AFTER an off-season that seemed to drag on for an eternity, suddenly the local footy season was upon us last Saturday.
As I wandered down to the ground through Edinburgh Gardens, past the dog walkers, skaters and street basketballers, there were a few nerves about what would unfold for the Fitzroy men’s team in their first outing back in the VAFA’s B-section.
The Roys’ opponents, Old Geelong, one of only three teams remaining from last time Fitzroy played at that level, and ever since Fitzroy flogged them in the 2018 grand final, the Oggers have proven to be a tough assignment.
It also concerned me that Fitzroy had only won one of its opening round matches in the past six years (and that was against a hopelessly undermanned Monash in 2023).
The butterflies settled when I arrived at BSO to the familiar sight of sunshine glinting on the city skyline looming over the outer wing, and the autumn light bathing the lounging patrons on Hipster Hill.
As the first kransky roll of the season was devoured, I watched Bernie’s Twos demolishing the opposition with similar gusto. There looked to be plenty of Roys capable of pushing for senior selection - among them Johnstone, a couple of new faces, and a more familiar one wearing the No.51 jumper (who was apparently playing his first reserves game since 2013).
When the senior team ran on to the ground, it had a different look to the 22 that played in the Roys’ most recent outing, against Collegians in round 18 last year. There were 12 different names on the team sheet, among them four debutants - recruits Keegan “Kegs” Lyne, Nick “Biggus” Dickinson, Dan “German” Shepherd and under 19s graduate Louis “The Lip” Hodder.
The players took there positions, with Fitzroy kicking into the breeze, and the new season was underway.
Well, what unfolded over the next 30 minutes was a massive disappointment.
To its credit, Old Geelong played with energy, discipline, desperation and a lot of run. Fitzroy did not.
The Roys looked flat and fumbly and unprepared to work hard to put the opposition under pressure. As coach Ronaldson would later observe: ‘’boys, that’s not us’’.
For the entire first quarter the ball lived in Old Geelong’s forward half. When the the under-siege backline managed to win back possession, the Roys frequently turned over the ball while trying to clear it upfield.
The Oggers had 10 scoring shots to nil to lead by 30 points at the first change and the mood on the terraces was grim.
Perhaps, we all thought, the Roys can turn it around kicking with the breeze in the second quarter, and even the ledger by half time.
Within 90 seconds the Roys had their first goal on the board thanks to ferocious tackle to skipper Hart. They had another moments later through a Ramshaw set shot and for the next few minutes all of the momentum was with the home team.
But an undisciplined act 100 metres off the ball gifted Old Geelong a goal, and another unnecessary free kick ensured they kicked another.
By half time it was still a 31-point deficit - the opportunity seemed lost and with it the game.
The main positive for the Roys was a strong showing in the final quarter, which hopefully will translate into some form heading into their next match, against Caulfield Grammarians at Glenhuntly Park.
The charitable view is to give Fitzroy an opening round mulligan, and back the team in to get back to their peak from here on. But there will need to be a significant lift in intensity and work rate to defeat teams in a section that seems strong and even.
A few players tried hard to get the Roys going against Old Geelong. Grace and Nelson had a crack in the midfield, while Seakins and Shepherd worked hard on the outside. Hart carried the forward line, with Hodder showing some promising signs. The backline scrapped hard, led by Wright, Green and 200-gamer Ligris.
But in will require a better effort from the whole 22 to open Fitzroy’s 2025 account next Saturday.
