Match Report - u11 Blacks vs Dingley

Written by Don Hollick | 17 May 2011

The day started with the team being addressed by Coach Mick and the instruction for the day was for a big effort to be made in tackling our strong opposition from Dingley. Running out onto our spritual home ground at the Peanut Farm in still grey conditions, we quickly formed a line up along with Dingley, to applaud our field umpire Zac for "Umpires Appreciation Week".
 
First Quarter:
Connor in the ruck, started the ball rolling with some clever taps to both Joel and Zach who managed to get amongst the possessions and keep it in our forward line for at least half the quarter. Hugo took a couple of chest marks up forward and Dylan had a couple of kicks early but we couldnt quite get the scores on the board as Dingley started their attacks. Curtis Sayers, who possibly thought he was Joel Selwood but more likely was listening to the coach's instructions was ferocious in his tackling and managed to nail 4 bigger bodies in perfectly executed tackles and obtain the free kicks.
Possibly distracted by Luna Park,  Dingley were off target but Adam was kicking out well to big targets such as Oliver, Oscar and Joel. Bobby was in the thick of the action and laid a couple of tackles as well. Samuel was providing run and improving all the time but we conceded two goals and went in to the break. (8 tackles for the quarter)
 
Quarter Time:StKilda City 0-1-1   Dingley 2-5-17
 
Second Quarter:
 
Samuel started with a strong mark and Kai was brave at a number of contests with one fantastic contested mark and a brave smother. Elliot was working well on the ball but Bobby copped a corked thigh and had to go off. Connor was great in the ruck always placing the ball to our advantage but we got lazy up back and Dingley ran in 3 goals 2 for the quarter. We really needed to take some marks up forward and Will, Cody and Mac needed more support. Adam defended well against some tall opponents and Mac showed us how it was done by doing a smother and then fronting up with a second effort. Our tackle count dropped off but Curtis continued to slide in and create stoppages which then allowed the run of Joel and Max to get some handballs away to the running Marco and Harry. We didnt score but the team didnt give up and when in to the rooms quiet but determined to improve.   (5 tackles in the quarter)
 
Half Time: City 0-1-1  Dingley 5-7-37
 
Hugo started well with 3 marks and with all the team lifting we staretd to pepper the pavilion end and should have scored a couple of goals when Kye just missed on a quick snap and Joel kicked 3 points from distance that could have been full points with a bit of luck. This was our best quarter as we managed to keep the ball locked in the forward line. Declan defended well and Oscar not only attacked the ball harder than most but managed to pull in a towering mark and lay some tackles. Dylan kicked long to Marco who had presented in the square but the bounce eluded. Connor was leading the rucks, Cameron was presenting and getting into some big packs and Harry ran hard. Cody, Max and Will managed to get their hands on the ball and help the flow towards the Saints goal but we couldnt quite convert. The ball was starting to move quickly and some of the umpires were working hard to keep up. This was a big quarter against a bigger side with Dingley only scoring one goal and City having the chance to score at least 5. (7 tackles)
 
3/4 time: City 0-6-6 Dingley 6-8-44
 
Coach Sayers kept the faith with our boys and encouraged them to stick at the basics and get involved and go hard at the ball and we started the quarter well with Curtis contiually stalking and catching his opponent in strong tackles. in one memorable incident Curtis chased, caught and slung his opponent to the ground to be rewarded with another free. Perhaps inspired by Curtis, Declan laid one of the tackles of the season and was duly rewarded. Bobby had come back on and bustled at the clearances. Marco had a coupe of kicks and presented well. Zach was getting the ball and running with it and finaly we were rewarded after Joel and Cody combined to get it to the imposing presence of Oscar who took a mark 10 metres out and the big left foot kicked truly for our first goal. Samuel shimmied away from a tackle and kicked long, Hugo took a couple of strong marks and Cameron kicked well. Unfortunately the final siren rang with City going down by 45 points. (last 1/4 - 9 tackles)
 
Mention should be made to Nicholas Yu who turned up to support the boys although out injured.
 
Full Time: City 1.8.14 Dingley 8.12.59
 
Against a strong team Mick was proud of our efforts and sugested that can improve to nail our oportunities such as those in the third quarter where we could have scored goals if we had steadied in the third quarter. We need to stay closer to our opponents in the marking contests in defense and we can work on hitting our targets. Mick made spcial mention of the efforts of Will and Oliver and Mac and how Joel had given us a target in the second half.
 
Coaches awards: best player- Curtis Sayers
Most Courageous - Bobby Tang
Brick awards to Zach Dakis, Declan Hollick