I am a Youth Athlete…you all lived this today!
Perfect day for footy – Run & Carry the Footy – Run to and kick to space…simple message really…boys today was the best 4-quarter game of footy perhaps for this and last season against a very strong opposition…great competitiveness, lots of repeat acts of pressure on their ball carrier around congestion, preparedness to be more bold & take risks exiting our backline to create quicker ball movement into space for four quarters — SUPER.
Their first quarter with 5.5 (to nil score for us) was first rate – BUT rather than drop your heads and say it is all too hard, you came out in the 2nd quarter with the same level of intensity, WON a fast break centre clearance to kick your first goal of the game. They pressed the foot down with some hard running and quality skills for a further 3.6 to come in at half time with the score 1.0.6 for us v 8.11.59…BUT the score board did not reflect how well you were playing…the dam broke in the third quarter when you broke through and slammed on 4.3 to their 1.1 to outscore and out play them…how good it was to watch, how good it felt to get on top…while you were outscored by 3 goals in the 4th quarter…you won the second half by 2 points which was no mean feat.
We said not to worry about the score board, focus on the ball movement and defensive structure basics. You produced a spirited effort to ‘stay-in’ the game through to the end when you could have laid down. The backline were outstanding defending a lot of forward 50s, and were really well supported by the midfield who pushed deep to get numbers back which helped to clog up their forward line forcing them to kick from outside 45m and from wide angles…team defense and one on one accountable footy made it hard for them to score easily, you guarded their hotspot beautifully. There were also some really strong marks around the ground and plenty of spoils when out of position to bring the ball to ground.
Goal kickers today were Marcus, Liam K, Matty Spazz, Andy Bird, Ben Allan and Per…
Congrats to Marcus, Tom, Andy, Beau and Matt Young for achievement awards today reflecting competitive efforts through the whole game. Other notable games from Ben A rucking most of the day, Will Nolan who continues to get better every week, Per getting into the groove playing a defensive wingman / link-man role, Coops inside clearance work, Benny C. in his first game back with clean hands and efficiency by foot, some good clunking marks by Liam K, and some explosive ground work by Matty Spazz.
Congrats to Captain on the day, Mitch Hall in his 100th game – great milestone, some very good marks and forward kick entries capped off a solid day.
Also…please reach out to Christian Gernandt this week as he prepares to undergo a full knee-reco this Thursday, that would be a great thing to do.
And in the words of the great man, Paul Warman…”It’s only a game. You don’t have to win on the scoreboard to be winners.”
Keep up the spirited energy lads…
Gavin Coote
Coach
Sandy Rovers – U16 Division 3
