Womens Footy Rush Report 
by Cathy

Saturday 2nd May
AH Capp Reserve, Preston

On Saturday morning, the Warrior Women had another early start and made the journey (short for some, long for others) to Darebin’s home ground in Preston.

We took on Parkside Spurs in good conditions, the weather was mild and there was not much wind to speak of. Eleven brave Warriors turned up, so in true Warrior spirit we offered to lend a player to Parkside to balance the numbers at 9 a side and maximise the game time for the players.

We got started and it was clear from the beginning that our training and guidance under Coach Sue has us working and communicating like a team. There were some lovely handball chains and great positioning during kicks out of defence. We were able to get the ball into our forward line many times in the first quarter, with Renata and Sandra kicking truly two times each! This got us a healthy lead at quarter time.

The magnets were shuffled at quarter time and we were back at it. The Spurs had also made some adjustments and our defence was under more pressure in the second quarter. We kept at it and showed determination and enthusiasm to get into contests and get to the ball. Renata and Kylie were able to add to our goal tally too.

The half-time break was a welcome rest, and we were reminded of our positioning and leaving space around the ball carrier to open up the play and allow us to get out of the congestion. We took that mindset into the third quarter and the play opened up again. We continued to enter our forward line and H was on fire, adding 3 goals to our tally. Somehow, one of my kicks from the midfield also bounced through for a goal.

Into the fourth quarter and fatigue was beginning to catch up with us. Parkside weren’t going down without a fight and pressured our defence with many forward entries. Our players (notably Sandra) were putting their bodies on the line and a steadying goal from Sue was enough to see us finish the game in front.

Hats off to Bec, for her first game against another team, and to Kirsty, Jen, Sunny and Helen who spend a quarter each in Parkside colours. It was great to see the “footy for fun” ethos in action with all of our players putting in the same effort whether they be playing for Warriors or Parkside, and with the enthusiastic celebrations for good play and effort from any player on the field. Keeping score is never our priority, but it is a part of the new Footy Rush season and with a final score of Parkside 9.6 60 to Warriors 12.3 75 this was the first win for the Eastern Warrior Women’s non-contact team and our first go at singing the team song after the match!

Mens Over 50s Match Report

by Grunta
 

For the third year in a row the Warriors trekked down to Mornington to play Peninsula at their home ground, a 9am start AGAIN! That ruled Gez out whose Sunday morning commitments (sleeping in) take precedence, and we were also without reigning best and fairest Clint who was overcoming his calf injury. Nonetheless, we fielded a full team with a bench and with a three-peat on the line, the Warriors came ready to play.

Honouring the Pat Cronin Foundation cause to stamp out the cowards punch, we took on the yellow armbands and also wore black in memory of former Warrior Pagey who tragically passed last week. Plenty to play for.

Alexandra Park is not a happy place for the Warriors, who have been on the end of a few thrashings. Losing the toss meant we kicked into a stiff breeze first up, and Peninsula got off to a solid start, streaming out of the middle and piling on a big quarter time lead of 42 – 0.  

Col was at his bulldozing best but copped plenty of hits from the Raiders. Scotty was on fire early providing run and carry off the wing, but the highlight reel was nuked when he pulled a hammy in the first 10 minutes of the game. The defensive unit had their work cut out as the ball kept coming in, with Dave and Pas trying to shut down the key forwards while others ran loose. Clint was taking mark after mark behind the Peninsula goals, retrieving the ball. He doesn’t even play and still gets stats!

At quarter time, we heard stern words from Theo and Col who said we were giving the Raiders too much leg rope, so tighten up. I can’t surf for shit so I just thought I should stay closer to my man. The second quarter was a definite improvement, not only slowing the Raiders down but also seeing some good forward thrusts, one of which led to a Theo goal.

In the backline, a high ball went up in the direction of my Raiders opponent, and I bolted in to make a contest. Then a truck smashed into me, I saw sky and my feet landed dangerously close to my ears. I got up to see the Raiders guy had taken the mark, and Col was on the ground near me sucking air. Friendly fire. I’ve been secretly wanting to line Col up for years but this wasn’t the way I envisaged it, and more unbelievable was Col came off second best. I should be dead!

The clouds opened up from half time on, with the second half played in the rain. The gloomier it gets, the more the Warriors shine… literally. Steve had his first shower of the year and was unrecognisable. Eddie was cracking in at every contest, Rev and Lovab-Al showed great skills marking in the wet, and Matty D at centre half back was ferocious in defence, driving rebound and side-stepping like Beyoncé.

The pressure and in-and-under work of Bruiser, Killer and Munga, with Col relentless at the ball, inspired a few goals in the last quarter. Carbo threaded the needle from the boundary line, then curled through another from long range give us a lift in the last term. Unfortunately, we weren’t quite able to claw back the 15 more goals required before the siren sounded, and the three-peat will have to wait.

Our poor start in the first quarter and the loss of Scotty early hurt us, but the next three terms saw significant improvement. The Warriors are getting harder to play against, except when we smash into each other, and with a few key team members to come back for Round 4 Carrum can expect a serious battle for Indigenous Round.

SportsBet was paying $2 for the following multi –

1. Kenny to bounce before every kick
2. Matty D to win the Pat Cronin medal
3. AJ to tell us how far he ran umpiring
4. Col being sent off

I got them all except the last! Col, what are you doing to me, that’s a sure thing every round! Despite copping hits to the head every time he got the ball, Col kept his cool and avoided time on the pine. I saw Willo reaching into his pocket for the card at one point but as team manager I made sure I pinched them before the game started. I’m learning. Seriously, as captain Col is leading from the front, putting his body on the line and willing the team on – great stuff.

