Rovers fall to Fitzroy

Hampton Rovers haven’t tasted success at Brunswick Street Oval and that continued on Saturday with a heavy defeat at the hands of Fitzroy.

Sam Clements was a late out, adding to the five forced changes from the previous week’s tight loss against Monash. It was going to be a tough challenge, but the boys started well, resulting in the first goal of the game through Sam Bradford, before Nath Smith kicked the goal of the day.

It was a reasonably good first quarter performance by the Rovers, but with the home side kicking five, trailed by 12 points at the first break.

Fitzroy took complete control in the second stanza, booting eight goals and keeping Hampton scoreless. They moved the ball well around the ground and while the young Rovers side battled hard, their bigger bodies and experience proved too much as they took a 63 point lead into half time.

The third term was similar to the first, three goals to five in the home sides favour. 76 points the margin at three-quarter time. And a late goal in the final term nudged the margin past the century – 104 points in the end.

Cristian Carnovale continued his good form, best for the Rovers, supported well by Nath Smith, James Prosser and Ben Audige. The Rovers had seven individual single goal kickers. Youngsters Nic Flocas and Seb Williams made their senior debuts for the club and fared well.

A game to forget for the Rovers, however the senior experience for the young list can only be a huge positive for the future of the club. Now it’s a week-off before the Rovers host Ajax at Boss James Reserve in what’ll be a big day as the skipper Leigh Fletcher plays his 200^th VAFA game.

HAMPTON ROVERS 3.4 3.4 6.8 7.10 (52)
FITZROY FC 5.4 13.7 18.12 23.18 (156)
Goal Kickers: N. Fallon, B. Audige, C. Carnovale, E. Turner, N. Smith, S. Bradford, T. Yorgey
Best Players: C. Carnovale, N. Smith, J. Prosser, B. Audige, R. Atkins, E. Turner