Fitzroy's senior men had their first win of 2019 on a ground which hasn't made for happy hunting in the past. Guy Gorilla was on hand to see a display full of skill, grit and commitment.


It was a long haul down to Mentone, but as I explained to my younger passengers, nothing like what you get playing bush footy. Baby Gorilla next to me watching the Celtics on the phone, we picked up Sunny Once-So-True, and dealt with St Georgeous Road. Hideous. Detoured up to High St, and the traffic back-up was higher than High. Then Punt Road. The mood in the car was not ideal. The teens wanted Boston; I wanted the calm sobriety of the Coodabeens. Teens always win.

On arrival, a strangely shaped ground, blustery conditions, some kinda heavy metal, hard rock scenario in front of the stand, and ship container rooms half a mile away from the arena. The 2s were giving their all, outplaying Bede's in what I saw of the second half. With that effort, a win is just around the corner.

Another two outs from Thursday night, Harrison Grace picking up an infection from Latrobe Uni, and Matt Kyroussis with a suspected busted hand. That's on top of Aidan Lambert and Mitch Bottomley. Importantly, Matthew Gaite returned, in post-Samoan engagement slumber, along with Max Davie, William 'Zorro' Zaghis and crowd favourite Martin Deasey. I must admit, with the car trip, the weather, the ground, the outs, I wasn't super confident. Baby Gorilla thought otherwise, he was convinced we'd get over the line. Teens always win.

And what transpired, was a victory for the ages, for the true believers. In an ominous warning for the Bede's, the Claytons combined for our first, Bill from the stoppage to Ted, true boot. Luke Baker bullocked for our second, after the Gaitor made a great contest. Captain Turner was working a treat in the middle, free from the shackles of a pinned down forward post. Lachie Henderson charged from the centre to pass to Luke Baker for another goal that the adjudicator decided wasn't. Meanwhile, the defence was working cohesively up the other end. Umpire Marshall then awarded a free, 100 metres off the ball to Nathan Jumeau, he calmly slotted another. He clearly enjoyed the extra space and freedom of a roaming role, given that the Gaitor was causing panic attacks every time it came near him.

Controlled aggression was unsettling the Bede's boys, tackling and smothering the centrepiece of our game plan. Sean Laidlaw was also proving a real pest. A super clever snap from Jumeau, and a pass to Rosco Borland led to our 4th and 5th goals. Our smothering caused constant turnovers, Jock Green took a strong mark in defence, and Reverse Samson Hart plucked one in attack. Didn't kick like Samson, however. 31-1 at the break, could have been even more, I felt reserved, but inwardly ecstatic. We were on.

The coach engendered confidence at the break. Focus on the stoppages and lower the eyes. He is a gun, the coach – calm, measured, inspires confidence and trust, knows his stuff. We wondered what end the wind was favouring.

It was clear that Bede's focused heavily on creating spares. We were honest and forthright. The question was how sustainable that was. They were coming, with an extra sense of urgency, but the Gaitor converted big time from the outside of his foot. A gem. Nathan Ligris performed the double ‘Ligga shuffle’ in the middle, and then Luke Baker's triple effort led to a goal. The Bede's were shaky in defence, but they kicked a couple against the run of play. The last 10 minutes of the endless second quarter was rolling pack after rolling pack. Then Big Bill marked strongly on the 50, and calmly goaled. 52-31 at half time.

As the second half commenced, in the early minutes, a thought occurred. We play FOR each other; they play ALONGSIDE each other. You can't bottle that sort of stuff. The Gaitor slotted another, so clever, and Nathan the Nomad converted from 50. A bit of drizzle, younger Bedes converged to the stand. But on the ground, they were creeping closer. The free kick count was not working in our favour, our own miskicks costly, it was 65-52 at the last break, and nerves elevating.

Coach Mahoney epitomised cool, trust, convinced the group they were favoured by the breeze, no big asks, work the way we had. Zorro kicked one after sustained pressure – he strikes with the sign of the 'Z'. Deasey committed the odd sin, but always buttered up. The Bede's persisted, another goal, they were edging closer, and I was getting too nervous to write notes down. Nervous Guy.

A sensational kick-in from Jacob Long, who had been exemplary all day, found Big Bill on the outer wing, on to Max Davie and a run-in goal. Frenetic forward pressure caused a turnover, and the Nomad kicked his fourth. Another great mark to the Gaitor. We were home.
 
Honest, competitive contesting is not always easily coached. It requires a committed playing group. We were honest in the extreme, effort rewarded.

A brief mention of Bill Clayton's game. The best game I have observed from a Fitzroy player in the relatively short time I've been watching the men. Not built to dominate the ruck, he did anyway. Calmly tapping to his little-big brother, and then when the opposition woke to that, decided to clear it himself. Maybe a dozen stoppage clearances alone. A huge game. Marks, tackles, taps, clearances, a huge presence. (Bill is pictured above leading the team off after the win).

The scene in the container was pure joy. '22 warriors giving their all' (a tribute to Mike Williamson), a proud coaching group, overjoyed supporters. Pack that container up, put it on a slow boat to China, you could buy the Chinese economy.

A victory for the true believers. Let's not leave it there. Get on a roll, knock over the students at Monash tomorrow.

Guy Gorilla.

PS - for those heading out to Frearson Oval at Monash Uni tomorrow for the senior game, due to renovations of their club rooms, the post match function will be at the Notting Hill Hotel.

There are just a few more days to book in for the Reds Foundation lunch with Hung Le next Saturday as Fitzroy plays host to Beaumaris.

By the time it gets to election day, we might all be keen for a laugh and comedian Hung Le has taken up the challenge of headlining this year’s Reds Foundation Political Lunch on Saturday 18 May at Brunswick Street Oval.
 
Hung Le is a former violinist turned comedian who first made his mark in 1987 as the winner of the TV show, Hey, Hey, It’s Saturday’s Red Faces. Hung is also an author, actor and all-round song and dance man. He is a favourite at the Montreal “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
 
Hung’s memoir, The Crappiest Refugee was published with Affirm last year.

Hung may well touch on the Federal election, refugee policies and the comedy of politics and you can be guaranteed to have a good time leading into Fitzroy’s all-important clash with Beaumaris.

Book now for one of the most popular lunches of the year with the Reds Foundation.

Bookings close Wednesday 15 May.