The school holidays had come and gone.... almost. 

One final act before blazers  were dusted off and the malaise of winter holidays had passed.

We had an encounter with the always physical Point Cook to negotiate first.
We had played out of our skins for our 4 goal win at the pit earlier in the season, but this one was like a final for them. A loss would effectively cripple their season, a win, and suddenly they would be equal with us on points with 3 games to follow.

We have had a pact within the group, not to swear this season. It was born out of not wanting to give away silly free kicks, but also from the observations that teen boys tend not to refer to the thesaurus all that often, particularly amongst themselves. We want to be a good example to the younger teams at the club, particularly at training as the revolving door of age groups arrive and depart. 

I warned I could be drawn to a few choice words if we started this game like we were still on holidays!!!Fortunately the boys were up for it early, a couple of late goals by the Bulldogs giving them a two goal buffer at the first change after a spirited term.
The second quarter was the decisive stage in the match. With the breeze at our backs we were outplayed for a game defining patch. We couldn't match their pressure and they caught us out with fast and precise transition, extending their lead despite the wind.
I had bones to pick at half time, was it that holidays malaise or were we just being bettered on the day. Maybe a bit of both.

The second half was much better than the first. There was a genuine intent to pull off the remarkable and at times we threatened. Unfortunately, when you fall behind you need the accuracy gods to come along with you, 2.10 in the second half wasn't going to get it done. 

In the end, it was a tough 21 point loss. Rather than locking in third spot we slip to fourth and a grandstand finish in the final three weeks awaits.
Perhaps that's the motivation we need! Thank god the holidays are over!!!

Congratulations to Logan Phee for an outstanding 100 games for the club. He is one of the stars of our team and the competition. Keep up the fine work Loges. A big future in the game awaits! ‎

U14G Team Roach

A strong rebound from a couple of losses for the U14 Girls, running out 104 point winners over Wyndhamvale in perfect footy weather at the Snakepit 🐍.

All girls contributed strongly to a 4 quarter performance, but some standout efforts included a dominant performance from Taylor ‘The Phoenix’ Clues - told me she was cooked at quarter time, but rose from the ashes kicking 5 goals with one even after I moved her down back in the last!

Skippers Sophie Jura and Alice ‘Fingers’ Healy led strongly all day, with VC Piper ‘Noodles’ Odlum setting up the win with a stellar first quarter. Mia Prus showed she can play forward with a ripper game and Freya ‘Zero’ Redl channeled her hero Heeney with 3 classy goals.

Long kicking was a highlight today with Macy ‘Big Chook’ Roach showing how it is done with yuge drop punts all day.

Fair play to Wyndhamvale doing it tough this year with thin numbers but having a crack in the right spirit all game, led by quality young women coaches.

Song was belted with gusto - well done girls

U14 Team Bloomfield

The boys jumped on the highway to take on the top-of-the-table, undefeated 6-0 Point Cook outfit.

We knew we were in for a tough arvo, but to the boys’ credit, we came out firing with a lot more intent than in our last couple of hit-outs. At quarter time, we were down by 20, but still well and truly in the fight. 

From then on, Point Cook showed why they’re the benchmark. Their ball movement was silky, and they barely missed a target. They played some real clean footy and made us pay when we coughed it up.

When we played our brand and moved the footy like we’ve been training, we looked a real threat. But we didn’t do it often enough. Too many times we bombed it down the line into packs, and our skill level just wasn’t the same as Point Cook. Turnovers hurt us badly and kept our back six under the pump, but full credit to the defenders, they dug in and stood tall for most of the day.

One thing I’ll always back this group on is their never give up attitude. No matter what the scoreboard says, the boys never throw in the towel. They kept having a crack right to the final siren, and that’s something I’m bloody proud of.

This week, we shift our focus to a strong West Footscray side. We’ll train hard, tidy up a few areas, and be ready to rip in and chase that much-needed win to snap the three-game losing streak.

U14 Team Sacco

Werribee Centrals were our host today at Galvin Park in what shaped as an even contest on paper and based on our ladder positions 5v6, we were 6th. What awaited the winner was 5th spot and a ladder position of only percentage out of the final four.

Centrals were blessed with 6 players today who had represented their club at inter-league level and a side half filled with top age players. Undeterred our boys' dominated play in the 1st quarter. We had 85% of the ball played in our forward 50, but we just couldn't convert.

The game then ebbed and flowed for the next 3 quarters. Some lightening quick ball movement from both sides from one end of the ground to the other. The 5-6 Centrals Inter-League players began to run the ball with 5-6 bounces from deep in defence to their forward 50 showing their class, sheer size, and strength.

At half time, we implored our boys to shut this down at the source and that they did. To our credit, we led at every change the margins at each interval were 2/5/3 points and eventually 5 points on the siren as we ran out victors. With the luxury of 2 x league umpires, we were rewarded more often than not for our fair play and strict discpline. To the contrary, Centrals, who were un-discplined, gave away several 15m penalties and were getting increasingly frustrated with our teams ability to thwart their game style.

