A look back at the second week of Air Fusion junior football finals action in our Under-16 to Under-18 competitions.
The Under 18 Girls preliminary final saw Yarrambat take on Diamond Creek Women’s at Coventry Oval. The Creekers intent to respond from their semi-final defeat last week was shown from the start in an impressive defensive display. The Creekers began the contest well and soon went on to kick four goals for the match while keeping the Bats goalless throughout, to secure a 25-point victory and earn a spot in the decider. Ashley Leeson kicked two goals while teammate Stephanie Rozario produced another excellent performance. Phebe D’Arro was a standout for Yarrambat alongside Ashleigh Hunt.
In Under 17.5 Blue Yarrambat faced Montmorency in a great match at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The game was tight from the opening siren, with just two points separating the two sides at quarter time, but a five-goal second term from the Bats broke the game open by the main break. The Magpies looked to respond but kicked 1.7 in the third term. They kept Yarrambat to one major in the last quarter but still fell short of victory by nine points. Kyan Carman kicked four goals to make it 66 for the season for Yarrambat while Sebastian Marasco performed well also. Dylan Colledge booted four majors for his side despite the loss.
Eltham Central Park hosted the Under 17.5 Red preliminary final between Research and South Morang. The fourth placed Searchers kept right up with the top of the table Lions throughout the opening three quarters and led by six points at three quarter time before the Lions stormed home in the final term, keeping Research scoreless while registering 10 scoring shots to finish 19-point winners. Five majors from Arnie Sui, who has now kicked 23 goals in his last five games, had a big impact on the game as did the performance of Jesse John Christidis. Rory Knight and Josh Shepherd both had great days in front of the goals, kicking four each for the Searchers.
Under 16 Girls Blue saw Diamond Creek Women’s and Yarrambat battle it out Ben Frilay Oval. The Bats were full of confidence after their big semi-final win over Laurimar last week and looked to start the game well. But it was the Creekers who played the game on their terms, with a four-goal to nil opening half paving the way towards a brilliant 28-point victory. Zoe Ricardo was a star up forward and produced three majors for Diamond Creek Women’s for the first time this season. The Bats best efforts came from players such as Madeleine Ball and Mia Gigliotti.
In Under 16 Girls Red Darebin took on Eltham at Ben Frilay Oval. The top of the ladder Falcons were determined to bounce back from their semi-final loss while the Panthers could make it three straight victories if they were to cause an upset and they did just that. Eltham managed to keep Darebin goalless throughout the match while producing 17 scoring shots themselves to claim a massive 43-point win and earn a Grand Final spot. Scarlett Johnson and Eloise Sanders were some of the Panthers’ best in a brilliant display by the entire side. Annabel Carwyn and Meerah Sehgal did what they could for the Falcons.
Coventry Oval was the setting for the Under 16 Boys Blue preliminary final between Yarrambat and Whittlesea. Coming off a comfortable victory in the semi-final, it was the Bats who started the game well, taking a 16-point advantage into half time. They slightly extended that margin at the final break before a four-goal last term sealed an impressive 29-point triumph to head to the Grand Final against Montmorency. Archer Harvey and Bryce Arthur stood out again inside 50, kicking three goals each for the winning side. Caden Allen and Blake Morley were the Eagles’ best.
Research faced off against South Morang Gold in the Under 16 Boys Red preliminary final at Eltham Central Park. The Lions were hoping to make it another victory over the top of the table Searchers after defeating them in Round 14, but it was the minor premiers who had a blistering start, kicking six goals to nil in the opening term and never looking back on their way to a strong 68-point victory. Research had nine individual goalkickers for their 18 majors with Joshua Northey starring by booting five goals. Lucas Hender also impressed meanwhile Nicholas Torquati finished as the Lions best.
