Nothing but puppy love in U10's derby day match

It was a crispy start to the morning at the kennel as the pups all rallied together for the infamous Derby Day – Blue’s vs Red.

The game started out even, the intensity was high for both sides – hard at the ball not letting the opposition gain an inch on the ground.

Slowly but surely the Blue team pushed it into their forward-line, where Cody Naismith was waiting in the centre square taking a mark and stopping a goal for the Blues.

The Reds tried to push the ball back out, but it was quickly intercepted by the Blues and pushed back into their fifty, where their full-forward Jye Smith took an uncontested mark and followed it up with a goal for the Blues. The pups quickly reset with the Reds pushing back with a strong tackle from Lenny Nolan, taking down Jett Fawaz but it just wasn’t enough for the Reds to score in the first quarter.

It was time to change things up with big Ray Wolfenden in the ruck who did a really great job while he was there, but it was almost a replay of the first quarter with both teams not giving up an inch.

The Blues started out strong in this quarter, but the Reds weren’t going to backdown.

With strong tackling from Leith Cameron and smothering by Tanner Lee the intensity was high for the Reds.

Oscar Innes taking a great mark and getting it to the reds forward for Jack Caffery to kick a goal for the Reds.

The Blues backline really tried their hardest with Alfie Trew and Noah Hollings working hard in defence, but the Red forwards proved too strong in this quarter.

By the end of the second quarter the scores were tied, showing just how even and determined these pups can be.

The third quarter seemed to be all about the Blues as they came in strong with Ethan Cleary, Billy Easton and Jett Fawaz, all fast and running hard.

The Reds tried to push back with great defence from Lenny Nolan and Eddie Maier but Jett Fawaz snuck through kicking a goal for the Blues.

Ethan Cleary taking down star player Fletch Hennessy in the third quarter who would normally dominate these situations followed by a great mark by Blue’s player Kash Scheibel proved the Blues weren’t going to backdown and they here to stay.

The pressure was high in the fourth quarter as it was do or die for the Reds, with their backs against the wall Max Parry, Sunny Woodrup and Leith Cameron tried their best to hold up the back-line and stop the Blues from getting through but a quick goal was kicked by Archer Paxton kicking his first goal for the season then followed up by a quick second for the Blues which was enough to seal the win for the Blues over the Reds.

With the game at an end, the pups all came together to sing the club song and celebrate – together as one.

Congratulations to the Under 10’s 2023 Beau Vernon Medallist – Aria van Strijp whom played the game in true bulldog spirit!

Awarded players – Alister Bain (Blue), Jett Fawaz (Blue), Archer Paxton (Blue), Otis Joyner (Blue), William McConnan (Blue), Cody Naismith (Red), Tanner Lee (Red), Leith Cameron (Red) and Lenny Nolan (Red) – Well done pups!