Fitzroy Stars expose Mernda’s demons

BY ASHLEY GEELAN

The Fitzroy Stars came out of the blocks early, leaving Mernda to confront their demons on a very hot day for footy at the Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval in Thornbury.

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FITZROY STARS:   4.7   9.9   12.12   16.16 (112).
GOALS: Elijah Taylor 6, Kyle Wheatley 3, Alex Williamson 3, Jordon Proctor, Kain Proctor, Exavier Whitnall, Raman Winmar.  
BEST: Kain Proctor, Elijah Taylor, Allan Norris, Ethan Penrith, Neville Jetta, Kyle Wheatley.

MERNDA:   0.0     2.3   8.3   10.5 (65)
GOALS: Brayden Plant 4, Jayden Bell 2, William Crouch 2, Nathan Baccega, Bryce Kimuliatis.
BEST: Matthew Campbell, Lachlan Evans, Lincoln Coffey, William Crouch, Brayden Plant, Matthew Golledge.

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In extremely hot April conditions, with the sun beating down on the ground, the Fitzroy Stars, kicking to the St. Georges Road side of Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, quickly took the lead, keeping Mernda scoreless at the first term break.

“They’re going out wide, and we need to bring it back in.

“We need to switch the footy,” Mernda captain Matthew Gollege said at the quarter time huddle.

In the second quarter, Mernda finally put the Sherrin through the sticks, with two goals three, but the Stars added another five goals two in the second, to lead Mernda 9.9 to Mernda’s 2.3.

Mernda managed its way back into the game in the second quarter, but by then, it was too late, as the Stars already had a commanding lead in trying conditions before the main break.

The interchange benches were busy all day, with players on rotation due to the extreme heat.

After half time, the margins narrowed, but Mernda could not catch up.

With only ‘four goals in it’ at three quarter time, the Fitzroy Stars added four goals in the final term whilst Mernda, already well behind, only added two goals, with the Fitzroy Stars winning 16.16 (112) to Mernda’s 10.5 (65).