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The U13 Browns took on the fourth placed Banyule at Burkitt oval on a cold and sunny day. With four out the 'Roy boys had only one on the bench. Gus was captain for the day, and Fitzroy were kicking to the northern end in the first.
Harris was handling the centre bounces in the first half, and dominating his opponent. Fitzroy's first goal was carefully constructed starting with a free kick to Mike for a push in the back, through a chain of passes to Aidan, Charles, Ben, and Noah, before Ben ran on to the ball in the goal square. A quick break out of centre by Aiden, was marked by Charles. His kick to the hot spot was knocked to ground and recovered by George and drilled for a goal. Harris laid a good smother, and continuous forward pressure by Fitzroy produced a behind. Against the run of play Banyule registered their first goal. Declan was doing great bullocking work at half back. Noah was awarded a free deep in the pocket, and confidently threaded a major with a banana kick. Good work was being done by Declan, Mike, and Aidan; Charles with a hard ball get; and Max B with clearance from full back. But then with 30 seconds to go lack of structure in defence allowed Banyule to steal back a goal from 2 uncontested marks.
The second quarter started with Dan putting in a great second effort, and Charles, Ben, Aidan, Mike and Gus in the action, before George scored a behind. The umpire was demonstrating that he would award frees to those worthy. Banyule made it a one point game with goal, but this was immediately answered with a quick break, through Gus and George allowing Noah to pick up and split the big sticks. From then on Lucien's close checking shut down "fancy pants', Banyule's main route to goal. The efforts of Ben, Noah, Aidan, Gus, Mike and Harris registered 3 further behinds for Fitzroy. Great pressure applied by Max M ensured the ball was retained in the forward zone allowing a visionary centering kick from Mike on the half forward flank that was marked and converted by Aidan. Dan and Declan were impassible in defence, Harris followed up on a tap not once, but twice, and Noah laid a great tackle. The quarter ended with a goal to Max M through supply from Gus and Otis, and Charles going for a run, and completing the only bounce for the day.
Declan had a run in the ruck in the third. Banyule had been fired up at half time, as they came out with a goal and a behind from quick breaks. Fitzroy responded with a chain of passes through Mike, Charles, and Max M that was picked up and slotted by George. A thrust into the forward line through marks to Mike and Aidan was repelled, and propelled to full back by Banyule where Ben was a lone figure for Fitzroy. From his possession the ball was propelled to the other end where Noah palmed the throw in, and Otis roved for an opportunistic goal. Max M was in the thick of it before Declan won a tap, and the ball was conveyed, aided by a great run and hassle from Noah, to Gus and thence to Jim who registered a bouncing goal. Late in the quarter "shoulder stitch" became the fashionable ailment before Declan, Noah, Dan and Aiden combined to register a behind.
Harris was back in ruck in the last. From a ball up at centre half forward he punched the ball forward where Max M pounced and appeared to steer the ball between the big sticks, but the field umpire over-ruled deeming it a behind. However following the kick in Noah was awarded a free kick for a high tackle, and redressed the situation. Aidan scored a behind before Ben, Aiden, and Noah delivered to hot spot where Otis roved and majored. Notable non-scoring efforts were a great spoil by Max M, and Harris roving his own tap. Aidan kicked down the guts where George picked up and goaled. Declan had to relieve Harris in the ruck when he was simultaneously struck in the face, by both a fist and the ball in a ruck duel. On the end of a chain of possessions by Aiden, Aidan, and George, Noah ran around his opponents and passed to George who converted. Fitzroy rounded out their best quarter with a great smother by Dan, and a consecutive tap, pick up, and shepherd by Declan.
Special thanks to Yarram Nivek for stepping into the breach last week. His stream of consciousness, gonzo journalism style report was a refreshing change from yours truly's plodding verite efforts.
Next week, we have a final sport free weekend, before we travel to Macleod as we embark upon our run to the pointy end of the season. Go 'Roys!
"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 11