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The north wind was blowing, and the clouds were gathering ominously at Ramsberia as the top two sides in U13 Brown faced off. The noise levels emanating from the change rooms betrayed a stark contrast in the pre-match approaches of the two teams. Fitzroy's KPIs for the day, calmly set out, were:
Fitzroy won the toss and Chas chose to kick to the non-preferred northern end in the hope and expectation that the wind would strengthen as the game progressed.
Park Orchards had a couple of "big units", the biggest of whom was opposed to Harris in ruck in the first. Early on Park Orchards were finding plenty of loose players, including one at the back of a pack who registered their first goal. From the resulting centre bounce Harris palmed to Gus whose kick to the hot spot was paddled forward by George, where Mike picked up and goaled. Fitzroy had their second within 30 seconds when George marked and converted from a chain of passes from Harris, Aidan, Mike and Ben. Robbie was proving to be impassible at centre half back, and Max M laid a great tackle. Satisfaction at the boys' efforts was tempered when Aidan left the field in great distress with an obviously serious shoulder injury. Promising possessions by Park Orchards were denied by a great bump from Max M and a smother by Robbie. Against the wind Fitzroy had won the quarter. More significantly from the off, Fitzroy's tackling had been unrelenting. By late in the first quarter Park Orchards players were bracing themselves every time they took possession. The umpire was very sparing in his paying of the holding the ball, but was also hot on tacklers falling onto the back of their opponents. As a consequence Fitzroy conceded some frees, but none led directly to goals, and the Park Orchards boys knew that they had a game on their hands.
Mike, Gus, Dan and Lucien were prominent early in the second without impacting on the scoreboard. Max M laid a great tackle before Noah, Jim and George conveyed the ball forward, where Otis pounced and majored. Robbie denied two Park Orchards' forward moves with consecutive marks. Fitzroy failed to exploit their strategic advantage with 3 behinds, 2 to George (one touched), and one to Max M. At this time, just to add to the interest, wind-blown rain arrived. Declan and Aiden made outstanding solo efforts with a strong mark, and a long kick, respectively. The deadlock was broken through a chain of possessions to Charles, Andrej, and Dan, that was marked and converted by George. Andrej and Lucien advanced the ball down the wing to where Otis' free kick was picked up by George, and drilled for another goal. Fitzroy had held Park Orchards scoreless and extended their lead. However unfortunately Max M had aggravated his ongoing thumb injury.
The boys were applauded as they came off the ground, but the brains trust cautioned that they were only half way there, and Andy instructed them to reset, relock and reload.
Inevitably in their last quarter with the wind advantage, Park Orchards were going to hit back, which they duly did with an early goal. The 'Roy boys responded to thwart further scoring with strong marks by Declan and Ben, gathers and kicks by Lucien and Declan, and a great smother by Ben. Under strong defensive pressure Park Orchards scored an opportunist goal with a kick off the ground. Ben took a high mark and Lucien made a clearance with a long, low, penetrating kick. Park Orchards bought the margin back to only 8 points with a goal. In response, from the centre bounce Declan palmed to Gus, who kicked to Mike, whose kick across the face of goal was gathered by Harry J and converted. Despite offensive pressure by Park Orchards late in the quarter, determined defense by Fitzroy conceded only 2 behinds. In these late engagements Robbie got a bad corkie, and Chas got a whack across the chops that imbedded his inner lip into his braces.
Noah had a run-with role in the last. To reinforce their physical dominance the boys put in some great one percenters early in the term: Noah made a punch, Mike put in a second, then a third effort, Charles exerted pressure to force a turnover, and Noah laid a tackle. Mike produced a 50 metre kick, and Harry J took a great high mark. The impasse was broken when Harry J took another mark, and the ball was conveyed through Eddie, to George who goaled. Park Orchards attempted to respond but their forward move was rushed. Mike's constant pressure forced a free kick for an out on the full. Park Orchards again threatened but their shot on goal was touched. The kick out was rebounded in but Lucien took a great relieving mark at full back. Park Orchards converted a free kick to bring it back to less than 2 goals. Late in the quarter a tackle by Mike gained Fitzroy's first free kick for holding the ball. Dan marked the ball in the pocket, the siren went, and he coolly went back and slotted the goal to deliver the cou de gras.
The post match statistics were telling: Fitzroy had dominated in terms of tackles and hard ball gets, but the game had exacted a bodily toll with 3 significant injuries. Our thoughts and best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Aidan, he will be greatly missed.
Next week, we face Parkside at the famously long Pitcher Park. Go 'Roys!
"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 13