A recap of how the NFNL went in the 2025 AFL Victoria Metro Junior Development Series.
Under 14 Boys (1)
Round 1
Beginning round one were the NFNL Under 14 boys (1) matched up against the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) at Sewell Reserve. The EDFL boys were able to hit the front in the first term giving them a rough 10-point margin which they continued to build upon as the game went on. Archer Lee and Alfie Rowley were standouts from the NFNL with Rowley kicking three goals but ultimately being defeated 9.10 (64) to 6.7(43).
Round 2
Coming into round two the boys played against the Western Football Netball League (WFNL) at Eltham Central Park. The NFNL side started off strong kicking four goals in the first term while keeping the WFNL to one point. The side continued to stay in front with once again Aflie Rowley in the best alongside Sebastian Gigliotti Sevas. Rowley kicked four goals for the game alongside multiple goalkickers, to take away a 17-point victory.
Round 3
Finishing off the last round for the long weekend, the boys faced off Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) at Waterview Reserve. An outstanding game from the side as they were able to keep a considerable margin throughout all four quarters which led to a 110-point win. Mitchell Campbell and Oliver Hill were named in the sides best, Campbell kicking a staggering six goals as well as the NFNL side having 10 different goal kickers.
Under 14 Boys (2)
Round 1
The NFNL under 14 boys (2) kickstarted their campaign against the EDFL at Sewell Reserve. The NFNL were able to keep a considerable lead while keeping the EDFL boys scoreless in the second term to secure a 59-point win. Adam Reginato Jnr and Xavier Groves were named in the sides best with Groves kicking four goals for the game.
Round 2
An excellent game from the NFNL side against the WFNL. A close first quarter, with the NFNL just keeping an eight-point advantage at quarter time. But from that point the boys were able to keep the WFNL scoreless to secure an outstanding 129-point win. Once again Xavier Groves and Adam Reginato Jnr were named in the sides best, both kicking four goals while Hudson Harvey kicked three goals.
Round 3
Finishing round three the NFNL boys were up against RDFNL at Waterview Reserve. It was an incredibly strong start from the NFNL boys, who kicked eight goals in the first term and kept the RDFNL team scoreless until the last term to take away a 164-point win. Nicholas Young and usual suspect Adam Reginato Jnr were named in the sides best. Reginato Jnr and Xavier Groves kicked six goals each while Micah Hoare and Harry Miridakis kicked four goals each.
Under 15 Girls (1)
Round 1
A competitive first round for the Under 15 Girls (1) against the EDFL at Eltham Central Park. A close first term with only a two-point difference but from there the NFNL girls took off to secure an 18-point win, 6.11 (47) to 4.5 (29). The team was well led by Deena Gerges, Grace Robinson and Ayva Corr.
Round 2
The 15 Girls then faced off with the Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) at Walker Park. The EFNL girls managed to advance for the first half but only by a mere three points. The NFNL girls had a game changing third quarter, kicking two goals while keeping the opposing side to none. Millie Maher and Sky Morgan had a standout game while the team had multiple goalkickers to take away a 5-point win.
Round 3
Finishing off round three the girls were up against South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) at RSEA Park. A strong start from the girls, creating a five point margin for themselves coming into the second quarter, but efforts from the SMJFL girls kept our girls scoreless in the second term. Efforts from both sides led to only a two-point difference coming into the last quarter, but it was the opposing team who would take away the eight point win. Efforts from Grace Robinson and Grace Hegarty didn’t go unnoticed while Deena Gerges kicked two goals.
Under 15 Girls (2)
Round 1
A great win for the Under 15 girls (2) to start off their first round against the EDFL at Eltham Central Park. A strong first half kept the opposing side scoreless while the NFNL continued their momentum for the rest of the game to take away a 41-point win. Maya Bloomfield and Skyla Robinson were named in the sides best while Charlie Cowper kicked two goals for the game.
Round 2
The U15 (2) girls then came up against the Western Football Netball League (WFNL) team at Bryan Martyn Oval. An incredibly close first term with the opposing side only leading by one point, but it was the WFNL girls who built on their lead, keeping the NFNL scoreless in the second quarter. The WFNL were able to take away a 50-point win but efforts from Lilith Haimona, Jessica Hazelwood-Smith and Bianca DeCesare didn’t go unnoticed.
Round 3
To finish the last round the girls were up against the Riddell District Football Netball League RDFNL girls. A great game from the NFNL side, who kicked four goals in the first term to hit the forefront with a 25-point advantage at half time. They then had a strong finish, kicking another four girls in the last term to take away a 69-point win. Tasmin Newton and Skyla Robinson were named in the best, Robinson kicked four goals while Jessica Hazelwood-Smith and Alex Nuttman-Brown kicked two goals each.
Under 15 Boys (1)
Round 1
The NFNL Under 15 Boys (1) faced off against the EDFL at Coventry Oval. The EDFL side brought their all in the first half, leading by 54 points at half time. Despite the setback the boys managed to kick five goals in the third term. The EDFL side’s pressure proved to be tough with the opposing side taking away a 45-point victory. Efforts from Billy Brundell and Owen Burchfield didn’t go unnoticed, while there were multiple goalkickers.
Round 2
The NFNL boys then faced the WFNL in Round 2 action at Donald McLean Reserve. It proved to be a tough game as the WFNL side were able to sustain a substantial lead and kept the NFNL side to only four goals for the game, leading to a 48-point win to the opposing side. Regardless of the loss Harry Mitchell and Owen Burchfield were named in the sides best.
Round 3
The NFNL side were up against RDFNL at Gardiner Reserve. A tough first half with the opposing side leading by six points at half time, but with the NFNL side kicking four goals in the third quarter eventuating in a 15-point win. Owen Burchfield and Billy Brundell stood out, Burchfield and Taj Sigley kicked two goals each for the game.
Under 15 Boys (2)
Round 1
Starting off, the Under 15 boys (2) had their first round against the EDFL at Coventry Oval. The NFNL started off strongly, kicking the first three goals of the match, leading to a four-point advantage, but It proved to be a challenging match from there. The EDFL side were able to kick four goals in the second term while keeping our boys scoreless until the fourth term, which led to a 42-point win to the opposing side. Best efforts were shown from Benjamin Zychla and Luke Sauro.
Round 2
To kick off round two the NFNL boys faced off with the (WFNL) at Donald McLean Reserve. The opposing side were able to hit the forefront from the start, but the NFNL side pushed back in the second term kicking three goals which led to a 15-point margin. Despite their efforts the opposing side were able to take away a 57-point victory. Jack Hattenfels and Bryce Karakaltchev were named in their sides best while Karakaltchev kicked two goals.
Round 3
Finishing off round three the NFNL boys were up against RDFNL at Gardiner Reserve. The side were able to take away a 7-point win in a nailbiter, with Liam Angerosa, Charles Nagy and Ace Whitnall named in the best, Whitnall kicked two goals for the game. The NFNL side had an incredibly strong start kicking four goals in the first term and managed to keep a rough 20-point margin until the fourth term when the opposing side kicked two goals, slimming the margin. Despite the comeback from the RDFNL it was the NFNL boys who took away the win.
