FITZROY 3 vs Bulleen-Templestowe

We had beaten Bulleen by a point back in our 2^nd game of the year so expected another close tussle.

The wind was blowing to the far end as usual and they had the advantage of it in the first quarter, which started out as a real scramble.

We had a number of chances to get the first major but didn’t take them. Our kicking into the forward line let us down on a number of occasions and once or twice we “couldn’t find the handle” when the opportunity presented.

The first goal of the match came when a big gust of wind blew a boundary throw-in in their forward pocket into the ten yard square and into one of their player’s arms, who turned around and put it through. And from another throw-in a few minutes later they got another one.

At quarter time there was talk of the need to use the wind – kick it long – and put on 5 goals – and that’s just what we did. The first came from a neat string of passes between Mick, James and Alex and the second from a Connor handpass to Mick on the run, in the pocket, who put through a beauty from a tight angle.

The boys were now up and running and piling on the pressure and from the next thrust forward Connor grabbed the loose ball and snapped one. Isaac then put a perfect pass onto Alex’s chest in the square. To finish the quarter off, Himi, who had nearly marked from a kick-in, followed up, broke the tackles and kicked straight.

We had a good lead but now had to attack into the wind in the 3^rd quarter. As it turned out we dominated play and Bulleen didn’t get a goal until just before the siren. In the best piece of play of the whole match a precise kick-in from Michael T at full-back to Isaac who passed on to Martin who ran and kicked to the goal square allowed Josh to pick-up and dodge and put it through. One goal each in the quarter was a great result and at three-quarter time we were 6.5 to there 3.2.

We just had to finish them off and with Isaac running riot and consistent second and third efforts all day from Elia and Himi and Martin we had too much fire power for them. Isaac marked and goaled, from a spill. Himi got another and from a good mark Darcy H got our third of the quarter. A banana kick for Alex in the pocket hit the post but for a moment there looked like being “goal of the year”.

It was all over except for a consolation goal for them on the siren.

The final score was 9.7 to 4.3 and it had been a really good sustained four quarter effort. Well done Roys.

Final score: