FitzroyRamone
1 May 2001, 12:12
REDS DINE ON SWANS
I once read an article in FHM magazine (yes, I do read the articles) that pointed out Queen Elizabeth's favourite dish is Roast Swan. Although the Queen wasn't at Brunswick Street on Saturday, the Fitzroy Reds would've made Lizzie proud by roasting South Melbourne Districts to the tune of 105 points, although the damage could've been a lot worse had the kicking at goal been better.
Prior to the senior match, the Fitzroy Football Club, in it's capacity as major sponsor of the Fitzroy Reds, presented the club with a cheque for $3000. While $3000 would hardly be enough to get a Carey or Lloyd out of bed to pull on the boots, it's money the club will surely find handy. Interchange boxes perhaps?
With banners, balloons, former Fitzroy legends in Bill Stephen & Norm Brown in attendance, as well as a lot of Fitzroy people wearing the colours, a bumper crowd of 200 was in attendance to watch another display of entertaining Reds football.
Kicking to the old Railway end of the ground in the first quarter, the Reds were unable to get going in the first quarter. Compared to last weeks blistering start, the Reds were slow out of the block. In fact we were a little worried that South, last years D4 premiers, might give us a show. In the first quarter, the Swans probably had as much of the ball as Fitzroy. There was a touch of AFL football in that both backlines were flooding. However when it came to breaking the half back lines, the Reds were able to do so more efficiently registering 10 scoring shots to 1 at quarter time. Only one problem, only one of those scoring shots were a goal, registered by J. Bare (number 71). With Mush Jackson and "Captain" Steve Drury holding strong across our half back line, the Reds went into the quarter time break up 14 points.
The second quarter started off pretty much the same as the first. Neither side could gain a foothold in the first 15 minutes. The wind wasn't a gale, but it seemed to affect both sides, with a lot kicks missing their targets. In the second half of the quarter, the Reds stopped toying with the Swans and started to play better football. With M. Bridges getting plenty of ball in the middle, along with Kiwi and Wharfie (is he the long lost triplet with Brad and Chris Scott?), the Reds started providing our forwards with plenty of great passes, which was reflected on the score board. With Paul Ronke and Jezza grabbing marks up forward, Fitzroy went in at half time up by 37 points. By the way, South Melbourne scored their only goal for the match in this quarter. You could tell, the crowd went mild.
With the wind behind their backs in the third quarter, the Reds superior fitness and skill came to the fore. With Spanky Lee dominating on the ball, Wharfie supplying the forward line (as well as quelling any South thrusts forward), and Willy Ronke the Goal Factory holding grabs in front of goal, the Reds held a comfortable lead at ¾ time. Again, inaccurate kicking (4.9) cost the Reds an even bigger lead at three quarter time. Still a 68 point lead is a 68 point lead!
The fourth quarter was sensational from start to finish. Coach Burgin pleaded with his troops to not rest in the final term, to finish off strong. To his plea, the Reds responded with a six goal quarter. Again, Spanky Lee and Bridges were busy around the middle of the ground, feeding Jezza, Ronke and Sukker with plenty of chances.
A low point (from the AFL perspective, personally I loved it!) came when a brawl ensued in the forward pocket at the Brunswick Street end. A few love taps were offered, and gratefully received by players on both sides. Upon the brawl breaking up, one South player angrily called out "we play you guys again", to which a Reds player responded with "Yeah, and we'll beat you by 150 points next time". Touche!
The Reds continued to drive forward in the last quarter, with Paul Ronke kicking 3 goals to finish with a bag of 7, and Sukkar kicking 2 for the quarter. Upon the siren going, I personally was surprised to see the Reds had won by 105 points. I remember saying to the Mobbenf*hrer on the tram home that Saturdays thrashing was a bit like Pantene. It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.
SCORES:
Fitzroy Reds 1.9 6.12 10.21 16.23.119
South Melb. Districts 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.8.14
BEST PLAYERS:
Spanky Lee, M. Bridges, Willy Ronke, Mush Jackson, Captain Steve Drury, Hitman Hart, Wharfie Scott-Triplet Wharfe, Jezza Rawlings
GOAL KICKERS:
Willy Ronke 7, J. Bare 2, S. Sukkar 2, No. 85 1, Jezza Rawlings 1, Wharfie 1, Hot Dog Mitchell 1, Banner Urbancic 1, Spanky Lee 1.
RESERVES SCORE:
Fitzroy Reds 9.11.65
South Melb. Districts 5.6.36
OTHER GAMES:
UHSOB10.7.67 v Elsternwick 12.11.83
Bentleigh 24.13.157 v Hawthorn Amateurs 8.8.56
Richmond Central 9.11.65 v Monash Gryphons 20.11.131
St Johns OC 34.15.219 v Albert Park 8.7.55
NEXT WEEK
Hawthorn Amateurs at Rathmines Road Reserve
I once read an article in FHM magazine (yes, I do read the articles) that pointed out Queen Elizabeth's favourite dish is Roast Swan. Although the Queen wasn't at Brunswick Street on Saturday, the Fitzroy Reds would've made Lizzie proud by roasting South Melbourne Districts to the tune of 105 points, although the damage could've been a lot worse had the kicking at goal been better.
