Round 6 saw the Melbourne Royals make the trip down the freeway to the ‘Cove’ to face the Buccaneers. The Royals are a Division 2 team and the task against the Buccaneers a Division 1 team was always going to be difficult.

The Buccaneers started on fire right from the first drive on offence. RB #37 Daniel Barnett snapped off a 40yd run for a score and followed it up with a bruising power effort for the 2 point conversion. It didn’t get any better for the Royals from there.

Barnett reeled off a further 3 first half touch downs with runs from 35yds, 3yds and 2 yds and then QB #11 Jon Johnston then scored on a broken play, rushing 40yds in all directions before finally going 10yds forward and scoring. Barnett during the play made one of the biggest blocks seen for years to pop Johnston open into the end zone.

Due to a number of starters sitting on the sideline including kicker James McFadzean, the Buccaneers chose to ‘practise’ their 2 point plays and all 5 conversions were made in the first half. 2 point scores by Barnett (4) and stand in TE #80 Jordon Pigott left the halftime time score at 40-0 to the Buccaneers and the game was effectively over.

The second half got under way with the Buccaneers making numerous changes to the line ups on both side of the ball, allowing all players significant time on the field.

RB #28 Jereme Russell scored on a 15yd run and Barnett grabbed a club equalling 5th TD with an 8yd run. With 95% of plays given to the running game, Johnston blasted off one of the highlights on the day with a 55yd pass to WR #24 Michael Fox who scored his first TD of the year.

The day was complete when #LB 9 Dave Felvus took an intercept and raced 30yds for the TD. All except one 2 point conversion was successful, with Barnett grabbing 2 and WR #88 James ‘Tinman’ Wilson getting the last one. The final score was 70-0.

Even though the Buccaneers won the game easily, all players and coaches were commenting on how the Royals played. They never gave up at any stage and competed hard right to the final whistle.

MVP Defense LB #23 Chunkee Webb
MVP Offense and Overall MVP RB #37 Daniel Barnett

Next week the Buccaneers have a Bye and then the following week are at home at the ‘Cove’ in Corio against the division 2 Croydon Rangers.

Kick Off at 10.30am on Saturday the 25 June 2011.

After travelling to the newest ground in GV at Reservoir (home of the Northern Raiders), it was a pleasure to see a playing surface without mud and water. The surface was in great condition and the sun was shining. The day just got better from there for the Buccaneers.

After a stout beginning by the defense the offense took over and QB #5 Dan Noonan led the Buccaneers on a good drive. Mixing run and pass the Buccaneers moved the ball easily and Noonan hooked up with RB #28 Jereme Russell over the middle for a 25yd TD pass. The extra point was good and the Buccaneers led 7-0.

The defense (without a number of starters) got into the game in a hurry and led by DT #54 Nastee Jackson and LB #23 Chunkee Webb, closed the Miners run game down completely. Strong tackling and great play by the defensive backs, led to turn over’s.

The Buccaneers offense continued to take advantage of the turn over’s and on the 2nd drive of the game RB #37 Daniel Barnett got the guns out after rushing for a TD from 15yds out. Extra point good and the Buccaneers lead 14-0.

The first half continued like that and QB Noonan hooked up on a short pass with WR #20 Denholm Hayter who beat a number of Miners DB’s to score. Extra point good and the score was 21-0.

Shortly after this DB #82 Jason Drzewucki took an intercept after some great coverage and the Buccaneers were on offense again. Noonan drove the team down the field with some short passing and some good running by Jereme Russell. When a trap play was called to the right hand side, OG #70 Jack Vince turned the corner and led Jereme Russell into the Miners backfield. Russell did the rest and scored the 4th TD of the half. Extra point good and the Buccaneers led at half time 28-0

The Buccaneers made quite a number of changes at half time, giving significant game time to backups, including a number of rookies. The trend of the game stalled a little in the 3rd quarter whilst the backups got into the rhythm of the game. An intercept and a punt, turned the ball over but the defense held strong and got the ball back quickly.

QB #11 Jon Johnston commenced to lead the Buccaneers on some good drives, with great running by RB #42 Andrew Maslen and accurate passing Johnston completed 15 of 20 passes for 3 TD’s and 1 Interception. The interception coming after a ball deflected from a Buccaneers receiver into the arms of a Miner. The ball came back to us after another 4 and out with the Buccaneers aggressive defence suffocating the Miners Offence.

