Under 12-1 2009

Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8 Game 9 Game 10 Game 11 Game 12 Game 13 Game 14 Game 15

Game 3

Kew 2.3 6.3 10.5 12.8 80

Fitzroy 1.0 3.2 4.2 6.6 42

On a balmy late autumn afternoon the Under 12 Gold's journeyed to Kew. Some of our early arrivals encountered a lovely older lady, with memories from before our boys were born, who said " I hope you realise how lucky you are to wear that jumper" and "I can't bear to watch when we play Fitzroy, it makes me cry". Declan was captain for the day. Kew won the toss and elected to kick downhill, on a well grassed, and sandy oval.

From the start the Fitzroy defense was under constant pressure as the strong leading and marking Kew moved the ball into their attacking zone. Eddie and Andrej were being stalwart on the half back line, and if not for their efforts Kew would have kicked more than their two goals. Chas was doing a great job in ruck despite conceding centimeters and kilograms to his opponent. Late in quarter a free kick to Harry J. was delivered to Sapphire who brought the ball the ground where Otis crumbed and kicked a goal. Five seconds later the siren sounded.

Early in the second quarter Otis handballed to Louis whose bouncing kick hit the post. After a goal to Kew Otis and Louis decided to try it again. This time from Declan's mark and kick, with the ball in dispute, Otis on the ground handballed to Louis who goaled. From a promising forward move, Noah received the ball from a throw in and registered a behind. The imposing figure of Kew's no 25 had moved to full forward, when he seemed a bit proppy, and goaled. Fitzroy then turned it on as Aiden gathered 3 disposals in minute on his wing, and then Aidan won the ball on the half forward flank, wheeled around and sent a long kick to the hot spot where Otis marked and converted. The good work was somewhat undone when Kew hit back with 2 late goals.

The third quarter started with Charles having a string of touches, but Kew were making full use of their scoring advantage. Three of their four goals in this term came from "the refrigerator". Arki took a great mark at half back, then late in the term from the centre bounce Aidan kicked forward where Sapphire received a free kick and duly converted.

The coach's instructions at three quarter time were clear: kick long and use the slope of the ground. Kew's first forward thrust was repelled by Harris at full back, and the resulting chain of passes delivered the ball to Ben who registered a behind. Chas was winning the taps, and Gus, who played all match as a ruck rover, was clearing the ball from the centre. Aidan was in the thick of it, firstly with a behind, then with a goal from a free kick for laying a great tackle. Good things were being done in defense as well where Robbie bounced off "the refrigerator" in a brave tackle but managed to stop him. Lucien also won a free kick with a tackle where he only just got his fingertips on his opponent. Then in a frenetic scramble in the goal square Aidan got boot to ball and registered a major. Aidan was prominent in another forward thrust with a 1-2 handball exchange with Angus that produced a behind.

Kew's victory was emphatic but the boys had shown that they could match it with them, and thus are probably consigned to Gold for the season.

Next we host the not inconsiderable prospect of Glen Iris. Go 'Roys!

"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)