16/06/2026
Following on from the King's Birthday bye, rd.9 saw us head down the highway to face ladder leaders Fairpark at the Den.
Our development boys started strong with a lead into the first break, but were well held in the second, where the Lions kicked away. In the third, our boys fought back slightly, however, in the last Fairpark kicked away with eight goals in the last to defeat us by 82 points.
From a senior point of view, it was a heavy start to the day as our football club was informed pre-game of the tragic loss of recent past player Tyler Gray's long-time partner Jemma, in horrible circumstances during the week. In a show of support to Tyler, Jemma, their respective families, friends, & our current senior member, Jarryd, we wore black armbands.
After winning the toss, the boys started really strong in the contest, with pressure all over the field, making it hard for the Lions to get off to a fast start.
Unfortunately, in the second, the injuries started to mount up & the Lions' class shone through, piling on eight goals to enter the major break 77-points up.
In the third, the boys came out with one left on the bench, but the effort was there, and all players gave it a red-hot crack all afternoon.
To start the last quarter, the rain was looking to settle in. This, coupled with the effort and intensity seen across the day by the boys, which was not reflected on the scoreboard, allowed the boys to finish strong with no bench, keeping the Lions to four goals in the last quarter and kicking one of our own. In an effort befitting of the support shown to his long-time mate, playing in honour of Jemma, Jarryd was named BOG.
We were proud of the effort with the lads fighting hard all day, but there is a desire from the group to work hard and turn it around this week, as we head back to Zebraland to host cross-town rivals Nunawading.
'06' u19's 20-Yr Premiership reunion will be in full swing on the hill during the days games, so we look forward to seeing you all there.
