A look back over last weekend’s action in the Under-16 to Under-18 junior competitions.
Three games were played in the Under 18 Girls competition with the weekend of action starting with a close encounter between Diamond Creek Women’s and Yarrambat at Plenty Park Oval. The game was tight from the start as a strong second term saw the Bats lead by 13 points at the main break before the Creekers kicked five of the next seven majors of the game to prevail by just two points. A season-high three majors from Holly Mason helped the home side make it two straight wins for the 2024 campaign while Emma Hendrie and Jemma Buckingham were a duo that impressed for the visitors.
Montmorency played host to Eltham at Montmorency Park North Oval. After trailing at half time and producing a goalless opening half, the Panthers clicked into gear in the third term, kicking four goals to nil to swing the momentum and hold on in the last quarter to finish as eight-point winners. Joss Hanrahan and Poppy Toth were key in Eltham’s third term surge while Keely Moloney kicked two goals. Elise Waldram and Malaika Baya stood out for the Magpies.
Whittlesea had the tough task of facing an unbeaten Research team on their home deck A.F. Walker Recreation Reserve. The Searchers were able to bring their good form into this match, finishing the afternoon with 19 scoring shots on their way to a 72-point triumph away from home. Scarlett Fitzpatrick made it seven goals for the season with a three-major effort, while Calder Cannons’ listed Tess Gillson earnt a third straight match in the best. Sierra Rogers was solid for the Eagles in defeat.
Three games took place in Under 17.5 (1) as Whittlesea took on Research at Research Park to start the round. The first half was a competitive contest between the two sides, but it was the Eagles who were able to take control of the game afterwards, kicking four goals to nil in the third term and maintaining their advantage in the last quarter to prevail by 60 points and win their first match of the season. Justin Chambers-Jones starred for the visitors with a four-goal performance, while Jesse Todd featured in his side’s best for a third consecutive week for Research.
Yarrambat War Memorial Park was the venue for the clash between Yarrambat and South Morang Blue. Following a tight opening term, a five-goal second quarter saw the Lions lead by 12 points at the main break, however they only managed one goal for the remainder of the match as the Bats slotted home six second half goals to finish as 17-point victors. Russell Clark kicked three majors in his first match for the hosts as did Archer Harvey who now has 12 goals for the season. Teammate Milun Fernando ended as his side’s best while Kaden Isherwood and Jack Traianou were a great duo for the visitors.
A great contest was played out between Montmorency and Eltham Black at Montmorency Park North Oval. The Magpies held a slight lead throughout the opening three quarters, with the Panthers keeping the hosts on their toes throughout. The margin was 14 points at three quarter time before Eltham produced six scoring shots in the final term, however they fell short by just five points to the Magpies. Nash Dyer was brilliant for the home side, leading the way with a three-goal performance, while Luca Klaic did his best at the other end for the Panthers by kicking four goals, to make it 14 for the year.
The Under 17.5 (2) competition saw three matches take place, beginning with Mernda and Epping’s battle at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The impressive Demons set the tempo from the beginning, keeping the Blues to just three goals for the match on their way to a 102-point victory to remain undefeated in 2024. On a day of many goalkickers, Jack George and Edmond Saikaly both booted three each for the home side. Mohamed Anabtawi did all he could for Epping, earning a third straight mention in his side’s best for his efforts.
Laurimar were also looking to make it three wins from three to start the season when they travelled to Eltham Central Park to face off against Eltham Red. In similar fashion to the Demons, the Power were well in control of the match from the outset, kicking at least three goals in every quarter on their way to a huge 83-point win. The visitors had 11 individual goalkickers headlined by William Nyman who kicked three majors and had an all-round terrific game. Aiden Tickle and Luke Zahra were best for the Panthers.
Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve was host to South Morang Gold’s match with Kilmore. The Blues jumped out to an early lead, before the Lions fought back with six goals to two over the next two quarters to lead by 11 points at three quarter time. But the visitors put together an outstanding final term, kicking seven goals to win by 27 points and claim their first victory of the season. Mitchell O’Dwyer was a star up forward for Kilmore with six goals while Jack Laffan performed well also. Cooper Butler impressed for South Morang while Joshua Evans and Stephen Pisani kicked three each.
With Diamond Creek Women’s 1 having the bye this week, five games were played in Under 16 Girls with the round starting off at Montmorency Park South Oval as Montmorency took on South Morang. The Magpies held an 11-point lead at quarter time and despite the Lions’ best efforts throughout the remaining three quarters to peg back at the margin, the home side did enough to triumph by 13 points and remain unbeaten in 2024. Bailee Bowden earnt her first mention in the Montmorency best this year with a terrific performance, while Sophia Hrysoulakis stood out for South Morang.
