Monday, June 29, 2015

Round 11 – Canterbury B vs Fitzroy

Fitzroy’s game against Canterbury B was an unusual one, with both teams being down on player numbers. It was to be tightly contested, skillful and highly entertaining, none the less.  Given that it was the first week of the school holidays, a number of players on both sides were away on vacation or unwell.  Fitzroy took to the field with 14 players. In his pre-game address, John noted the ‘out of the box’ nature of the occasion and given this, stressed that the boys needed to run on the big ground and have fun.  He told the boys to ‘lead into space’ and the make the boundary line ‘their friend’.  Captain, Alex, led the team out (having won the toss and electing to kick to the southern end). The first quarter started with Will in swashbuckling form at full back, repelling two Canterbury attacks and kicking the ball forward. Kyle, Jack and Darcy were defending strongly, yet the early momentum was with Canterbury, allowing them to kick two quick goals. With play beginning to open up as the quarter progressed however, Fitzroy capitalized from an incursion into their forward line to have Lucas kick the team’s first goal.  Laird applied one of the best tackles of the season to win a free kick and Lachie, using his pace to take the ball out of the half back line, took a bounce and kicked the ball forward. Darcy was in dashing form, attacking the ball repeatedly and running into open space, leaving opposition players trailing behind him. At the break, Team Statistician, Gerry, ran through the team’s statistics (clearances, bounces and inside 50s). He encouraged the boys to ‘get clear, take off and take a couple of bounces’. John spoke with the boys, praising the tackling of Mason and Noah Dekker and thanking Darcy and Jack for their outstanding quarters.  The second quarter started with pack tunneling specialist, Leo, getting down and dirty to clear the ball to fleet footed Noah Dekker. Joel was in outstanding form in the ruck and Kyle cleared the ball from the centre in trademark style, taking two bounces before kicking up to Lucas. With the ball in Fitzroy’s forward line, Lucas and Joe were unlucky not to score while Laird did his best to create scoring opportunities.  Mason, enjoying the open spaces on the wing, was using his pace to attack the ball and win contests, while Tom Ward was rock solid in defence on the half forward line. Joel was courageous as he smothered the ball on two occasions, throwing everything into the contest. The boys stayed out on the field at the half time break. Gerry noted that while the team’s statistics were still positive, Canterbury had been more efficient at scoring (despite both teams getting the ball into their 50 metre zone a similar number of times).  In his address, John told the boys that regardless of the score line, they were matching Canterbury in the contests and winning most of the stoppages. He told the boys that their endeavour and intensity was ‘sensational’.  In what was to be an inspired move, he swapped Kyle to play at Centre Half Back and asked Jack to play on the ball.  The third quarter started with Kyle having an immediate impact on the half back line, winning a number of contested possessions and using his strength to break free to kick the ball forward. Jack’s intensity at winning possession and tackling was creating opportunities and this helped get the ball to Joe, who kicked the team’s second goal.  Darcy was having another cracking quarter and helped get the ball to Lachie, who kicked for goal from 50 metres out and watched as it bounced through for his first goal (shepherded by Lucas).  Alex was using his exceptional work rate to create opportunities and Kyle was continuing to thwart all attempts by Canterbury to get the ball into their forward line (with strong support from Will). Despite the distraction of a boundary throw-in hitting a tree branch, Joel was winning the ruck duels easily, demonstrating why he’s one of the best in the competition.  Jack won a free kick and narrowly missed kicking a goal. At the break, the coaches were delighted with the boy’s performance. Gerry noted that ball had been in Fitzroy’s forward line for most of the quarter and encouraged the boys to continue to ‘run and carry’ and to ‘get some yardage’. Paul asked the boys to focus on winning the aerial contests in the final quarter while John told the boys that they’d been ‘absolutely brilliant and unbelievable’.  The final quarter started with Fitzroy under pressure.  Kyle saved a certain goal in the last line of defence, before taking a bounce and kicking the ball out of danger. Darcy took a terrific mark and continued his dashing form, while Tom Ward and Alex were giving their all trying to get the ball into Fitzroy’s forward line (with second and third attempts).  Mason went for a run with the ball and kicked to the wing, while Will and Laird were teaming well in the backline to repel the Canterbury advances.  Joe won the ball at Centre Half Forward and kicked long to Lucas, who then went for a run. Leo ran down the ball on the wing and created a stoppage until help arrived, while Alex dashed out of the backline with the ball, taking a bounce along the way. Jack continued to worry the Canterbury forwards with the intensity of his tackling, while Will won possession of the ball in the last line of defence and used his pace to kick the ball into open space. With that the quarter ended. After congratulating the Canterbury players on their win, the boys left the ground exhausted but thrilled to have participated in such a fast paced game. Back in the rooms Gerry noted that both teams had an even number of inside fifty’s for the game (15 vs 16) however the Canterbury forwards had been more efficient at scoring. He acknowledged that the 14 boys had ‘run out of juice’ towards the end, understandably given that everyone had played all four quarters. John was delighted with the boys performance, in particular their intensity and intent at the ball for the whole game. He noted the impact that Jack had made in the second half of the game with his ‘ferocity’ at getting the ball yet noted that the whole team had shown similar commitment and had competed on all levels. In the face of adversity, the boys had stood up to the challenge and made everyone proud (‘a real highlight of the season’). The footy cards when to Leo and Jack (Leo for his committed performance every week and continued improvement and Jack’s for leading the way for the team in contesting for the ball). Despite the score line not going Fitzroy’s way, everyone felt good about the performance of the team and proud of their achievement.  

