Fitzroy Under 13 Blue 3 Versus Heidelberg – Sunday May 10 at Ramsden St.

Heidelberg started full of running and quick ball movement and within seconds had their first score on the board, thankfully just a point.

It was clearly going to be a tough contest and the boys responded. Led by Nick B., Finn, Adam and Isaac we started getting our share of the ball and going forward but couldn’t score.

The ball went end to end for some minutes until Heidelberg were given a lucky free-kick which resulted in the first goal of the match.

Fitzroy had to get on the board, and after a period of concerted pressure Isaac was able to break clear at centre half forward and run in to slot a major just before the quarter time siren.

We were 1.1 and Heidelberg 1.2 at quarter time which was a good result as they had had the wind.

The second quarter started with Himi going into the Ruck and getting the ball going our way.

The boys were teaming well but after a great sequence of passing down the wing from Alex to Finn to Adam to Michael T broke down Heidelberg swept forward and goaled.

From the centre bounce we attacked and James took a good mark right in front and got one back for us. And minutes later he did it again. We had hit the front.

We were dominating play, and after another great sequence of passes Noah took a mark about 30 metres out and combined with Nick N to handpass and run in and kick another goal just before half time.

At the half we were 4.3 to Heidelberg’s 2.2 and looking good.

Jon stressed that we could expect Heidelberg to fight hard in the third quarter and that we mustn’t drop our intensity. They now had the wind again and we really needed to hold them.

Within a minute of the restart they got a free right in front and got one back straight away. Just what we didn’t want!

The game turned into a real arm wrestle. Our backs were under enormous pressure as we couldn’t clear the ball out of the danger zone and Heidelberg were having shots from all directions , but fortunately kicking points.

From a kick-in we again couldn’t clear the ball and it came back for a scrappy, of the ground, goal for them. Now we really had to hold on til the siren and Charlie did a great job to get back and touch a ball that was going through for what looked like another certain goal for them.

At the siren we were still 4.3 and Heidelberg now 4.7. It was all on for the last quarter.

After several minutes of back and forward struggle Heidelberg scrambled a goal and now we really had our backs to the wall. Himi was winning well in the middle and we surged forward with great running from Isaac but could only manage 2 behinds.

From a throw in on the flank in front of the grandstand Himi took matters into his own hands and roved his own knock and broke away and kicked straight. We were two points down with about half the quarter left.

But now our inability to clear our defensive area once again caught us out. We couldn’t find a target across the centre to then get it down our end and Heidelberg were attacking relentlessly and eventually goaled.

Himi’s response was a huge punch from the centre bounce and we got it forward to James whose tumbling, rolling shot bounced across the ten yard square and through for a point! It just wasn’t going to be our day.

Heidelberg was still full of running while our boys looked tired and in the last minute they had loose players who ran in another goal for them.

At the finish it was 5.6 to 7.7. It had been a terrific match and one in which we played a lot of good footy. Well done Roys.