A look back over last weekend’s action in the Under-16 to Under 18 junior competitions.
Four of the five Under 18 Girls sides commenced their season over the past weekend, with Eltham having the bye. It all kicked off with a twilight fixture on the Saturday as Yarrambat welcomed Research to Yarrambat War Memorial Park. Research got off to a fast start, keeping the hosts scoreless in the first three quarters whilst kicking three in that period on their way to a 36-point victory. Isabella Turner was one of four individual goalkickers and was named as the Searchers best on ground while Bats captain Jemma Buckingham was the home team’s best on ground.
In the other contest, Mernda and Diamond Creek Women’s played out a thrilling draw on Sunday afternoon at Waterview Recreation Reserve. After the Creekers led at both the quarter and half time breaks, Mernda kicked two goals in the third to head into the last up by seven points. Diamond Creek Women’s then kicked the only goal of the last to secure two points from the game. Haylie Brooks and Sienna McCarthy were two of the best for the Creekers, with McCarthy kicking two goals.
Following up from the Under 18 girls twilight fixture at Yarrambat War Memorial was a night game between Yarrambat and Whittlesea to kick off the Under 17.5 Boys season. After a three-goal opening term, the Bats kicked six straight goals to just one in the second term to open a 42-point buffer. They then kicked another five goals and conceded only one more goal in the second half on their way to a 65-point win. Archer Harvey kicked six goals for the Bats while Liam Parkinson slotted two for Whittlesea, with Jack Wunderlich named the Eagles best on.
Kicking off the Sunday slate of Under 17.5 Boys action was the early afternoon matchup between Mernda and Laurimar at Waterview Recreation Reserve. Laurimar started off quickly with a six-goal to one opening half enroute to a 29-point victory over the Demons. Joshua Nikolakis kicked four of the Power’s nine goals while Matthew Mirra also had a terrific performance. Demons captain Justin Spadorcia led from the front all day, kicking two goals and being named their best on ground.
Diamond Creek and Wallan then followed in the Under 17.5 Boys competition with their match at Coventry Oval. After leading by 13 points at the first break, the Creekers kicked 17.4 to Wallan’s 5.7 as they took the points with an 82-point triumph. Jamie Alder kicked five goals for the Creekers while Matthew Parsons kicked four, however Ashton Flottl was named as their best on for the day. Jack Brundell was strong in defeat for the Magpies while Bailey Anderson kicked three of the Magpies’ five goals on the day.
The final Under 17.5 Boys matchup was a thriller between Eltham Black and Montmorency at Eltham Central Park. After one point separated the two teams at the main break, the Magpies kicked away to a 19-point lead heading into three quarter time. While Eltham came charging home, they kicked 2.5 in the last as they went down by four points. Matthew D’Amico and Kade Bollenhagen did everything they could in the loss, with Bollenhagen kicking three goals. Dylan Keating was named the Magpies best while Benjamin Feeney led the way in attack with two goals.
Round 1 of the Under 16 Girls (1) competition saw Mernda and Diamond Creek Women’s kick off proceedings at Waterview Recreation Reserve. After an even first quarter the Creekers kicked four goals to one in the second to rush out to an 18-point lead, eventually extending that advantage to 20 by the final siren. Isabel Bott and Jessica Hazelwood-Smith chipped in with two goals each for the Creekers while Mernda had all individual goalkickers for the match.
This game was then followed by Eltham Black and Montmorency’s meeting at Eltham Central Park. Eltham took a two-goal lead heading into the main break before a five goal to nil outburst in the third period, kicking a further two goals in the last to secure a 56-point win. Ruby Hartney was the star of the show in attack for the Panthers, kicking four goals. Magpies captain Chloe Hicks was named best on for her side and was their only goalkicker.
Yarrambat and Research ended the round with their contest at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. The hosts slowly built their lead in the opening three quarters to 23 points before kicking five goals and keeping the Searchers goalless in the last to win by 10 goals. Bats forward Winnie Fitzgerald kicked four goals on the day while Charli-Jordan Ford and Sophia Hrysoulakis kicked two each. Research had all single goalkickers, with Dakota Edmonds named as their best.
