Round 5 Match Report

The weather could not be better for what was to be the last of the remaining undefeated teams facing off this past Friday night. Two teams with tonnes of history between them and sitting tied for first place was the perfect setting at this early stage in the season. One thing was for certain, at the end of the battle one team would be at the top having proved deserving of that position. The answer to that question would be told in the next 80 minutes.

With a strong attendance the Rebels took the field to start the game after a strong pre game talk from coach Kon. This team is undefeated and we will not have an easy run to the final horn so it was time to “Respect” and get focused. A strong starting 18 took the field for the first bounce. From the beginning the Rebels took it hard to the Roos. Winning the tap and sending the ball down to the forward line. Some strong leads and excellent support had the black and white get up early snagging the first goal of the game. The Roos responded well by moving the ball forward to a hard leading Emile. Some inaccurate kicking by the Blue and White had the quarter finish with the score Rebels 3 -2 to the Roos 0 -4.

The second quarter saw much the same fight form both sides. The Rebels working hard to set up the structures and work the ball to the best option were rewarded with another goal from the many options up front. Bodz was working his man over all game and fighting hard to manage the contest with his forward team working hard to keep the ball up front when it was delivered. Kon had some dipsy doodles and worked the ball around with the Mids to get strong delivery. The backs lead by Winks and Duff continued to shut down the forwards attack. During a defensive kick out a small one sided affair began on the field where a Rebels player was taking a beating from a Roos player. With his heart on his sleeve Wilba ran into the contest to save the Rebels player from getting beaten to a pulp. Wilba was the man of the quarter for taking on a bully more than twice his size. Sending the message that no one touches his water bottle! Insert inside message here_______. The Roos player and Wilba were sent off for the rest of the game. Ultimately the ball moved well across the field but strong defense from both sides kept the score low and both teams walked off with the score Rebels 5 – 3 to Roos 2 -5.

The third started with a strong attack by the Rebs. Prendergast was sidestepping left and right and smashed a quick kick to the ever talented Shags who was taking marks off guys much taller than he. A testament to dedicating your body to the contest and being first to the ball he was rewarded with several great opportunities at goal. The Kid working his man all day gave no room for the opposition. Osborne, Frogga, Alex, and big Duff continued to shut down the Roos attack. Outside of some gifts given by the umpire the Roos score would be kept low kicking only one for the quarter.

The fourth quarter and the Rebels were not out in the clear to be rewarded the win. As we all know teams fight to the end in this league and the Roos were not going to roll over and let us have it for free. We needed to earn it by doing what we have all worked so hard to do.......Fight, Support, and get the ball. With some strong wins out of the middle by alternating Ruck’s Robby Fallon and Andrew “Crowy” Crow the ball moved to the forwards quick. Another goal for the Rebels. The Roos responded by kicking one of their own. But with a strong Canadian side including Scuba, Jovan, Duff, Wade, Brock, Kid, Frogga,

Foss, to name a few and the ever dangerous Fabbri taking sneaky marks and kicking two goals of his own throughout the game the Roos would eventually fall on the sword. The Rebels were victorious once again. Keeping the record at a clean 5-0 for the start of the season winning by kicking 13 -5 (83) and more importantly keeping the Roos to a score of 6 -8. (44)

It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t clean and the story is not done yet with some game reports to follow on the ejected players but the job got done the result was final. The Rebels now put that aside and look ahead to the next challenge. One training and one quarter at a time.

GOALS
Murdoch 4, Karavias 4, Fabbri 2, Prendergast 2, Bormann

Old Boys “FOSTERS KING CAN” Best on ground – Murdoch, W. Osborne,

Rebels would like to take their hats off to the amazing amount of old boys that attended. Thanks for coming out and supporting us lads. There will always be cold beers on the sidelines for you and we encourage you to keep coming.