A look back over the Round 9 action in the under-16 to under-18 junior competitions.
In the Under-18 Girls, there were four-games played out with Darebin remaining on top of the ladder with strong intentions of remaining first heading into finals. The Falcons defeated Eltham comfortably at Susan Street Reserve. The Falcons Siena Jacques had an outstanding four-quarter performance with a huge impact while teammate Stephanie Elarmaly booted four majors. Panther Georgia Cox was awarded best on ground for her efforts while Ilke Germishuys booted their only major.
Montmorency had a big win over Whittlesea Panton Hill at Montmorency Park South Oval. The Pies had a strong four-quarter display led by Ebony Harris who had an exceptional four-quarters finding the ball in her hands and effectively using it booting a game-high five-majors. Whittlesea Panton Hill may have had no goal scorers but Rebekah Cullen-Hall and Tahlia Brander played superb using the ball well.
Research had a hard-fought win over Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve. The Searchers showed why they are a finals side after a strong display, this was thanks to Ashleigh Smith who had an outstanding game with a major impact on the ball and Milla Fereday booting a game-high four-majors. The Power has no goal-scorers but that did not stop Ashley Fitzpatrick and Tanisha Gerke from having an impact on the game playing brilliantly.
Diamond Creek Women’s had a comfortable win over Northcote at Plenty Park Oval. Diamond Creek put together two strong halves of football showing they are a team who will play finals. Diamond Creek’s Maykaylah Appleby had an incredible six-major haul while teammates Eboni Donnelly and Aimee Kinnane booted two-majors each. Northcotes Charlotte James was awarded best on ground for her efforts while Ava Menzies booted two-majors.
The Under-17s had four games played out with Eltham taking the first position on the ladder due to Research having the bye. Eltham defeated South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in a big win, this was thanks to Jackson Stafford who had a superb four-quarter performance and teammate Thomas Allin booting a game-high six majors. The Lions Noah Dalmau was awarded best on ground for his efforts while teammate Alexander Aleksovski booted the team-high two-majors.
Diamond Creek showed why they are a finals team defeating Montmorency at Coventry Oval. Diamond Creek kicked away in the second half and the Pies could not keep up. Creeker Matthew Hodges had an outstanding four-quarter display while fellow Creeker Benjamin Costa had three-majors including two crucial majors in the final term. Pie Devon Noons had an excellent game having a huge impact on the ball while booting two majors.
Yarrambat had a hard-fought win over Greensborough at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Bats had a strong first half kicking nine-majors to the Boro’s four, Lachlan Heaney had an exceptional four-quarter display finding the ball in his hands while teammates Nicholas Green and Jayco Keppa booted three-majors each. The Boros Mason Glenn was awarded best on ground for his efforts while William Brennan booted a four-major haul.
Kilmore took a closely-contested win over West Preston Lakeside at J.E Moore Park. The Blues put together two strong halves of football to secure the victory despite a fourth quarter push by the Roosters. The Blues Kye Maher had a stellar performance while teammates Jaden Smith and Dylan Knipe booted two-majors each. The Roosters Hussein El Haouli was awarded best on ground for his team while teammate Charbel Khoury booted two-majors.
The Under-16 Blue had three closely contested games with all margins being less than 10 points. Yarrambat remain on top of the ladder after a big win over Greensborough at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Bats led going in to the final term by 19 points before Greensborough booted four unanswered majors but was not enough. Bat Rhys Proll had an exceptional a four-quarter display with a huge impact on the ball while kicking three-majors. The Boro’s Angus Sievers was awarded best on ground for his efforts while teammate Jack Harper booted four majors.
West Preston-Lakeside had a close three-point win over Mernda at J.E Moore Park. The Roosters trailed by two-goals heading into the final term before kicking 3.3 (21) to the Demons 1.0 (6) to secure the win. Rooster Jake Pulice had a superb four-quarter display of football with a huge impact on the ball while kicking a major alongside teammate James Elezovic who booted three-majors. The Demons Kai Turner was best on ground for his team while teammate Clayton Jolly booted four-majors.
Montmorency had a close eight-point win over Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve. Laurimar led by a goal heading into the final term before the Pies booted two unanswered goals to secure the win. Pie Josh Underwood had an outstanding game finding the ball in his hands and effectively using it, fellow teammate Luke Jurkovic led all goal scorers with two-majors. Power Cameron Selvaggio’s efforts did not go unnoticed as he was awarded best on ground for his team while Cody Bunworth, Kaiden Arthur, Jackson Jamieson and Walker Racovalis all booted a major each.
