Youth-2 Boys 2025

Round 3

Templestowe   1     7      13

Fitzroy            18    14     122

In our third hit-out for the season, the Roys headed out to Templestowe for a clash with the Dockers. It was set to be an unseasonal sun’s-out-guns-out type of affair, with every Fitzroy player opting for the sleeveless guernsey.  

In this Pat Cronin Foundation round, we reflected on the coward punch and the fact it has no place in society or footy. With this in mind, we aimed to play typically hard but fair. 

Must be said though, the one-size-fits-all yellow armbands struggled to match the circumference on many of the Fitzroy biceps. Sure, we looked strong in the sheds… but would the boys bring it when it mattered? Still mildly-smarting from last week’s result, Coach Duke demanded a fast start.

The work rate across the ground was high in the opening minutes. Jeri was looking dangerous around the big sticks, hitting the scoreboard early with a left-foot cannon.

Sam found Big Beau Little in the square, and Eamonn made no mistake from his hard-earned free kick.

The balance of power continued to swing Fitzroy’s way in the second quarter. 

Ash provided an attacking target, clunking overheads and polishing off his work with a major. Henry stood up bravely in the contest, and our one-percenters were creating opportunities.  

Beau was strong in the air, and even better off the grass, kicking a couple more with the most lethal big toe we’ve seen since Matty Scarlett circa 2009.

Eamonn was in electric form, whether it was finding space or putting his head over the footy in the forward line. 

By the half, the Roys had piled on 8 democracy sausages without conceding the other way. Credit to the Roys defence, who were disciplined when they needed to be, and launched counter-attacks at every opportunity. Viggo was proving hard to get past and Isaiah was repelling the purples with poise.

The Roys continued to apply the pressure in the third quarter. Some of our handball chains were poetry in motion, with the likes of Spencer K, Jimmy and the Hamishes repeatedly cutting a swathe through the corridor.

A brilliant smother from hard-running Hamish W turned the ball over, with Ted on the end of the chain to kick the goal.

Playing his first game in colts-colours, Lewis gave the mids good service in the ruck. Hamish E complemented his tough stoppage work with a superb crumbing goal, and Eamonn chimed in once again for his fourth.

After some fits’n’spurts output last week, today at the snakes, the boys pledged to run out a four-quarter effort. And that they did.

James lit up the member’s wing with a couple of devastating forward surges. More bounces than Clive Palmer’s chequebook.

Captain Dylan swooped on everything in the forward 50, and slammed through a couple of classy goals. Taj covered the ground superbly to find space, and convert the opportunity. 

Elliot bravely chose to smother with his sourdough-basket, and tells us he won’t be trying it again in a hurry. Bounced back quickly.

Henry snapped truly under pressure, Ollie marked and calmly slotted one through, and Jeri added another to his tally.

At the end of the day, the Roys ran out big winners on the scoreboard, but more importantly continued to develop their confidence and teamwork. We’re looking forward to next week’s challenge.

Go Roys!

Anzac Round 2

Fitzroy     4     4      28

Banyule   16   10    106

The Anzac round is a much-anticipated day on our match calendar, where we look to play in a way befitting of this important occasion.

Before the bounce, Scott Hamilton conducted a stirring ceremony, reflecting on the courage and all-important mateship that typifies the Anzac spirit. A wonderful way to set the scene, with both sides lined-up in front of the old Vic Park grandstand.

We entered this round 2 clash with the Banyule Bears, full of confidence. After a fortnight break spent developing game plans, studying the tapes, and pottering around home landscaping projects, the coaching panel felt as prepared as they could be. 

But in a hot start to the game, it was Banyule that took the ascendancy. We struggled to halt the other mob’s forward momentum, and some precise ball movement saw the Bears pierce our defence to put 5 goals on the scoreboard.

On the counterpunch, Crashin’-Cashen got the footy moving through the corridor for the Roys. Spencer K got on the end of it, and seized the opportunity to unveil the googly-doosra-bamboozla-punt he’s been developing over the off-season. 6 points never in doubt.

