Under 11-1 - Match Report

Fitzroy              1.4       3.5       3.6       3.10     28
Camberwell      2.0       2.1       5.2       5.4       34

The U11 Browns faced up to the top team Camberwell at Alfred Crescent with an unseasonable, strong northerly wind blowing. Eddie, Isaac and Noah were captains for the day.
Although Camberwell won the toss and kicked with the wind in the first quarter the ball was soon in the Fitzroy half where Chas picked up the ball at centre half forward and kicked forward in an exploratory fashion, only to see the ball bounce through for a major. Camberwell replied almost immediately with a slick move out of centre. The Fitzroy defense was tested but stood firm, including a great saving mark from Andrej, until a kick that appeared to have been touched by 2 Fitzroy players was signaled a goal amidst confusion by the officials. Robbie was stalwart in defense, and Aiden and Louis were making an impact around the packs. The momentum turned in Fitzroy’s favour with Isaac kicking to centre half forward where Declan took a corkscrew mark, but all there was to show for the remainder of the quarter were 4 behinds.
The second quarter started with Isaac making a great smother, and pick up, followed by a bounce and kick to goal square, where Noah earned a free and duly converted from an angle. Noah goaled again when he crumbed from a long kick to the hot spot by Chas. Rushed behinds to Camberwell and Fitzroy rounded out the quarter. Fitzroy went to the main break with a 10 point advantage. Fitzroy were winning the marking duels but Camberwell, particularly their number 4, had the advantage at ground level.
Camberwell had their last use of the wind in the third quarter and immediately capitalised with a snapped goal. Fitzroy’s only score for the quarter came from a rushed behind. Andrej was prominent in this quarter on the half forward line but the attack was failing to penetrate. The defense was desperate but a lack of organisation gave Camberwell two soft goals late in the quarter.
At three quarter time the coach conceded it had not been our best quarter. He asked the boys to be first to the ball, to tackle, and do the one percenters.
Fitzroy responded by applying consistent pressure on the goals in the last quarter. A great chain of passes from Robbie to Isaac, to Louis that resulted in a behind, was followed by a rushed behind. Gus registered another behind from a delivery by Lucien. Dan was getting plenty of reward from his work around the packs with his little frame gathering frees for over the shoulder. Yet another promising forward move only amounted to a behind to Lucien. Greater discipline in defense meant that Camberwell only registered 2 behinds in this quarter but when the final siren sounded we were 6 points adrift.
As is their tradition Camberwell awarded a medal to the best player for the opposition, which fittingly went to Robbie.
The positive to come out of this match was the realisation that, provided we take our opportunities, we really are good enough to beat the top side. Unfortunately because the other 4 top sides all won Fitzroy 1 plummeted to 5th, and we find ourselves in the familiar territory of now having to rely on the fortunes of other teams for a place in the finals.
Next we front Surrey Park, who will be playing for their season. Go Roys!

“Chicken Smallhorn”