The 4th Quarter began with one of the best plays so far this year. QB Johnston dropped back to pass, had to step up to beat a number of blitzers, looked upfield and sent a rocket pass to WR #20 Denholm Hayter for a 40yd reception TD. Extra point was good and the Buccaneers led 35-0.

After a 4th down try failed close to the Miners line, the Miners took over and on the first play, ran the ball 85yds for a TD. Missed assignments and a number of missed tackles on defense made it an easy play for the Miners. Buccaneers led 35-6.

Late into the 4th quarter QB Johnston hooked up with RB Russell on a short pass and again Jereme Russell did something great with the ball. He beat 3 tackles to race 45yds for the score. Extra point good. Buccaneers 42-6.

The scoring finished when QB Johnston smoked a 45yd pass to WR Hayter who was wide open in the end zone. The extra point was good (7 out of 7 for the day) and the final score was Buccaneers 49-6

MVP Defense LB #23 Chunkee Webb
MVP Offense and Overall MVP RB #28 Jereme Russell

Next week the Buccaneers are at home at Corio, to new boys, the Melbourne Royals.

Kick Off at 1.00pm on Saturday the 11 June 2011.

The day began with a long drive to play the most important game of the season so far against the Croydon Rangers. Arriving at the ground it was a shame to see the state of the playing surface. Mud up to the ankles and in all honesty, probably an unplayable surface and a health hazard.

The game started slowly for us with the Rangers picking off a QB #5 Dan Noonan pass and running it back to the house for a score. Rangers 7-0. After another Noonan interception at the Rangers 1yd line, #32 Layke Rossiello forced a fumble and DE #9 Dave Felvus forced a Safety in the Rangers endzone. Rangers 7-2.

Our defense started to settle into the game and with some aggressive play kept the Rangers running game in check, however we continually gave up 3rd and long and 4th and long on passes with our defensive backs under the pump and unable to respond. After a couple of long passes the Rangers were deep into the red zone and scored on a 2yd run. Rangers 14-2.

The pattern continued in the 1st half with interceptions and 3 and outs for the remainder of the half for the Buccaneers on Offense. Our defensive front 7 were doing a great job forcing the Rangers into long passing situations and our Defensive Backs being unable to stop them. Close to the end of the half the Rangers completed a long pass into double coverage on 4th down play. The pass was tipped up and recovered by the Rangers and they scored their 3rd TD of the half. Time ran out and the half time score was Rangers 21-2.

With some half time adjustments the Buccaneers were able to run the ball more effectively and RB’s #37 Daniel Barnett and #28 Jereme Russell gradually chewed up the yards. This enabled Noonan to finally connect on a couple of passes and after he hooked up with WR #20 Denholm Hayter for a 40 yard score the Buccaneers had clawed it back to Ranger 21-8.

Not long after RB #28 Jereme Russell, broke a long one and raced 85yds only to be pulled down at the 1yd line. QB #5 Dan Noonan called his own number and scored on a QB sneak. A missed extra point and the score was Rangers 21-14.

The Buccs continued to dominate the 2nd half and it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before we scored again. The front 7 were firing still on defence but the Defensive Backs, who were finally getting into the game, gave up a couple of big plays over the middle and the Rangers were able to pass in for another score. Rangers 28-14.

Into the 4th quarter and with RB #28 Jereme Russell still dominating we managed to put together a good drive and Russell scored with a 7yd run. Again the extra point was missed. Rangers 28-20. The Buccs tried and on side kick that didn’t come off and the Rangers knelt the game out.

Over all a pretty good performance from the defensive front 7 led by LB #32 Layke Rossiello and some good running by RB #28 Jereme Russell, however the performance of the usually reliable Offensive Line was poor and along with too many interceptions and incomplete passes the Buccaneers were defeated. Plenty to work on for the coming rounds and with team unity and everyone firing we should be ok.

MVP Defense and Overall MVP LB #32 Layke Rossiello
MVP Offense RB #28 Jereme Russell

After a week layoff with the bye, the Buccaneers came into the Round 3 clash with the Western Crusaders, cautious of a team touted as Vicbowl contenders.  With numerous injuries to key players from the Round 1 win over the Warriors and an early game ending injury to star LB #23 Elliot “Chunkee” Webb, the Buccaneers hoped to keep pace with the Crusaders, who were brimming with confidence after winning their first two games of the new season.

