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On a still and gloomy day the U13 Browns traveled to confront one of the powers of the competition, St Damians. Key performance indicators for the game were:
Gus was captain for the day. The umpire was an old friend, who liked to stamp his authority on the game, with technical interpretations that ensured there would be a free kick from almost every contest.
Chas started in the ruck in the first quarter. Early on Andrej cleared from half back with a run and 3 bounces, and delivered in turn to Ben, Otis and George, who notched a behind. Max B took a relieving mark on the last line of defense but St Damians rebounded for a behind. The deadlock was broken when Gus ran into an open goal on the end of chain of possessions from Andrej, Aidan, and Gabe. Good work was being done in defense where Max B took another crucial mark on the last line. From a free kick for an out on the full Mike kicked in the direction of Otis, who was awarded a free. His kick to the goal square was gathered by Robbie and drilled for a goal. An attempt to substitute Harris for Chas in the ruck prior to the bounce didn't quite come off, but Mike did a good job to contest the bounce. Great work was being done in defense where Dan took a telling mark against a much taller opponent. Harris was involved in a contest, and went down "like a great big log" but was unhurt. George figured twice in the next goal first with a free kick; then when the resulting kick was cleared he marked and kicked to the hot spot, where Robbie marked and played on to slot a major.
At quarter time the umpire called in both captains to ask the players to cut out the obscene language, although it seemed to pertain only to one team.
An early thrust by St Damians was repelled by Liam with a mark at full back. Fitzroy peppered the goal but only behinds, to Chas, Otis and Gus resulted. Mike took 2 successive contested marks in the same position before Harry J was awarded a free kick at centre half forward. After taking the time to put on his boot his kick was marked by Gus, who slotted a major. The ?Roy boys had done a good job to silence the vocal local support. The value of having a tall (Chas) and a small (Otis) in the forward line was underlined with a goal to Chas from a mark on the end of a supply chain from Eddie at centre half back, Mike, and Aiden. Michael was again prominent on the wing with 2 disposals before Harris won the tap at a throw in, and Aidan received from Gus, ran around 2 opponents and goaled.
Harris continued in the ruck in the third. Fitzroy registered a behind early on from Mike, and Max applied a great shepherd, before St Damians doubled their score. A chain of possessions originating with a mark at centre half back by Dan, through a 1-2 by Mike and Robbie, then Ben, Gus, and George, came to nothing. A rushed behind followed, courtesy of the upfield efforts of Dan, Lucien, and Aidan. The resulting kick in was marked by Ben, who rebounded to the hot spot, where George was rewarded with a free kick from a desperate contest, and goaled. Late in the quarter St Damians got their first goal, and then a behind from a set shot after the siren, that hit the post.
At three quarter time Andy asked the boys to snuff out their opposition in the first five minutes.
Chas was back in ruck in the last. Harry H got 2 successive free kicks early in the quarter, before George registered a behind from supply through Mike and Gus. After a goal and behind to St Damians Aidan effected a great smother but got a painful boot in the shin. Mike put the result beyond doubt with a goal that bounced and evaded the St Damians defenders. After a further consolation goal and behind to St Damians Harry H was thwarted in his quest for a final goal as the siren sounded after he had played on, following a mark at centre half forward.
The boys seemed to have learned from their deficiencies in previous weeks, and bought their all round game to the park. We also probably did St Damians a favour by reducing their chances of being elevated to Gold.
As we go to press, with grading phase over, we don?t yet know our destination, either our opponent for next week, nor for certain our competition. Go ?Roys!
?Chicken Smallhorn? (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 4