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Although the day was sunny the wind from the north at Ramsberia was brisk, as the U13 Browns faced St Marys on the last day of the regular season.
From previous experience St Marys always come out fired up in the first, and with a four goal breeze the first quarter was always going to be testing. St Marys quickly swept the ball down the ground to register a behind. A breakdown in the clearance allowed St Marys to convert it into a goal. From the centre bounce St Marys moved the ball quickly down the ground for a mark in the hot spot and register a goal to take their score to 13 without reply. Mike and Harris put in solid efforts in the centre, before Mike marked, kicked to Gus, and then to Chas who was awarded a free kick for a push in the back. He kicked truly for a precious goal against the wind. The boys were having trouble realising that the ball would drop short into the wind, and sail with the wind, particularly so when St Marys scored a crumbing goal off the back of the pack. Out of the centre Aiden and Robbie transferred to Dan who marked and kicked a behind. Ben and Mike both effected hard ball gets but seemingly inevitably St Marys carried the ball down the wing. However the shot on goal was touched on the line by Lucien. St Marys locked the ball in their forward line but Aiden was awarded a free kick for a good tackle, and cleared. Mike, Gus, Harry H, and Charles were productive without result, before Lucien, Ben and Mike relieved the pressure on the defense.
With the wind at their backs it was the 'Roy boys chance to shine. From the opening bounce Chas palmed to Mike who wheeled around his opponents and kicked to centre half forward where Robbie was awarded a free for interference, but his kick was rushed through. Further behinds followed to Mike (two), and to Robbie, but Fitzroy were rewarded for their persistence when Robbie won a contested ball from the kick in, evaded defenders, and goaled. The boys failed to convert their unrelenting forward pressure with behinds to touched, and two to Robbie. Mike delivered to the pocket, where Dan was the beneficiary of a free kick for an out on the full. His kick went across the face where it was won strongly by Gus and slotted for a major. St Marys sole entry into the forward 50 was rebounded by Liam. Late in the quarter George, Harry J, Chas, and Mike delivered to Gus but his shot on goal was touched. Although completely shutting St Marys down in the second, with 13 inside 50s, Fitzroy had failed to convert their advantage with the wind, and with their inaccuracy threatened to kick themselves out of the game.
Early in the third, with Chas in the ruck, Liam effected a great clearance from defense. Aiden sold a dummy, before Mike, Gus, Max M, Charles and Dan combined to deliver to the hot spot. St Marys rebounded but Chas won the ball in a contest, kicked to Gus who ran around 3 opponents and goaled. Charles propelled the ball out of the centre to Dan, and George, and then drifting down the ground, scored another behind. An absence of defenders on the line allowed St Marys a long, bouncing goal. Gus laid a great smother, George, Mike and Gus had a chain of possessions, before George won the ball, and kicked to Dan in the pocket, whose shot on goal hit the post. On the western wing Ben and Gus combined for a slick 1-2, Declan took one of his great pack marks at centre half back, then Charles kicked to Gabe whose handball was gathered by Otis for an opportunist goal. Late in the quarter St Marys exploited their advantage with the wind, but Robbie, Lucien, Declan and Liam were stoic in defense, and Ben took a great lone mark at full back. Against the wind Fitzroy had outscored St Marys.
It was not all Fitzroy's way in the last. From a free kick St Marys kicked to the goal square where, in a flurry, the ball was scrambled through for a goal. Harry H thwarted another St Marys thrust with a brave smother. The umpire was being generous and equitable as in quick succession, he awarded St Marys and Fitzroy free kicks with 15 metre penalties. Andrej won a contested ball, with Lucien shepherding, and kicked to Mike who majored. St Marys were having a tough time clearing the ball from defense as twice Mike's pressure forced them to kick out of bounds on the full. Max M won a free kick for a perfectly laid tackle, and later George's shot on goal was off line. From the kick in Robbie took a strong mark, and kicked forward where Lucien gathered and goaled from the pocket. To make it 2 goals in the last minute Ben was awarded a free, and kicks to Charles and then George were marked and converted.
Congratulations to the U13 Browns for finishing on equal points with some other side, and getting the double chance! All that counts for nothing now, as we face up to whatsaname in the second semi-final. Go 'Roys!
"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 16