Fresh from a win, and with many minds fixed on St Damians’ place below them on the ladder, some of the Roys took a quarter to wake up on Sunday. The game started at lunchtime: surely everyone was awake, had stretched and wiped the sleep from their eyes by then?
Apparently not. And early on, St Damians was hard at the ball and too fast for most of the Roys. So it was no surprise that St Damians burst in to the lead and kicked three goals to lead easily at quarter time.
James A was a focal point up forward and Darcy was in eye-catching form, but it was hard work against an enthusiastic rival.
Coach Terry pointed out at quarter time that the Roys seemed to be watching their opponents. This is, of course, quite different to making a contest. So Terry urged them to get to the ball first.
Sound advice, and although they were goalless and trailed by 17 points, the Roys started the comeback within minutes of the second quarter getting underway.
It began with a burst of physical pressure that let St Damians know the Roys were ready to play. Then Lucy took a mark in the goal square and put the Roys on the board. The forward line started to open up and Charlie and Josh, both key forwards, were helping to make the play. But it was Jesse J who managed to elude a tackle and snaffle the Roys’s second. St Damians quickly replied, but then a goalsquare scrimmage gave Jesse his second chance to kick a goal. His snap didn’t miss. By half-time, the Roys were only two points down and St Damians had a battle on their hands.
Every Roys player lifted after the oranges and snakes. Where there had been congestion and a speedy St Damians player, there was now space and a quick Roy Boy. Often it was Adam Mac, darting here and there, seizing on loose balls, or receiving passes from players downfield. Or Atticus, strong and purposeful, going directly for the ball and breaking open a pack.
Within minutes of emerging from the sheds, Lewis had kicked a goal to put the Roys in front for the first time. Then Jaquan, tight in the pocket, pivoted around with a stunning kick that added another major.
When Charlie kicked truly for the Roys’ sixth, it became clear that St Damians were starting to feel the frustration of the comeback.
Sebastian, dangerous in defence, chased, harried and tackled his opponent through the middle of the ground, and won a free kick for his great effort.
And then Josh pinched the ball from a boundary throw-in and kicked a goal. Moments later, he did the same from a ball-up close to goal.
The difference at the start of the final quarter was 28 points to the Roys’ advantage.
It was a lot to ask of St Damians, and although they rallied an early goal from James T after a bold dash and a long bomb, was the clincher.
A series of behinds followed for St Damians that, if only a couple had been goals, might have given them the momentum to mount a challenge. But it wasn’t to be and Roys, such as Elia, were running free and fast when the siren sounded to end the game and give Fitzroy a 25-point win.