Womens Non-Contact Round 7 Match Report by Sue
On an overcast winter’s morning the Warrior Women trekked off to Williamstown’s home ground in Altona North. In an absolute weather miracle there was actually no wind on what is usually a very windswept oval. A bit light on for numbers this week with Helen still sunning herself in Europe, Susie nursing a nasty twisted ankle from 2 weeks ago,  Sunita taking her Mum away for the weekend and Kirsty coming down with a cold.
However the rest of us are still as keen as mustard. We had a couple of other regulars join us from Williamstown and Kylie (Grant’s much better half – lol) making her first appearance for season 2025.
The hardest part of the game – selecting 2 evenish sides! Not going to lie I think I did a good job this week. The game was pretty even with both sides scoring heaps of goals. We all rotate through the 3 areas of the ground each game so we all get to develop our skills in attack and defence, even Sandra who given an option will want to stay in the ruck for the whole game. 
So who did what? I can’t remember haha. What I do know is that every game we see player’s skills improving. What we work on in training is always on display in a game. Kicking to advantage and knowing what that actually means – accomplished.  Evading players cos they can’t tackle you – accomplished. Renata and Sandra are especially good at this. Defending our players (when you can keep up with them. Reminder to self do not play against Kylie).A great speciality of Jen and Renata – going great. Handballs – perfect. Left foot kicks especially in front of goal – so good. Ground ball pick ups and using our body to protect the ball. Cathy has this ingrained and Mich has improved heaps - getting better and better.
Kicking low, short, long whatever is the best option. Reyzl shines in this  – excellent even if we muck it up sometimes. Kicking under pressure and not panicking – a work in progress but the more we practice the better it is getting.
Having the best time and coming off the field feeling fabulous because you got to execute all these things – most definitely achieved!
A bonus week off for the school holidays until round 8 on Sat 19th July. Only 3 games of the season to go but we will make sure we get games in for the finals rounds as well.

Over 50s Mens Round 7 Match Report by Grunta

This round’s game was brought to you by Voltaren, with an ever-changing team forming right to the last second made up of weary 55s players backing up every week, regular 50s players with niggles, and a handful of players yanked out of retirement or prison for a rematch with Parkdale. From Eddie’s hard work on the phone we scored some very handy late ins, as we welcomed back Sammy, Martin, Paws, Scotty, Col x 2, and of course Kenny I’m-not-playing-I’m-done-for-the-season-I-need-surgery-the-pain-is-excruciating-no-way-I-can-play-ok-I’m-in Johnston.

We had a 9am start in Parkdale, with rain adding further misery to the early game time, but when the first siren sounded the sky had cleared and a beam of light shone across Gerry Green Reserve. That was Damo’s smile, the happiest man in Victoria as Martin arrived with 5 minutes to spare to take the ruck duties for the day.

Parkdale got the first goal but the Warriors quickly replied, with Clint marking on the boundary line and kicking beautifully for our first major. The Warriors were on, with weapons all over the ground running hard to not only neutralise Parkdale attacks but rebound forward.

Working through tall targets like Damo, Martin, Col, Clint and Adorab-Al, we gained a number of entries into our forward line. The second-best play of the day came from Theo pouncing on the ball in the pocket, snapping it over his shoulder from an improbable angle and curling it through like a lamb gyro in a food fight* to put us even with Parkdale at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was just as competitive, but a couple of bad turnovers cost us. I got a possession in the backline and spied Clint for the switch, but he wasn’t inside my 10m required radius and I only kicked it halfway to see a Parkdale player gobble it up for a goal. Here’s what’s great about this Warriors group – no words of criticism came, just encouragement, and that’s a big step forward. No need to pile on. We know when we stuff up – I do – and we get on with the next play.

Col was at his aggressive best, bullocking his way through packs and grabbing marks, and we looked dangerous every time we went forward. Some exquisite ball movement from the backline up to the forward line resulted in an Adorab-Al mark in front of goal who kicked truly to convert, but we still hit the sheds at half time 13 points down.

Our third quarter was a win. Sammy the Saviour had been on the move and racking up touches all game, and was rewarded with a critical goal that Theo tried to pinch on the line, but the score review from the ARC showed it was all Sam. Martin took a fantastic grab in the middle of a pack for another goal, and when Theo snagged his second we were threatening hard, just two goals down at three quarter time.

Col made it to halfway through the third before the obligatory send-off, with Eddie going in to bat for him at three quarter time, chatting with the umpire before we were required to reduce numbers to 16-a-side in line with the latest rule change (if one team can’t get a full side out due to injuries, the other team has to match their number, can’t play with one extra anymore).

The last quarter was an arm wrestle as fatigue set in on both sides. Gez took a great mark inside 50, but just out of range for his trademark Nate Caddy overhead kick (he’s been practicing it!) so he passed it off. Gez does not do ordinary goals. Paws starred in the last and snagged an excellent goal from an angle for our seventh, and our solid defence held Parkdale to one for the quarter but we were still 15 points down with under a minute to go. Gettable.

Time for the play of the day. A scramble out of defence led the ball to Gez in the back pocket who booted it to me at half back, where I picked it up on the half volley, turned and lit the jets, burning up the wing like a gazelle for 12 bounces with a singular focus – don’t fall. Maths is not my strength – it could have been two bounces and lucky if it was 20 metres gained, but what is not in dispute is a) No-one caught me, and b) I was rooted.

Ok, so the working theory is that 16 of the 16 Parkdale players were already heading for the changerooms with 30 seconds to go, and sure I fluffed the kick but don’t ruin the moment.

The Warriors didn’t get the win but we gave Parkdale a mighty scare and played our best football of the year. Our marking was a stand-out, we rarely dropped one and the many chains of kicks and handballs were the best we have produced. The improvement over the past few games has been immense.

Bet365 was paying $486 for the following multi –
1. Warriors to kick their highest score for 2025
2. Clint 5000m gained – outstanding game
3. Bruiser to change his name to Alcatraz – no-one escapes.
4. Kenny engaging a witch doctor and using voodoo to get his shoulder through another game
5. Non-violent coup to erupt over a change of captaincy


I very nearly got the lot. Ed elected Gerry captain suddenly and told him to lead the team out, but Pas was having none of that and squeezed to the front to hold onto his rightful place at the head of the queue. But you should have seen the look on Gezza’s face when he thought he had the top job – watch your back Pas is all I’ll say.

The 50s have a three week break now before another early start away on 20 July against Peninsula.

Score

Parkdale 9.8.62, Eastern Warriors 7.5.47

*Lamb gyro in a food fight makes no sense to me either but I was in a rush and apologies for offending any cultures.