Under 11 Year Rap

Instead of the usual game rap l will rap out the year instead and pass on some thanks..

It has been a great year, all be it tuff due to player numbers (but we needed to do it)

From the start of the year the combined under 10/11 boys have put in each and every week.
Even at the start of the year when they didn't have a coach the kids were at training and were working hard and having fun.
Myself and Dave Gelbert have worked with the kids to improve confidence strengths and weakness and have seen all the kids grow over the year.
Some have improved way more than Dave and l thought was possible which was one of the best things about coaching this year.

l know we may have only won one game so far this year but with a couple extra kids from current under 12's and some players coming up from under tens next year it will be very exciting year with a team that l think could do very well. So keep up the great work kids over the summer and you will do well.

l would like to thank all Parents who have helped out this year including Caroline Gelbert Carol Avery, Peter Foik, Allan Lockett, Jamie Davidson, Vlado Golub, Greg Kennedy and Ron Chatton
l would also thank all the Kids including the under tens who have been a full part of this team all year. Especially for their great enthusiasm and fun through a tuff year and cold very cold training nights and early morning starts
And thanks Sally for training the under tens and making it possible for them to play for us.
And a special Thanks to Dave Gelbert for being a joint coach with me all year you did a great job and Brett Knight when needed.

P.S l am looking forward to sleep ins next year and l guess many parents are as well.

Regards
The Coach
Steve

The under 11s played Wandin

Tristan was Captain of the day.
Tristan won the toss and we kicked with the strong wind.

It was great start with our centres clearing the ball out of the centre and the Bloods were straight into attack. It was a tuff battle but the Bloods were putting in hard leading and moving the ball quickly. l think it caught out Wandin as we swept them aside and kept control of the game. Most of the first quarter was played out in our forward line
It was a great quarter of football, with the Bloods Louis eventually getting a goal on the board to take the lead.

The Bloods were fired up and we planned our attack into the second quarter as we were now kicking against the wind. From the first bounce we attacked kicked long and chased hard. The Bloods wanted the ball more than Wandin and got into the packs and worked the ball forward. Our backs were also called on as with the wind the ball got down into our defence quicker but to their credit they played out quarter hard. It was solid quarter effort But Wandin did eventually get a Goal. The score line was now 1 Goal one to One Goal.

Called on assistant coach Dave Gelbert to give the Half time talk. Tackle hard and protect your players was the goal Dave wanted from the young bloods. They took on the message well as they lifted in both tackles and shepherds. The Bloods were moving the ball quickly and running on all the time. It paid of well with two good team goals booted in by Louis and a couple close misses including one great effort from James.

Last Chat to the players who were so hyped up by how they were going Tackle as hard as you can was the final charge as the young Bloods went back into position. Wandin came at us with a good centre clearance and attacked their goals with the wind behind them. Some great defence work was needed and Deano, liam. Nick X-Man and Crispy did the job and held them back as the attack continued. Eventually Wandin kicked a goal and then another but our defence held with a single point lead we drove them back and started to attack our forward line. The siren sounded and we had won our first game of the year.
Boy did our young Bloods cheer and sing our team song loud twice and they deserved it after a great Game Well Done Bloods.

Awards
.
Coaches - Tristan
Coaches Encouragement - Adam
MacDonald's - Michael
Pizza Award - Louis
Fish and Chips - Connor

Regards
Coach Steve

The under 11s played Healesville

Deano was Captain of the day

First Quarter.
Great start to the game. Olinda took the first tap down and went straight into attack, keeping the ball down our half most of the quarter. Bloods did a great job winning the ball constantly. The kids kept in their positions, tackled hard and manned up Just as the coach wanted. Michael got our first goal just after we had kicked a behind. Game was going all our way
Second Quarter
Boys were wrapped to have played so well in the first quarter and to be leading but we needed to keep them focused and warned them that Healesville will hit back hard. Stay with the game plan and we will do well. When play started the Bloods went in hard and battled hard. The ball moved up and down the ground with some fantastic defensive play by the bloods, we held our own. The man on man stuff was done well great quarter again even though Healesville did score a Goal
Third quarter.
Great game so far, but needed to be hard on the boys. Tackle hard, Man up strong, get into the packs and get the ball and help you mate's was the talk. We can win this game. The bloods were back into it but were up against some fresh legs as Healesville had six on the bench and we didn't. It took its toll even with great bloods efforts and two great smothers and a tackle from the X-Man (Xavier) wasn't enough to hold on. Healesville started to run over us and kicked a couple of goals to move ahead.
Final Quarter
A reshuffle of some tired players was needed. Although behind the kids were really rapt in how they were playing l Got Dave to do the Third quarter message and we were back into it. Although down a couple of goals, l still felt we could still win the game... The bloods put in hard but the tired legs started to catch up and we eventually went down two more goals.
Heads up Bloods l thought this was our best game this year and we still improving each week

