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On a still day, with the sun burning off the early morning fog, and the black cockatoos squarking in the distance, the U13 Browns hosted the formidable Bundoora at Ramsden. It had been two years since we had encountered this team and in the interim they had become vertically and, in some cases, horizontally replete.
Chas was still feeling the effects of his sprigging the week before so Noah was in ruck in the first. Early on Mike and Chas combined for a slick 1-2 to enter the forward 50 but the ball was propelled out by Bundoora, and down the field to register a behind. From a ball up Noah palmed to Aidan, by foot to Gabe, to be marked by George who majored. Bundoora added another behind from a quick centre break. Declan was awarded a free kick for a good tackle, and Ben and Lucien combined to convey the ball to the pocket where Mike received a free kick the victim of a slinging tackle. His kick looked to be on course before hitting the post. Harry H took a great relieving mark at centre half back against two much taller opponents. Mike added another behind from a crumbing effort, and Bundoora also advanced their score by a point. Aiden put in a great second effort, and as the quarter ended the ball was lodged in the Fitzroy forward zone and the subject of frantic efforts to advance or be cleared.
As the boys walked to their huddle did any of them appreciate the sweet irony of Bundoora?s coaching panel lambasting their players for failing to man up in defense?
It was kick to kick in the Fitzroy half early in the second with two rebounds back in from Robbie, and two from Aidan, before Dan won the ball, and handballed to Mike who goaled. Mike and Chas combined for another 1-2 to deliver to Max B, for a behind. Noah was awarded a free for a great tackle, but it failed to stem Bundoora's first goal. From the resulting centre bounce Dan was forced to inform the umpire that his opponent was cribbing on the centre square, although to be fair no 24 probably needed the head start. A chain of possessions from the two Maxes, Mike and Robbie gave Chas the opportunity to goal before Max B rounded out the quarter with a behind. Fitzroy's efficiency seemed low: they had few goals for the number of quality possessions, and entries into the 50.
The third quarter began with a behind from Robbie courtesy of a mark and pass from Mike, before the game descended into farce. A kick from Gabe had carried the goal line, but the ball was recalled for a ball up in the goal square where Otis sharked it and kicked truly for a goal that should be credited to both Gabe and Otis. Behinds followed to Bundoora and Fitzroy, but then as is so often the case Max M gained the ball from the resulting kick in, and passed to Gus who goaled.
Andy's 3 quarter time address was drowned out by the spray emanating from the Bundoora huddle.
Chas was given a run in ruck in the last, and his kick from an out on the full was rushed through for a behind. Mike put in a determined second effort and Lucien and Dec took excellent overhead marks. Mike won the ball, kicked to Gabe, whose straight kick was touched on the line. Yet again Bundoora turned it over from the kick in: Gus delivering to George who marked and goaled to give Fitzroy its biggest margin of the day. Dan received a free kick for a tackle on his opponent, no 24, Declan ruled the air with 2 marks, and Eddie had a stint in ruck when a back injury to Chas became too much. In junk time Bundoora clawed back 3 goals, and it could have easily been four, but for a great high touch on the goal line by Aidan. Normal service was resumed with a final goal to Ben.
After 6 games, most against genuine finals contenders, the 'Roy boys now sit firmly entrenched in the four with a 5-1 record.
Next we face Preston on the wide expanses of Cramer St. Go 'Roys!
"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 6