Diamond Creek Women’s 2 met Darebin at A.H. Capp Reserve with both sides looking to claim their first wins of the season. The game was a tight contest early, with the Creekers leading by a narrow five-point margin at half time, before the Falcons kicked four of the next five goals of the match to win by 14 points. Alexandra Ware was the only multiple goal scorer of the day with two majors for the home side while teammate Vieda Simons-Moemai was excellent also. Jerzie Bishop finished as the visitors’ best for the afternoon.
A.F. Walker Recreation Reserve hosted the clash between Whittlesea and Yarrambat. It was a strong opening quarter from the Bats that set the pace for the rest of the contest, finishing 52-point winners while keeping the Eagles to just three scoring shots. Yarrambat forward Grace Daly finished with three majors to make it seven goals in three games, while Keira Caddy played one of her best matches of the season for the visitors. The Eagles best efforts were led by Kiah McKinnon-Rowe.
Research travelled down to Waterview Reserve to take on Mernda. With both sides looking for their first victories of the year, it was the Searchers who started the better of the two teams, never looking back to salute as 67-point winners. Plenty of players from the visitors contributed to the successful result, with Sienna Bandera and Ayva Humphreys two players that continued their great starts to 2024. Charli King impressed for a second straight game for Mernda.
A close contest took place at Susan Street Reserve to end the round as Eltham faced Kilmore. The margin did not reach double digits in any of the quarter breaks, and it was the Blues who held on to the advantage at each stage to claim a narrow eight-point win over a determined Panthers outfit. The strong performances of Mabel-Jean Flannery and Amelia Paxinos contributed to their side’s triumph, while Tiah Bishop made it back-to-back weeks in the best for the home side.
Mill Park had the bye in the new five-team Under 16 (1) competition as two games were played in Round 3. Eltham Black hosted Yarrambat at Eltham Central Park in what proved to be a nail-biting encounter. The Panthers led by six points at both quarter time and half time before slightly extending the margin to eight by the final break. However, the Bats continued to push the home side until the final siren, but narrowly went down by five points in a great battle. Northern Knights listed player Logan Shepherd was outstanding for the hosts while three majors from Zak Casey helped Yarrambat stay in touch.
Diamond Creek and Montmorency Black took on one another at Coventry Oval. A seven-goal to two first half paved the way for the Magpies to finish the match 31-point winners and make it three wins from three to start the 2024 season. It was another excellent performance from Montmorency forward Joshua Galloway who kicked four goals, taking his tally to 14 majors in just three games. Teammate Isaac Mullins was also terrific while Hamish Day was a solid contributor for the Creekers.
A four-game slate played out in the Under 16 Boys (2) competition, starting with an entertaining match between South Morang and Greensborough. The Lions, who entered this clash 0-2, had a great start against the unbeaten Boro, leading by 19 points at half time. The visitors responded to regain the advantage by three quarter time, this time by six points. A big final quarter followed, as both sides pushed for a winning result, however neither team could not be separated at full time, finishing with 8.3 apiece. The Lions were led by Liam Ingwersen and Toby Luke, while Hunter Corfield and Asher Bell stood up for Greensborough.
Montmorency Park South Oval played host to a clash between Montmorency White and Eltham Red. Little separated the two sides throughout the first three quarters, with the lead changing hands multiple times. The Magpies held a narrow three-point advantage at the final change, despite registering two less scoring shots, before a four-goal to two last term saw them prevail by 15 points. Lachlan McConnell was great for the home side and was one of three players to kick two goals. Liam Craft finished in Eltham’s best for a second straight game.
Laurimar hosted Mernda on their home ground Laurimar Reserve. After suffering two losses in the opening two games of the season, the Demons opened their account with a massive 67-point triumph, headlined by an exceptional 11-goal first half. Justin Spadorcia led the goalkickers for Mernda with five majors, while Bailey Hockey and Jack Schembri slotted three goals each. Kai Egan made it two mentions in the best from two games for the Power, while teammate Mason Fitzgerald kicked three of his side’s seven goals.
Wallan and Whittlesea battled it out at Greenhill Reserve with both sides having yet tasted defeat in 2024. Six goals in the opening term and five goals in the third were the key periods in the game that allowed the Eagles to finish the afternoon 34-point winners. Off the back of a magical 10-goal effort last week, Isaac Daniel continued his brilliant goalkicking form with six majors, with Jack Wunderlich again starring for the visitors. Alastair Clarke performed well for the Magpies in the loss.
