Fitzroy has taken top spot on the Premier C ladder from Williamstown CYMS on the back of a near-perfect opening quarter last Saturday, which proved too damaging to overcome.
Having studied the fast starts of their previously undefeated opponent, Fitzroy came out firing and barely took the foot off the accelerator until the quarter time siren sounded. By then the damage was done and the top of the table blockbuster lacked the tension the neutral fans might have liked.
Fitzroy fans, however, were eating burgers, singing the song, congratulating one another and pinching themselves at the beautiful, free-flowing footy that had the home side well out in front.
Those who rocked up to BSO half way through the first quarter were as stunned as the Fitzroy and Williamstown entourages and perhaps somewhat disappointed that they didnt see a tighter contest.
Whilst the attacking footy was great to watch, the game plan was built on the back of ferocious defence and the Roy Boys certainly did bring out their best footy when it counted. When Williamstown did have the ball, they were not given any room to move.
Every line did its job but it was the miserly defenders who were lauded by the coaches at the end of the day, with everyones favourite
prodigal son Toby Hudson-Bevege wining the Royal Derby voucher for best on ground. Max Ellis was runner up and Bill Clayton took the one percenter
award. Max may have been doing his job down back but hes also suddenly got a taste for the goal kicking business, and snuck down field and side-stepped
his opponent for an outstanding long range goal.
Nino Lazzaro must have narrowly missed out on the votes with a game which was as good on the ground as in the air.
Nathan Jumeau continued the form of the Marcellin game and kicked three goals, including a nice one for the highlight real with a few running bounces, with Bernie Wright also accurate for three goals. Aidan Lambert was not to be outdone with two of his own.
All of Fitzroy will be in mourning when Lambo and Max Davies get on that plane for Russia in a few weeks for the World Cup and sightseeing. Hurry back!
Perhaps there was even greater merit in the win, given the mid-week injury to star midfielder Rory Angiolella and the late withdrawal of Noah Wright and Jack Dalton. Altogether there were four changes to the previous weeks side with ruckman Andrew Pettigrove (47) and TAC Cup player with the Northern Knights, Jack Hart (14), both coming into the team for their first senior games for Fitzroy (they feature in the picture of the Gatorade shower above). They were joined by the hard-nosed Jimmy Butler and Gus Richardson. It was a seamless transition really, with Pettigrove doing a great job around the ground and also named in the best players. Its a testament to the whole-club approach to the game plan.
Every player played their role and all attacked the contest with relish, typified by some outstanding tackling by Sam Baker. If there
was a criticism it was that the home side perhaps eased up in the last quarter. All credit to Williamstown who stayed level with Fitzroy for the
remaining three quarters and the final margin of 45 points was only three greater than the margin at quarter time. The final score was 15.13.103
to 8.10.58.
For an excellent summary of Fitzroys wining weekend, all the results, and the highlights of the mens and womens senior games, new sponsor, Risk Care Financial Services, has put together the first up of its weekend round-ups. The video will appear on Facebook each week.
There was plenty of love and media coverage for the winners, with the Local Footy in the Leader/Herald Sun running a story about our a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/fitzroy-sitting-pretty-on-top-of-the-vafa-premier-c-ladder-after-big-win-over-williamstown-cyms/news-story/d41fb11f7ed933b0018879b613f65ce6">massive statement/a> and the VAFA writing about the Kings of Premier C. Meanwhile the King himself (George that is) was moved to poetry in the Footy Almanac!! Check it out with a special mention to the Tram ConductorsBOG, Nino Lazzaro.
This weekends game is against PEGS, coached by last years Divisions Section VAFA Coach of the Year, Dane Pound, who has the Bombers sitting nicely in fourth position in their first year in Premier C. Coming off a premiership, they have kept their strong form and as a good mate of our senior coach, Luke Mahoney, Pound will have his charges primed for a shot at knocking off the top team. Well need to be fast out of the blocks again.
Merry Ressies
Meanwhile arguably our best performed team for the year the Mens Reserves side, continued on their merry way at the top of the Premier C Reserves ladder.
Their victory over Williamstown came on the back of a strong start and a four-quarter performance, having learnt from the previous two outings where they have had some slow patches and let teams back into games. But for inaccurate goal kicking, the margin would have been greater than the 11.15.81 to 6.9.45 win.
Lachie Henderson continued his excellent form and kicked three goals, Will Zahgis and Sean Laidlaw kicked two. Mitch Bottomley and Jack Atkinson were the stand-out players of the game. Congratulations to Sean Laidlaw who played his 50th Fitzroy game last week and to Eddie Harley who will play his tomorrow.
If PEGS win tomorrow, they may go into fourth spot on the ladder, so they have plenty on the line.
CHANGE OF VENUE FOR RESERVES
Please note for players, supporters and volunteers of the all-conquering Ressies side, this weeks game against PEGS has been moved to the school; Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, on the corner of Keilor and Rachelle Roads, Keilor East (entry from Rachelle Road). The Reserves will be starting at the special time of 1pm.
The Seniors will be starting at 2pm as usual and will be playing at the PEGS Playing Fields, 127 Wright Road, Keilor Park.
