Under 11-1 - Match Report

Fitzroy              2.2       6.6       10.8     16.13   109
Bundoora         0.3       1.3       1.3       1.3           9

With a strong northerly wind blowing the U11 Browns took on Bundoora at Alfred Crescent. Sapphire and Gus were captains for the day.
Bundoora won the toss and kicked to the favoured southern end in the first quarter. From an early entry into Bundoora’s forward line the ball was swept out in a chain of passes by Dan, Louis, Eddie and Andrej, whose shot on goal was knocked to ground by a defender, only for Noah to pounce on it for a goal. The boys had listened to the brains trust’s instructions and were moving the ball with low raking kicks against the wind. Another forward move had Dan delivering to the hot spot where Declan took a mark and converted. Eddie was being a great mobile ruckman, following the ball all over the ground. Eventually Bundoora exploited the breeze and kept the ball in their half but due to some luck and desperate defense could only register 3 behinds. The siren blew with a Bundoora player prostrate, which precipitated the attendance of a posse of ambulances.
In the second quarter Louis registered an early goal with a kick to the vacant goal square, which bounced through. Next Gus scored a goal on the end of a mark, run, and pass from Declan. Louis notched his second goal for the term with a snap after a good in and under by Iraklis. Another forward move lead to a free to Gus at centre half forward. His long bomb looked destined for a minor score but was marked by Declan alongside the goal post, who went back and goaled with a checkside. The wind abated in this quarter which helped Bundoora score a goal, and launch another threatening move which was marked by Eddie in the goal square.
Following the long break Lucien scored a goal when the ball fell into his path after Noah flew high in a pack. Soon after Andrej goaled from a slick move out of centre instigated by Chas. Whilst the breeze was again favouring Bundoora’s goal nothing went past centre half back in this quarter due to Iraklis’ forming a wall. A pass from Issac was marked by Robbie, whose deep kick was run on to by Andrej for his second goal of the quarter. The fourth Fitzroy goal of the quarter came from a run, bounce and kick by Isaac, on the end of a pass from Lucien. Dan was prominent in this quarter in his chasing, tackling and shepherding.
Coach Michael was complimentary at three quarter time asking the boys to continue to be first to the ball, and to keep Bundoora scoreless.
Noah registered the first major of the last quarter on the end of a chain of possessions by Declan, himself, and Dan. Next Louis hoofed it into the goal square to Noah, from whom it dropped to George who converted. A swift move forward by Bundoora caught the defense out of position, except for Eddie all alone at full back who beat 3 forwards to mark. Then a chain of passes from Eddie through Lucien, Robbie, Dan, and Declan resulted in George’s second goal of the term. Soon after Isaac marked from a kick in and goaled with a 40m long roost. Another goal was initiated deep in defense by Andrej winning the ball, with passes to Gus and Lucien who went for a run and bounce, and passed to Robbie who marked and duly converted. Fitzroy’s sixth and final goal of the term came from Dan, ably assisted by a shepherd from Noah.
When the siren sounded the margin was exactly 100 points. Although the forwards deserve credit for their 16 goals, one of the positives to emerge from this game was the number of goals initiated from attacking moves deep in the backline. Special mention to Eddie, who clearly had not got his football fix for the day, and doubled up by playing for the U12 2s in the following match.

“Chicken Smallhorn”