Final scores:

Q1: Fitzroy 1.0.6 - Canterbury 2.0.12
Q2: F 0.0.6 - C 3.0.30
Q3: F 2.1.19 - C 1.0.36
Q4: F 0.0.19 - C 1.1.43

A focused Leo warms up before the game
Captain, Alex, leads the team out.

Darcy, a master at exploiting the open spaces

There's no keeping up with Mason in a race for the ball ...
Jack in his titanic contest with Canterbury #2 (being tackled this time)
A focused Tom Ward only has eye's for the ball.
Leo leads from the front and wins possession
Laird and Mason apply a ferocious tackle
Noah Dekker shows his colors as a defender.
Joel, a tower of power in the ruck.
Lucas under pressure, but he gets the handball away ...
Alex, the hardest working player in Junior football ...
Lachie charges into the attack ...
Joe in dashing form, goes for a run ...
Wonderful in defense, Will gets his kick off

Alex is first to congratulate the Canterbury boys.




Monday, June 22, 2015

Round 10 – Fitzroy vs Ashburton

It was a beautiful clear, cold day for Fitzroy’s home game against the Ashburton team – an inconsistent but ultimately successful outing.  John’s pre-game instructions were typically to the point – coming off a good second half from the previous week’s game, the boys were to ‘man-up’, to ‘clear the stoppages’ and talk to each other about their intent when near the ball. He wanted to see some of the drills practiced at training used to good effect in the game. Co-Captains Lucas and Sam Clarke led the boys out of the room and through the guard of honor made for them by the Fitzroy ‘Tackers’ (the younger age team).  Fitzroy lost the toss and started the first quarter kicking to the eastern end of the ground. Three Fitzroy players were offered to Ashburton to make up for illness and injury in their ranks (this occurred for each quarter). Key play-makers, Laird, Sam Ward and Alex, were getting possessions early on and Kyle and Max were unlucky to miss kicking the first goals of the day.  With Will and Laird defending strongly (and with assistance from Tom Ward, Mason and Yianni), Ashburton’s early attempts to score goals were repelled, despite a number of incursions into their 50 meter zone. With the notable exception of tagging specialist, Lachie, there was frustration from the coach’s box that the boys were not ‘manning up’ or playing in front as they’d been instructed to do so. This was leaving up to five loose opposition players in the Ashburton forward line. Luckily, with the ball back down in Fitzroy’s forward line, Max, Dom and Sam Ward all teamed to get the ball to Alex, who kicked the team’s first goal.  Back in defense however, despite best efforts from Sam Clarke, Fitzroy’s continuing inability to ‘man up’ saw Ashburton kick its first goal – scores were tied.  In the centre, Joel, Lucas and Jack were getting possessions and with no more goals added by either side, the quarter ended.  In his update to the players, Team Statistician, Gerry, noted that the Ashburton boys had been more effective at getting the ball into their forward line (inside 50s), in part due to their higher work rate and their ability to lose their Fitzroy opponents. Gerry also noted the lack of talk by the boys when near the ball which was leading to lost opportunities.  In his address, John gave the boys a ‘razz’. He challenged them to increase their concentration, to ‘man up’ against their opponents and to stay focused for the whole quarter.  The second quarter started.  Ashburton, clearing the ball easily from the centre, quickly kicked their second goal. With Fitzroy under pressure Kyle, Sam Ward and Dom were all lifting their games to try and steady the Fitzroy ship and a confident Noah Dekker went head to head in contest with two Ashburton players.  