Hampton Rovers recorded a brilliant victory over Ajax at Albert Park on Saturday, getting up by 28 points to take their season record to 4-4 ahead of the break.
Despite an array of injury concerns going into the game which saw seven changes to the side, in addition to the five forced changes last week, the Rovers got the job done against their long-time rivals.
Premiership player Josh Verlin made his return, playing his first game of the year, and starred crashing the packs, strong contested marks and a goal, while U19 players Joel Balleggi and Sam Weatherby made their senior debuts for the club and Jack Lloyd and James Short came into the firsts for the first time this season.
In windy conditions at Albert Park, Hampton kicked against it in the first term and Ajax kicked the opening three goals of the game before Matt Robbins kicked the Rovers first. While the Rovers looked against it, the wind was a huge advantage for the home side and would favour the St Kilda end all day.
Down by 25 points at the first break, the Rovers kicked six goals in the second and held the home side scoreless, to lead by 14 points at half time. Back in the side after a week travelling, co-captain Leigh Fletcher sprinted down the far wing, calmly picked up the footy, a don’t argue and kicked a classy goal at full pace.
Jay Ting kicked the first goal of the third term, against the wind – of which Hampton kicked the only two of the day, before Ajax kicked the next four to take a nine point lead into the final term. Tinga was probably the Rovers best during the term racking up the possessions. The quarter belonged to the Rovers, dominating the play, and it set up the victory, knowing the boys had the advantage of the wind in the last.
Rovers down by 9pts at final change. Got the wind in the last. http://t.co/cXGl6I7F1U pic.twitter.com/d8zUcGgSRf
— Hampton Rovers FC (@HRAFC) May 30, 2015
It was all Hampton in the final term, controlling the play and kicking five goals to one behind (total of 13 scoring shots to one), to win by 28 points and record their fourth win of the season. The last quarter included two contenders for goal of the season within minutes of each other. First it was Ned Fallon who topped off his best game of the year, by collecting the footy, spun out of the pack and calmly slotted a goal with a check-side banana from 40m out. That was followed by young Sam Bradford who ran onto a ball kicked off the ground by Alex Spencer, ran around two opposition players at pace, and slotted the ball from 45m sending the Rovers crowd into raptures. Check out both goals on the match highlights.
“The relief and satisfaction after the game was as good as any,” Rovers coach Guy Martyn told the Bayside Leader.
“There was a pretty strong wind going to the direction (AJAX) had in the first quarter,” Martyn said.
“We were reasonably happy in the first quarter to kick a goal into it and they probably wasted some opportunities but we had some on the full.
“So I thought at quarter time we were in front, even though the scoreboard said otherwise, but we made the most of the wind in the second quarter.”
Daniel Corp was named the Rovers best and picked up the award after the game. Also thereabouts were Josh Verlin, Jay Ting, Jesse Lovig and a host of others. Ned Fallon led the goal kicking with three while Jay Ting and Matty Robbins who leads the goal kicking for the Rovers with 20, kicked two each.
The Rovers remain in fifth position on the VAFA Premier B ladder, one game out of the four, and the only team on 16 points. The boys now have a week off before facing Fitzroy at Boss James Reserve.
HAMPTON ROVERS 1.0 7.3 8.3 13.11 (89)
AJAX 4.7 4.7 8.12 8.13 (61)
Goal Kickers: N. Fallon 3, M. Robbins 2, J. Ting 2, D. Corp, J. Verlin, L. Fletcher, S. Clements, S. Bradford, J. Short
Best Players: D. Corp, J. Verlin, J. Ting, J. Lovig, N. Fallon, A. Spencer
View all the VAFA results | View Match Video Highlights | Vote: Goals of the Week
An injury-depleted Rovers Reserves side struggled gifting Ajax their first win of the season. Steve Anderson was the only multiple goal kicker with two. Best players were Matt Broadley, Oli Jewell and Lachie Wheeler.
At Boss James Reserve, the Thirds took on Collegians and went down by 49 points with Wes Kingsford, James Massey, Jordan Mayne and Vinnie Camera all kicking a goal each, while best players were Liam Dynon, Shem Curry on a quick visit from NZ and Vinnie Camera.
The Under 19s followed and they went down to second-placed Old Geelong by 57 points. Nick Jason kicked three goals and amongst the best were Jack Daley, Liam McCartney and Daniel Tocher.
With no games this week, there will be no training on Tuesday (or Monday for U19s) however training will be on as normal on Thursday evening with the bar open for supporters from 6pm and dinner following training.
