End of Season Presentations

Congratulations to the 2009 recipients of team awards:

Rnd 14 - TLFC (10.2-62) def. Roxburgh Park (3.10-28)

Round 14, the last match of the season, 2nd Vs. 3rd.  It was to be a great test for our boys.  We found our way to the windy Lakeside Oval in Roxburgh Park.  All players, parents and coaches looked fresh and ready to go as we watched Ronnie’s Under 10 boys battle hard and give it their best (Well done Ronnie on an excellent 2 years coaching, I think you are great and I know your boys think so too!).

Again we had a full selection of boys to play in our team (apparent from our long term injuries Anthony and Jack).  The warm up and build up was focussed and positive.  We lost the toss and had to push into a 4 to 5 goal wind.  We found Roxburgh Park to be fast and direct with their play and got out of the blocks a bit quicker than us.  They kicked long into attack but our defence stood firm and put their forwards under pressure.  We ran the ball out of defence very well in the later part of that quarter and were unlucky not to score.  We did well to restrict Roxburgh Park to 1 goal 6 behinds.

In the second term we continued to run and share the ball.  Our tackling and shepherding got better as the game went on.  The wind made it tough.  It was hard going even kicking with the wind.  We managed 3 goals to their nil.

We kicked into the wind in the third quarter with our backline on top lead by the reliable Brick, Wilko, Nunny, Wala, Zain, Haz, Ben and Squiggles.  Our midfield pushed hard and rang the lines well.  Briggsy dominated the ruck, Brandon and Jake were relentless at pushing the ball forward.  Burnsy changed his game to shut down one of Roxburgh Park’s best.  Our wingers Bowey and Wattsy contested hard.  Our forwards ran to the spaces and we kicked 2 goals into the wind.  Special mention to the great work in our goal square by our half back Haz, great front and centre roving, lightning reflexes, great snap and fantastic goal – his first in 3 years.  Ben was having a great game as our play maker in defence and his third quarter was very important to us.  A special mention to Chicky who laid some big shepherds and tackles and really put his body on the line as did the JMan, well done boys.  I think this quarter set up our win, our 2 goals to Roxburgh Park’s 1 goal, 2 points.

For the final quarter it was our turn to kick with the wind.  We were to run hard, tackle hard, put Roxburgh Park under pressure when they had the ball and kick the ball long into our forward line.  Our game plan worked well.  The Roxburgh Park boys became very frustrated, wanting to push and shove, their focus went from the ball to the man.  We repeatedly entered our forward line.  Danny, Kyall, Browny, Ben (now forward), Jacko and TJ were on the move and lead their opponents to the ball.  We finished up kicking 5 goals for the quarter to Roxburgh Park nil and ran out winners by 34 points.  Taylors Lakes 10.2.62 to Roxburgh Park 3.10.28.

Goal kickers:  Daniel Kerruish, Kyall Parker (3) Karl Brown (2) Ben Nelson and Halis Petovic (1)
Best: Koolyn Briggs, Brandon Byard, Mason Mackay, Liam Watts, Jay Teven, Matthew Walachowski and Jason Cuschieri.

Rnd 13 - TLFC (8.4-52) def  Moonee Valley (2.7-19)

After a great second half last week against Airport West our confidence was high.  We had Zain returning to the team along with JMan and TJ.  Our only out was Adam Wilkins (minus 3 teeth) after a visit to the dentist.

Training had been of the highest class and standard during the week.  We also had our best attendance for some time.  Maybe the thought of participating in the finals was just the tonic we needed.

It was a windy day and we won the toss and kicked with a strong wind.  Straight away we did all the things the coaches have been asking for, hard, physical footy, sharing the ball amongst our teammates, running to space, kicking and handballing to a leading target and keeping the forward line open.  It was inspiring stuff.  Moonee Valley looked a much bigger bunch of boys than our boys but that’s where that comparison stopped.  Our shepherds and tackles were awesome.  We put our bodies on the line for our teammates.  Bowey, Spider, Briggsy, Brando, Burnsy, Ben and Wattsy lead the way with some of the best shepherds and smothers of all time.  That set the scene for the full game.  Moonee Valley tried hard but failed to make any impact because of the Lakers assault and attack on the ball.  We kicked 4 goals in each of the quarters we kicked with the wind.  Our back half was fantastic only allowing Moonee Valley to kick 2 goals for the game.  Our back line was playing tight, keeping the Valley boys under pressure, making scoring very difficult.  Our on-ballers went back to help as well.  It was a great defensive effort.  Our last line of Wala, Brick and Nunny teamed well and kept very tight on their opponents.  Haz, Zain and Kristian provided lots of run and rebounded well.  Across the middle Wattsy, Jake and Bowey gave us run and drive, whether it was out of defence, through the middle or entering the forward line, these boys did it all and Jake slotted through 2 goals. Spider, Browny and Daniel, our key forwards contributed very well, kept moving and presenting, kicking 4 goals between them was great in those conditions.  Mason show plenty of spark and was very dangerous.  Smitty did well in the forward line, did very well keeping it in, took some wonderful marks as well.  TJ was fantastic when give his opportunity and kicked a fantastic goal.  Well done, it really contributed to the teams success.  JMan and James Kemal did well and fought hard for the ball when they got their chances.  Ben Nelson had a great game, given free range to play across half back, centre and half forward.  He picked up many kicks, set up many plays and kicked a goal from a great mark.  Ben is playing great, thinking footy.  Our rucks and rovers had a day out in the middle.  Koolyn got his hand on the ball first nearly every time and gave Jake, Spider, Burnsy and Brando an armchair ride as they ran the ball and shared it in the centre and drove it forward.  Burnsy followed up his 50th with a terrific hard at it game as did Briggsy.  I thought our best for the whole four quarters was Brandon.  He did it all, ran, carried, shared, tackled, shepherd and boy did he bump!  Great to have Brando in this form.  You are a very important part of the Taylors Lakes Under 12(2) set up!  Keep it up, mate.

In the end we ran out winners by 33 points in a great team effort.  We followed instructions from start to finish.  Well done.