an early goal however Beverley Hills replied immediately with a goal before Pete Kerr kicked truly with a critical shot that put us equal with Beverley Hills.

By now Jesse Dimond and Chris Polidoras were controlling the midfield whilst Sam Baker along with Dylan & Ross were continuing to shut out numerous Beverley Hills attacks. Gary McCarthy picked up some handy touches on the wing while Michael Cussen marked strongly at half-forward and kicked accurately to put Fitzroy back in front. Thomas Dudgeon started to get on top in the ruck, paving the way for Isaac, Jesse & Rory to repeatedly win the centre clearances to a dangerous forward line including Chris Krouratis and Khalil, who after playing well down back, curled a lovely kick through the big sticks followed by another Nick Demelis mark and goal.

Will Johnson showed he was getting back to his best form on the last line of defence, as he and a tight checking Max Rogers repelled multiple Beverley Hills forward thrusts to help ensure Fitzroy finished the quarter 20 points ahead.

Fitzroy started the final term as it had the third quarter, winning the ball well around the ground through Chris P and Isaac. Ross, Max and Dylan were curbing their opponents influence whilst providing plenty of run. Rory showed his value playing up forward by marking strongly on a number of occasions with a net return of one goal. He was supported by Chris P who intelligently ran forward to mark and goal to put 33 points up.

Unfortunately, Fitzroy seemed to stop after this as Beverley Hill lifted their work rate, won several centre clearances and kicked three goals in succession to remind Fitzroy that you cannot afford to drop off your game in this competition. A courageous mark in the goal square by Chris Polidoras late in the game allowed Fitzroy to run out winners by 21 points, a well deserved victory after a disappointing first half.

Go Roys

Michael

Score: Fitzroy 9.12.66 Beverley Hills 7.3.45

Best Players: Dimond, Baker, Polidoras, Anderson, Demelis, Borland, Angiolella, Rogers.

Goal kickers: Demelis 3, Polidoras 2, Abou-Eid, Cussen, Angiolella, Kerr

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