The physicality was taking a toll. Just as Fred was getting into the play, he suffered an unfortunate double-knee injury. Sam headed to the bench with a case of snoz-claret. Yet the Roys refused to take a backward step.

The second quarter didn’t get any easier. Our defence, led by Will Mac battled manfully, but weight of forward entries saw the oppo continue to mount scoreboard pressure.

On our highlight reel, Jericho dished out a double-don’t-argue in the centre, then followed-up the contest superbly to snare a long range goal before half-time.

With only one team representing the Youth Roys this week, the YB2 support team was brimming with 11 emergencies, 3 statisticians, 2 grappling coaches and a boot studder. At the oranges, we called upon every dollar of our soft-cap to find a way out of this first-half hole. 

The resulting lift in intensity was evident from the start of the third quarter. Dylan was winning plenty of contested footy and driving the Roys forward. Jack began to dominate aerial contests around the ground. Viggo was throwing his weight around to repel the opposition attack.

Pin-point passing repeatedly found Beau on strong leads, who was our ball magnet up forward. Sam turned on a dime at centre half forward, and kicked a great goal. Take that, Bad-hair Bears.

Fitzroy were determined to finish off strongly in the last. Strong contests typified the Roys resilience. In a couple of goal-saving efforts, James pinned his opponent in a crunching tackle, and Ash monstered his man for well-earned kicks. Captain Elliot showed desperation in defence when called upon.

Banyule’s pressure didn’t let up in the last, and they somehow managed to sneak through another few majors. 

Our men responded when Jeri used his strong presence to slot through his second goal for the afternoon.

At the end of the day, despite not getting the 4 points, Fitzroy honoured the occasion with teamwork and tenacity, in a match played in good spirit. Thanks for the strong showing of squad support!

We’ll take a bit out of this, and be raring to go next week.

Go Roys!

Round 1

St Marys (2)   4   5    29

Fitzroy (2)     10  11   71

We’re on the board! After a strong pre-season campaign, the Youth Boys squad has kicked off the season-proper in fine style.

The YB2s headed to Whatmough Park to tackle an unsaintly St Marys outfit. Despite all the pre-season blood, sweat and thinking time, Will Mac left a sock in the dryer and Rocco arrived minus a mouthguard. Fortunately, Chemist Warehouse was just around the corner, providing DIY fang-protectors and the unexpected bonus of 2-for-1 conditioner.

Things settled down somewhat from there.

Capt’n Angus Mac pointed decisively to the Chemist Warehouse end, and the Roys took advantage of the breeze and downhill slope. The boys slammed on 4 majors in the first, courtesy of Dylan’s deadly left foot, Roc’s hard-fought goal, a magnificent long range goal from Spence, and a first-for-the-Roys goal by Austin. Blistering start.

In quarter 2, the Sainters had their turn kicking towards the pharmacy – but Fitzroy held the momentum. Jack was winning the ruck battle and following up strongly at ground level, Leo burst through traffic to snag a classy goal, and Angus D chimed in with a major. Aussie hit up strong leads from forwards Eamonn and Isaiah with pinpoint accuracy. And at the defensive end, Will Mac, Marcus and Patrick were rock-solid on the last line. At half time the Roys held a comfortable lead.

In a challenging third quarter, we lost a couple of our ball-winners. Angus D copped a badly-fankle… Kobe wore one on the jaw… and we were suddenly looking crook as a chook. The Saints seized the opportunity to peg a few back. Ollie single-handedly stemmed the tide with a desperate goal-saving tackle. Beau snapped truly to claw one back for the Roys.

At the snakes, Coach Richard challenged the boys to win the last quarter. Fitzroy responded. Henry typified the lift in intensity with a crunching tackle. Will Cashen was a driving force through the corridor. The handball chains really started to click, and Spencer and Dylan finished the job to became multiple goal scorers for the day. With a true team effort, the Roys ran out 42 point winners.

Go Roys!