A further three games took place in the Under 16 Girls (2) competition. At Greenhill Reserve, South Morang claimed the points in the match against Wallan, kicking 12 goals and keeping Wallan to just one behind in the 79-point victory. The Lions had nine individual goalkickers, led by Ava Galloway, Cleopatra Kliakos and Aila McMackin who had two each. Isabella Vescio was South Morang’s best on while Mia Dumaloski was named the best for the Magpies.
At J.J. Clancy Reserve, Kilmore took on the Darebin Falcons. While the Blues trailed by three points at quarter time, they kicked seven goals and kept the Falcons scoreless for the remainder of the match as they claimed the points with a 47-point victory at home. Hannah Jacobs was named best on for Kilmore as Violet Jacobs kicked two goals on the day. Zara Quinn was Darebin’s only goal scorer and Ruby Schurmann was listed best on ground for the Falcons.
Whittlesea welcomed Laurimar to A.F. Walker Recreation Reserve. The Eagles kicked three goals and conceded just one behind in the opening half to lead by 19 at the main break. Both sides then kicked one goal each in the second half which saw the Eagles claim the chocolates with a 22-point win. Kiah McKinnon-Rowe was spectacular in attack for Whittlesea, kicking all four goals in a best on ground performance.
The Under 16 Boys (1) competition saw all four games decided by six or more goals on Sunday. The first game took place at Laurimar Reserve where Laurimar Black put Mernda to the sword. Laurimar kicked 12 goals in each half and kept Mernda scoreless in the second as they registered a 137-point victory. Will Broadbent kicked eight goals while Koby Hansen was best on for the Power and had two goals. Blake Ewart was Mernda’s only goalkicker with two and was listed as their best on ground.
Yarrambat and Whittlesea then met at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. With the Bats entering the main break up by five goals, they proceeded to kick nine goals and concede just one in the second half to secure an 83-point victory. Ethan Thornton Williams kicked four while Bats captain Darcy Corr kicked three and was the host’s best on. Orlando Andersen-Wells was the Eagles best and was one of three individual goalkickers for the afternoon.
The closest contest in that competition took place at J.J. Clancy Reserve in Kilmore and Diamond Creek’s matchup. Kilmore won all four quarters of the match though, eventually going on to win by four goals. Max Lehner kicked six of the Blues 10 goals, however Mason Lacorcia, who also kicked a goal, was the hosts best player. Xavier Eastham was both best on for the Creekers and one of four goalkickers for the away side.
South Morang and Eltham Black then locked horns at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve. Leading by 11 at quarter time, the Panthers kicked six goals to one in the second term before a further nine goals to three in the second half to seal a 79-point victory on the road. Andrew Minutolo and Axton West each kicked three goals, with West the Panthers best player. Ilias Vasiliadis was South Morang’s best as the Lions found five individual goal scorers.
As Wallan had the first bye of the Under 16 Boys (2) competition, the remaining eight sides in that competition began their season on Sunday. It all started with Greensborough’s matchup against Kilmore White at Telfer Reserve. A seven goal second term highlighted the Borough’s 123-point win as they kept Kilmore to just five behinds. Nathan Halley had three while Xavier Dal Cin kicked two and was named best on ground for the Borough, with Tyla Hall the Blues best on.
Hurstbridge and West Preston-Lakeside’s match up was the closest of the four games. A 12-goal to three first half played a key role in seeing the Bridges claim a 68-point victory over the Roosters. In total, 14 players hit the scoreboard for the hosts, with their best on ground Thomas Cilauro one of four players to kick two goals. Dean DeMaria and Christian Perri kicked two goals for the Roosters.
Montmorency had the biggest win of the round in their matchup with Kinglake at Kinglake Memorial Oval. The Magpies conceded only one goal and kicked 25 goals themselves as they charged to a 164-point win. Overall, 10 players kicked a goal for the Magpies, with their two best players in James Hoffman and James Black kicking five each. Jack Mullis was the Lakers best on while Lochaden Graham scored the only goal of the game for the hosts.
Research and Laurimar Teal then met in the final game of the Under 16 Boys (2) competition. The Searchers kicked six goals to one to lead by 41 at half time before adding another nine goals and conceding three to lock in a 13-goal win at home. Blake McCluskey kicked four goals and was one of Research’s better players alongside Jenson Campbell. Jude Colwell was named best on for Laurimar and was one of the four goalkickers for the Power.
