This week’s round of games saw all of our teams going out there giving it all for the jumper and the club and although some results may not have gone their way, the club are still immensely proud of those who represented the club over the weekend.

The round started with the traditional Friday Night Thirds game, this time at home against a Pascoe Vale side desperate to keep touch with the finals hunt. The first quarter saw the visitors ease out to a small lead, but our boys were right in the contest and ready to put up a fight with the scores showing our one straight goal to their 3.3, meaning a difference of 15 points at the first change. The second quarter, however, saw the game turn in Paco’s favour as they slammed on 6.3 to just one behind to push the margin out to 53 points at half time. After the main break our lads were able to hit the scoreboard again as we added 1.1 but Paco put on another 5.3 and the margin had blown out to 78 points as we entered the final term. To the boys credit, they didn’t allow the visitors to run away with it in the end and whilst we only added 2 behinds, we held them to 2.3 meaning the final score saw us losing 2.4-16 to 16.11-107. Credit to the boys for fighting it out until the end. Beilby and Kev with the goals while in the best were Stevie, Nath, Beilbs, Robbie, Aodhan and Azza.

Saturday morning saw our girls take the early morning trip up the freeway to Hillside to take on the Sharks. Unfortunately our girls were not able to hit the scoreboard and were on the end of a 159 point loss but Scott was hugely proud that his girls keep turning up to games giving their all despite the results not reflecting the efforts they are delivering upon. To keep the opposition to 4 goals in the final term when they have added 18 in the first three quarter shows that these girls do not throw in the towel and keep giving everything they have. In the best were Elley, Erica, Nikkim Stacey and Prousey. Huge call out to Prousey who fractured her wrist during the second quarter but still played on and gave it everything she could in the second half, but sadly the injury looks to have ended her season prematurely which is a big blow for a team already lacking depth of numbers. If you know any girls keen to try footy, please put them in touch with us as we’d love to be able to put more girls on the park every week instead of having to play short.

Later on Saturday the seniors and reserves were in action at home against West Coburg . Kaines Krew in the reserves got us started for the day at home but were jumped badly by the Burgers early, as we kicked only 1 behind to the visitors 6.4 which saw us trail by 39 points at the first change. The second quarter was not much better for our boys as we were held scoreless while the boys from West Coburg added 5.4 meaning the margin was 73 at half time. Unfortunately, after half time we could not stem the bleeding as we conceded another 6.6 while only adding 1 behind to leave us 114 adrift at the final change. Lachie finally managed to kick our first major in the final term as we added 1.1 but the visitors added another 5.4 to run out strong 141 point winners. In the best were Lachie, Candan, Buzza, Musa, Eyad and Max

The senior game was up next and boy didn’t that throw in a surprise! We got a good start and had the early jump on the boys from Shore Reserve and we kicked 3.3 to 1.3, holding a 2 goal quarter time advantage. After quarter time out boys exploded and ripped the game apart. We added 4.1 but crucially held the much vaunted Burgers forward line to 1.4, meaning our lead had stretched to 27 points at half time. After half time the contest evened out a little as both teams kicked 4.2 to leave the margin standing at 27 points as we entered the final term. Faz asked the boys for a huge effort to ensure they enjoyed a much deserved victory and they delivered big time. 4.2 in the final quarter to the visitors 2.3 saw us take the win by 38 points! 15.8-98 to 8.12-60 with our second highest core for the year coming against one of the premiership favourites. Everyone at the club said it was the best win they had seen outside the 2018 Grand Final. Great stuff boys! Raaf and Brock each kicking 4 while Matty added 3, Jay showed he has a “nose” for goals adding 2 while Stumpy and Barn added one each. In the best were Barn, Wizz, Cookie, Jay and Fish. The win has us 7th but now only 2 wins outside of the top 4!

On Sunday the 14’s travelled to a muddy Boeing Reserve to take on Strathmore missing three of our big guns to either injury or unavailability. Despite the loss of these key players we owned the first 7 or minute of the game, kicking the first major and looking in control before the Mores started to get on top on the outside. At the first change we trailled by a point, 1.1-7 to 1 straight. Kicking into the breeze in the second quarter, Mada made some structural changes to the forward line which paid off as we added 3 goal straight to 2.2 to suddenly hold a 3 point lead. Unfortunately in the third term when we had the breeze behind us we only added 2 behinds to the Mores 1.1 which saw us behind by 2 points at the final change. With the wind at their backs, the hosts ran away in the end, adding 2.1 to out 1 behind to end up winning by 14 points – 6.5-41 to 4.3-27. Arabi kicked 2 and the Leasiolagi brothers Johnny and Levi added 1 each. Johnny was also in the best alongside Boodi, Omar, Noah, Murad and Ahmed. The loss see’s us drop out of the finals race at this stage as we sit in 6th so there are a few huge weeks to come for the boys if they are to play finals this year.

The final game of the weekend saw Rob’s 16’s travel to Burnside Heights to take on the Bears. Our lads had the use of the wind in the first quarter but unfortunately could not put the score on the board as they kicked 5 behinds for the quarter to 1.4 which saw us 5 points down at quarter time. For the first time this season, our boys managed to work the ball into the wind to score a goal, which pleased Rob massively as he could see the improvements coming from the boys. The Bears added 4.5 to out single goal but the margin was a still manageable 28 points at half time. We used the wind better in the third term, kicking 2.4 to I straight goal and had closed the margin to 18 points as e came into the last. Out lads again managed to get a goal into the breeze but the hosts kicked 3.8 for the quarter to end up winning by 48 points. Rob said that he was “So proud of the boys for the pressure they put on when they didn’t have the ball. We scored against the wind which we had not don all year. It was the best 4 quarter effort all year. Special mention to Atilla and Abdul down back.” Goal Kickers were Eggy, Nasser, Zein and Karim while in the best were Atilla, Nasser, Zein and Abdul.

This week the action starts on Friday night as TAC and AFLVictoria Road Safety Round kicks off. All of our teams will be wearing blue arm bands to signify our efforts to raise awareness for road safety and the fact that one death on the roads is too many. The Thirds travel to Boeing Reserve to take on Strathmore looking to get on the winners list. On Saturday morning our Youth Girls are at home against Maribyrnong Park before our Reserves and Seniors tackle Taylors Lakes away at Lionheart. The Reserves will be looking to get back on the winners list for the first time in a few weeks while the seniors will need to make sure they are on their game as the Lion will be out to get a win over us this week. If our boys do get the win, and if results go our way, we could jump to 6th and be only a game out of the top 4. On Sunday our 14s face a HUGE game as they travel to East Sunbury to take on the Thunder who sit top of the ladder. Our boys currently sit 6th so a loss here could spell the end of their hopes of playing finals. It’s a real “8 point” game for our boys. Th final game of the weekend has the 16s facing Westmeadows looking to build on their improved for of the last few weeks

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