Matty D was rightly awarded the inaugural Pat Cronin medal for best and fairest player on the day, a constant wall at half back that most certainly deflected more than a few goals.

Big thanks to all of the supporters who made the journey down for a wet weather game. Can’t wait for season 2027 and the next chance to leave home in the dark, drive an hour, and get pummelled in the rain by Peninsula who in my time at the Warriors have never set foot on Edinburgh Reserve. There is no equalisation in Masters. They should at least pay us a fuel allowance!

But I’m not bitter…

Final Score

Peninsula 16.16.112, Warriors 3.2.20

 Goals
Carbo 2, Theo 1

Mens Over 35s report
by Pogzy

Morning looked mild as Pete arrived at Pogz’s place at 8:45 sharp as promised , only to find Pogz still ambling around looking for footy stuff, keys , wallet, etc. “Ok, we’re ready.”

Not quite. “Where’s my Warriors hat?” After 5 minutes of looking , he realised it was already in the car from Saturday .

Off we went, heading up the road on our 3-hour trip to Mornington (only took 45 minutes, lol). Skies were looking good — whhhoooo! (Spoke too soon.) Five minutes out from our destination, our first drops .

Oh well, we’d be in the coaches’ box .

Arrived at Mornington, unpacked and greeted our Warriors as they strayed in. Atmosphere was good and light-hearted — love it.

With a possible 17 of our 27-strong 35s squad available (Matty A out with a calf strain from Saturday), we were ready.

Firstly, we had a guest speaker talk about Pat Cronin, which was moving and educational .

Ok, ready to run out — where is HAKIN? Quick call on the way (toilet stop ).

Time for the toss (pick a hand) . Left it was — well done, Junior!

1st Quarter

Kicking with the wind was a positive start, and we went evenly with Peninsula for most of the first 5–10 minutes, with the contest hard and intense. Peninsula scored a couple of goals and the Warriors managed 2 behinds.

Scoring opportunities were being created by our hard-working backline and midfield.

Then it happened — along came our first-gamer Anthony to mark about 65 out , go back and slot our first goal of the game. Whooo — to be our leading goal kicker for the season!

Score: 4 goals to 1 in Peninsula’s favour.

After the boys had their positional quarter-time huddles and the coach addressed the group, it was time for the 2nd quarter.

2nd Quarter

With the Warriors kicking against the breeze, it was going to be hard work, but the way we played in the first term, we had some new-found belief. It was again fierce competition early in the guts — no beg-ya-pardons. Ouch .

Unfortunately, the tide (luck) turned slightly towards the Peninsula boys and they kicked a few — through no fault of anyone, especially the backline, who were gallantly led by Jeff.

Also a great effort from Ryan (new), who wasn’t taking a backward step from anyone (despite getting stood on twice).

With time creeping on towards half-time, Peninsula saw a few more opportunities and took them, kicking a few to open up a 6-goal quarter.

Half-Time Break

Pete and Pogz had a little chat together to re-establish where we could utilise our boys in the 2nd half (some subtle adjustments) .

With Junior talking to the team and everyone finishing their protein shakes and peptides (kidding), we were ready to head out (no, not night-clubbing).

3rd Quarter

Once again we had the aid of the breeze, and hopefully we could make better use of it .

Again, like the first half, it was tough in the middle (that’s why I’m a wingman) .

Obie was rucking tirelessly once again, but was getting great help from our new-found “put me in the middle, coach” Kriso, who was attacking the ball like it was his last meal . He was well supported by Capt. Junior, who ran hard and is getting better each game. The backline was repelling every wave and hitting up targets on the way out. Luke found some space and pace on the wing and delivered into the forward line. A pack was created, and somehow through a nest of 20-odd arms and legs, HAKIN’s kick found our 2nd goal — and his first (club) . Now we had equal leading goal kickers. Shortly after, with 30 seconds to go, Peninsula kicked a late one. 2 goals to 1 for the quarter.

3rd Quarter Time

Same scenario — group huddles, then coach chat . Very proud of the boys — best quarter of the year. WELL DONE .

4th Quarter

Warriors against the breeze again.

Pretty much a carbon copy of the 2nd quarter. Not much more to add, except that our boys battled on and gave their all against a bigger-bodied and more skilled unit.

At the sound of the siren, the sides got together, shook hands and huddled together to hear the winners of the Pat Cronin medals .

Winner for Eastern: JEFF ELLIOTT — well done, Jeff! Thoroughly deserved for his sterling job at full back.

In the rooms, while waiting, waiting, waiting for our beers to arrive, the coaches and captain had their debrief.

Then the awards:

WOW Trophy — JEFF TAP Award — KRISO RUBBER CHICKEN — BORIS (awarded for turning up to the ground on Saturday)

Once again, thanks to those true Warriors who filled in from the 50s.

Welcome to the new guys, Ryan and Anthony.

Our 35s numbers are increasing, with a few more interested this week. With our fallen Warriors on the sidelines (hopefully we get some back soon), we could have a squad of about 27–30.

Future looking bright.

So keep recruiting, training when possible, and learning.

Cheers

Your coach / author Pogzy