Roleystone seemed well primed to take on a team which had provided strong competiton in previous seasons. Cam "the hard nut" Allnutt was throwing his weight around in a smiling assassin sort of way, and Brodie started his day with a beautiful leaping mark on the half back flank. Matt had a marking attempt denied, but then Adam marked well from a Lochie kick, however his kick for goal fell short.  Good old Liam laid a spectacular tackle about 10m out from the goal, and earned a well-deserved holding free. End result – a great goal! Kelmscott replied quickly, and then Sam booted a textbook drop-punt from the wing, into the goal square and straight down the throat of our favourite Big Unit, Matty, who goaled. Kelmscott kept steamrolling the ball forward, not exactly pretty but certainly effective. David took two courageous marks at centre half back, Troy spoiled well, and Jordan was displaying his usual solid defensive skills.

One of the game's highlights came early in the second quarter when, after taking a good mark, a Kelmscott player decided to play on immediately – straight into a stationary Josh, who was only a metre behind him. Josh went to ground, but the Kelmscott player was the more surprised of the two! David took a great mark, running into the pack and living up to the number on his back – 21, the Lynchmeister!! Bryce was performing similar magic in the centre, tapping the ball forward at every opportunity. A breakdown in defense saw Kelmscott score a slow-motion goal. Intended as a pass, the ball barely dribbled over the goal line. Tom, who had been roving well, kicked the last goal of the quarter.

At half time the focus was still on "doing it as a team" and "talk to each other!" Mick put the players on notice, and said he’d be prepared to play short if guys weren’t prepared to get in there. Liam set the tone early, once again he was putting caution aside as he got right in there. Tom kicked a goal, but it was recalled by the ump who ruled that he had run too far without a bounce.  Cam took a great mark in the centre, then Sam was awarded a free for a high tackle. He goaled from the pocket, another beautiful drop punt. Kelmscott quickly ran the ball down the ground after the bounce, and Jeremy pulled off a brilliant goal-saving tackle right on the boundary line.

Adam, Daniel and Brodie locked the ball up in the forward line, and a goal resulted after Adam received a free kick for a hold. The ball was now more regularly in our forward line. Bryce marked and had a shot, but it was marked on the line. Then Adam marked the resulting kick-in, and put it straight through the middle. The tide was swinging back Roley’s way! Play was stopped when a Kelmscott player accidentally got struck in the head by some wayward arms and legs during  a grapple for the ball, but Roley clearly won the quarter.

By the fourth quarter most of the sting was gone from the game, but Roley did well to maintain their slender lead. The ball was everywhere but near the goals until late in the quarter, when Roley scored a couple of points in quick succession. A good fightback by Roleystone, with David awarded after the game for his solid efforts all day.