By all accounts the weather was going to be a likely contender in the prelim to be played against minor premiers Williamstown on the alien Bryan Martin Oval at Newport yesterday. But the senior Roy Girls had too much to celebrate and too much on stake to let anything rain on their chance to join their Ressie teammates in next week’s grannie.
Club stalwart Mia Sutherland would be playing her 100th game. A win would see the Roys back to where they belong in Premier. And, of course, there was a grand final birth to book.
“Another game another great team performance,” coach Nathan Jumeau commented after the game. “We probably didn't get the reward for how well we played against the wind in the first quarter, letting only three goals through late in the term.”
Come the second quarter, come Fitzroy Junior recruit Nessa Cooney Hunt! With three long range goals into a swirling breeze, Nessa showed a calmness and strength that totally belied her tender age and youthful demeanour. But it wasn’t a surprise to Nath or Nessa’s team mates.
“It's something we've seen a lot of at training,” says Ju, “and was it was just so good to see Nessa carry the team back into the game.”
Eliza James’ late goal provided added hope leading into the third quarter, again into the punishing wind and, again, providing the back six a tough challenge – eventually limiting the damage to a solitary goal Williamstown’s way.
With the wind refusing to abate and the rain beginning to fall, the Roys rallied behind Hilary Collett’s goal which she slotted half way through the term and continuing to play strong and courageously to hold off Williamstown and register a two point victory. Against all odds.
It what was a whole-team buy in certainly, Nessa’s sterling efforts in the first quarter can’t be overestimated, as were Simone Mooney’s goals when the side needed her, Gina Bennett’s determination all game, Captain Stef Pitt’s leadership and Liv Brilliant’s intercept marking and strength epitomising the backline’s brilliance they’ve shown all season.
As Ju said in his after-game address on the ground, getting back into Premier ticked the first major box for the coaches.
A win next week will be all for the players, one we’re all looking forward to sharing.
Go Roys!
Action shot courtesy Julie Atkinson
