Interesting day at the footy. Middle of winter and I got sunburnt even though I was bloody cold from start to finish. Great atmosphere at the ground today with the sunny weather and all the juniors down for their parade. Hard to predict crowd numbers with all the Rugrats running around.
Colts - tough game up until the last qtr where for the 3rd week in a row we turned it up and got properly rolled. A lot of changes, so many new faces again, already close to 60 kids have had a crack at it this season I was told today. Half the side didn't even register double figure stats so going on that we had no chance of winning. A couple of cracking marks from players of both teams but none better than the hanger in front of the members by SD player #57, from memory Kickett. A new face who took an absolute pearler of a grab. Did notice a number of F bombs getting dropped by both the coach and the shaved head defensive coach during the breaks addressing the players. Potty mouths them too. Club should install a swear jar and it would soon erase our finance woes. Thought #17 Reidy played ok and enjoyed watching Humphries at times who can play.
Reserves - good win. Didn't watch the first half too close as I was having a chat to the great man out on the wing, PJ. He is just gold to talk footy with. In good faith won't detail his shared opinions , he'll usually do that himself but really enjoyed the discussion, his opinion and feel he has for the youngsters coming thru. As for the ressies was a feisty game and a good team effort to smash the royals. Liked seeing both the Daniels boys working themselves in to some form and so too Brody Sutton with 4 goals although I might start referring to him as Forrest Gump after the gait he displayed after rolling his ankle in the 3rd. Like a zombie dragging the back leg for the last qtr. Hats off to him for a couple of off the ball efforts that resulted in goals in the 3rd and playing out the game. His old boy would be proud.
League - great win by our blokes in what honestly was a pretty lacklustre affair. EP looked unbeatable on paper but seriously what a limp effort they put up at times. They smashed us early in the clearances but did nothing with it. This let us work in to the game and as the match went on really until the result was all but conceded they hardly beat us in a contest. 14 Partington for them was clearly their best. Lycett and Masten touched it many times but didn't really hurt us. As for our guys I thought it was a solid team performance. Bennell was BOG for mine in a very slick performance even though Ricky had 7 on the board. I'm not usually one to bash umpires but Cary could of had another 5 if those green midgets had of paid clear holding free kicks to him throughout the match. To the umps credit they did let the game go a bit but geez they missed a few in our forward 50 whilst blowing the whistle at the sign of a fart in the other direction. Riggs and Ellard were solid in the midfield to compliment Bennell's run. I could go through the whole side but will just pick out a few. Coniglio looked up to the level today and I hope they persist with him. Hackett did ok too against some big name opponents. Wityk kicked 3 and I thought he complimented Cary well up forward although this did seem to change up the role of Noble today who couldn't get near it early before working his way in to it during the 3rd. The other fella I just have to mention is Tony Notte. How can you not love the way this fella plays week in week out for our footy club. He is bloody brilliant and loved a few of his big intercept marks today. Hats off to you big Notte, you killed em today. Crowley was an important in today providing some much needed fire in the furnace and had half of EP looking to have a crack at him during the first half. Quality return after a lay off from Crowles. Was good to see some overhead marks sticking for Gault today. One abnomily I did notice in looking at the stats after the game was Nuich didn't have a Hit Out registered against his name. Not sure if that is a fault or if he just couldn't reach as high as Giles and Lycett could. I'll have another look later to see if my eyes were deceiving me.
My last comment for now is a crack at WCE Chris Masten. Coming back on to the ground at one stage in the 2nd qtr he got a rather tame heckle regarding the statistician from a SD supporter near the interchange bench only to reply running back towards the interchange after running back on to the ground something along the lines of " you effing old C...t" . Totally unnecessary over the top response which once again is an example of how putrid a stain the WCE are on our football and general community. If ya can't handle some sideline banter of that nature you should give it up pretty boy Masten. Great example you set to the young kids who worship you just because of the colours you wear. Grow up!
Anyways you know the day has gone well when you see the absent skipper of our club sitting on the outer wing amongst the crowd having a cuddle out in the sun with I assume his significant other during the last. How we won so easily against the team that we lined up against today is the real question? EP were remarkably poor today considering the quality of the names they had on their team sheet. Dare I say a heartless performance by a bunch of reserves players.
Edit - forgot to mention Banners, his defensive efforts set the tone for us early and he was in our best few once again
