by Sue

So what happens when you forget to delegate the match report? You end up having to do it yourself!

The Warrior women were very excited to be hosting their first of 2 rounds at our home ground. Our next host round is round 8 in July. We all worked hard to get the rooms looking good and a great raffle organised. Thanks to everyone who came and helped out and ensure that the day ran smoothly it was noticed and very much appreciated!

But first we had to play a game of footy. As usual the rain stayed away for our non contact/footy rush game.

The Warrior’s women’s team have a great reputation amongst the competition for helping out where it is needed. Round 5 saw some of us double up and play a scratch match against Mudlarks when they had their bye which turned into their only game for the club that day when their contact team had a forfeit. This week we helped out Parkside Spurs who were light on numbers with two players each half playing for them in their game against Williamstown. Thank you very much to Sunita, Doc, Renata and Helen. Renata starred kicking 3 goals for Parkside in their second half. 

During training since the last game we have been concentrating on keeping space and being responsible for a player in defence. Well to my great delight the team have been listening . The first play of the game saw a bit of crowding but that was all there was for the game. The wind certainly played its part in impacting the game. H dominated the back line and took all the kickouts from defence. It has been wonderful watching her skills and confidence grow with every game she plays. Kicking out into a strong wind is never easy and she handled it really well hitting targets or aiming for space. 

We welcomed Alex for her first game this week. She has slotted into the team well. Playing at deep forward she had a few opportunities for goals just missing. I love the fact that she got herself into the right position!

Sunita made her presence known in the third quarter. After a half playing for Parkside she kicked her first goal – her response was priceless – “Finally”. Yep great Suni now find a player and defend lol.

Renata played a strong game in the first half kicking a goal for us before going off to play for Parkside and kick a further 3 goals as already discussed – I’m very impressed which is why it is here twice.

Round 7 is officially a bye round for the Warriors but we will still be playing a game at Mordialloc. Warrior v Warrior so Warriors are bound to win that one as well. 

Round 6 Mens Over 35s

by Pogzy

Pre-Game – A Study in Chaos

The Warriors rolled into Beaconsfield on a pleasant Sunday morning, with coaches Pogz and Pete arriving in what can generously be described as “a mood.” They had a team – sort of.

Wednesday’s training session had looked promising with around 20 players available, but the week had other ideas. Obie and Gavin departed for overseas adventures (enjoy, boys!), while Jason was welcomed back into the fold . Jeff was ruled out still concussed from the previous game – the right call, health first, though Pogz notes he probably still had a headache from being team manager too . After some heavy lifting from Bomber behind the scenes, the Warriors were thrilled to welcome back Jamie – WHOOOOOO! – before a Saturday night text landed like a thunderclap: Matty out, Achilles. The footy gods, as ever, hate us.

And then came game day. With half an hour to bounce, Blake rang through as a late out (wife unwell) , no sign of Damien “Jelly Bean” or Boris, and coaches Pogz and Pete staring at each other in silence. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Contact from Boris: he’d turned up at the wrong location. With the clock running down, Jelly Bean arrived at a sprint, followed closely by Boris, and disaster was narrowly averted.

Given the carnage, both coaches agreed on a 16-a-side game with the Beaconsfield coach – appreciated. The Warriors had two on the bench. Beacy had a small army. And – once again – they had their other 35s side available due to a forfeit or division one bye.

One final pre-game note: with no options left at ruck and Obie sipping cocktails somewhere overseas, coach Pogz laced up his own boots to take the field. The footy gods do indeed have a sense of humour.

The Game

Junior lost the toss (Boris, please step away from the coin ), and from the opening bounce it was an uphill battle. Without a genuine ruckman, Boris did his best, but Beacy’s big man had a day out – winning the hitouts, setting up their mids, and allowing them to flow into their forward line with ease. After a look across at each other, Pete leaned in with the assessment of the day: “We could be in for a long one.” He wasn’t wrong.

The Warriors were down 6 goals to 1 at quarter time. But there was a bright spot – and a big one. After putting the ball inside 50 on a few occasions, the hard work finally paid off when returning warrior Jamie took a clean chest mark right in front and converted truly for the club’s first and only goal of the day. A moment to savour.

The next three quarters followed a similar pattern – not for lack of effort (the Warriors’ tackling throughout deserved real credit), but Beacy’s run and carry from defensive 50 and their first-use football through the middle was simply too much to contain. We missed you, Obie.

There were things to work on: ball use by foot and hand needs to improve, and scanning for options before disposing will be a focus heading into next week. But that’s where this young, developing group is at, and the effort on the day was not in question.

Notables from the Day

• Kriso was battling an unknown virus for most of the match – his high-volume possession game was sorely missed.
• Boris took a strong contested mark in the middle of the ground, then kicked it the wrong way.
• Lynden continues to grow with every game – a tough gig learning the ropes at centre half-back.
• Damien “Jelly Bean” was outstanding down back. He’d been asked to play half-forward during the week, but with Blake a late out was shifted to the backline – thank goodness for that.
• Junior is improving each week.
• Jamie – played forward, back, and ruck. Did it all.
• Paul, Jules and Bomber – well done.
• And the old fart Pogzy himself – found himself playing back, forward and on-ball before pleading with the playing group to please, please come back next week.

