10 Of the Best Since 1986

[Yippyio]

What games would you say were our ten best played games since the season of our last finals appearance??
i rate them in this order

10.Fitzroy vs Adelaide Round 8 1995
9. Fitzroy vs Collingwood Round 9 1993
8. Fitzroy vs Hawthorn Round 13 1994
7. Fitzroy vs West Coast Round 8 1993
6. Fitzroy vs Essendon Round 2 1994
5. Fitzroy vs West Coast Round 24 1991
4. Fitzroy vs Carlton Round 1 1993
3. Fitzroy vs Melbourne Round 18 1989
2. Fitzroy vs Essendon Round 10 1993 (despite losing)
1. Fitzroy vs Collingwood Round 11 1992

[Mr Ripper]

Ooh, good topic! Might have to have a bit of a think about this one and get back to you.

------------------
Olmy knows best

[Mr Ripper]

OK, in true Gavin Wood style, we'll countdown from 10 to 1 on the Fitzroy charts...

10. Round 3, 1989
ST. KILDA... 3. 3... 9. 4...16. 5...19. 8 (122)
FITZROY....... 5. 4...13. 6...15.11...19.18 (132)
GOALS: St.K- Lockett 8, Winmar 3, Coghlan 2, Russo 2, Burke, Daniels, Bowey, Loewe.
Fitz- R.Osborne 7, Lynch 3, Matera 3, Dilena 2, Broderick, Roos, Caton, Blakey.
BEST: St.K- Lockett, Winmar, Dwyer, Fode, Coghlan, Sheldon.
Fitz- Rendell, R.Osborne, Clayton, Caton, Matera, Roos.
UMPIRES: Harris, Carey. CROWD: 31,780 @ V.F.L. Park

In arguably career-best form, Lockett annihilates Pert for 3 quarters, but can't escape Lynch in the last as the Roys steady to win. Outstanding game of football.

9. Round 13, 1994
HAWTHORN... 2. 2... 3. 3... 6. 5... 7.11 (53)
FITZROY..... 1. 2... 5. 5... 5. 6...10. 6 (66)
Goals: Haw- Hudson 2, Platten 2, Jencke, Dear, Hargreaves.
Fitz- Hogg 3, Roos 2, Johnson 2, Wheildon, Lyon, Manson.
Best: Haw- Platten, Collins, Condon, Allan, Crawford, Graham.
Fitz- Hawking, Roos, Lyon, Zanotti, Boyd, Armstrong.
Umpires: Sawers, Garrett, Agnew. Crowd: 17,599 @ Waverley

Roys, coming off 5 straight losses confront a firing Hawthorn side with Dunstall rare form. Hawking and Zanotti combine to keep the Hawk FF goalless in a major upset at windswept Waverley.

8. Round 8, 1995
ADELAIDE... 1. 2... 3. 5... 7.10... 9.12 (66)
FITZROY..... 2. 5... 4. 7... 6. 8...15. 9 (99)
Goals: Adel- Jarman 3, Modra 3, Liptak 2, Brown.
Fitz- Johnson 3, A.McCarthy 3, Boyd 2, Baldwin, Bird, Guard, Hawkins, Manson, Molloy, Morton.
Best: Adel- Jarman, Pittman, Anderson, Hart, Jameson, Brown.
Fitz- Atkins, Hawkins, Boyd, Manson, A.McCarthy, Zanotti.
Umpires: Rich, Harvey, Scroop. Crowd: 39,888 @ Football Park

The Roys' penultimate victory in the Big League. The home crowds' disgruntlement and premature evacuation and Charlie Manson's wave to the opposition coaches box were just two of the highlights.

7. Round 18, 1989
FITZROY....... 2. 1... 6. 5...16. 7...23.13 (151)
MELBOURNE... 3. 8...10. 8...13.11...15.13 (103)
GOALS: Fitz- R.Osborne 11, Roos 4, Lynch 4, Strooper 2, Matera, Broderick.
Melb- Bennett 3, Wilson 3, Wight 2, Jackson 2, Stretch 2, Flintoff, Stynes, Hughes.
BEST: Fitz- R.Osborne, Roos, Rowe, Armstrong, McCormack, Armstrong.
Melb- Stynes, B.Lovett, Grinter, Wilson, O’Dwyer, T.Viney.
UMPIRES: Rich, Howlett. CROWD: 11,236 @ Princes Park

Ossie's big day. Roys exhilarating 3rd quarter burst whipped the faithful into a frenzy as a sniff of September action wafted in the air.