Regards Steve

Awards
.
Coaches - Deano
Coaches Encouragement - Liam
Macdonalds - Michael
Pizza Award - Daniel
Fish and Chips - Nick
McDonalds Encouragement - Xavier
Training Award McDonalds Encouragement - Mark

The under 11s played South Belgrave

Liam was Captain of the day
.
It was tuff game today South Belgrave are a strong side. The bloods worked hard around the packs tried to man up and tackle and do the team things. The Bloods would work the ball forward but just could not get a score on the board. As soon as we looked like getting clear South Belgrave would have another man stopping us. We saw some disappointed kids by half time. We tried to get the spirits up and moved the side around in the second half.

It wasn't that the kids weren't trying hard as they were going in all day. We just had no luck today; Nothing went our way all day. We did see some good individual plays but as hard as we tried it just didn't go our way. But to the kids credit they didn't give up, they kept going for the full four quarters to the end and that is something we all can take away from the game. Bloods chins up we will do well Next Game.

Regards Steve


Awards
.
Coaches - Connor
Coaches Encouragement - Xavier
MacDonald's - Mark
Pizza Award - Tom
Fish and Chips - Tristian

Regards
Steve

The under 11s played Wesburn

Eden was Captain of the day

Wesburn oval slopped one way and in the first quarter Olinda was kicking up hill.
First Quarter. Fantastic opening quarter by the whole team. Great attack on the football keeping possession of the ball most of the time. Some big kicks, manning up and tackles was really well done as well as players protecting the player with the ball. Olinda boys just fought for the ball and got it up our forward line early and Tristian was able to grab the ball and kick a goal. It was great and best first quarter for the season.

Second quarter. Olinda we had the slope in our favour but Wesburn came out determine to close down the play by putting a lot of players into the packs which slowed play considerably. As best we tried to clear the ball out of the pack Wesburn just shut the play down by packing way too many players around the ball. Olinda didn't have a chance to score with the tactics the ball barely got into either goal square. It was a tuff quarter.

Third quarter. Once again we against the slope and now the sun was shinning straight into player's eyes. Wesburn got a couple of breaks out of the packs and put us under pressure. Olinda tried to man up but just couldn't hold them out and Wesburn scored their first two goals. Olinda players were great and didn't give in, they started to get the ball clear and worked the ball up to our forward line with some near chances.

Final Quarter Olinda players went in very positive with a plan to kick long and keep working ball forward. The tussle for the ball was on and Wesburn tactic to pack the play was their again. The ball was moved up and down the ground until Wesburn got a third goal. Olinda tried hard and was still winning the ball and working on the team things but our time ran out and Wesburn won a close game.
Olinda this was our best game this year following on from last week's great effort. The team things are coming through and it's showing on the ground. Keep up the good work .

Awards
I could have included many other players well done every one.
Coaches - Deano Coaches Encouragement - Michael Donald
Pizza Award - Tristian, Fish and Chips - Daniel.
McDonalds - Louis
Training Award McDonalds Encouragement - Liam

Regards
Steve

What a start to the season, the boys got off to a shakey start but once we found our feet, things started to get exciting.
I'm sure that if we (the Bloods) had a practice match to start the season off, we would have had a better showing.

The last quarter (which we won) was fantastic. We tackled well, we applied great pressure around the ground, we held the opposition scoreless and we kicked a magnificent goal by the little chanmpion Liam.

Don't forget that next week is Easter and we're not playing BUT we are still training.