Round 1 wrap

Blacks begin 2021 Premiership campaign with win vs Fitzroy

The University Blacks Football Club commenced season 2021 on Saturday vs Fitzroy at the beautiful Brunswick Street Oval. The much anticipated games of the Seniors, Reserves, Phoenix and Under 19s, followed 567 days of waiting since the Club lost the 2019 Premier B Men’s Preliminary Finals against rivals Old Scotch.

In the 18 months since then, significant changes have happened on and off the field at the Club. The Blacks new coaching group, led by Dale Bower, finally got a chance to experience the unique game day passion that is oozed by all Blacks supporters; new recruits got their chance to pull on the mighty Black and Blue in a game for premiership points; and families and friends huddled together in the WT Peterson Oval grandstand to catch up whilst watching the Blacks for the first time post 2020.

The Seniors started at 2pm sharp, eager to see their hard pre-season work come to fruition. Despite the degree of freshness to the Club, tough, contested, typical Blacks footy of old was evident from the opening bounce. Fitzroy struggled early kicking into the wind, and only registered one goal for the quarter to the Blacks four, courtesy of some industrious midfield work from star new recruit, Jack Charleston.

In the second quarter, it was the Blacks turn to defend fiercely, with Fitzroy beginning to get an upper hand in the clearances and inside 50s. Vice-captain Cam Moorfield and returning 2014 Premiership player Jandre Slabbert, proved crucial in defense, fending off multiple Lion forays into their attacking 50.

By half-time, Fitzroy had closed the margin to 13 points; 5.4 - 34 played 3.3 - 21. Bower readied his troops at the break, sensing an onslaught from Fitzroy to attack hard into the wind.

He was not wrong, as Fitzroy jumped out of the gates at the start of the third, inching with a goal, despite the wind being against them. With the arm wrestle for midfield control in the balance (and the weather proving to be extremely inclement and fickle), new and old Blacks heads stepped up to the plate to steady the ship.

Co-captains Josh Steadman and Jordan Quaile connected for multiple clearances in a ruck/half-forward combo that began to turn the favour to the Blacks. 4^th year player and quality wingman, Lachlan Knight was instrumental in key contests, as was another new recruit, Mitch Rodd, who continuously repelled from half-back with a mixture of toughness and composure.

By the end of the premiership quarter, the Blacks had kicked away thanks to a couple of goals to one of our newest WA recruits - Darren Mumford - and a classic clearance snap-goal from Quaile.

Holding a 26-point margin over the hosts, Fitzroy was determined to not roll over, and upped the ante in the midfield. Nevertheless, the Blacks backline and midfield held firm, and extended their lead with some red-time goals to Mumford and Curnow.

Post-game, the change-rooms roared to life with a very passionate rendition of the Blacks song, much to the amusement of many of the new coaches and players who had never heard it before – but one that they should begin to learn as the Seniors hopes to belt it out many more times in season 2021!

Meanwhile earlier in the day, the Heart and Souls (Reserves) slogged their way to a 40 point win of their own against the Roys’. Following two seasons with back-to-back Grand Final appearances in 2018 & 2019, the Reserves will be aiming high again in 2021, with former Blacker from the mid-2000s, Rob Paterson, now at the helm.

In what was almost a direct foreshadowing of how the Seniors game would be played, the Reserves were engaged in a tight arm wrestle for most of the match, unable to break the dam wall, but again were the better team when it mattered and ran away in the last quarter.

In keeping with the theme for the day, Blacks debutant Nick Hey was a difference maker up forward, snagging 4 majors in a dominate display, given the conditions. He was provided with fantastic service by Cam Turner, Tom Cousins and Andrew Yates, whilst the backline – lead by Tom Peyton and Jess Petherick - was key in fending off some threatening attacks by Fitzroy.

The Heart and Souls will take confidence from their start to the season, and continue to build in the next games as the team changes from week to week.

The Under 19s commenced the day’s proceedings, and with their trademark combination of unchecked enthusiasm and raw talent, produced a highly entertaining game, and subsequent match report:

“The U19s first game was, like many games, a game of four quarters.  First there was the first quarter, in which the Roys’ got the jump. Then came the second in which the Blacks slammed home six majors with aplomb. With the long break came the long cloud and a bitter battle of attrition set in. As the sands slipped through the hourglass the Blacks launched attack after desperate attack only to be repelled by some sterling Fitzroy defense. The final bell sounded with the margin at the minimum, alas the wrong way for Blacks fans.

Rory “I pop me own shoulder back in for fun” Sheldrick was outstanding all day along with his defensive mates like Jack “never fumbles” Reddrop and Harry “one punch” Dent. Meanwhile up the field Tom “take no prisoners” Crozier, Sam “first goal in 3 years” Ackland-Evans, Lachie “running machine” Wooding and James “attack weapon” Connelly were up and about, as they say. Up forward Billy “two leg cramp as kicking goal” Borten and Nick “see pack, hit pack” Caris recorded multiple twin calicos.  Coach Shane “dual waterbed winner” Sexton praised a “gallant effort” that well reflected the work ethic theme of the day. 

Meanwhile seven Blacks boys played for Brunswick U19s in our traditional club shared agreement and dominated in a 100 point win.”

We look forward to more match reports to come lads!

For the mighty Phoenix they started their season across town in Camberwell during the classical Melbourne weather day, and welcomed the debut of a large amounts of players to the Phoenix. The new look team faced an Old Scotch outfit that had plenty of familiar faces flowing through it.

Rain was the mutual competitor in the first quarter, however the Phoeni handled it like there wasn’t a drop in sight. A flashback to Tank’s first ever Phoenix game before the first bounce inspired immediate pressure around the ball resulted in early goals from Henry Robertson and Leon Van Voorthuizen, that propelled the team to an early lead.

The revamped, fresh faced yet always reliable backline stood up to multiple inside 50s from the opposition lead by Will Hayward and first time Phoenix Sean Heiner-Hennessy protecting the team’s lead into half-time.

Injuries started to take a toll in the second half with only one or two available rotations at the start of the third quarter. Promising ruckman Sam Nash battled along with the midfield all day to help the boys have an inch on the opposition at three quarter time. An inspirational final term goal from vice-captain Josh Leviston showed what he has to bring on the wing this year. Despite their best efforts, the rotation issues caused some late game heavy legs to appear, and Old Scotch was able to just get over the line.

There are plenty of promising signs for the Phoenix going forward in 2021.

Next Saturday, the Blacks are at home at the University Main Oval, playing hosts to the St Bedes/Mentone Tigers. With the forecast already looking like an improvement on this weekend, make sure you get down to support, with our four teams all playing at home.

The Under 19s will commence proceedings on the Main, kicking off at 9:20am against Old Trinity, whilst our Phoenix side is at our second home, the mighty Crawford Oval, from the same time, against Old Melburnians.

We can’t wait to see you next weekend! Go Blacks!