A look back over last weekend’s action in the Under-16 to Under-18 junior competitions.
The final three games of the Under 18 Girls home and away season began at the Whittlesea Showgrounds with Whittlesea facing Montmorency. With neither side in the running for finals, it was an opportunity for both teams to claim one more win to conclude 2024. In difficult conditions, the Magpies kicked the only goal of the match to run out eight-point victors. Annalise Jones made it back-to-back weeks in Montmorency’s best while Charly Bandera produced the team’s lone major. Ella Moore impressed again for the Eagles.
Research were looking to enter the finals with plenty of momentum as they traveled to Plenty Park Oval to face Diamond Creek Women’s. The Searchers produced their highest score since Round 11 with 20 scoring shots in a strong 41-point triumph to end the season as minor premiers. Sierra Filippone was the team’s only multiple goalkicker and finished as the away side’s best with teammate Isabella Turner’s stellar campaign continuing. Stephanie Brancati was a standout for the Creekers.
A terrific contest played out between Eltham and Yarrambat at Eltham Central Park. The sides could hardly be split by half time with the Panthers leading by a point at the main break before they extended their lead out to a seemingly match winning 15-point advantage by three quarter time. However, the Bats fought back with the last two majors of the game but fell short by just a single point in a thrilling match. The hosts were led by Jessica van Hattum and Abbey Vaughan, with the latter kicking two goals along with Maalu Choka. Impressing for Yarrambat was Jasmine Farrell and Jasmine Sellman.
A huge three-match slate played out in Under 17.5 Boys (1). Beginning with what was a must-win match for Whittlesea if they wanted to play finals in 2024 when they hosted Research at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. The Eagles were up for the task, and after a four-goal to zero opening half, they kicked nine majors in the final three terms to run out 97-point victors and secure fourth position. Caden Allen and Chevy Gottwalt led the way up forward with three majors apiece for the winning side, while Justin Chambers-Jones finished the regular season with nine consecutive mentions in his side’s best. Research’s best efforts came from Nathan Bradshaw and Tom Dozzi.
With Whittlesea’s triumph, South Morang Blue had to defeat Montmorency in their battle at Montmorency Park South Oval if they were to pip the Eagles in fourth spot. Unfortunately for the Lions, the Magpies controlled proceedings from the opening siren, kicking seven majors to one in the first half to set up a 65-point triumph. Nash Dyer maintained his incredibly consistent campaign with another three-goal, best on ground for Montmorency, and was assisted well by Zachary Broadbent. Lucas Yacoub made it eight straight matches hitting the scoreboard despite South Morang Blue’s loss.
Top two sides Eltham Black and Yarrambat played out a pre-finals battle at Eltham Central Park before their semi-final meeting next week. It was a brilliant six-goal to one first half that set up the Panthers’ eventual 20-point victory, despite the Bats kicking five of the last eight majors of the game. Thomas Bell and Eamon Magnuson were standouts for the home side, while Sam Baldwin booted a season-high total of three majors. He was outdone on a scoring front by Yarrambat’s Archer Harvey who kicked four goals for the third time in his last four matches.
Round 14 in Under 17.5 Boys (2) kicked off at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, as South Morang Gold faced Epping. It was the Lions’ four-goal second term that broke the game open and propelled them a 66-point victory on their home deck, ending a three-game losing streak for the side. George Thalasinos was superb for the winning team, while Louis Bartolomeo, Thomas Dimovski and Joshua Evans all kicked two goals apiece. Joshua Bawden ended his campaign on a high for the Blues with another standout performance.
Kilmore could officially clinch the minor premiership with a win over Eltham Red in their clash at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The Blues were in total control from start to finish and produced 38 scoring shots in a massive 117-point victory over the Panthers to finish on top of the ladder ahead of the finals series. The hosts had 12 individual goalkickers, with William Bowshall-Tanner and Jackson Mansfield leading all players with three majors each. William Falla performed admirably for Eltham Red despite his side’s heavy defeat.
Both Laurimar and Mernda were looking for another win to bank ahead of finals when they met at Laurimar Reserve. A two-goal half time advantage turned into a 28-point three quarter time lead for the Demons which proved crucial in their 19-point win over the Power. Darcy Kinash made it 14 majors in his last four games with another powerful three-goal performance, while teammate Edmond Saikaly finished as the winning side’s best. The Power saw great contributions from Jack Cornwell and Lincoln Mason.
Montmorency took on Diamond Creek Women’s 1 to open the three-game slate in Under 16 Girls (1). The Creekers had no issues in keeping the Magpies at bay throughout the contest, holding their opposition to one-point on their way to a huge 72-point win, officially going the entire 2024 home and away campaign without a defeat. NFNL representative Isabel Bott finished in her side’s best for the third time in her previous four games, while an equal season-high of three majors from Nakita Parker helped produce the winning team’s highest total since Round 10.
