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HOME GROUND
peechersWEB
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A juniors game and sh$%ful conditions greeted us at Gerry Green reserve, Parkdale, for our round 7 clash. The team this week was up against a determined Parkdale side that was desperate for a win to keep their hopes of a finals berth alive.
 
The team started off well, two goals into the sleet, and countless opportunities missed. This told the tale of the day, the difference between the 2 sides being who would take their opportunities.  The second term much of the same, the footy camped inside our forward 50 but unable to convert a bucketload of chances. The amount of numbers Parkdale had behind the footy was difficult to combat, we couldn't use fast ball movement because of the conditions and our skills and decision making sometimes was average. It was almost like rope a dope - we would hammer away at the goals, the they would get the finally get the footy, whizz it up the other end somehow and score.
 
This would bite us on the arse, as in the second half we continued to play the better footy but were unable to capitalize, and the end result being a 6 point loss. Positives were in spite of Parkdale having a dominant ruckman, we did well from stoppages and our centre square work at times was very good. Our backline was good, led by Andy McGorlick and Paddy Swayne, but were often exposed on the counter attack. A few guys coming back from injury, Furny, Cades and Ray Parker Jnr got through the game unscathed and will be better for the run coming into the finals. Certainly Razor needed the run, at one stage towards the end getting stood up on the mark by a man of much larger carriage. All in all a very frustrating afternoon, summed up by the lack of 'advantage' rule in the last quarter that not only slowed us down and helped them flood, but wasted valuable time as we tried to peg them back. Maybe it was the loss we had to have, but it still gives me the Edgar Britts, and certainly motivation for the games remaining.  
ROUND 7
 The Masters, along with the Gummy's, headed out where the sun don't shine, to take on Sth Yarra, the home of the ring ins. Even their 47's had ring ins, our players.
Once again the Masters started slowly, with the opposition getting off to a flyer. Fighting back towards the end of the last quarter we were able to stay in touch. After being benched for disciplinary reasons, Morts was moved to Full Back at quarter time to play on the Forward that was going to be a pivotal part of Sth Yarra's game if they were going to win. Not only did Morts shut down the Full Forward, he turned defence into attack, setting up goals from Full Back and very much gave us the motivation we needed to gain control of the game.
 
When J Brassil Goaled on the half time siren to give us a 2 goal advantage, I knew we were in for a big second half. We started the second half in great fashion, staring to find targets and sharing the ball around and starving the opposition of opportunities. We completely blew the opposition away in the third term and absolutely everyone contributed. At three quarter time I asked the boys to make sure we got the first 2 goals for the quarter to put the game out of reach. We got the first goal in the first minute from a kick out of the middle by Simon which found Fish who went back and converted. We pretty much controlled the rest of the game to finish off a very good win. Again as I said previously everyone contributed so very hard to not nominate everyone in the best players, however. Best Players; Paul Mortimer, Russ King, Macca, Simon, Fish, Brett Istead and a special thanks to the guy's who backed up from the 47's.
STH YARRA
On a cold and blustery morning we ventured down to South Yarra for another "hit out" with our well known opponents after having belted them earlier in the season. We had a full team……with the comeback kids "Willo" and Boyley joining us again. Despite the "chop outs" offered to us by a number of the Masters, we didn't need them in the end and many thanks them for coming down early to help out….much appreciated. South Yarra couldn't muster a full team to start the game and after offering them 2 players….then 4…then 5, we finally got off to a start which from the outset was always going to be "one way" traffic. We started well, sticking to our plan of taking the ball from the outer side of the ground to the top side (from which side was favoured by a wind blowing across the goals) and with Jacko centering the ball through the corridor where we always had a man in position, we piled on the goals. Pottsy was his usual brilliant self again, absolutely dominating around the ground and around goals (lost count of how many goals he kicked). With Hedge & Geoff battling hard against "Mongo", we were able to clear the ball consistently out of the centre through either Poss or Wheels (when he wasn't letting the opposition know that he wasn't going to take any of their unwarranted crap…...how come the opposition never have any love for Wheels??), giving our forwards many opportunities. Big Smithy presented well and was a focal point in attack and at his feet were our "crumbers", Meat, Rocky & Davey…..ever looking for any morsel. The backline as a whole was fantastic and although not put under too much pressure, we were always on our mettle and worked the ball out of defence with good running and handball.
 
We have been improving every week as a team and now have some self belief that we can match the better sides with the brand of footy we have been displaying. A tough assignment presents itself to us next game when we come up against the undefeated Gisborne at home. This will be a chance to test ourselves and see how far we have come this year….look forward to it! We are now in 6th position at 5-2 and Gisborne are 6-0 and a draw.
 
Best Players were the whole team……with Pottsy and Jacko outstanding. Thanks to Bart who played the whole game for South Yarra (and then followed up in the Masters) and to all our guys who played a half for the opposition and gave us the opportunity to have a workout. Thanks to Stu for running, the many Masters guys who operated our bench and Kaz for lobbing early in the "dungeon"..
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GUMMYS BIG DAY OUT
Presentation night
Kids training and pie night