With only 4 games on the go given it’s only seniors left playing home and away footy and the Youth Girls in finals you’d think there isn’t much to report on in this weeks round of action, but that’s completely wrong.

The Under 19’s started the day at East Sunbury knowing nothing short of a win was good enough if they wanted to play finals. Unfortunately for our lads, the home team started strongly and didn’t let up until the game was a good as done. We were fortunate they kicked poorly in the first term as they kicked 3.7-25 to no score. Our boys knew they had to fight it out in the second term to get back into the game and restricted the hosts to a single behind but we also kicked poorly and the margin at half time was 16 points, 3.8-26 to 1.4-10. In the Third term the Thunder used the breeze to perfection, blowing us out the water with a 6.2 to 1 goal quarter and we had a mountain to climb in the last as we found ourselves behind by 48 points. we kept trying in the last quarter but couldn’t put enough pressure on the scoreboard adding 2.3 to 1.2 and going down by 41 points. We had all individual goal kickers with singles to Adam, Mo, Ryan and Brock. Our best were Ryan, Jarrio, Brock, Jake, Daniel and Jordan.

The Ressies were in action in a 1 V 2 clash and on paper this looked like it might be a stern test for our lads. However, a team with a defence led brilliantly by Youssef Helou doesn’t concede easy scores and that proved to be the same this week. Our boys started on fire, restricting the home team to just 1.1 in the first quarter while piling on 6.1 up the other end. Given the windy conditions at Goonawarra it was great to see out boys kick straight and put the home team under immediate pressure. The back line owned the second term, restricting the home team to 1 behind while we kicked another 4 to hold nearly a 10 goal lead at the main break. The game stabilised a little in the 3rd as the Thunder added 1.2 and we kicked 2.2 to take a 62 point lead into the final quarter. We bookended the game with another 6 goals to go with the 6 in the first term and the defence were brilliant again in holding the Thunder to 1 goals and we ended up running out winners by 95 points – 3.2-23 to 18.10-118. John put his hand up for a senior game kicking 4, while Moudy and Belal added 3, JayJay 2 and single were kicked by Marz, Youssef the defensive rock getting forward to kick a goal, Matt, Chadie and Alan. Slap Heads best were Liam, Alan, JC, Domenico, Stoney and Tyla. Great effort again lads. Keep this going all season!

The Seniors completed the day on Saturday and what a game we were treated to. We started slowly kicking into the breeze and conceded the lead at quarter time – 4.3-27 to 1.0-6. Kicking goals into the breeze was going to be handy so it was important we only went in 21 down. With the breeze, we kicked into gear, booting 5.2 and holding the hosts scoreless and the lead was ours at half time by 11 points. As expected, the Thunder came out and heaped the pressure on, kicking 5.4 but we again crucially kicked 2.2 into the breeze, leaving us with just a deficit of 9 points and the breeze at our backs in the last term. However the home team used the played the game out brilliantly and got a crucial goal into the breeze and as the minutes ticked down we’d only added 1…..enter Mosh! Former skipper Jamie Grant had a set shot dead in front to level the scores up and missed, leaving us 5 points down with not long to play. After a few stoppages in the forward line the defender/matchwinner pounced on a ball in the forward pocket and slotted the winner. the Thunder must be sick of the sight of the number 29 late in games given his match winner in the last minute against the same opponent on Anzac Day last year. Mosh still has video of that goal on his phone, just ask him to show you some time. Final scores were East Sunbury 10.8-68, Roxburgh Park 10.9-69. Sammy led the goal kicking with 3, Luke and Ryan 2 while singles came from the boots of Tumay, the returning Brandon getting ready for some camera time and of course the man wearing number 29. Great to get another win up boys against a tough opponent, and now a game clear of 4th and a game behind the Saints in second!

The only Sunday game saw our Youth Girls play their Semi Final against Hillside Sharks Football Club at Lionheart Reserve. The first quarter was the Shelby show, with our full forward pulling down grabs and kicking straight as we took the early lead kicking with a good breeze – 3.3 to .01. we knew we had to defend like crazy in the second quarter given we were kicking into the strong breeze and we did just that failing to score ourselves but holding the Sharks to 1 goal giving us a 14 point lead at half time. We came out in the third quarter and it looked like we thought the wind would do the job for us and the Sharks were harder for the ball and locked it in their forward line for long periods, holding us to just 3 behinds while they scored two behinds and suddenly it was game on at 3/4 time as we had a 15 points lead but were kicking into a 3 or 4 goals breeze. Our girls dug deep in the final term and despite conceding a goal half way through the quarter, they heeded the message at Richard’s 3/4 time address and kept the pressure on, ending up victorious by 8 points – 3.7-25 to 2.5-17. It’s fair to say the first quarter got the job done in the end, Shelby proving a massive handful for the Sharks backline whenever it went in there and ended up our only goal kicker. Richard also commended Angel for her attack at the ball and her pressure around the footy while others in our best were Bianca, Ashlee H, Danira and Alana.the result put’s the Youthies directly into the Grand Final in 2 weeks time. We will have to wait until next week to find out the opponent.

Next week the Under 19’s have a home game against Strathmore and will be playing for pride as their season will end next week now that finals are out of the equation. Give it everything you’ve got boys and end the season on a high. Seniors and Ressies are also at home against Hadfield who gave us a big scare last time we met at Lakeside so we need to be on our game. With plenty of ressies boys in good form it’s great to have that pressure on the senior players in the lead up to finals.

The Youthies have the week off with direct passage into the Grand Final. As soon as times and venue are announced we will let you know!

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