A review of the Round 6 junior action.
In the Under 18 Girls competition, Darebin Falcons Womens got over the line in a tight contest, holding off a late Epping surge to win by 15 points. They move into second whilst the Pingers are in fifth. Mernda and South Morang both recorded convincing wins as they beat Eltham and Montmorency respectively. This sees the Lions remain undefeated atop the ladder and the Demons in fourth spot. Hurtsbridge were the other winners as they kept Lalor Stars scoreless in a 52-point result.
In the Under 17 Blue competition, Research and West Preston fought out a close match at J.E Moore Park, with the Search winning by 25 points despite a late Roosters charge. Joshua Tomada and Ryan Payne led the way for the Search, with Payne booting five goals for the match. Montmorency also recorded a win as they beat Diamond Creek by 70 points, which was set up by a 6.2 to 0 start. Meanwhile, South Morang beat Epping in an 11-point thriller.
Whittlesea and Hurstbridge both recorded big wins in the Under 17 Red competition, beating Yarrambat and Diamond Creek respectively by more than 10 goals. Wallan also recorded a good win as they beat Mill Park by 43 points. Cameron Nickson and Jake Neilson led the way for the Magpies, with Neilson bagging three goals for the game. The other winner for the round was Eltham as they beat red division newcomer Northcote by 39 points. Leading by five points at three quarter time, the Panthers kicked six goals in the last term to steer clear.
The Under 16 Blue competition saw Eltham comeback against Research in a tight affair at Research Park. Despite trailing by seven points at the final break, the Panthers, led by Jacey Winter with two goals and Harvey Furlong, were able to claw their way back into the match and run on top of the Search, winning by two goals. That was as close as it got for the competition as South Morang and Mill Park both recorded big wins over Montmorency and Epping respectively.
South Morang has kept their winning run alive as they remain atop the Under 15 Blue ladder, easing to victory over West Preston. Nathan Viotto and Ben Peterson led the way for the Lions, each bagging seven goals in a dominant display up forward. Greensborough recorded their second win in succession, accounting for Wallan by 47 points. Lucas Northeast and Lachlan Jepsen were amongst the best for the Boro as they continue their good recent form. The other winners for the round was Epping as they proved too good for recently promoted Research.
The Under 15 Red competition saw Diamond Creek upset Yarrambat at Coventry Oval. The big win was a statement to the rest of the competition as they dismantled one of the premiership fancies. Eltham were the other winners in the competition as they beat Montmorency. James Way and Oliver Smith led the way for the Panthers, combining for five goals.
In the Under 15 Green competition, Bundoora Park recorded their second win in a row, beating Epping by 77 points. The Bolts were led by Jack Ferlazzo and Liam McLeod, who each booted five goals. They were assisted by Jordan Martin who fed them after winning the hard ball. Keon Park also recorded a win as they beat Kinglake by 23 points in a see-sawing affair at Kinglake.
South Morang kept their unbeaten run alive in the Under 14 Blue competition, holding off a late comeback from Montmorency to win by four points. Ahead by 24 points at half time, the Magpies were able to reduce to two goals at the final break and then ultimately fell short in a very good effort. Laurimar Black also recorded a win, beating West Preston by 28 points. Despite a close opening term, the Power pulled away from the Roosters and recorded an important win. Eltham was too good for Epping in the competition’s third game, which sees them move to second on the ladder.
In the Under 13 Blue competition, Greensborough scraped past Montmorency by five points at Beale Oval. In a tight contest all day, it was the Boro who delivered when it mattered the most. The win sees them sit in equal first on the ladder, alongside Whittlesea and South Morang Blue, who both recorded convincing wins over Epping and Bundoora Park respectively, with the Lions sitting atop with a far superior percentage.
The Under 12 Blue competition saw Eltham bounce back as they defeated Mill Park by 13 points. Inaccurate kicking nearly cost the Panthers the game, kicking 1.9 in the first quarter. They trailed by 13 points at the final break before keeping the Stallions scoreless in the final term to pull off a 26-point turnaround. South Morang Blue were the other winners as they accounted for Wallan by three goals.
Greensborough and Montmorency played out a tough draw in the Under 11 Blue competition, both sides locked at 6.5.41. It was tight for most of the match but in a see-sawing affair, and nothing could separate the two sides as they both split the points. Yarrambat still remains undefeated after they beat Eltham, with South Morang Blue the round’s other winners.
