U14 Match Report
Round 15
Doncaster Heights 16.11.107 def Glen Iris 4.7.31
The boys this week faced Glen Iris for the fourth time this season with a full list available for the one and only time all year.
We played an undermanned side but still there was merit in the win as we generally were able to bring together the various improvement aspects we’d sought all season. Like last week we produced some strong efforts, linking up multiple possessions and kept good structure.
Thanks to all concerned for a fascinating year of footy !!
Awards : Whole Team !
Captain : James
Goals : Michael 4,Thomas 3, Joseph 3,Ari 2, Eros, Matt, Tyler
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Round 14
Doncaster Heights 2.7.19 def by Canterbury 14.15.99
The boys this week faced Canterbury at home, missing a couple of players but with a relatively full list available.
This was one of those games where the scoreboard gives an unfairly skewed view of the actual play. Again we produced some strong efforts, linking up multiple possessions and generally kept good structure.
After a very tight first stanza some lapses in concentration and a very big, strong opponent cost us . All in all a tad disappointing given how well the victories of the last two weeks had been executed.
Boys lets finish the year with a big win this Sunday !
Awards : Jack H, Jaxon, Mitch T
Captain : Thomas
Goals : Mitch T, Lachlan
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Round 13
Doncaster Heights 7.5.47 def Camberwell 3.7.25
The boys this week faced third placed Bulleen Temp at home.
Again we benefitted from a relatively full list of players available.
Again it made a huge difference.
The game was really one of equal contributions from everyone with someone seemingly bobbing up with something special when they were really needed. There were some big strong plays linking up 6 or more possessions and we alternated defensive and attacking mindsets well as the game (and winds) progressed.
Boys we need to ensure we carry this excellent discipline and positivity into the last two games !
Awards : Daniel Steven Matt
Captain : Thomas
Goals : Daniel 2, Michael, Mitch T, Eros Nathan, Tyler
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Round 12
Doncaster Heights 9.7.61 def Camberwell 5.3.33
The boys this week faced ladder leaders Camberwell away at Linden Park. Special welcome back to Patrick for his first game since breaking his arm in Round 1.For the first time all year we had almost a full list (22 from 23) of players available. And boy does it make a difference.
We got off to a good start and kept ourselves going as the match progressed. We were accountable, manned up, defended well and took our chances in attack.
Boys we need to ensure we repeat this in the remaining three games !
Awards : Daniel Patrick Steven Cameron Thomas Jun
Captain : Patrick
Goals : Matt 4, Michael 2, Steven 2, Nathan
Steven won the opposition’s “Best Player” award following a typically gutsy effort.
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Round 10
Doncaster Heights vs Glen Iris
This Sunday the U 14’s faced up to Glen Iris for the third time this season . The running score was 1 game each.
The pre match address again focussed on the physical challenge ahead and the specific contribution needed from every individual.
We were jumped at the start but the boys over the remaining 70 minutes of football gave was an outstanding display of courage and aggression. There were wonderful contributions all the way across the ground as the team ran & attacked and most importantly took opportunities presented in the forward line to kick goals. The 3 – goal victory was well deserved !!
There were some very noteworthy performances from Eros back to his aggressive best , Nathan cool and composed in defence, Joseph’s clean hands and Daniel & Tyler’s ruck/rover centre combination work as well as the “mosquito fleet” of Lachie, Steven and Jun once again showing enormous courage against far stronger & bigger opponents.Thomas and Michael should also be mentioned for their springboard work out of defence.
The coaching staff hailed this match post game as the team’s best in quite a while, and the challenge now is to maintain it
Goal : Steven 2, Matt 2,Ari 2,Eros 2, Tyler Jun Nathan Thomas
Awards : Daniel, Cameron, Joseph.
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Round 9
Doncaster Heights lost 7.3 .45 to Cantebury 9.14.68.
The boys faced Canterbury for the first time this season at Templestowe Park.
Whilst again short some quality players out injured, we hoped to bring the fight right up to what proved a far bigger & stronger opponent.