Prior to the senior match, the Fitzroy Football Club, in it's capacity as major sponsor of the Fitzroy Reds, presented the club with a cheque for $3000. While $3000 would hardly be enough to get a Carey or Lloyd out of bed to pull on the boots, it's money the club will surely find handy. Interchange boxes perhaps?
With banners, balloons, former Fitzroy legends in Bill Stephen & Norm Brown in attendance, as well as a lot of Fitzroy people wearing the colours, a bumper crowd of 200 was in attendance to watch another display of entertaining Reds football.
Kicking to the old Railway end of the ground in the first quarter, the Reds were unable to get going in the first quarter. Compared to last weeks blistering start, the Reds were slow out of the block. In fact we were a little worried that South, last years D4 premiers, might give us a show. In the first quarter, the Swans probably had as much of the ball as Fitzroy. There was a touch of AFL football in that both backlines were flooding. However when it came to breaking the half back lines, the Reds were able to do so more efficiently registering 10 scoring shots to 1 at quarter time. Only one problem, only one of those scoring shots were a goal, registered by J. Bare (number 71). With Mush Jackson and "Captain" Steve Drury holding strong across our half back line, the Reds went into the quarter time break up 14 points.
The second quarter started off pretty much the same as the first. Neither side could gain a foothold in the first 15 minutes. The wind wasn't a gale, but it seemed to affect both sides, with a lot kicks missing their targets. In the second half of the quarter, the Reds stopped toying with the Swans and started to play better football. With M. Bridges getting plenty of ball in the middle, along with Kiwi and Wharfie (is he the long lost triplet with Brad and Chris Scott?), the Reds started providing our forwards with plenty of great passes, which was reflected on the score board. With Paul Ronke and Jezza grabbing marks up forward, Fitzroy went in at half time up by 37 points. By the way, South Melbourne scored their only goal for the match in this quarter. You could tell, the crowd went mild.
With the wind behind their backs in the third quarter, the Reds superior fitness and skill came to the fore. With Spanky Lee dominating on the ball, Wharfie supplying the forward line (as well as quelling any South thrusts forward), and Willy Ronke the Goal Factory holding grabs in front of goal, the Reds held a comfortable lead at ¾ time. Again, inaccurate kicking (4.9) cost the Reds an even bigger lead at three quarter time. Still a 68 point lead is a 68 point lead!
The fourth quarter was sensational from start to finish. Coach Burgin pleaded with his troops to not rest in the final term, to finish off strong. To his plea, the Reds responded with a six goal quarter. Again, Spanky Lee and Bridges were busy around the middle of the ground, feeding Jezza, Ronke and Sukker with plenty of chances.
A low point (from the AFL perspective, personally I loved it!) came when a brawl ensued in the forward pocket at the Brunswick Street end. A few love taps were offered, and gratefully received by players on both sides. Upon the brawl breaking up, one South player angrily called out "we play you guys again", to which a Reds player responded with "Yeah, and we'll beat you by 150 points next time". Touche!
The Reds continued to drive forward in the last quarter, with Paul Ronke kicking 3 goals to finish with a bag of 7, and Sukkar kicking 2 for the quarter. Upon the siren going, I personally was surprised to see the Reds had won by 105 points. I remember saying to the Mobbenf*hrer on the tram home that Saturdays thrashing was a bit like Pantene. It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.
SCORES:
Fitzroy Reds 1.9 6.12 10.21 16.23.119
South Melb. Districts 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.8.14
BEST PLAYERS:
Spanky Lee, M. Bridges, Willy Ronke, Mush Jackson, Captain Steve Drury, Hitman Hart, Wharfie Scott-Triplet Wharfe, Jezza Rawlings
GOAL KICKERS:
Willy Ronke 7, J. Bare 2, S. Sukkar 2, No. 85 1, Jezza Rawlings 1, Wharfie 1, Hot Dog Mitchell 1, Banner Urbancic 1, Spanky Lee 1.
RESERVES SCORE:
Fitzroy Reds 9.11.65
South Melb. Districts 5.6.36
OTHER GAMES:
UHSOB10.7.67 v Elsternwick 12.11.83
Bentleigh 24.13.157 v Hawthorn Amateurs 8.8.56
Richmond Central 9.11.65 v Monash Gryphons 20.11.131
St Johns OC 34.15.219 v Albert Park 8.7.55
NEXT WEEK
Hawthorn Amateurs at Rathmines Road Reserve