Round 6 Awards

• WOW Award : Damien “Jelly Bean”
• TAP Award: Junior
• Rubber Chicken : Boris (one disposal, wrong direction )

Keep on keeping on, Warriors. Rest up, train hard when you can, and stick together.

Round 6 Mens Over 50s

by Grunta

Our wearying Over 50s trekked south again for yet another 9am start on a dank, cold Sunday morning. The name Parkdale is a stroke of marketing genius – it clearly sounds far more appealing than the original title of Bogville. ‘Parkdale’ is completely misleading in describing the muddy swamplands forming Mentone’s ghetto. It wasn’t all bad – I found three strands of grass on the sunny side of the oval while doing the ground inspection in a canoe.

Pre-game, the mood in the rooms was ebullient, with a strong Warriors team on deck and gunning for a second win against a Parkdale side that has had some ups and downs this season.

While we were getting ready, Ari told me that I was in his multi for first goal. I looked at the whiteboard – my magnet was parked deep in the back pocket, even the letters GRAN were straddling the boundary line as a subliminal message. Plus, I have yet to kick a goal in my Masters ‘career’ and am generally not capable of hitting the side of a barn with the side of a barn. Best of luck to you Ari, am sure your bookie loves you.

Stand-in captain Clint won the toss again and we kicked to the downhill side. Early in the match Clint took a mark about 35 out directly in front. Clint’s odds of kicking our first goal generally sit somewhere between one and two dollars. The kick looked good off the boot but just faded left and we were first on the board for a point.

Four minutes later, playing on the wing, I grabbed a mark just outside 50 from a Parkdale defensive kick. Four seconds later my opponent crashed into my back in a clear late hit. A 30 metre penalty was applied, then another for my opponent sooking which brought me straight to the goal line. My odds of kicking the first goal generally sit somewhere between one and two trillion. Ari is Nostradamus!

But the job wasn’t done. Yes, I was at the goal line but as I lined up I still heard 17 players suck their breath in and felt the mental telepathy of 20 players and one coach sharing a collective thought – “This could still go anywhere.”

The kick went through, and I looked straight over to the bench and saw Ari on the phone buying SpaceX off Elon Musk. He is the Oracle and whatever Ari bets on, you should too.* Even Steve was taking notes.

At quarter time we were one point up. In the second quarter, Parkdale attacked much more consistently but could not convert, scoring seven points including a couple of posters. Great pressure from the defensive unit led by Dave, Pas, Matt, AJ and the hard-running Frankie stopped the score from blowing out and at half time we were behind but within a goal.

The third quarter was an even contest throughout. The highlight came when Lou took a grab at high centre half forward, wheeled around and shot for an open goal, the ball tumbling, tumbling, tumbling directly toward goal only to bog down in the mud just short of the line. Enter the Munga Express, steaming in like a bullet train to lead the pack and get boot on ball for a major that might earn him a Socceroos spot this week. Well done Munga on your first goal.

The lowlight came when I took a diving defensive mark, then completely butchered the kick straight to a Parkdale forward who joyfully booted it over my head for an easy goal. I did exactly the same thing in exactly the same spot for exactly the same result last year. That’s called dejapoo.

Heading into the final term we were 12 points down and coach Kaino urged us to have a crack and win the game. Unfortunately a couple of early goals to Parkdale put a win out of reach, but we quickly regrouped and the last part of the game was played our way. When we got the ball into our forward half, the pressure from guys like Eddie, Frenchy and Steve to keep it in gave us opportunities. Marko got a turnover and kicked in to Bruiser who marked and was able to go back and slot our third goal.

Parked in the backline, I got something resembling a rest as the Warriors full ground defence kicked in. Martin, Carbo and Clint were excellent overhead, while Ari, Frenchy, Kenny, Munga and Eddie were relentless at the contests. I was standing next to my Parkdale opponent when I saw Eddie put his body in harm’s way and earn a free on the wing. “Nothing there!” yelled the Parkdale guy. I had to explain that’s the free you get when you’re 65 years old and have played 6500 games. “Fair enough,” he said.

Sportsbet was paying $3trn for the following multi –

1. Grunta to kick the first goal ($2.99999999999999trn)
2. Martin 10+ marks
3. Munga most mud
4. Lou anytime goal scorer

So close! On any other field Lou’s kick would have skidded through, but then Munga wouldn’t have got the glory he deserved for leading the pack to the ball. We didn’t get the win but we definitely played a good brand against a team sitting third on the ladder.

Post-game, Ari’s new chopper arrived to fly him out to the superyacht. The Air Ambulance also arrived to treat Ari’s bookie for a heart attack. This also helped dry out the ground for the next match. I’d like to think I can get a small cut of those winnings, just one Ferrari please. Don’t be a tightarse Ari.

Despite not having won since Round 1, the Warriors 50s are improving and the next win could come against Cranbourne next round with a few handy ins potentially. Thanks again to all who helped out and Seal for assisting Kaine on the field.

Final Score

Parkdale 6.14.50, Warriors 3.5.23

Goals
Grunta
Munga
Bruiser

*Gamble responsibly. Unless you’re Ari, who is the Chosen One.