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In an uncharacteristically early start the U13 Browns took on local rivals Preston at Cramer St. When the boys had last played here two years ago the ball had become marooned in the doldrums of the far wing. Our opponents were a man short at the commencement, which became two as the game unfolded. A sign of the boys emerging maturity was that there were many on the bench who were prepared to make up the numbers for the opposition, compliments to Harry H, Gabe, Max M, Max B, Andrej and Jim. As Andy said, this was important because it gave those players a run, and more importantly allowed us to play our full complement, and normal setup.
Chas was handling the centre bounces in the first. Early on the ball was deadlocked on the far wing but eventually it was unlocked when Robbie handballed to Gus who goaled. Declan took a great mark at full back to repel an ominous Preston advance. Noah hit the behind post after a run and two bounces by Aidan, and a supply from Chas. George, who was awarded a free kick at centre half forward, kicked to Gus who recovered his dropped mark, to goal. George himself followed with a goal, on the end of a chain of passes that started with Eddie at centre half back, through Andrej, Aidan, Dan, Noah and Robbie. Jim and Dan both contributed hard ball gets to thwart Preston. Robbie kicked to Noah who marked and played on to slot a major. Aiden went for a run with 3 bounces but sadly his shot hit the post.
Noah had a run in the ruck in the second and was doing a great job in roving his own taps. What was a steady flow of goals in the first became a torrent in the second. In a golden 5 minute period Dan scored 4 goals, and another of his kicks on goal that fell short, was finished off by George. This would not have been possible without the up field efforts of Max B, Aiden, Andrej, Mike, Aidan, Noah, George, and Chas, amongst others. The flow was staunched by Preston's only score for the game, a behind. Mike and Aidan combined for a 1-2 to give Mike a well shepherded goal. It seemed like these two had been separated at birth, such was their uncanny ability to continually find each other. Aiden won a contested possession in the forward line, and passed to Dan, and in turn to George, who majored. Ben added a final goal that originated with Aidan at half back, through Mike and Chas, to make this an 8 goal quarter. Notable contribution also in this quarter from old man Bellchamber in the grand stand who was exploiting its enhanced acoustics to rev the boys up.
It was Harris' turn for a run in the ruck in the third, that started with a string of 3 behinds to Fitzroy, including a poster by Mike. Aidan kicked to the pocket after evading 3 opponents. From the resulting throw in Aiden won the ball and goaled. Slick movement of the ball by Eddie, Harris, and Aiden delivered the ball to Ben who ran into an open goal. Yet another solo run and bounce by Aidan was finished off with a goal by Otis. More assured ball handling by Andrej, Mike, Lucien, and Harry H allowed Aiden to crumb the ball and slot another major.
We trialed another budding ruckman, Max B in the last quarter, who put his basketball skills to good effect to win every tap. Noah registered a behind, and from the resulting kick in Charles gathered the ball, ran and bounced and goaled. Aiden got his third for the match on the end of chain of passes from Mike, Gus, Noah and Chas. Mike put in a great second effort, before Gus gathered on the half forward flank and passed to Noah, who marked and converted. Harris effected a good pickup on the run at half back and gave Noah his third through intermediaries Robbie and Mike. Charles put in a great solo effort but his shot hit the post, and Aiden sold a great dummy to an obliging Andrej in a Preston jumper. The game finished with a good mark to Eddie, a 3 bounce run from Gus, and a behind to Harry J.
It would be easy to think in such a one sided match that it was all the work of the forwards, but great work was done in defense by the likes of Eddie and Robbie, to name just two.
Next week we face somewhat stiffer opposition in Surrey Park at Ramsden. Go 'Roys!
"Chicken Smallhorn" (the ghost of Fitzroy past)
Game 7