The boys worked very hard and heeding the message from the coaching staff to play smart footy instead of blazing away with its disposal the boys went in to half time with their noses in front. The second half was an armwrestle that only saw us lose the game via some concentration lapses that allowed the opposition easy goals.
Special mention to Matt on an outstanding game in his 100th for Donny Heights !!!
Awards : Matt, Chris, Nathan, Steven, Jun, Mitch H
Captain : Matt
Goals : Matt 2, Jack S , Thomas, Daniel, Mitch H, Michael
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Round 8
Doncaster Heights Lost to Bulleen Templestowe 9.9.63 TO 5.9.39 .
Missing the injured Pat and Eros (there at the game to cheer their mates on),we this week arrived at Bulleen Park with the aim of improving accountability. It was a very solid 4 quarter effort, marred only by a few lapses in concentration that cost us dearly.
We manned up far better than previous weeks , unfortunately though footy can be a game of inches and a metre off an opponent here and there really hurt us in allowing the opposition to link up too easily. Special mention to Michael for his 3 goals and overall strong contribution
Captain : Tyler
Goals : Michael 3, Matthew, Jack S
Awards : Jack H (most improved), Tyler, Lachlan, Michael, Jack S, Cameron
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Round 7
The boys faced Canterbury for the second time this season at Templestowe Park.
Whilst again short some quality players out injured, we hoped to replicate the grand efforts of last week.
We got off to a very slow start but got ourselves going gradually as the match progressed, but it was a case of too little too late. Basically we were too often led to the ball and beaten at the contest. Some notable performances were from Lachie & Tyler (who won the oppositions “player of the day” award) in defence and Michael who battled hard around the ground all game.
Boys we need to ensure we don’t let games get out of hand by fighting our hardest to win the ball from the very first contest next week
Awards : Joseph, Jack, Jackson
Captain : Daniel
Goals : Nathan
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Round 6
The U 14’s faced up to Beverley Hills for the second time in less than a month.
The pre match address focussed on the physical challenge ahead and the specific contribution needed from every individual to rein in what was an 18 goal deficit last time the teams met , with the added challenge of starting with only 17 players.
The Coach delivered a stirring address that culminated in an individual by individual gee-up that set the scene perfectly.
What came back from the boys over the next 80 minutes of football was an outstanding display of courage and persistence.
There were wonderful contributions all the way across the ground as the team ran, chased and tackled aggressively against a faster, taller opponent with a full bench to rotate from.
There were some very noteworthy performances from Daniel via his “run with” role in midfield, Michael’s desperation across half back, Matt’s courage in playing a half with a broken thumb, Joseph & Damon C standing up under pressure in defence and the “mosquito fleet” of Lachie, Steven and Jun showing enormous courage against far stronger & bigger opponents.
The coaching staff hailed this match post game as this group’s best ever team performance and the narrowing of the losing margin by well over half the previous meeting against all odds said it all.
Goal : Eros
Captain: Michael
Awards : Daniel, Michael, Jun (most improved).
Daniel was also awarded the opposition side’s “Best Player” medal on the day.
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Round 5
Doncaster 8.3.51 lost to Glen Iris 13.8.86
The boys faced Glen Iris for the second time this season at Templestowe Park.
Whilst short some quality players out injured we were confident that we could once again beat the opposition.
We got off to a good start but fell away as the match progressed. Basically we were too often led to the ball, not running hard & fast enough, and being well beaten at the clearances. Some notable performances from Nathan ( who was busy around the drop of the ball), Mitch T (who ran hard out of defence ) and Steven ( who sparked some life into the last quarter with two clever goals).
Awards : Cameron (big improver), Mitch T, Eros
Captain : Nathan
Goals : Matthew 3, Steven 2, Thomas, Nathan, Lachlan.
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Round 4
Doncaster Heights 6.6.42 lost to Camberwell 9.9.63
The boys ventured out to Lynden Park , very happy to find their regular Runner Leigh recovered and looking really well. We were however without Coach Robert, away on high level talks in the US (well we understand that the Bar in his Hotel is on Level 57), it was a chance for Assistant Coach Maurice to seize the day and make a play for the big job in 2014 and after surrounding himself with an A-Team Brains Trust of Bruno, Tony and John he didn’t let anyone down despite a staggering list of injuries and unavailabilities, which meant we started with 17 players and ended up with just 15 on the park .