With a boost needed, Josh roved the ball up forward and managed to kick the team’s second goal – an important confidence builder for the team. Minutes later, Alex did the same and kicked his second goal for the game.  Not to be underestimated however, Ashburton took the ball forward and scored their second goal, despite more disciplined defense by Fitzroy’s back line.  In what was becoming a high scoring quarter, Fitzroy cleared from the centre to get the ball to Lucas, who then kicked his first goal.  The quarter continued with Jack taking a strong overhead mark at centre half back and kicking to Laird who took the ball forward. This led to a dashing passage of play in which Darcy, managing to control the ball with second, third attempts, kicked yet another goal for the team.  With Fitzroy’s defense under pressure again, Lachie, taking on three opposition players, managed to repel an Ashburton attach. At half time, Gerry noted that despite the team lifting, tackles were down in numbers from the previous week.  Paul spoke to the boys next, stressing the importance of getting to the ball first and competing in the air. In his address, John noted that the boys had improved as the quarter progressed, in particular in the final five minutes when Fitzroy had managed open up play.  He conceded that Ashburton had enjoyed a couple of ‘go the goose’ goals (ie: lucky). For the next quarter he urged the boys to treat every contest they were involved in as the most important in the game and to lift their intensity at the ball.  The third quarter started with Tom Markham, demonstrating his much improved form, roving the ball and kicking forward.  Giving away nothing to his opponents, Lachie was defending strongly at full back and saved an almost certain goal. Sam Ward, Kyle and Stanley were all getting kicks. Alex went for a run (bouncing the ball twice) and shortly after, Stanley kicked his first goal.  Mason and Joe were both in fine form, getting multiple possessions and Tom Markham saved a certain goal with a mighty spoil in the last line of defense. Joel was performing strongly in the ruck, Darcy was continuing his dashing form around the ground and Kyle was showing his typical on-field leadership to win multiple contested possessions, an outstanding example of focus and commitment for the team.  At the quarter time break, John spoke to the boys and again stressed the importance of creating consistency in their game. The final quarter started with Jack tackling strongly to win a free kick and Lachie continuing to demonstrate his versatility as a defender, this time on the half back line.  Tom Ward and Tom Markham were teaming well in the centre and Yianni and Kyle were taking the ball and going for a run. In the forward line, prolific goal kicker, Alex, scored again. In an exciting passage of play, Stanley, weaving his way through multiple opposition players, kicked his second goal.  Shortly after Stanley featured again, shepherding a clever snap kick from Lucas through for his second goal.  The game ended with Fitzroy engineering a convincing win, despite some erratic form as a team.  Sam Clarke was awarded the opposition team best player award for his notable efforts in defense and the team linked up to march victorious back to the rooms.  Back in the rooms, John noted that despite some inconsistency, the boys had won every quarter in the game. Tom Markham and Dom were awarded the footy cards, Tom for his improved form and ability to have a ‘crack’ in the games and Dom for being a pillar of strength to the team, week in and week out.  The boys sang the team song and then departed home for a warm shower, pleased with their efforts.

