Lest we forget

By Guy Gorilla

Before the game on Friday I took a quiet moment to stand in front of the Sportsman’s Memorial in Edinburgh Gardens and contemplate the faces looking back at me.

There seemed to be a glint in their eyes, and a certain intensity. So young, so hopeful.

ANZAC Day is such a poignant and meaningful day on the Australian calendar, and I have come to look forward to spending it at the Brunswick Street Oval.

I love the fact that the Roys honour the day impeccably, and host the game against another admirable community club, Williamstown CYS.

On the day, and particularly during the bugler’s Last Post, my mind drifts to the ghosts of past family members. One a WWI pilot, another a Rat of Tobruk, another a prisoner of war.

But the person I think of most is my maternal grandmother, who grew up a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Gardens, barracking for the Roys of old.

During one heartrending month in 1916, news filtered back to their McKean Street home that her three brothers, George, Tom and Jack, had all died within a week of each other while serving in the Battle of Fromelles. They were aged 22, 24 and 26. Lest We Forget.

So, as important as this round of football was for Fitzroy’s season, I looked on from in front of the old grandstand with a healthy sense of perspective.

I began watching the football from half time of the Reserves match, with the Roys eight points up. Saw young Rex Richardson burst from the initial centre bounce and set up a goal. Bernie’s Twos played some solid footy in the third quarter, but didn’t capitalise. Seven points up at the final change, and now kicking into the breeze, they needed to win the match, not save it. And they did. It was a gutsy and impressive team effort that keeps them undefeated and on top of the ladder.

I hoped that spirit and character would flow through to the Senior team’s efforts.

After the linking of arms and the Anzac ceremony, the senior match began and the early signs were promising. Fitzroy was applying pressure on the opposition, and a smothered kick in the first few minutes created the opening Roys goal, snapped by Minahan.

But there were a few worrying signs. Willy was on top in the midfield, controlling the corridor and slicing up the Roys in transition. There was one point the difference at quarter time.

Light rain began to fall in the second quarter, making for some slippery and scrappy footy. Willy kicked a quick goal, Fitzroy responded after a strong grab from Harvey.

Play was halted late in the term when Winstanley had to be helped from the ground with a broken collarbone. Wretched luck for a young player who was beginning to establish himself as a senior footballer.

At the main break the CYs were looking the more assured outfit and led by 11 points.

In the second half Fitzroy was disappointing, making many of the errors that frustrate coaches in junior footy: throwing the ball on the boot, all gravitating to the ball like bees to honey, hand balling to teammates’ feet. Letting the ball out of the forward line too easily.

Despite this, the Roys had as much possession and as many scoring shots as Willy and could still have snatched victory. But, to be fair, the CYs were more purposeful, composed and at times more polished with their ball movement. They kicked a crucial goal late in the final quarter that effectively ended Fitzroy’s challenge, and a couple of easy ones followed to make the final margin 20 points.

As coach Ronaldson noted later, there was no questioning Fitzroy’s effort and intent, but as a collective the Roys did seem a bit down on energy and spirit – not something we’ve come to associate with this team over the years.

Of the better performers, Seakins and Harvey made some telling contributions, Clayton and Roberts had the better of the ruck duels, Laidlaw brought some urgency to the forward line, and the defensive six battled valiantly.

It was a bitter loss, but on this – of all days – it needed to be put into perspective. Hopefully the Roys will keep their chins up, get around each other, regain a couple of important footballers and play with the sort of character and intensity that has been their trademark when they run out in next Saturday’s home game against Old Camberwell.