A look back over last weekend’s action in the Under-16 to Under-18 junior competitions.
At the Under 18 Girls level Eltham kicked off their season in style with a big victory over Mernda at Eltham Central Park. The Panthers kicked eight of their 11 goals in the second and final quarters and kept Mernda scoreless for the entire match to secure a 11.11 (77) to 0.0 (0) victory. Eloise Sanders kicked two for Eltham and was one of the Panthers better players alongside Georgie Conlin and Joss Hanrahan. Taylah Buck had another solid performance for the Demons.
In the other game for that competition at Plenty War Memorial Park, Yarrambat secured a big road victory against Diamond Creek Women’s. It was a consistent four quarter effort from the Bats, kicking 11.17 (83) and keeping the Creekers to just 0.5 (5). Northern Knights player Isabella Hawkins starred with three goals alongside Madeleine Ball who also kicked a goal for the Bats.
The second round of the Under 17.5 Boys competition commenced with a matchup between Wallan and South Morang at Greenhill Reserve. After trailing at quarter time, the Lions kicked seven goals and kept the hosts scoreless in the second term to set up the 15.8 (98) to 5.8 (38) victory. Adam Huybers kicked five goals and was stellar alongside Cooper Butler and Kaden Isherwood, the latter of whom kicking three goals. Campbell Harrison kicked three goals while Alastair Clarke was the Magpies best on.
Round 1 winners, Diamond Creek and Montmorency, then met at Coventry Oval. Not much separated the two in the opening three quarters before the Creekers kicked four goals to just one to secure the 11.9 (75) to 6.7 (43) victory. Ben Hoffman was the main man in attack this week for the Demons with three goals while Lucas Hawken played a key role in the victory. Mason Rigg and Dylan Keating were the Magpies two best players for a second weekend in a row.
Laurimar Reserve hosted the closest game of the round in the Under 17.5 Boys competition between Laurimar and Whittlesea. After a two goal to nil opening term the Power were able to hold on for the rest of the game and secure a 5.7 (37) to 4.6 (30) victory over the Eagles. James Gomez was best on for the Power who had only two goalkickers in Logan Knight (three goals) and captain Jaxon Kueffer (two). Whittlesea had all individual goalkickers and were well led by Connor Field.
Yarrambat was the other big winners in the Under 17.5 boys competition in their game against Eltham at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. The hosts won the first three quarters of the game to lead by 13 goals at the final break. Three goals to each side in the last saw the Bats claim a 76-point victory, 17.14 (116) to 5.10 (40). Archer Harvey booted another six goals to make it 12 goals in the opening two games for him. Russell Clark and captain Isaac Jones chipped in with three goals each while for the Panthers, Charlie Illingworth and Will Lewis kicked two and Anthony Street was their best on.
There were a pair of close contests at the Under 16 Girls (1) level on the weekend. In a late morning kick off at Eltham Central Park, the Panthers and Research played out a draw. The biggest margin of the contest was 10 points in favour of Eltham at quarter time, with the hosts kicking 3.8 (26) to Research’s 4.2 (26). Both the Panthers and Searchers had individual goalkickers, with Sadie Hewett and Ashley Denny stepping up to the plate this weekend as the Panthers two best players.
Montmorency and Diamond Creek Women’s game was also a tight one at Montmorency Park North Oval. After a fast start for the hosts, the Creekers then fought back and took an eight-point lead at half time. Montmorency then reduced their deficit to four points at three quarter time before a two goal to one final term for the Creekers saw them win 4.9 (33) to 3.5 (23). It was individual goalkickers across the board for both sides, with Sky Morgan best on for the Magpies.
Yarrambat’s Under 16 girls side then secured the biggest victory of the round against Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Bats kicked nine goals to just one behind in the opening half before another five goals in the second half saw them win 14.11 (95) to 0.2 (2) win. Charli-Jordan Ford kicked four goals while Grace Robinson finished with three in a best on ground effort for the Bats who sit on top of the ladder with a percentage north of 600.
In the Under 16 Girls (2) competition the first game that took place at JJ Clancy Reserve between Kilmore and South Morang was the closest of the lot. After the Lions led by a goal at half time Kilmore kicked two in the third term to lead by a point heading into the last. Both sides then kicked a goal in the final term, which was enough for Kilmore to claim the 3.7 (25) to 3.6 (24) win. Kilmore captain Hannah Gibson was yet again stellar, this time alongside Heidi Pirpinias who was named Best on for Kilmore. Cammryn Wake was South Morang’s best on after a promising performance in Round 1 against Wallan.
