Last Saturday we lined up against Red Cliffs with six omissions from our senior side due to a wedding in Melbourne.
In a country league like the one we play in, take six senior players out of any team and there will be plenty of difficulties that arise.
Not only does it effect the seniors but inturn the reserves and 18s.
The only real positive is that due to the situation six blokes would get an opportunity to make their mark in senior footy.
The first quarter we played to our plan very closely, we couldnâÂÂt have started better. The movement of the footy and urgency to get it into our forward line was superb. Our big forwards had first use of it and the smalls were everywhere.
On a hot and taxing day our legs started to tire as Red Cliffs gathered momentum in a spirited resurgence. At times we went away from our game plan and it showed on the scoreboard. We managed to battle on throughout the third and into the last. At the final change we made a pledge to each other to give it our all and to take up the challenge.
We were tested so many times last year and this was our first big one for 2009. Some poor errors cost us early in the last quarter with Red Cliffs getting in front for the first time and going to a two goal lead.
Our tenacity shone through, we fought our way back, with constant drive forward and relentless pressure.
The siren sounded and we were 4 points in front, we won.
A fantastic team effort!
Better players on the day were John Jackson, Lindsay Romeo, Christian Gorman, Don Falvo, and Justin Neyland.
I want to make mention of the efforts by Ritchie Handreck who also had an invite to the wedding, Ritchie played the game, left at ten past five giving himself 1 hour to make his flight from Mildura to Melbourne.
Special thanks go to Qantas staff for holding the flight for him!
Last Saturday was a whole club effort. We had a massive personal shortage both on and off the field. Well done to the 18âÂÂs, commiserations to the reserves, it was great to see Toby Quirkmeeks and the like working hard throughout the match. Take gratitude in the seniors 4 point win, everyone made that happen.
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