Match Report - 24 April 2021

Round 3

24 April 2021 Away

AJAX v Fitzroy 

On the Anzac Day weekend, AJAX took on Fitzroy at the Brunswick Street oval. In what was a fantastic game of football, AJAX fought until the very end managing to hold on to a 6-point win with a gutsy and determined effort.

The first quarter was a scrappy affair with both teams feeling each other out over the first 5 minutes. AJAX put constant pressure on the Fitzroy defenders, resulting in a fantastic goal from 16-year-old debutant Harry Sheezel who proved to be a match-winner throughout the day. Noah Webb who played all over the ground was immense in the opening term, taking intercept marks for fun and providing first use in the ruck. In wet conditions, Nicholas Cohen managed to kick a scrappy goal to give the Jackas a 14-point lead at the first break. 

In the opening stages of the second-quarter AJAX dominated possession but failed to convert it into goals given the difficult conditions. As the quarter progressed Fitzroy grew into the game kicking three goals in a row. AJAX were able to wrestle back momentum and after a near mark of the year by Adam Caplan, Harry Sheezel showed great forward line instincts waiting for the crumb and kicked his second for the game. Unfortunately, AJAX did not get reward for effort as Fitzroy kicked a late goal to give them a 1-point lead at the main break.

Conditions worsened at the beginning of the third quarter and to make matters worse AJAX were down two rotations with Nicholas Cohen out with a concussion and Daniel Cohen out with a hamstring injury. Despite this AJAX continued to battle hard and kicked the opening goal. The Jackas were dominant in all facets of the game and were quick to kick a second. Match winner Harry Sheezel never looked out of place and kicked a fantastic goal towards the end of the term that gave AJAX a 12-point lead at three-quarter time. 

To win this game AJAX needed a monumental team effort and that's exactly what coach Adam Andrews got. Despite conceding the first goal of the final quarter and Reece Israel leaving the game with a dislocated shoulder the team continued to fight. AJAX played with desperation and it showed, Reece Israel remarkably returned to the game to give AJAX a second rotation on the bench. Charlie Hamilton popped up with a crucial goal to give the Jackas some breathing room. However, Fitzroy kept fighting kicking a late goal to cut the margin to 5 points. Late in the term, Jarryd Ludski made a game-saving tackle to allow AJAX to hang on to a 6-point victory that would make the ANZACS proud. 

Next week AJAX takes on Old Haileyburians at 2pm at Gary Smorgon Oval.

Goal Kickers: H Sheezel 4, A Caplan, N Cohen, Hamilton
Best Players: Webb, H Sheezel, Jo Ludski, Krongold, Burstin, Hamilton