The bottom two teams in Kilmore and Eltham looked to each get one more win in season 2024 when they did battle at J.J. Clancy Reserve. After an eight-point difference between the two sides at quarter time, the Blues kept the Panthers scoreless for the remainder of the game on their way to a 41-point triumph. Chiara Amoroso starred for the victors with a terrific four-goal effort, the second time in her last four matches she has achieved the feat. Tiah Bishop’s marvelous campaign for Eltham ended on another positive, finishing as her side’s best.
A crucial clash between Yarrambat and Whittlesea at Yarrambat War Memorial Park concluded the round, with the winner set to finish second and earn a double chance spot. The match was tight all afternoon, with the Bats leading by two points at half time before the Eagles took a four-point advantage into the final term. Both teams managed goals in the final term, but it was the visitors who held on to finish three-point winners, securing second position. Alice Fitzgerald and Dayna Kelly were key for Whittlesea in the triumph, while Isabelle Annanmaki was influential for the Bats.
South Morang had the bye ahead of their finals campaign during Round 14 action in Under 16 Girls (2). Diamond Creek Women’s 2 hosted Darebin at Plenty Park Oval in what was a competitive contest. The Falcons struck first with the opening goal of the match to lead at quarter time, before the Creekers kicked one themselves in the second quarter and held on for the remainder of the game to finish narrow two-point victors. Mikayla Naffa kicked the only goal of the game for the home side which proved critical in the triumph, while Vieda Simons-Moemai was terrific for Darebin.
Top of the ladder Research made the trip to Waterview Recreation Reserve to tackle Mernda. The Searchers kicked three majors in each half while keeping their opponents to just one behind for the match in a 40-point triumph, ending the 2024 home and away campaign undefeated. Sienna Bandera and Ayva Humphreys booted two goals each while Alice Welburn finished as the away side’s best. The Demons saw great efforts from Lily Bondrov and Olivia Whittaker.
Yarrambat were on bye duties as two matches concluded the regular season in Under 16 Boys (1). Ladder leaders Eltham Black were looking to solidify top spot when taking on bottom placed Diamond Creek at Eltham Central Park. The Creekers kept up with their opponents in the first term to trail by just seven points at quarter time, before the Panthers piled on 11 of the next 13 majors in the final three quarters to record a comfortable 68-point victory. Logan Shepherd booted five majors to make it 18 goals in three games against Diamond Creek in 2024, while Ethan Hardman finished in the away side’s best for the fifth consecutive match.
Montmorency Black and Mill Park’s meeting ended the round out at Montmorency Park South Oval. The Parkers led by six points at quarter time before the Magpies fought back to lead by a point at the main break, and never looked back afterwards, conceding just 11 more points for the rest of the match on their way to a 12-point triumph. Thomas Harley’s nice patch of form continued with another great match for the home side, while Benjamin Feeney was the only multiple goalkicker with two majors. Mill Park was led by a standout performance from Declan Allen.
South Morang and Montmorency White’s game at Mill Park Lakes Reserve kicked off the four games in Under 16 Boys (2). The Lions shot out of the blocks with a 33-point quarter time lead which grew to 55 points by the main break, all while keeping the Magpies scoreless. It set up their eventual 71-point win, seeing them end the season with two straight victories. Toby Luke’s stunning campaign did not halt for South Morang as he finished as his side’s best while Jason Arden was also a standout for the winning side. Erza Callec impressed for Montmorency despite the loss.
Laurimar and Greensborough did battle at Laurimar Reserve in what proved to be a great affair. The lead changed hands multiple times, first with the Boro leading by three points at quarter time before the Power took a five-point advantage into the main break. Greensborough then produced a three-goal quarter to lead by 12 heading into the final term, but the home side would respond with a three-goal term of their own to hold on to a six-point triumph to end their season on a high. Matthew Mirra was a solid contributor for the victors, with teammate Jaxon Kueffer kicking two goals. Another influential James Harding performance almost got the Boro over the line.
Wallan made the journey out to Waterview Recreation Reserve to clash with Mernda. A six-goal opening quarter propelled the Magpies into a great position, with their gap never threatened on their way to a 33-point win away from home. Domenico Luci was a force inside forward 50 and ended the match with a season-high of seven majors. Jack Brundell was also terrific for Wallan while the Demons were led by Brayden Geary and Ben Lyons, the latter booting four goals.
Eltham Red and Whittlesea met for the second time in 2024, this time at Susan Street Reserve. The Panthers fell by 134 points in the side’s other game earlier this season, and while the Eagles still dominated with 29 scoring shots, it was an improved performance from the hosts to see them go down by 79 points against the ladder leaders. Brodie Brander finished as the away side’s best and Oliver Morgan and Jack Wunderlich kicked four majors apiece. Alexander Botev impressed for the Panthers.
