Redtails U17 v Melbourne NGA 7.12.2019

U17 Redtails flew to Melbourne to vers Melbourne NGA at Gosch Paddock on 7th December 2019

U17 Redtails defeated Melbourne NGA 
13-14-92 to 3-3-21
 At Gosch Paddock – Melbourne – 7th December 2019 @ 11.15 am - Write up by Alecia Clarke

 

The Redtails squad commenced training in the first week of October and had up to 60 young Centralians attend in the hope that they would be selected to take on the Melbourne Next Generation Academy at Gosch Paddock on the 7th December. This created one of the hardest team selections for the 4 Coaches, the final team consisted of a mixture of nine 17-year old's, six 16-year old’s, nine 15-year old's and two 14 year old’s. 

  Through the journey the Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program had our young talented men covering up to 6.5 kms twice a week at training, through organised tailored running and skill sessions as well as engaging some lads back into school, organised work experience opportunities with employee’s, submitting applications for apprenticeships and structured health clinics throughout the training block.

   The commitment level was the obvious standout with one young man’s parents driving in from Mt Allan, 280km's from Alice Springs every Monday so he could train and then drive home that night. They decided to make the journey twice in the last week once for the Monday and then again for the last Thursday session. He was a no show for the Thursday, but for good reason the family had broken down on the Tanami Highway. They somehow got a message through to say they would be in Alice at around 9.30pm and would be at Traeger in time to get on the bus to the airport. Sure, enough they were. One of the other young men lived at Bonya, 400km's North East of Alice, his attendance and effort had been exemplary but he had forgotten to communicate that he would be back at Bonya in the final week of selection. Consequently he was put as an emergency player simply because we didn't know where he was. Long story short he found out that he missed the cut because of the failed communication, had is mum drive him 400km's in the following Monday and trained with the team for the last 2 training sessions. As luck would have it he ended up traveling on the trip when a young lad couldn't make it in from Harts Bluff.

  On game day, as a result of all their pregame training and preparation and the resounding support from Coaches Clarke, Talbot, Adams & Barry, the group had an air of calmness about them with a strong sense of purpose to prove to all their worthiness to be looked at as serious contenders for a potential future in AFL. In the first quarter both sides had a fair amount of the ball, Foster was up and about and successful in scoring the 1st goal of the game. Our relentless defenders, Wollogorang, Forester, Long, J. Jones, Yunupingu, Patrick, Evans & Pareroultja made Melbourne work hard to kick the next goal. Ford lead well for us in the forward line and kicked true enabling us to sneak ahead with a 6 point lead at the end of the first term. 
Redtails 2-3-15 to Melbourne NGA 1-3-9

  In the 2nd Quarter the lads started to find some cohesion and great voice and direction by their Captain Wollogorang. As their nerves calmed their skills and smooth ball movement improved and ruckmen Scrutton and Richardson-Mills lead the movement and found the silky and efficient hands of Bruce, Sandry, Martin in the centre with great support from Haywood, Coffey and Lynch. Bruce got us away to a flying start with a brilliant goal, closely followed by Nelson with 2 and then Bruce with his 2nd goal. Melbourne NGA were able to add a goal near the end of the quarter as we increased our lead to 28 points. 
Redtails 6-7-43 to Melbourne NGA 2-3-15

  In the 3rd Quarter Melbourne got off to a good start with the first goal. Our Forwards Hayes, L.Jones, Ross, Reiff, Nelson, Ford, Lang, Foster, Baliva and Maher got busy then and turned up the heat and intensity to create goal opportunities for Ford, Ross with 2 and Sandry his first goal extending our lead out to 48 points.                                                           
Redtails 10-9-69 to Melbourne NGA 3-3-21  

In the final quarter the Redtails contingents held nothing back they continued to work hard for each other and ran the game out with plenty of great voice from the Captain Wollogorang in defence to hold their positions and man up, creating an opportunity for Martin, Sandry and Pareroultja to add a goal each. Our defenders and midfielders were clinical and ruthless with any forward entry by Melbourne keeping them scoreless and securing a Great Victory for the team by 63 points. 

A Massive Thanks to Coaches Rob Clarke, Darren Talbot, Luke Adams & Dylan Barry and
Sports Med – Madison Longe

Redtails 13-14-92 to Melbourne NGA 3-3-21

Best on Ground: Tyrell Martin, Luke Sandry, Alonzo Nelson, James Bruce, Khori Richardson-Mills, Copelan Ford & Mishai Wollogorang.

Goals Scorers: Jack Sandry, Alonzo Nelson, Kaleel Ross, James Bruce & Copelan Ford – 2goals each, Tyrell Martin, Luke Foster & Billy Pareroultja – 1 goal each