Firstly, all our best wishes go out to Andy Smith, who underwent heart surgery over the weekend. He has come out ok, but is still in hospital, and should be back behind the timer’s clock in no time. Andy, our thoughts are with you.

 

Secondly, congratulations to former Blacks enforcer, Jimmy “three bags” Fuller, on his recent engagement to the beautiful Georgie.

 

2s

Another stunning day met the boys as they converged on the Uni Main for round 10 of the 2010 VAFA season. Having had a week off, they were jumping around like young foals in springtime, with all niggling injuries relegated to nothing more than memories like a winter frost melted by the sun.

 

The game was in the balance, an arm-wrestle of epic proportions, and could gave gone either way, until the 4^th minute when Evo broke through a pack of would-be tacklers to snap a left-foot goal from at least 90 metres out, against a howling breeze. From then on, it was all Blacks. In the context of the game, and indeed the season, it was probably the most important goal anyone has kicked in the history of the Blacks. The remainder of this match report would have been dedicated to a kick-by-kick summary of the rest of Evo’s game, except that was the only kick he got.

 

The game was marked by poor kicking by the Blacks in the first half, with a four-goal lead at the main break that should have been more. Thankfully, the backmen, in LVK, Gutters and Scants, took it upon themselves to kick the goals in the second half, streaming down the ground, picking up possession and kicking long towards goal. Those who read the best players and goal kickers before the report (robbing themselves of any suspense) will already know that none of the aforementioned players actually kicked a goal. This is due to the fact that Gutters was on line, but fell short from 30 out, LVK kicked himself in the leg instead of kicking the ball, and Scants showed the perfect kicking technique is not enough, if you don’t kick straight. All 3 backmen will be remaining in their backline for the rest of the year.

 

In other news, Cal Lawford turned it on to kick 4 of the finest, Jimmy “Mordor” Mortensen didn’t break his nose or get knocked out, and as a result, was best afield, Simon Yule ‘keep’ rucked with aplomb, and Le Schaef tried very hard to take a hanger.

 

 

 

 

Goal Kickers: C. Lawford 4, M. Ablethorpe 3, T. Schaefer 2, A. Evans, T. O'Halloran, M. Thompson, J. Mortensen, J. Clarke, T. Napier
Best Players: J. Mortensen, S. Yule, J. Heeley, M. Hall, L. Van Kempen, C. Lawford

Goal Kickers: A. Vitolins , M. Seccull
Best Players: D. MacKenzie, W. Rule, M. Ditchfield, L. Skelton, B. Jones, T. Tyrell

 

 

 

 

1s

With some wholesale changes coming about over the week-off, some due to players taking off and landing in greener pastures, and others due to players teeing off and not landing hay-makers, things were a little uncertain to start the game off. Facing into a slight breeze for the first quarter, the Blacks were helped by some inaccurate kicking by the opposition and went into the first break up by 2 point.

 

With the breeze in the second, the Blacks played a very good brand of football, and the coaches performed also, including an inspired move to bring on the Flight Risk, resulting in an immediate goal.

 

The third quarter was all the other way, with spectators wondering just how windy it was out there, and how Voss can mark absolutely everything that comes towards him. The days highlight for me was the boys from Sydney, Charlie ‘Chuggles’ Richardson showing some genuine talent, kicking goals from the boundary on the run, and Scotty ‘Mystore’ Myers trying his hand at a Leigh Matthews impersonation by running into the point post.

 

The Pitt Monster provided the crowd with some much-needed distraction from the worst haircut seen at the Main since Marto had his mullet, while Justin Crameri stepped into the second ruck spot to provide a huge help to Rust, who has his hands full these days organizing the Ball, which is on July 3^rd. The Blacks fought back with 5 goals to two in the last, to come away with a strong win.

 

 

 

 

 

Goal Kickers: A. Pitt 3, J. Kosch 2, H. Lacey 2, T. Bell 2, S. Flight , C. Richardson , S. Myers , J. Gaylor , J. Foster , J. Crameri
Best Players: J. Crameri, D. Costello, A. Pitt, A. Torney, C. Richardson, T. Bell

Goal Kickers: B. Voss 6, S. Casey , N. Criticos , A. Brown , L. Siapantas , A. Johnston
Best Players: B. Voss, A. Johnston, P. Gleadhill, S. Langford-Jones, H. McLauchlan, M. Douglas