Final scores:

Q1: Fitzroy 1.3.9 - Ashburton 1.1.7
Q2: F 4.2.36 - A 2.0.19
Q3: F 1.1.43 - A 1.0.25
Q4: F 3.1.62 - A 0.2.27


The boys listen to John before the game


Co-Captains Lucas and Sam Clarke lead the team out ...

and through the guard of honor ...

Mason in sparkling form early on...

Parent of the week, Boundary Umpire, David Moore.

Sam warns Alex that he's about to be tackled by Jack!!

Yet again, Kyle leads by example (and with his pace).

The mighty Max in action.

Scorer, Jan Dekker, celebrates another Fitzroy goal.

Contest in the air.

Alex in tear-away form.


Kyle delivers a master class in how to control the ball.
Laird lines the boys up after the game (or demonstrates his airplane technique!)



Sunday, June 14, 2015

Round 9 - Camberwell 1 vs Fitzroy

Despite the scoreline not reading Fitzroy’s way, the game against top rated Camberwell was one of the boys best for the season. After a crisp warmup session in perfect playing conditions, Scott addressed the players in the rooms.  Stressing the importance of playing with intensity at the ball, he urged the boys to have confidence in themselves to perform well. John spoke with the boys about the importance of committed tackling and importance of remaining focused for the four quarters. He reminded the team that they’d been the equal of Camberwell for a quarter and a half during their previous encounter and, echoing Scott’s sentiments, he urged the boys to believe in themselves and create doubt in the opposition with their intensity at the ball. Co-captains, Tom Markham and Kyle, led the team out and won the toss, electing to kick up the hill. Much of the first quarter was played in Fitzroy’s backline, with both teams applying relentless pressure.  Yianni established early dominance in the ruck and Stanley and Joe got involved early, both taking contested marks.  In an intelligent passage of play, Darcy kicked out of defense to Yianni, who then handballed to Laird, who moved the ball forward. Mason saved a certain opposition goal with a mighty spoil in the last line of defense and Lucas applied a wonderful tackle. Stanley, having one of his best quarters for the season, was getting countless possessions, on the ground, on the run and in the air. Jack, having recovered from smothering the ball with his head, was taking marks and driving the ball out of defense.   Josh, Max, Alex and Sam Ward were all in amongst the action in winning the ball as the quarter ended.  Despite the team having conceded three goals, Scott was delighted with the boy’s performance.  In his quarter time address, he praised their intensity at the ball and their running, jumping and tackling. Stanley was thanked for being an inspiration in defense, as was Lucas. Scott urged the boys to continue to make smart decisions and kick the ball forward and if caught behind, to punch the ball.  Team Statistician, Gerry, outlined that the boys had performed strongly with their tackling and, despite the pressure from Camberwell, had still managed to get the ball into their 50 meter zone twice for the quarter.  John spoke briefly and urged the boys to play in front. The second quarter saw Fitzroy start to slow the Camberwell momentum.  Coming off the bench, Noah Cameroux and Sam Clarke were in impressive form, tackling hard, spoiling kicks and winning possession of the ball with second, third attempts.  Darcy took a terrific mark on the wing and Yianni did his best to open Fitzroy’s scoring account as the team drove forward.  Lucas was having a wonderful quarter at full back. If he wasn’t smothering the ball and winning possession, he was kicking the ball long and accurately out of defense.  Sam Ward and Alex were teaming well and Joel was dominating in the ruck.  Max, Josh and Dom were winning possession of the ball and Lachie was working hard to create opportunities in the forward line. Tom Ward applied ferocious tackle and Lucas and Joel teamed intelligently a number of times to move the ball out of defense before the quarter ended.  In his half time address, Scott reminded the boys that they needed to keep attaching the ball and if caught behind, they needed to punch the ball. He asked the boys to keep manning up in defense and to keep talking to each other.  