East Sandringham: 7.3.45
Hampton: 1.2.8
Parents and players – footy is back! Welcome to season 2019. Chris, Daryl and I are really looking forward to working with all the boys this year, ensuring they are enjoying their football, and helping them develop within an inclusive team environment.
We welcomed five new boys to the mighty Hampton Rovers and welcomed back Jack Mc after a couple of seasons playing soccer. We also have a blend of boys coming together from last years’ two under 11 sides. No doubt it will take us a couple of weeks to really gel and get used to each other – some good signs today though (regardless of the scoreboard).
We will continue to build on some of the focus areas from last year, ensuring team first football that reflects all the Hampton Rovers values – Passion, Teamwork, Fun and Respect. We will also ensure we take an inclusive approach and all the boys will share equal game time across the season – also getting the opportunity to play in a variety of positions.
First up we travelled down the road to play East Sandringham. The result didn’t go our way, but I thought the boys showed some great endeavor and stuck to the task all game. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect just how competitive the game was – the key difference being the Zebbies ability to find some space and finish off their work in front of goal.
Max and Ollie have trained hard all pre-season and were our captains for the day. Both showed great leadership, particularly early with Max leading the midfield and Ollie putting his body on the line down back.
Most of the first quarter saw the Rovers continually winning the ball. Our midfield was running hard and had the jump on the Zebbies. James C, in the ruck, was putting his body into the contest and tackling hard. Oliver Mc and Jack Mc were providing plenty of run through the middle, picking up several possessions. Whilst Thomas continued on from last year running hard between the arches out on the wing.
Peter’s transfer over from the Zebbies was completed late on Saturday night and he was a welcomed late addition to our side, standing out in the first quarter with his pace and elusiveness on the wing.
The forwards battled hard in a heavily congested forward 40, but to no avail. We pushed forward and both Niko and Jack W were almost able to conjure something out of heavy traffic before being swamped by goal saving tackles. The backline held out almost to the end of the quarter once the Zebbies finally started getting the ball forward with James P showing some fierce determination to repel the Zebbies attacks. At quarter time we were down by seven points.
The second quarter started similarly to the first with the Rovers having plenty of the play. Our midfield was getting their hands on the ball with Peter continuing to hurt his old team mates and Stefan showing his ability to tap ruck to his midfield team mates.
The Zebbies were able to post their second goal but we struck back through Jack Mc who was playing a great game. Jack ran onto a loose ball, snapped from 30 metres out, clearing the pack and rolling the ball through the big sticks.
Nate put together a terrific quarter on the wing, running hard and getting to every possible contest. Matt C and Jake F were leading the defence and making life very difficult for the Zebbie forwards.
The boys had a number of passages of play where they were able to link up and move the ball off half back up to our forward line, where James B was looking very dangerous roaming around the flanks.
Things were tight at half time, with just eight points in it.
The game had developed into a very congested one by the third quarter with big numbers around the ball. Both sides found it difficult to clear the ball and find space. Matthew Garlick moved into the ruck and continued the fine work James C and Stefan had provided in the first half, Bailey Stewart was really pushing himself to the contest playing in the middle, whilst we continued to get some really good run from Peter, Nate and Jack Mc.
Jack Harrington is a new boy to the Rovers, playing his first game today. Jack hasn’t played footy for a number of years but I thought had a great game. The more the game wore on the more he found his feet, picking up some good possessions and playing his man tightly when sent back to defence in the third quarter.
The Zebbies kicked two goals to our none in the third, they were able to create some separation from the congestion by holding players off the pack. Once in their forward line, they were also able to set up a wall which made it very difficult for our boys to clear the ball from defence.
Going into the last quarter we had the job in front of us. The boys stuck to the task and never gave up. A great example of this determined attitude was Bailey who was asked to move down back. Bailey ended up on a boy almost two feet taller than him (without exaggeration!). Bailey never flinched, we considered making a move to help him, but we let it unfold. Bailey won the battle, his man not getting a possession – Bailey even out muscling him when applying a big tackle close to goal. Great job Bailey!
Although we didn’t get the win, I saw some really pleasing signs today. I thought Robbie played his best game for the Rovers. Robbie played his first season last year, after arriving in Australia from Scotland. Robbie has been training hard and doing the right things over the past 12 months. He’s put in a big pre-season and I can see extra confidence in him. Well done Robbie, keep it up.
Congratulations to Peter S, Oliver Mc, Jack Mc, James C and Jack H today. All playing their first games for the club (well, ok, Jack Mc is returning) and all had stand out games. Keep it up boys.
So, pleasing signs. We will work hard at training on getting to know each other and coming together as a team. As this occurs, and we all understand the team rules and principles I have no doubt our game style will become quicker and less congested. Looking forward to next week.
Damo
Hampton Rovers – Best Mates!
BTW – all the boys should be touching their football 100 times each day – please make sure you do!!
