Rovers 2-8-20 Lost Ajaxs 6-4-40
Goals: M.Carrigan (2),
Summary
The round 10 match was an opportunity for our boys to take their winning run to 3 games and continue to build on the great foundation laid for the second half of the season. With the match being played on the bigger ground at Ajax (similar size to the Boss) we were confident this would suit our running game and our pressure around the contest. In the previous meeting with Ajax in round 3 we had a good win and we knew that it would again be a fierce contest.
The D 1 side welcomed Lucas Civitarese for his first D1 game on the back of some strong form.
The first quarter was a very even affair with good work rate from all our boys to continue to work up and down the ground and to close down there direct opponents. The boys were in for the contest and similar to previous games appeared to dominate general play for much of the quarter. The center square area was clearly a heavy 10 on the penetrometer and at time the ball just plugged! This affected us on several occasions as we were clear in transition and brought to a stop in the mud. We scored our first goal through a strong mark but it felt at quarter time we could have scored a couple more goals with the opportunities we had.
The second quarter started similar to the first with some fierce contested footy by both sides. It was only a couple of minutes in to the quarter when Jensen received a heavy knock to the head and had to leave the ground. This lead to a re shuffle by the coaches with 17 fit young men for the rest of the game but to the teams credit every one stepped up and covered the loss.
The play by the Rovers team for the next 2 quarters was built on work rate, contested footy, pressure on the ball carrier and their opponents. It was a credit to every team member that we were still in the game with a chance deep into the last quarter. The coaches kept swinging the changes and the young men kept responding to every challenge, forwards went back, rucks went forward, backs went into the ruck and we again lifted.
In summary we played a great game of footy in trying conditions and we had our chances. The young men of the Rovers D1 side again gave there all, and sometimes you can just fall short and been beaten by a better side on the day. Ajax capitalised on their forward entries better than we did.
Big thank you to Adam Bogue, Peter Seddon and Justine Tuffley for their help on the day.
Highlights – Another game where we had the whole team contributing
- D-man growing in confidence weekly and putting on a display across the backline, taking strong marks and repelling several forward entries by the opposition
- Maxie again holding his opponent and a setting up rebound across half back
- Lucas R continues his good form across half forward with several score involvements.
- Ben S returning to the side and figuring prominently in many forward entries
- Paddy’s move into the middle applying physical pressure with his second and 3 efforts.
- Jules leading by example in the midfield once again in the wet conditions
- Lachie run and carry in the wet conditions after also receiving a heavy knock to the face and blood nose.
- Maso playing in the midfield and across half forward with 2 great goals.
- Kai’s gut running from contest to contest for 4 quarters. Leading by example with his support for his team mates in the contest.
- Jake G long left foot kicking to the hot spot.
- Josh B for holding his opponent goalless at centre half back when the game was on the line.
- Lucas C continued to present in the forward line when out numbered by the oppositions extra.
Things we did well
- Commitment from all players to get to next contest time after time.
- Running in support for each other. There were several occasions were rovers players ran from 1 side of the ground to the other to help and support.
- The never say die attitude by the boys and their support for each other continues to grow.
Room for Improvement (RFI’s)
- Forward entries, we need to look before we kick and give our forwards a chance. Several entries in the second half went straight to their lose man.
- Picking the ball up in wet / slippery conditions. We are allot better team when we take control and pick the ball up in the contest. This allows us to better dispose of the ball to our advantage.
