Fitzroy v Parkdale : The Season Starts!

[DERRINALPHIL]

Apparently several under nineteen players from last year are in tomorrow's side. I hope that young fellow with the long hair has had a hair cut.

I may be late as I am selling my house. Steve Earle, a club sponsor is doing the job, so if it sells well I may be in am expansive mood.

Anyone who is the market for a five bedroom.....

Sorry, go the Roys

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

I’ve had a couple of stressful weeks. I am trying to sell a business. The first sale I pulled out of after a couple of months of negotiations. The second attempt is going along, with what my lawyer says is normal back and forth between buyer and seller, but I would prefer to deal with a squirting artery, blood going everywhere (remember what I always say, “If you cannot hear it bleed, it isn’t a problem” ).


A dental bleed is chicken feed.


Claire and I attempted to auction our house on Saturday. Bugger all turned up to the auction and we didn’t get a bid!!!! Afterwards every one said, “Don’t get your knickers in a twist Phil. The house will sell.”So I went down to Parkdale hoping for an easy game. I needed an easy game, the sort that even the most nervous supporter likes: win the toss, kick with the breeze, and be ten goals in front at half time. It wasn’t going to happen.


We played in those awful yellow jumpers. They are as ugly as sin, and everyone will like to know, that the reason the players do not have their usual numbers is the jumpers come in various sizes. Young Jamie Butler needs a different jumper to Gater. I always head for Sharon first (our team manager) to get the numbers and players worked out in my VAFA record. She has a million things to do but always, takes a deep breath, and goes through the team list with me.


Then it was off to meet and greet the Tramconductors after a gap of six months.


Rory won the toss and kicked with the five goal breeze but you reckon no one gave a yelp at the auction. It was worse down at Parkdale. As I said at the time this is the worse we have played all year. We couldn’t get the ball. I reckon Matty K and Rory did not get a kick in the first fifteen minutes. Our on ballers couldn’t get the ball and Parkdale scored the first goal and, in this period, set up the four goal lead they carried into half time.


Rory willed himself into the contest, as a captain should. He still couldn’t get the ball but laid several crunching tackles that made, even the Tramconductors wince. We started to get back into the game but allowed Parkdale, who had numbers behind the ball into the breeze, easy defensive exits to the eastern side of the ground.


Julian Tuner ( Jules pronounced “Jewels” ) played a blinder, and he, and Max Ellis were rock solid in defence all day. Nathan Jumeau kicked our first goal. He was a Fitzroy junior player but played with Vermont while studying, but now is back at his spiritual home. Three goals, three behinds, was a fine return for a fine return.


We start the second quarter well defending with ease, or more correctly Jules had the ball on a string and easily rebounded any Parkdale attacking option. My favourite ‘ugly footballer’ Lachie Henderson, playing in a ridiculously low number of thirty one, kicked a sublime goal into the breeze. He was immediately taken off and I remarked that this was the first time I had got into a AFL game without paying. Even the Parkdale supporters behind the goals knew what I was alluding to.


Unfortunately we allowed a few late goals in the second quarter that meant we went into half time four goals down.


We won the game in a golden five minute period in the third quarter. Pav kicked a couple of quick goals and so it was 7 5 to 9 10 at three quarter time.


Then the heavens opened, the sun disappeared, and the slog began. We scored first, a point, that Dave from Burnley, thought an important point as it put us up three goals.


We saved the game in the last quarter, by wanting the ball more than they did.


Now some of you know I never mention the umpires. I never complain about the umpires BUT ( note I have used the bold button, the italics button and the underline button ) that free kick against Maxie Ellis, in the goal square????? I will attempt to post this infringement on the site when the VAFA puts it up.


So what can we make of the game? Firstly we are 84 points in front of where we were last year and 82 points in front of where we were the year before. We lost the first four games last year so to steal a game, an away game, early in the season is a bonus.


We have lost quite a few senior players but our five Under Nineteen players that debuted all looked the part. Jules, Maxie Ellis and Nathan are basically new blokes. Pickers will be a welcome addition next week.


Our new coach showed versatility in thinking when he moved Jules from defence to centre half forward in the third quarter. He realised that our best player, our in-form player, had to be forward when we had the wind.


We play Peninsular (up from C Grade) at home, in a fortnight, and they copped a flogging first up. We have opened our B Grade season with a win once before but never won two first up.


Go the Roys.

 

[By George!111]

Vultures D(r)own’d at Gerry Green Gurgler; Rory 7 Chuck 0 since 2012

“SCENE II. Another part of the heath. Storm still.

Enter KING LEAR and Fool

King Lear

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the *****!
You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,
Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world!
Crack nature's moulds, an germens spill at once,
That make ingrateful man!

Fool

O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry
house is better than this rain-water out o' door.
Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughters' blessing:
here's a night pities neither wise man nor fool.”


Well ! Whilst other teams abandoned their games early last Saturday the rampaging Roys played a final quarter that lasted 40 minutes (4.04pm-4.44pm) in conditions reminiscent of those described above by one of Shakespeare’s famous characters to wear the hollow crown.

Again the Norm Johnstone Cup did not leave the leathered hands of Fitzroy’s Administrator par excellence William Atherton following the game which at half time was being conceded by the faint hearted; but not by those who have had their hearts renewed.

In 2012 our first game was against Parkdale at the Gerry Green led by a young newly minted captain, Rory Angiolella, whom leads us well and still. We lost in the seniors by 5 points that day; Parkdale went on to win the Premiership defeating us in the Grand Final. They have not bettered us in any rematch since; long may it be so.

The three point victory was significant in that up to nine players, on my count, were playing their first games for Fitzroy and sadly one of the brightest young stars, James Butler, U/19 Captain, sustained a serious injury. Take heart from old heads who saw your brilliant game- injury rehabilitation is the making of the man and when you return it will have made you stronger, wiser and more humble which can only be to your benefit. Get well soon- and if your’e at St Vincent’s I recommend you get ‘Wellsy’ to visit soon-as he is a tonic.

Until we meet again have a happy and holy Easter with your family, friends or pets!

 

[lion around]

Goody we won.