Round 9 - Roosters Alive And Back In Five

Our Mighty Roosters clashed with the Eagles at Oval Avenue on Saturday. Jars was true to his word and made 6 changes at selection that turned into 7 after AFL considerations.

In the first stanza, after our first foray was denied, Debutante Clarke received it out of a stoppage. He booted it to Half-Forward. Another Debutante Marlon Motlop took it off hands and ran on to goal with his first kick in League Footy. Our third Debutante, Wade Thompson missed with his first kick minutes later. On 10 minutes, Younie received an off-the-ball free at half-forward. I didn’t see why, but it was a brilliant decision! Captain Unit goaled. The Eagles answered this with their first.  Half-way through the term, DISCO DAN Wakelin put on his platform shoes to relieve O’Hara on the dance floor! Welcome back Dan! The Eagles then got their 2nd in succession. Moments later, a relieving mark to Alleway was the catalyst that ended with Lonie finding Wright at half-forward. Wright went BANG. Another strong grab by Allers at the back saw us surge again. Ricky Ebert caught his opponent cold. Holding the ball was the call. Ebert converted. The Eagles Passador booted 2 quick goals in time-on to bring our quarter time lead to 1 point, North 4 -2, 26 to Eagles 4-1, 25.

In the second term, Wade Thompson missed a second opportunity by a whisker. After a period of to-ing and fro-ing , the Eagles scored and another immediately out of the middle. The Eagles had the momentum and a 10 point lead. However Archard took an opportunity at half-forward. He took it off hands and booted it down to an unattended Wright in the square. Sausage Roll.
The Eagles replied to restore their mini-buffer. After a few stalemates in the middle Lonie sent it forward. Out of nowhere Motlop swooped on it, put on his speed skates and snapped a beauty from the pocket. In time-on, the Eagles ‘Salter peppered the goals (he didn’t Salter them, he PEPPERED them!) A goal to the Eagles before quarter time just saw us trail 6-4, 90 to 8-5, 53.

In the Premiership Quarter, we were on the board first. Archard got it out of a stoppage and split the Centre from a standing start in the pocket. Minutes later, Gill got a free on the flank. He booted it to the pocket. Motlop swooped on it off-hands to boot a lovely inside-out goal. A tied ball game!  North were looking ‘the goods’, but a productive 5 minute period from Dead-Eyed Dick Passador netted The Eagles 2 goals. Enter Wade Thompson. Receiving a pass from Wright, he nicked off across half-forward, leaving grandpa Colville coughing up his fumes! He kicked a beauty.
Minutes later Allan set up Wright with a lovely pass. Wright missed the set shot from 20. This proved costly as the Eagles scored on the rebound. Then they got 2 more to take a 23 point stranglehold on the game. Deep in time-on, North found a second wind. Alleway and McIntyre went forward. These two then combined to pull one back. Seconds before siren time, we turned defence into attack. Alleway booted it to half-forward. Younie took a strong contested mark. He banged it through after the siren. At Lemon-Time , North trailed by 11 points 11-8, 74 to 13-7, 85.
In the final stanza, the first goal was crucial. Both sides traded points. Then North moved it forward. Wright had it on the half-forward line. He centred it to Thompson. His snap found Ebert in the square. From point blank, Ebert scored. After more stalemates in the centre, Budgie thumped it forward. Thompson grabbed it and took off like Speedy Gonzalez (ARRIBA! ANDALE, ANDALE! ARRIBA! ) His kick to the pocket was strongly marked by Younie. North’s Dead-Eyed Dick made no mistake. The Roosters hit the front! ANDALE, ARRIBA! The Skipper was at it again minutes later. McIntyre and Ebert combined to send him into an open goal. The Eagles came up with a quick reply to bring our lead back to 2 points. After cutting off an Eagle attack on the wing, Archard had his shot for goal bounce the wrong way. He got redemption from the same spot only moments later. Receiving a pass from Wright, he ran across 50 to drill a beauty. Hearts were in mouths as The Roosters resolutely defended. We made a well constructed dash from defence. The ball was booted to the square. Thompson was there to soccer it through. Early in time on the Unit sealed the deal. Lonie booted it to the square. McIntyre and Younie won the scramble, Younie snapped his 5th straight goal. There was time for a party trick. Allan, Sporn and McIntyre combined to send it forward. Allers marked by the point post. He went back and drilled it through the Big Sticks. The Eagles Passadore then kicked his 8th but by then the Fat Lady In the Red Dress was running down Oval Avenue belting out The Rooster tune! The final scores North 18-11, 119 to The Eagles 15-9, 105
PS Good luck to our representatives in the State Match. On Saturday’s form, Jimmy and Allers should both play.

Kym Chaplain
Match Reporter
May 18th 2008