A look back at the weekend’s junior results as teams took to the field for the first time this year in Round 1 of the 2017 Northern Football League junior season.
Montmorency got off to a winning start in the Under-18 Girls competition, coming from behind to defeat a spirited Greensborough by 15 points. Trailing by four points at the final change, the Magpies rallied back to keep the Boro goalless in the last quarter on their way to an 8.7 (55) to 6.4 (40) win. Tanisha Giordano kicked four goals for the Magpies. South Morang and Darebin also made winning starts to the season, with impressive performances against Eltham and Wallan respectively.
The Under-17 Blue competition saw Whittlesea streak away in the final term to record a 16-point win over Greensborough. Trailing by 10 points at half time, the Eagles rallied in the third quarter to lead by one point at the last break, before pulling away in the final term to win 9.7 (61) to 7.3 (45). Lenny Coco kicked four majors, while Andrew Robinson impressed for the Eagles. Montmorency also got off to a winning start, leading at every change as it defeated Eltham by 17 points, whilst South Morang was triumphant over Laurimar at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
West Preston-Lakeside got its season off to a strong start in the Under-17 Red competition, comfortably beating Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval, with six Roosters among the multiple goal kickers. Research got its 2017 campaign off to a similar start, streaking away from Eltham after half time at Montmorency Park South Oval.
It was a close opening round in the Under-16 Blue competition. Mill Park and Montmorency played out a thrilling match to start off their campaigns, with the Stallions coming out victors by one point, 10.8 (68) to 10.7 (67). The Magpies had made a fast start and lead by 24 points at quarter time. The close results continued in the competition when Mernda held off a determined South Morang by 12 points. Rory McIntyre put in a strong game for the Demons. Meanwhile, Greensborough got its season off to a positive start, recording a 25-point win over Yarrambat at Anthony Beale Reserve, with Bayley Blakeley kicking five goals for the home side.
Research made a winning start in the Under-16 Red competition, with a big win over Thomastown at Main Street Reserve. Eltham and Diamond Creek continued the trend in the competition, with wins over Whittlesea and Wallan respectively. In both matches the winners set-up their victory in the first half.
The Under-16 Girls competition saw Yarrambat hold on in a tight affair, defeating Kilmore by 11 points at J.J. Clancy Reserve despite being kept scoreless during the final quarter. West Preston-Lakeside won well over Mill Park at Redleap Reserve, with 11 Roosters getting among the goal kickers. Montmorency and Research recorded wins at home against Wallan and South Morang respectively.
Jake Nikolov and Jack Marini combined for 12 goals in Mill Park’s win over South Morang in the Under-15 Blue competition. Diamond Creek had a big second half to down Greensborough, while a six-goal to two second half helped Research down Eltham at Eltham Central Park. Laurimar was the round’s other winner, overcoming inaccuracy in front of goal to beat West Preston-Lakeside.
Mernda produced a dominant second half in its match with Kilmore in the Under-15 Red competition, coming from 16 points behind at half time to record a six-point win at Waterview Recreation Reserve. Montmorency also overcame a half time deficit to record a tight win, defeating Hurstbridge by nine points in what as a close match throughout. Yarrambat was the round’s biggest winner, comfortably accounting for Eltham at Yarrambat War Memorial Park.