6. Round 14, 1993
FITZROY.................. 8. 3...11. 4...13. 7...18.11 (119)
NORTH MELBOURNE... 3. 5...11. 8...15.12...17.16 (118)
GOALS: Fitz- Lynch 7, Lyon 3, Manson 2, Seecamp, Sartori, Broderick, Harding, Elliott, McGregor.
N.M- McAdam 4, Longmire 3, Rock 2, Fairley 2, Roberts 2, German 2, Stevens, Carey.
BEST: Fitz- McCarthy, Lynch, Broderick, Wynd, McGregor, Baldwin.
N.M- Rock, Stevens, Roberts, McAdam, Larkin, German.
UMPIRES: Bird, Goldspink. CROWD: 13,834 @ Princes Park

The Roos-less Roys surrender a 5 goal first quarter lead and then come back from 5 goals down in third to pip the top of the ladder Kangas. Super Johnny blankets Carey.

5. Round 8, 1987
SYDNEY..... 4. 3... 8. 4...10. 4...13. 9 (87)
FITZROY... 6. 4...10.11...13.15...16.20 (116)
GOALS: Syd- Capper 6, Browning 2, G.Cordy 2, Healy, Morwood, Bayes.
Fitz- R.Osborne 4, Thomas 2, Wynd 2, Stephens 2, Thornton, Barwick, Armstrong, McIvor, Kappler, Harris.
BEST: Syd- Capper, Ironmonger, Henwood, Holden, Carter, Morwood.
Fitz- Clayton, Thornton, R.Osborne, Keane, Rendell, Wynd.
UMPIRES: Russo, Dore. CROWD: 24,858 @ S.C.G.

No Roos and no Pert, but the Roys dominate the ladder leading Swans in Sydney. Scotty Clayton flogs the Diesel (again).

4. Round 2, 1992
ESSENDON... 0. 2... 3. 6... 4. 7...15. 8 (98)
FITZROY..... 4. 6... 9.11...18.17...22.18 (150)
GOALS: Ess- Bewick 5, T.Daniher 3, Bower 2, Thompson 2, Long, Grenvold, Salmon.
Fitz- Osborne 7, Wheildon 3, Stephens 2, Broderick 2, Roos 2, Dundas, Paxman, Gale, Blakey, Elliott, Lyon.
BEST: Ess- Bewick, Bower, Harvey, O'Donnell, Salmon, Thompson.
Fitz- Dundas, Roos, Paxman, Osborne, Broderick, Morrish.
UMPIRES: Cameron, Harvey. CROWD: 29,206 @ M.C.G.

For three quarters the Roys play possibly the best football ever displayed by the club to ruin Essendon's debut home game at headquarters.

3. Round 24, 1991
FITZROY........ 0. 5... 1. 9... 7.14...14.15 (99)
WEST COAST... 3. 5... 5.11... 5.14...12.17 (89)
GOALS: Fitz- Stephens 5, Harding 4, Kappler 2, Broderick, Osborne, Caven.
W.C- Sumich 3, McIntosh 2, Jakovich 2, Heady, Kemp, McKenna, Hart, West.
BEST: Fitz- Roos, Rendell, Stephens, Wynd, Lynch, Kappler.
W.C- Hart, Watters, Matera, McKenna, Brennan, Wilson.
UMPIRES: Harris, Van Beek. CROWD: 7,308 @ Princes Park

Going into the game, the Roys were 3/18, the Weagles were 19/2. 'Nuff said.

2. Round 11, 1992
FITZROY........... 1. 5... 6. 9...10.12...13.14 (92)
COLLINGWOOD... 0. 5... 3. 7... 6. 9...13.11 (89)
GOALS: Fitz- Lynch 3, Guard 3, Roos, Dundas, Paxman, Harding, Lyon, Stephens, Abbott.
Coll- Watson 3, Lehmann 2, Manson 2, McGuane 2, Pert, McKeown, Turner, Starcevich.
BEST: Fitz- Dundas, Roos, Caven, Lyon, Wynd, Stephens.
Coll- McGuane, Kelly, Francis, Brown, A.Richardson, Lehmann.
UMPIRES: Sheehan, Harris. CROWD: 26,173 @ Princes Park

With both sides missing their gun forwards (Osborne & Daicos), a dour, but very tough affair eventuated...and we all know how it finished! Sweet!

1. Round 1, 1993
CARLTON... 4. 2... 9. 6...15. 8...17.10 (112)
FITZROY... 5. 4... 6.10...10.14...17.16 (118)
GOALS: Carl- S.Kernahan 4, Heaver 4, Welsh 4, Gleeson, E.Spalding, Williams, Bradley, Koutoufides.
Fitz- Wheildon 3, Dunstan 3, Sartori 2, Broderick 2, Roos, Seecamp, Wynd, Lynch, Armstrong, Zanotti, Stephens.
BEST: Carl- Williams, Welsh, S.Kernahan, Heaver, Bradley, Silvagni.
Fitz- Armstrong, Dundas, Lynch, Wynd, Wheildon, Roos.
UMPIRES: Callaghan, Vernon. CROWD: 24,823 @ Princes Park

The rank outsider Roys overcome a 3/4 time deficit of 4 goals as well as a couple of daft umpiring decisions to topple the Blues on their own dungheap.

