Fitzroy co-captain Rory Angiolella says the win against Beaumaris on Saturday was the best and most important in his time at the club and puts Fitzroy one win away from a finalsberth.
With two rounds to play in this years VAFA Premier B competition, Fitzroy is half a game (from a previous draw against Beaumaris) and percentage inside the top four, making every game crucial. A win against fourth placed Old Scotch this Saturday would just about seal Fitzroys highest finish in the VAFA. The Monash Blues are also pushing for a finalsspot and all three teams fighting it out for the two remaining spots won last weekend.
Fitzroy defeated top team Beaumaris on Saturday with a blistering nine-goal third quarter setting them up for the victory. After a few nervous moments early in the last quarter when the ladder-leader threatened a comeback with three quick, early goals, Fitzroy steadied via a Dan Bisetto mark and goal, and went on to a comfortable 20-point win.
Bisetto and Luke Baker were outstanding in front of goal with four each and Lachie Henderson chimed in with some well-timed six pointers. Corbin Stevic, fought hard all day for his three goals.
It was a great combination of the experienced heads and the young brigade up from Fitzroys successful Under 19 team gelling and producing the best four-quarter effort for the year.
Young Will Symons (pictured) in just his third game for the seniors was named best on ground and showed incredible poise and balance during the game, with last years VAFA and Fitzroy Under 19s best and fairest, Max Davie, not far behind him. As Rory said, these young players are playing out of their skinsand helping the established players.
Earlier in the game when Beaumaris had much of the play in their end of the ground, experienced hands in defence Matt Brown, Al Green and Tom Biscaro just put up the wall. Tom Cheshire was also everywhere with smothers, tackles and fast hands.
The game had everything; tackle pressure, great marks and goals and both teams giving it their all. The player who personified that was Angiolella, who was given the one-percenter award by the coaches, and was a very happy man leading the team off the ground to the tunes of the large crowd singing the Fitzroy song.
He later followed up on Sunday with an interview with Paul Daffey on the Amateur Footballer podcast PD Footy and its well worth a listen.
In a wide-ranging interview, Rory talks about the atmosphere at BSO, the diehard Fitzroy supporters, Kerrys BBQ and last weeks game; the character and gritshown to get over the line.
There was plenty of outstanding coverage of this game in The Footy Almanac. Check out this piece by David Wilson or this one by everyones favourite dentist, Phil Hill.
Co-coach Nick Mitchell says the key to beating Old Scotch this week is to just keep the pressure on them. If the team can do that, they will have their most successful season in the VAFA by making Premier B finals.
