First off I would like to congratulate the Under 19 side making their first final series in over 5 years. It was an up and down season starting off like a house on fire winning the first 8 matches then over the exam / period their form was up and down but they managed to hold on and win a couple of crucial matches to hold onto Second spot and earn the double chance.
Congratulations to Jordy O'Brien on winning La Trobe's first ever U19 League Best and Fairest. He has been one of the stand outs all season and his performance in the first final as it was all season all class! Keep an eye on him next year as he will play plenty of Senior footy.
The Semi Final (1 vs. 2) the winner taking the 1st spot in the Grand final and the loser going to fight it out in the Preliminary Final for a chance at revenge in the big one. What has been perhaps a curse most of the year the Trober's started off slowly, Bulleen started off in great form kicking 5.0 in the first 10 minutes. To our credit we fought back in the last part of the quarter but we couldn't convert going into the first break 7.2 to 0.6 down.
In the 2nd quarter we came out firing kicking the first 2 goals and we looked like we would make the game interesting. But to Bulleen's credit they had the legs and continued get numbers to the contest as our midfielders started to tire and also losing one to concussion. Bulleen kicked back in it to win the quarter at half time we went in 11.8 to 2.8 down.
With a sense that the game was slipping out of reach it was put to the players they have the choice give up or show some pride in yourselves and they did that coming out kicking the first 4 goals of the quarter. Again it showed at our best we could match them but as we started to tire, they were able to run over the top of us. The final score 22 15 to 8 15. Showed Bulleen clearly the better side on the day but we did prove one thing to ourselves if we can play 4 quarters of footy we can match it with them.
Special mention to Matty Stringer who broke his collarbone and will miss the rest of the finals campaign. You have been a great kid all year never missing training, continually asking the coaching staff how you can improve your game and playing your role. The club would be allot better if everyone had a similar attitude.
Now to the Preliminary vs. Therry Penola at the lovely time of 9.20 Sunday morning. I know its father's day but it would be great to see as many current and past Trober's down there supporting the U19's.