OK, that's my lot. Could have put a couple of losses in, but nahhhhhh. http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Olmy knows best

[Fat Pizza]

Magnificent! Some great memories there. You're a walking encyclopaedia, Ripper. Your no. 2 against Collingwood was my favorite.

I remember driving home from the Zanotti/Hawking v Dunstall match at Waverley, singing along with my tape of the Fitzroy theme song & pumping my fists in the air. I looked over at the car next to me & there was Dyson Hore-Lacy smiling away.

------------------
Fat Pizzas. They're Big & they're Cheesy.

[Olmy]

Mr.Ripper - do you have the details of a game, I think it was in 1990, where the Roys belted Carlton?? Roos had a great day, if I recall, and Carlton scored poorly in the first half . . .

[Mr Ripper]

Not sure if I can find a suspect to match your description...

------------------
Olmy knows best

[Olmy]

Hmm. I'm pretty sure it did actually happen - I'm sure I'm not just imagining it???

I fairly certain it was in 1990. We either won, or got out to a good lead early and were pegged back later. However, I'm sure I remember us actually winning a game in the early 90's, against Carlton, where we had it over them in the first half.

Doc Wheildon might have figured a bit too.

[Olmy]

It's pretty hard for me to give a top 10, as there are quite a number of games which I enjoyed after '86.

I'd have to say, that those that have already been mentioned figure quite prominently in my memories of great Roys wins!

Here are just a few that haven't been mentioned yet:

1989
Round ? - Fitzroy v Geelong (Princes Park).
Round ?? Fitzroy v WCE (Princes Park).
Round ?? Fitzroy v North Melbourne (MCG).

1991
Round 11 - Fitzroy v Geelong (Kardinia Park).
Round ?? - Fitzroy v Richmond (MCG).
Round ?? Fitzroy v North Melbourne (????).

1993
Round 22 - Fitzroy v Melbourne (MCG).

1994
Round 2 - Fitzroy v Essendon (Optus Oval).

1995
Round 6 or 7 - Fitzroy v St.Kilda (Waverly).

There are a couple of games in 1990 and 1992 that I am trying to think of, but can't at the moment!

Despite being pumped for the majority of 95 and 96, there were also some games which were quite enjoyable, in which the Roys lost. Such as the 95 game against Collingwood as well as the second of the Saints games (we won the first one!), and both of the games against Hawthorn in 96.

[UK Roy]

Don't forget Fremantle in Round 8 in 1996. Another act of defiance from the Roys. We were supposed to go quietly.

[This message has been edited by UK Roy (edited 20 March 2001).]

[Fat Pizza]

Round 22, 1990 - Fitzroy 18.17.125 d Carlton 16.17.113 at Princes Park. Is that the one, Olmy?

[Olmy]

Yeah, Mr.Ripper e-mailed me a couple of possibilities last night, and that was one of the included ones.

The round 9 clash also saw the Roys get out to a good half time lead - however, I'm sure that it was the round 22 clash I am thinking of - Clayton's last game.

[OldLion]

That 1990 game was the one where the Doc stitched up Peter ' it's not a lethal weapon, it's just there to protect my arm' Dean big time. Being the last round, it sustained us for the next 6 months at least.

[Mr Ripper]

Perty's last game too. http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/frown.gif

------------------
Olmy knows best

[Olmy]

Courtesy of Mr Ripper, here are the stats for both games against Carlton, in 1990.

ROUND 9 Sat May 26

CARLTON 4.1 7.4 13.10 18.15.123

FITZROY 3.5 10.10 11.14 11.16. 82

GOALS: Carl- Sartori 6, S.Kernahan 3, Meldrum 3, Hawker, Gleeson, Hanna, Glascott, Bassett, Madden.

Fitz- Roos 4, Wynd 2, Dundas 2, Rendell, Kappler, Lyon.

BEST: Carl- S.Kernahan, Sartori, Bradley, Meldrum, Bassett, Dean.

Fitz- Roos, Rendell, Wynd, Clayton, Dundas, Athorn.

UMPIRES: Goldspink, Kennedy. CROWD: 19,357 Princes Park



[This message has been edited by Olmy (edited 26 March 2001).]

[Olmy]

ROUND 22 Sat Sep 1

FITZROY 7.6 9.10 16.13 18.17.125

CARLTON 2.3 8.10 11.14 16.17.113

GOALS: Fitz- Wheildon 6, Osborne 4, Broderick 2, Woods 2, Dilena, Waterson, Blakey, Clayton.

Carl- S.Kernahan 4, Gleeson 2, Sartori 2, Bond 2, Dorotich, Phillips, Brown, Bradley, Alvin, Ratten.

BEST: Fitz- Clayton, Wheildon, Bunn, Stephens, Dilena, Broderick.

Carl- Silvagni, Phillips, Aitken, Bradley, S.Kernahan, Dorotich.

UMPIRES: Coates, Viney. CROWD: 14,346 Princes Park.