But unfortunately, that's what Seymour's youth girls team had to endure in its Shepparton District Junior Football League match against Shepparton United, which it lost 0.2 (2) to 9.16 (70).
To top it off, the opponent is the competition yardstick and with a squad of 25 it generously offered five players to help the Lions and ease its own oversupply of players.
New player Hannah Berriman from Bonnie Doon must have wondered what she had got herself into.
The Lions got down and dirty, and the team fought like caged lions to keep its opponents amazingly to only nine goals for the match.
Injuries again cruelled the team, with leading goal kicker Chloe Locke going down with an ankle injury, the fourth player to do so.
Mikayla Delaney copped a few solid bumps bouncing off her bigger opponents and to the delight of the crowd brushed herself off and kept running!
Undeterred it was key playmakers Georgia Gall, Emily Chapman, Olivia McGee ad Mani Foubister in her first game for the year leading the way and making every contest a hard fought one.
In tough times, some players step up and in this match Kayla Davidson, Darcie Donovan, Imogen Lynch and Tanisha Welsh had to help hold down key positions and they didn’t flinch.
The game was ugly at times and the Lions’ pressure saw their opponents kick 16 points, a testament to backs like Ruby Cooks’ relentless pressure.
While only managing a few minor scores, the Lions never gave up and should look forward to their next match when the majority of the squad is available and the prospect of some new recruits signing up before the June 30 deadline will help in the run to finals.
Many thanks again to the helpers on the day, especially to the Chapmans, with Russ always the first aid and trainer and Leanne stepping in to undertake team manager duties.
The Lions will next take on Moama in Shepparton on July 11.
Let’s hope COVID-19 plays no part in the NSW team coming to the game.