The game began very well with our positional and tactical initiatives coming off all over the ground. The lads worked very hard and were rewarded with a 3 goal lead at half time but the loss of two players at that point meant we were down to 15 players for the rest of the game and Camberwell gained momentum and piled on the goals as our exhausted boys battled on bravely.
The lads who represented the club yesterday should be very very proud of themselves. Nathan (who won the medal from the opposition for best player), Thomas and Tyler played particularly excellent games.
Captain for the day Lachlan, Daniel & Damon C were very brave playing on after taking some big hits in the course of play. Cam & Jaxson played perhaps their best games for the club, Eros never stopped running at the contest and Joseph & James were rock solid in defence. Our appreciation above all to Matthew who in pursuing his usual tough style of play hit his head on the ground and ended up being ferried to hospital for precautionary examination.
We are happy to report that he is now quite well.
We may have lost but what a gutsy spirited effort against all odds…well done boys !
PS .The Team management would like to thank two of the players siblings (Kate Hoogen & Matthew Iozzi) who have taken on water carrier duties these past few weeks. Thank you Guys !!!
Captain :Lachlan
Awards : Damon C, Thomas
Goals : Tyler 2, Thomas, Jun, Damon M, Jaxson,
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Round 3
Doncaster Heights (2.8.20 ) def. by Beverley Hills (19.10.126)
The U14’s unfortunately couldn’t match it with a much faster taller and stronger team against Beverley Hills this weekend.
We welcomed back Jun for his first game of 2013.
For the second week running we came up against an opposition that was well drilled and too much of the hard stuff was left to too few individuals. Again we stress the need for more controlled aggression in response to situations where we are forced to play in a style that doesn’t suit us. Ari and Steven gave us examples of how .
The positives were a fighting last quarter and a willingness to stay in the contest late. Our passing and teamwork were quite good in the late stages, we need to keep that up for a full game though !
Great to see players with significant injuries, Mitch H and Patrick, supporting their teammates.
Captain: Joseph
Awards: Ari, Stephen
Goal Kickers: Matt, Michael
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Round 2
Doncaster Heights (1.3.9 ) def. by Fitzroy (11.23.89)
The U14’s unfortunately couldn’t continue its great start to 2013 against Fitzroy this weekend.
We welcomed another new player, Jack, to his first game for Donny Heights.
The opposition were a well drilled unit that caught our under-manned squad out for speed and in the end endurance as injuries and no interchange bench rotations took their toll. We need more controlled aggression in response to situations where we are forced to play in a style that suits us. Nevertheless we fought the game out and can treat the day as a learning exercise.
Captain: Eros
Goal Kickers: Eros
Awards: Nathan, Thomas
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Round 1
Doncaster Heights (14.8.92) def. Glen Iris (6.8.44)
The U14’s had a good start to 2013 by beating Surrey Park on Sunday. We welcomed a new player, Jaxson, to his first game for Donny Heights.
The most pleasing aspect of the match was that the team capitalised on all the key themes we’d worked so hard on at training these last 8 weeks: the run and carry, attack on the ball, and above all else effective teamwork.
Daniel and Matthew were potent four quarter contributors around the ground, but in truth there were genuinely strong efforts from everyone who pulled on the jumper today. A special mention to Patrick who after such a good start to the game fell on his arm laying a strong tackle. The resulting broken wrist will see him miss 6 weeks but his coaches & teammates acknowledge his bravery in making it back on the field before being convinced to come off for specialist treatment. Typical of the spirit shown by everyone on the day.
Boys, including the practice match against Bulleen Temp we have now beaten two 2012 Gold sides in the last fortnight.
Let’s build from here!!
Captain: Matthew
Goal Kickers: Thomas 4, Matthew 2, Eros 2, Daniel, Tyler, Damon C, Jack, Ari, Lachie
Awards: James, Damon M
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