Match Report - u11 Blacks vs

Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
Vince Lombardi

August 7 - Final Game of the Season - St Kilda City v Prahran under 11s
 
All was in readiness for a cracker of a game as the visiting 4wds rolled into position after crossing over Dandenong Road for a rare trip South. Banners were duly unfurled for both teams and the City boys ran out through the creative effort that was put together to celebrate Marco, Joel, Hugo, Curtis, Mac and Declan all playing their 50th games.

 

Fine calm weather, big supportive crowd and 22 committed players all wanting to repeat the win over Prahran from earlier in the season and the aim was for us to finish off with three wins from our last four to give reward for our efforts over the season.

 

The game started well for City with Oscar winning the hit outs to the busy midfield of Zac, Curtis, Joel and the courageous Elliot back in for his first game in a month after appendicitus. Cody was getting his hands on the ball and it wasnt long before Joel kicked it out in front of Cameron and he cleverly kicked it through for our first goal. Joel was working well in traffic and his handballs out to running players like Mac, Kye and Connor was not only unselfish but also creative. Marco was getting opportunities and Curtis was working hard and as his face got redder his effort never waned. Samuel was in the play, Dylan working hard on making his tackles stick won a hard earned free kick and although we spent the majority of the quarter in attack we probably didnt make the most of our opportunities. Elliot had about six possessions for the quarter and Declan gave his photographer mother plenty of oportunities to snap him with the ball.

 

 

The 2nd quarter started with a terrific tackle from Samuel and Bobby was working hard in his usual bustling style at half back. Will was solid as was Max but Prahran got the first goal. Connor took his usual speckie and Joel was clean. This team was showcasing its improvement and the use of suportive voices to the player with the ball was assisting us with chosing the right options. The quarter became scrambly and the big bodies of Oscar and Connor saved goals with desperate play. Mac as always chose the right time when to charge forward Kye pressed hard with his ability to run out quarters. Oscar scored a point but the highlight of the quarter was ater Hugo had battled hard to keep the ball in got it out to  Curtis who spun onto his trusty left foot and did the team thing by kicking to Joel who marked directly in front 20 out. Joel scored the goal to rest the momentum back in our favour. Cody won a free about 20 metres out but just missed. Connor saved another goal and Cameron used his pace and increasing confidence to put his head over the ball and get some possessions.

 

 

During the break Mick asked for more spread and push up to create options as we really wanted to help the 6 boys celebrate their 50 game milestone and finish the season on a winning note. Players were being rewarded by the excellent young umpire if they put their bodies in first and tackles stuck. Connor took two fantastic marks and Harry worked hard to keep the ball in. Adam was cool under repeated attacks by Prahran and it appeared this game would be close as Prahran peppered the goals. Prahran scored another goal but we replied after a Hugo mark and pass off to Kye who slotted a great goal. Nicholas sent a huge torpedo forward at one stage and Curtis won some frees as he continued to work hard and Mac showed a clean pair of heels with his run from the last line of defence. Cameron, Bobby and Zac kept getting the ball and forcing it forward but it looked like some heroics as a team wiould be required to win.

 

 

The last quarter started with deperate efforts from both sides and we started well with Elliot passing to the rampaging Hugo who marked in the goal square and duly converted for full points. Hugo wold be our leading scorer for the year and he was getting better with each game as was the delivery to the forward line. Big Oscar kept getting first use to Zac who continually kicked to advantage. Marco was fast, Will was tough holding up the play and Nicholas and Declan stood firm. The pace went up a notch and it appeared that Prahran had the advantage after scoring two goals. Two memorable incidents have stayed with me - the first when Joel, being outnumbred cleverley managed to hold the ball in by ...sitting on it, which he managed to do successfuly without giving up a free. King Penguins have hatched chicks in less time than Joel sat on the Sherrin. 

The second highlight before the frenetic final minute was when the inspring Mac decided that the time had come to show some leadership from the last line of defence. He charged at the ball between three opponents on the goal line and single handedly got around them had a bounce then another then took a risk again arched the back and went inboard toward the middle of the ground instead of kicking towards the boundary. He kicked the ball past the centre in one of the plays of the season he had moved the ball 80 metres to our advantage. Mac's  run reminded your scribe of some of the famous runs from past AFL Grand finals by Dench, Manassa, Long, Pickett, Wanganeen etc. This sense of self and confidence inspired the players and soon we found the ball back in our foirward line.

 

With City trailling by five points the ball headed down for one last dash for victory. Kye won a free 20 out and when shooting for goal had his kick smothered.  in all the excitement the courageous but correct umpire decreed that the player on the mark had gone over the line and brought the free to the goal line. The siren went and Elliot chipped in like a seagull on a chip, pinched the kick and put it through for City to win by a solitary point!!!!!  

 

Terrific game and great finish to the season showing how far all the City boys had progressed:

 

 

Best player - Joel, Most courageous Elliot, Brick awards to Will and Samuel.