Jake Calleja and Tommy Hickey did what they always do best. Michele "Bull" Inguanti was well, just a bull he only knows one way, Joel Zammit was Glenn Jacovich like at CHB, just an absolute beast, special mention to Marcus "Cus" Micelli who was dour in defence at Full Back and instrumental in holding the fort in Noah "Truck" Smiths absence . Joe Tranter had a premiership quarter like no other in the 3rd and kicked 2 x goals, and with that, we were on the cusp.... At the three-quarter interval and with a slender 3 point lead, I begged the boys to leave it all out on the park and to spend all their petrol tickets in the next 18 mins of football and no one did that more than Henry Sacco. H flogged himself for the good of the team, smothers, tackling & chase down of some the "wildebeest" that were the Centrals guns and with a game clinching goal and to finish with 2 for the game victory was ours. We've now got some debts to repay in the final 3 x games against Flemington, Albion, and Willy at Willy.

This side is capable. They are gaining belief and truly have hearts the size of lions. This old man will go to sleep with a big smile on his face tonight. 🤜🤛.

U12G Team Zucco

U12 Team Farrugia

A Perfect Day for Snakepit footy seen us take on Point Cook With a full team back this week,  Great build up with 2 x 50 gamers saw the boys come out firing in the first quarter but not being able to kick a major 0.6 so a light reminder at Qrt time we need to get better around the sticks seen us come out with much more Aggression around the goals and so we continued that throughout the remainder of the game finally making a team pay for all out close losses. A 66 to 0  WIN was the result. Wins across every area of the ground. More proud as a coach of the scoreless Opposition result from the 6 rocks down back. The song was Belted out with huge endeavour and pride and I had to open the chocolate block and divide up the block as the Effort award couldn't be split over 22 kids today. CONGRATS to Jude Lukomitis and Charlie Wade for 50 games today.Long awaited result and award for hard work over the past few weeks.Enjoy the win Families! 

U12 Team Trewin

No Report

U12 Team Fitzpatrick

A commanding 47 point win against 5th placed Point Cook on their home deck at the crack of dawn today cements a place in the finals at the business end for our group - with big games against 4th and 2nd placed teams over the next two weeks to help shape the post season positioning.

Todays win was set up in the first quarter where Ari (Jet) Morphou and Alessandro (Rolls) Basilone lit it up - Ari was in everything and set the tone for the day, while Rolls booted 3 of his 4 for the day in the first stanza. 

Captain Max Van Zuiden refused to let the ball pass CHB allowing the remainder of the team to engage in the many waves of forward pressure and 
momentum. 

That takes our winning streak to five on the bounce and we look forward to the next 3 games being all at home !

U10G Team Smith

We smashed Willi...again

With 🪰 at the MCG, they failed to secure their 19th man in the green vest. They were never in it after that. 

BOG Olivia Cruise

U10 Team Biggs

No Report

U10 Team Manley

A perfect winters day greeted us at home against the undefeated Williamstown. The challenge ahead was embraced by the group, who were determined to make a trip to St Bernard’s a tough outing. 

We started strongly with our ability to win the first ball denying Williamstowns runners. Some persistent contested work resulted in some clean ball forward with Rishi “Wiz” Vasih finding some space deep and with some dazzle dazzle footwork, slotted the first goal of the game. 

Williamstown worked their way into the contest and with some quality link up play, found a couple of goals for a slender half time lead. 

Our fight in the contest and determination to put pressure on the opposition started to frustrate Williamstown who were voicing their displeasure at not having things their way, as they have for much of the year. Taylor “Citta” Cittarelli and Austin “Danger” Doyle were regular faces in the heat of the contest, giving their opponents plenty to worry about. 

We scrapped and battled our way to a two goal loss in the end. Whilst not on the right end of the result, it was one of the strongest and most consistent performances of the year. 

Our best for the day was Jacob “Bull” Falzon, who brought  strong and persistent contested work, with Jack “Rocket” Tamhane showing incredible attack on the ball and Zavier “Turbo” Hartzenberg giving us some fantastic run and dash. 

A performance like that will stack up against anyone in this division. Onto next week!

U9 Team Round

No Report

U8 Team Ryan

No Report 

U8 Team Cameron 

The kids ventured out to Altona this morning looking to build momentum after our last win. 

I’m not sure if it was the week off or whether we relaxed after our last win but our first quarter was terrible. We had forgotten all of our key focus areas and allowed Altona to score without any pressure. 

Following a quarter time rev up the kids responded well in the second quarter. We started winning the ball out of the middle through Noah Perkins and Will Liberatore which gave our forwards great scoring opportunities. Quick goals to Gus Vescio, James Galle and Jack Cameron got us back to square at half time. 

The second half was a real slog. Altona gave away a few undisciplined free kicks and our kids kept playing the ball and were rewarded by the umpire. Goals to Rory Byrne and Noah Perkins in the third quarter kept us in touch and we went into the final break down by a goal.

Our aim at 3/4 time was simply to keep them to one goal and back ourselves to score more. Will Liberatore got the first to tie it up, we conceded a lucky goal but Ashton Perona responded immediately. The kids never gave up and in the dying seconds a quick snap out of the pack from Gus Vescio (who played his best game of the season) hit the post and that was enough to get us over the line. Winners by a single point and #TwoOnTheTrot

Best players Gus Vescio, Rory Byrne, Hunter Day and Noah Perkins

U8 Team Mirtsis 

Bye