Whittlesea were the biggest winners of the weekend against Wallan at AF Walker Recreation Reserve. The Eagles remained undefeated with a well-rounded performance against the Magpies, kicking 14.10 (94) to 0.2 (2). Kiah McKinnon-Rowe was terrific for a second consecutive week, however it was Tabitha Gottwalt who kicked four goals on the day and was named best on for the hosts. Jasmine Bryant was again solid for Wallan while Taleea Brown was the travellers best on.
Darebin claimed their first victory of the season in their contest against Laurimar at A.H. Capp Reserve. The Falcons kicked four goals to no score in the first term before they extended their lead in the second and third terms enroute to an 8.10 (58) to 3.2 (20) win. Millie Maher was stellar again in a best on ground performance and was one of five players to kick a goal for the Falcons. Tullulah Clark was best on for the power and was one of three individual goalkickers for them.
The Under 16 Boys (1) competition saw three games decided by 35 points or more. Laurimar was one of the sides to secure a big victory in their game against South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. It was an up and down opening three quarters for both sides, with Laurimar entering the final term up by 20 points. They then proceeded to kicking seven goals and hold South Morang scoreless to win 16.9 (105) to 5.8 (38). Another three goals came off the boot of Cruz Carmichael while Fletcher Carrick, Riley McCann and Zac Webster kicked three each. Koby Hansen and Noah Traianou were the Power and Lions best on grounds respectively, with Jonathan Yacoub kicking two goals.
Diamond Creek claimed their first victory of the season over Whittlesea in their matchup at Coventry Oval. After four points separated the pair at half time, the hosts kicked seven goals to just one in the third term to secure the 15.10 (100) to 10.5 (65) victory. Oliver Shields had a day out in attack with six goals for the Creekers while Whittlesea’s Owen Burchfield booted four. Jyi Wallington and Reece Oakley were their sides best on, with Wallington kicking three goals for the Creekers.
Yarrambat and Eltham’s game at Yarrambat War Memorial Park was the closest of the four. Eltham led at all three breaks during the contest before a four-goal to two final term from the hosts helped them claimed the points for the second time this year 10.7 (67) to 9.8 (62). The Bats had seven individual goalkickers, with best on Noah Watts one of those goalkickers. Eltham’s Cruze Cooke was the game’s leading goalkicker with three while Carlton Next Gen Academy prospect Xander Rosales was the Panthers best performer.
In the final game of the Under 16 Boys (1) division, Kilmore made it two wins from two with an 83-point victory over Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Blues trailed at quarter before they kicked 16 goals to just four in the final three quarters enroute to an 18.14 (122) to 6.3 (39) win. Northern Knights player Lucas Chesswas had one of the best performances of the round, kicking eight goals after just one goal the week prior. He was best on for the Blues while Mernda captain Jett Philips kicked three and was the best player for the Demons.
With Kinglake having the bye, a further eight sides took to the park in the Under 16 Boys (2) competition. All four games were decided by 41 points or more, with Greensborough’s win over West Preston-Lakeside the biggest of the lot. After conceding just five behinds last weekend, the Borough kept the Roosters to just 0.1 (1) whilst they kicked 19.15 (129) themselves. Owen Maguire kicked five goals for Greensborough and was one of the top performers for them alongside James Georgeson, who kicked two. Zaed Taleb was named the Roosters best player.
Hurstbridge claimed the second biggest victory at that level on the weekend, defeating Kilmore by 105 points at JJ Clancy Reserve. The Bridges had 38 scoring shots and kept the hosts to just three scoring shots in the 16.22 (118) to 2.1 (13) victory. Finbarr O’Kane kicked four goals after a one-goal outing last weekend. Kilmore’s Richie Rode and Hurstbridge’s Zac Wilson were named their sides best on grounds.
Montmorency and Laurimar Teal’s game was the closest of the four games in the Under 16 Boys (2) competition. A five goal to one opening term paved the way for the Magpies to claim their second win of the season 13.21 (99) to 9.4 (58). Montmorency best on Mousa Soulieman kicked another three goals to make it six from two for himself. Richard Philip was the Power’s best performer of the match while Mitchell Minihan and Dean Siderakis kicked two goals each.
In the final Under 16 Boys (2) game, Research claimed a 56-point victory against Wallan in an entertaining contest at Research Park. A total of 35 goals were kicked on the day, with Research kicking a very accurate 22.6 (138) to Wallan’s equally accurate 13.4 (82). 13 players kicked goals for Research, with Noah Box, Zachary Cochrane and Riley Thompson kicking four goals. Darby Bishop and Oliver Norman kicked four goals for the Magpies who had six players kick goals. Aslan Twomey and Vincent Luci were their sides respective best on grounds.