Once the whistle blew it was obvious to all that the game was well and truly with the Buccaneers.  We scored on our first 3 possessions in the 1st quarter and led 21 nil.  The 2nd quarter started with the Crusaders going to the air and hooking up on several long passes, this put them in position to  score 2 TD’s the first a QB Sneak and the second a pass over the middle to there TE, however the Buccaneers quickly regrouped and scored the last TD of the 1st half.

The 1st half was dominated by the big Buccaneer Offensive Line #75 Jordon “Wookie” Pigott, #70 Jack “Jacky Moon” Vince, #50 Oswald “Ozzie” Wendt, #56 Will “Willy Styles” Murray and #63 Ricky “Ricky Bobby” Young who completely outplayed and outmuscled the Crusader front 7. TD’s were scored by TE #80 Evan “Hippy” Norbury and RB #37 Daniel “Barney” Barnett from the Offense and LB #47 James “Extremos” McFadzean from the Defence, who recovered a Crusader fumble and returned it to the house.  With McFadzean adding the extra points the Buccaneers went into the break leading 28-14.

With the half time talk centred around the number of penalties conceded and some minor adjustments to the Defensive Backs, the Buccaneers took to the field in the second half and completely blew away the Crusaders from the very first possession.  QB #5 Dan Noonan and WR #20 Denholm Hayter continued their love affair and hooked up twice for TD’s.  Barnett got another one with a great catch over the middle and with RB #28 Jereme Russell scoring with a great run the game was over.  McFadzean missed only once with the extra points and the finals score was 55-14.

A great display of confident football by the Buccaneers with the defence totally dominating any sort of run game of the Crusaders with magnificent performances by the DT’s #54 Nastee Jackson and #55 Anoos Hanusyn and the Offense finally clicking into gear led by Noonan and Barnett and a robust Offensive Line, the Buccaneers were too strong for the Crusaders.

Defence and Overall MVP - DT #55 Mark (Anoos) Hanusyn
Offense MVP – QB # 5 Dan Noonan

Next week we are away playing the Croydon Rangers at 2pm at Croydon.  It should be a very tough battle with an extremely well coached outfit.

Just a reminder that the Buccaneers have a new team member joining us very shortly and you won’t believe who it is.

The first game of the 2011 GV season saw us in a rematch of the 2010 Vicbowl against the Warriors. Missing some good players from the O and D lines the Buccs began the day slowly. 5 red zone opportunities in the 1st half were missed and a number of turn over’s kept the Warriors in it. Finally a punt return for 80 yards for a TD by S #4 Chris Beynon relieved the pressure but a botched extra point left the game at 6-0. The only highlight of the 1st half being 3 picks by CB #82 Jason Drzewucki.

Our defence led by LB #32 Layke Rossiello and DL #54 Nastee Jackson kept the Warriors to 3 and outs whilst our offence failed to fire. Then after another turn over by the Buccs close to our line, the Warriors completed a pass for a TD. After probably the worst half of football from the Buccs in 3 years, we were amazed to be in the game at 6-6 at the half.

The second half began in style with QB # 5 Dan Noonan hooking up with WR # 20 Denholm Hayter for a 45 yard completion and after 2 more plays Noonan scored a TD on a QB sneak. After that initial 2nd half score, the flood gates opened and the Buccs continued to pile on the points. RB #28 Jereme Russell scored 2 times in an MVP performance and the Buccs scored on every possession. Some great power running by Russell and rookie FB # 42 Andrew Maslen set up the pass game with TE # 80 Evan Norbury and the rest of the receiver group getting catches.

The dominance of the Buccs defence cannot be understated. 4 sacks and 5 picks and a complete domination of the Warriors running game made the difference. The day was capped off by some great Special Teams plays with good field position gained on kicks and place kicking by LB #47 Jimmy McFadzean who missed only once on 7 PA attempts.
All in all it was a game of 2 halves. Slow start by the Buccs but a great finish. Final score was 41 – 6.

• Best Offence and MVP – RB #28 Jereme Russell
• Best Defence – LB #32 Layke Rossiello

The day kicked off in great fashion with Arizona Cardinal Punter Ben Graham attending and tossing the coin. We would like to thank Ben for his time along with Councilor Bruce Harwood and the team from the Geelong Otway Tourist Commission for their attendance and help with the day.

A great day with a great crowd at the Buccaneers new home ground.

Garry Wilson
Head Coach

The 2011 Gridiron Victoria schedule and results are detailed below.

The Buccaneers host 6 weeks at our home ground in Corio, with the remaining 6 games played across Victoria and 3 byes.

Keep up to date with our progress all season with the results below!

Continue reading →