Under 11-1 - Match Report
Fitzroy 2.0 6.1 9.3 13.6 84 With the coach exalting the boys to treat every game from now on as a final the U11 Browns confronted contenders Surrey Park at Alfred Crescent with yet another howling northerly wind to contend with. George, Aiden and Declan were captains for the day. Surrey Park enjoyed the advantage of the wind in the first quarter. Early on the ball spent a lot of time in the Surrey Park half but the determined Fitzroy defenders only conceded a behind. Eventually the ball was swept out to Isaac who kicked long to centre half forward where Louis picked up a ball that came off Chas’ hands and goaled. Surrey Park replied with a goal of their own from the forward pocket. A nice chain of passes from Declan to Noah, and thence to Lucien who kicked into Isaac’s path ended with a goal from 30 metres. Surrey Park hit back with another goal from the identical position, and went to the break with the narrowest of leads. Early in the second half Harry H. had a free awarded against him for push in the back, but when his opponent shoved him to the ground the decision was reversed. Another free kick to Dan that resulted in a mark and goal to Chas, was followed by a behind to Iraklis. Declan marked at centre half forward, from a pass from Chas, and watched his long kick just evade the defender’s fingers for a goal. For this match coach Michael started using the bench to interchange players in the middle of the quarter. So after a quarter and half of excellent ruck work Chas was replaced by Noah, who won every centre bounce in combination with Andrej who read the ball beautifully off the palm. With the ball in dispute in the forward line Declan was awarded a free for being tackled without possession, and goaled. Robbie rebounded a ball from centre half back to a chain of marks by Dan, Noah and Louis, who converted. At the long break Fitzroy had established a 4 goal lead. Surrey Park had their last use of the breeze in the third quarter but in an exemplary display Fitzroy ensured the ball never got further than their opponent’s centre half forward line. To reinforce their dominance the boys piled on 3 goals in 3 minutes late in the quarter, two to Chas, and one to Noah, with Aiden, Declan, Isaac and Louis amongst the facilitators. At the final break coach Michael was full of praise for a fantastic quarter, particularly the clean breaks out of centre. From a kick in, resulting from a behind to Noah, the ball was picked up and passed by Andrej to Dan who marked and played on for a goal, that nearly took his father’s head off. A mark by Louis, from a pass by Issac, was kicked forward to a pack where Gus crumbed the ball, that fell from Noah, to goal. Issac then delivered from a free kick on the boundary to the hot spot where Dan marked, and registered his second goal for the term. Not to be outdone Gus took advantage of the move from his more accustomed role in the backline to also register his second goal for the quarter. Remarkably Fitzroy had held Surrey Park scoreless for three quarters. The Surrey Park coach was gracious in his remarks after the game and awarded their medal to “the big ruckman”, Chas for his dominant display. The next “finals” game will be a decider against the formidable Greythorn at Alfred Crescent. Go Roys! “Chicken Smallhorn” (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
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