The Under-16 Red had four games be played with Mill Park having a bye and Kilmore remain on top position with a strong finals campaign. Kilmore had a big win over Wallan at J.J Clancy Reserve. Wallan came out strong in the first quarter before Kilmore had an exceptional next three quarters. Blue Alastair Clark had an outstanding game with a huge impact on the ball while teammate Dayne Middleton booted four majors.
Diamond Creek took a closely contested win over Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval. Diamond Creek led at all terms and did not show signs of stopping as they make a hard push for a finals spot. Diamond Creeks Joshua Simpson had an exceptional four-quarter display finding the ball a lot and kicking a major while fellow teammate Thomas Baird kicked three majors. Hurstbridge star Jack Butterfield was awarded best on ground for his efforts including a goal while Cooper Beauchamp booted three majors.
Eltham and Bundoora Park Thunderbolts had a draw at Eltham Central Park. The Thunderbolts led at all times before going scoreless in the fourth quarter allowing the Panthers to kick 2.3 (15) to tie the game up. Bailey Wood from the Panthers had an outstanding game with a huge impact on the ball while teammates; James Kayrooz, Fletcher Cleeve, Alec Foster, Jacob Holmes, Alexander Butterfield-Tucker and Lachlan Mountford all booted a major each. The Thunderbolts Max Reid had a superb display using the ball effectively while booting a major, teammates Oliver Manterfield, Samuel Miller, Matthew Joyce, Louis Fiume, Kaylan Memis and Riley Cameron all booted a major.
Research had a hard-fought win over Whittlesea at Whittlesea Showgrounds. Research trailed by just one-point heading into the fourth before kicking 5.3 (33) to Whittlesea’s 1.0 (6). The Searchers Finnbar Maley had a stellar four-quarter performance with a huge impact on the ball along with three majors. The Eagles Jack Hegarty was awarded best on ground for his team while teammates; William Blyth, Harrison Draper, Jeremy Gorski and Ethan Mann all kicked a major each.
In the Under-16 Girls Blue, four games were played out with research remaining on top of the ladder after a comfortable win to Greensborough at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Searchers put together two equally strong halves to show why they are the best team in the league. Searcher Anneliese Beadle had an outstanding performance with a huge impact on the ball, the trio of Mia Robertson, Tarrah Delgado and Sheridan Blizzard all booted three majors. Emmison Zealley and Tayla Swan booted a major each for Greensborough.
Diamond Creek Red had a big win over Northcote at McDonnell Park. Diamond Creek showed why they are a finals team as they showed no remorse for all four quarters. Diamond Creek Women’s Poppy Strickland, Luka Kennedy and Caitlyn Schwabe all booted a major each. Despite not kicking any goals, Northcote’s Lulu Beatty and Kayla Papadimitriou performed best on for their team.
Montmorency had a closely-contested win over Yarrambat at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. The Pies led at all times and played strong for all four-quarters to secure the win. Pie Clare Moody performed exceptionally well with a huge impact on the ball while Marlo Gardam and Grace Robinson booted the Pies only goals. The Bats did not kick any goals but that did not stop Aylah Hulmes and Nyah Jean Hart from trying their hardest as they were named best on ground.
Kilmore had a big win over Wallan at Wallan Recreational Reserve. Kilmore led at the end of all quarters and kicked an unanswered goal in the final term to seal the game. The Blues Scout Carmody had an outstanding performance with a huge impact on the ball while teammate Sophie Beveridge booted two majors. Wallans Maree Stephenson was awarded best on ground for her efforts while teammates Maddison Ford and Leah Jones booted two majors each.
The Under-16 Girls Red had three games played out with Whittlesea remaining on top of the ladder despite a tough loss to Diamond Creek Blue at A.F Walker Recreation Reserve. Diamond Creek led at all times and showed no remorse and continued to stretch their lead. Diamond Creeks Phoebe Hibbert had a stellar performance using the ball effectively while teammate Imogen Hammond booted two majors. Eagle Keeley Caldow was awarded best on ground for her team while Jade Ventura kicked two-goals.
Mill Park had a comfortable win over South Morang at Redleap Reserve. The Stallions Brooklyn Taigel had an exceptional game with a huge impact on the ball while teammate Cara Mazzarella booted three-majors. Despite the Lions booting no majors, Maddison Clarke and Amber Polgar’s efforts were second-to-none as they were both awarded best on ground.
Darebin Falcons had a big win over Eltham at Susan Street Reserve. The Falcons led at all times and continued to stretch their lead. Falcon Tayissa Tibos was outstanding in her efforts and played exceptionally well while teammate Luisa Mure had an incredible four-major haul. Alla Goodison, Angelique Reibelt and Alysha Rowe all booted a major for Eltham
