The Rovers made an early cross-town journey to East Malvern for their fourth and last grading game of the season.
For many in the team this was familiar and fond territory, having produced a breakout performance in the same parkland just over 12 months ago as the 2018 Under 12 Girls Blue Team.
For others, such as Nick Tuppen (formerly Steve Stevens), this was the site of painful memories, with the absent Hampton runner responsible for one of the strangest goal umpiring incidents you’ll ever see, back on the aforementioned day. Let me explain – or better yet, here is some rare and grainy footage of the notorious incident to bring you up to speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CszY_q3dAnY
Was it a coincidence that Nick fled to Hong Kong rather than return to the scene of the crime? I’ll leave the readers to form their own opinion, but regardless, his daughters Olive and Matilda seemed more relaxed than usual before the game without the distraction of Nick’s presence.
The focus of an entertaining pre-match team discussion was on the news – there would now be two tackling awards each game. When Coach Davis asked the squad whose example they needed to better and how they were going to do it, the amusing and unanimous response was “tackle Nadia”.
It was no surprise then that Nadia S was glad to be on the interchange bench for the start of the game as the Rovers went about their early work with aplomb; Georgia B winning the centre bounce and Lola D promoting the ball to Lily J for a shot on goal that fell just short. Lola D soon backed up with a contested mark which she transitioned quickly to Olive T who in turn kicked to an uncontested mark by Zoe H. When the Knights regained the ball Zoe H turned tackler – laying on the first of many crunching hits the Rovers would administer over the course of the game, before reverting back to attack and scoring the first points of the match, a minor. Nadia S, perhaps sensing the threat to her recent monopoly on the tackle box, combined on defence with partner Joely H though their good work could not prevent an eventual opposition behind which soon became a six-point lead as they added a goal.
Meanwhile Georgia B got a clean hand ball to Amber M as Charlotte C engaged in a great physical battle with her opposite – just the sort of effort that Coach Davis had been asking of the team all season.
He and fellow coach Moss would have been even happier with the frenetic passage of play that followed, starting with the entire midfield of Lola D, Juliet M, Olive T and Zara K making contributions prior to a Lily J kick on the run which found Maddie A in space and enabled her to score a goal to tie things up.
In the ruck, Georgia B got another hit out to advantage and Olivia K chalked up her first possession, likewise Matida T with a handball. Unfortunately, a late goal and behind saw East Malvern wrest back the advantage heading into the first break.
Coach Davis then found himself on the end of QandA worthy of a prime time slot on the ABC but did manage to find time to praise the Rovers for their aggression in the first quarter which had stymied a Knights Team not used to such treatment this season.
With time back on the clock the Rovers midfield of Amber M, captain Matilda B and Joely H swung into action with multiple touches each. Their good work forced the ball back inside 50 once again, off the back of which Zara K scored a behind. It was in this middle part of the game that Lily J exploded with a series of tackles, runs, kicks and marks that would make her an inevitable winner of one of the coaches awards and highest tackler for the day. Matilda T, Siena G and Madeline A also produced some brave and desperate defence to keep the Knights attack at bay for most of the quarter as the slippery ball increasingly became a factor. Conversely, at the other end of the field Lola D who was also having a barnstorming game, kept the scoreboard ticking over with consecutive behind courtesy of some raking kicks inside 50 from midfielder Olivia K.
As the clock wound down Olivia K this time locked up the ball in midfield and the Rovers looked set to keep the Knights scoreless for the quarter. But from the resulting hit out they swiftly moved the ball down field and slotted the latest of goals to again take back the momentum, just as they had done in the first quarter.
Recognising they were producing a great team effort despite conceding the late goals, Coach Davis’ only request at half time was that they back each other up better and so it was in the third term as the Rovers continued to dominate everywhere but on the scoreboard. Zoe H in her best game of the season showed footwork and poise in midfield to get the ball to Matilda B, with fellow forward Nadia S going on a daring run before Charlotte C converted the Rovers constant inside 50 pressure into a point.
As East Malvern rallied, Maddie A dished out some pain to her opposite with what would later be recognised as the tackle of the day. However, the Knights were not be deterred as they effectively fed off the crumbs they were getting, and two rare opportunities were all they needed to score two goals late in the quarter and continue the earlier trend.
The final term saw another five goals scored, regrettably all from the boot of the home team, but the Rovers fought admirably to the end, with Juliet M, Joely H and Olivia K, heavily involved throughout.
After the game in addition to the awards already mentioned, Amber M, Joely H and Zoe H were deservingly singled out for their performances as Coaches Davis and Moss debriefed the team’s most determined performance of the season, scoreboard notwithstanding.
It was during this chat that the best and most revealing question of the day was posed by one of the girls who, along with several of her team mates and head coach, was due to head to a week-long school camp the following day: “Can we take footies to camp?” she asked. It was only later I realised the significance of this moment as I got to wondering what team would make that enquiry after being on the end of four heavy losses? A team that is still full of belief and more importantly enjoying themselves seemed the obvious answer and for this credit must go to the coaching staff.
Special mention also to fill in Runner Sean Brady who set a new standard in his role, debutant umpire Ray Killey who along with the East Malvern official facilitated an open and entertaining game and of course Team Manager Kylie Jones for always ensuring the team and its supporters are well organised.
[Writers caveat: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this report but I’m getting old, my eyes are failing and everything seems to happen so quickly nowadays so I apologise in advance for any errors, embellishments or glaring omissions].