Gerry outlined that in terms of tackling, the boys continued to perform well. He suggested however, that rather than handball to a teammate in defense, the boys should kick long to ‘create the yards’. John was very pleased with the boy’s performance. He told them that their intent at the ball was as good as Camberwell’s and he thanked Lucas and Noah Cameroux for their ‘sensational’ quarter. He told the boys not to panic if they got the ball but to think through what options they had for disposal.  The third quarter started with Sam Ward and Stanley in amongst the action early, getting a number of kicks. Yianni took a mighty overhead mark and then kicked a long ‘torpedo’ punt forward. Leo was fighting hard for the ball in the packs and Tom Markham and Noah Dekker both took solid marks in the forward line.  Sam Clarke won possession of the ball in defense and started a passage of play that led to Kyle kicking the team’s first goal from the forward pocket. Shortly afterwards, Kyle, Sam Ward, Yianni and Sam Clarke all teamed to get the ball to Laird, who kicked the team’s second goal in as many minutes. The momentum was flowing Fitzroy’s way, despite them kicking up the hill. Yianni was having a real impact in the ruck, Joe was working hard on the wing and Alex narrowly missed kicking the team’s third goal. In stark contrast to the first two quarters, Mason, Lachie and Stanley were all having a quiet time in defense. The quarter ended with Camberwell kicking a late goal.  In his address to the players, Scott was delighted with the boy’s performance.  He noted that they’d had been focused on the ball all quarter and had stitched together some terrific passages of play. Gerry outlined that the quarter had been Fitzroy’s best for tackles and John told the boys that they’d ‘made it happen’ in terms of scoring. The final quarter started with Sam Ward continuing his strong form with multiple kicks and handballs. Kyle and Laird were both impressing the coaches with their ability to gain possession of the ball in tight, contested situations.  Max was in fine style in the ruck and Will was looking dangerous at full forward, narrowly missing kicking a goal. Sam Clarke, Jack and Dom were giving little away in the backline. Tom Ward was having his strongest quarter for the season. As he prowled the forward line, he was tackling, marking, kicking forward and playing a key role in setting up scoring opportunities. With the team keeping up with the intensity, Max was awarded a free kick and scored Fitzroy’s final goal for the game.  Scott addressed the players at the end of the quarter and told them that they’d won the second half of the game against a very strong team because they hadn’t relented in their intensity for all four quarters. Lucas was awarded the opposition team award for his classy performance at full back and both teams lined up to shake hands. Back in the rooms Gerry explained to the boys that they’d almost matched Camberwell in terms of getting the ball into their forward 50 meter zone (19 to 21) and that they’d dominated the second half (the ‘proverbial tale of two halves’ for the team). John expressed his delight with the boy’s performance, in particular their focus for all four quarters. He explained they’d improved in all key metrics from the first time they’d played Camberwell.  Joe and Stanley were awarded the footy cards; Joe for performing strongly in his first playing year and Stanley for being a champion, week in and week out.  The boys left the ground, having lost at the scoreline but having won in terms of their confidence against one of the best teams in the competition. 

Final scores were Fitzroy 3.3 to Camberwell 8.8

John's comments after the game " an excellent second half. I'm very much on a high given what the boys showed in the second half ..."


Noah Dekker takes on Scott during the warm-up
A composed Tom Ward before the game.
Tom Markham and Kyle lead the team out.

A delighted Tom Markham wins the toss.
Sam Clarke applies a trade mark tackle.
Alex gets himself out of trouble ...
Sam Ward, a good man to have in a tight spot ...
Tom Markham marks the ball in the third quarter.
Tom Ward in irrepressible form.
Noah Dekker, surrounded but composed ...
Not even Kyle could break this tackle (but he still gets his kick off).
Stanley in sparkling form.
Dom applies a big tackle (with support from Stanley)
Sam Ward congratulates Laird on kicking a goal.
Tom Ward, Noah Dekker (and the goal umpire) celebrate Max's goal.
Darcy wins possession and opens up play.
Lucas is awarded the opposition team medal for his fine performance.