Another windy day greeted the Roos as we took on the Hawks at home. The boys were in HFA colours ensuring that were definitely no clash of colours.
It was a rusty start to the game by the Roos as we welcomed back some experienced players with Tank, TBag, Shaggy, DSmith, Braedo, Musto, Brucey and first gamer Lochy, coming in for Stew, Zac, Ads, Tinsel, Connor and Tommy.
The Hawks had the early ascendancy as the rusty Roos came to terms with the wind and the different coloured jumpers, we were lucky to be within a couple of goals at quarter time.
You play as you trained and it certainly showed again in the second quarter with all the boys struggling to pick the ball up and hit a target.
Goals to Dave Smith floating down from the backline and Rhys steadied the ship, with the efforts of Chook, Shaggy and Dev through the middle keeping us close at the break.
A greater level if urgency was asked for in the third quarter and that along with the switch of Kizza and TBag and the tide had certainly turned. We began to get the ascendancy through the middle of the ground with Tyson, Tank and Seppa finding their mojo, a goal on the siren to Kizza had us two points down at the last change.
The last quarter was a tale of two halves as the Roos came out of the blocks firing. Repeat centre clearances from Tyson got the boys in front for the first time, two goals to Kizza including a cracker on the left foot, Rhys, Tyson and when Brucey kicked his first for the year complete with the double cobra celebration, suddenly we were five goals up!
That wasn’t the end as our mid fielders began to tire the Hawks found life and four quick goals had them in the hunt. It was all to no avail as the siren sounded the Boys had won by five points, the first time in six years against Pickers!
Chook, Shaggy, Tyson, Dev and Jewfish were our best, Kizza four, Rhys two, singles to Dave Smith, Sep, Tyson and Brucey. Some great efforts from Seppa, Tank and the honorary Cowton, Dave Smith who played despite the Man Flu.
A big challenge for the boys this week as we look to atone for the poor effort against Parkerville at our last outing against them. Nothing less than a desperate team focussed Roos will be able to get the job done, let’s continue to work hard for each other learn from our mistakes and never give in.
Go Roos!