A look back over last weekend’s action in the first week of finals of our Under-16 to Under-18 junior competitions.
Ben Frilay Oval hosted the opening two finals in Under 18 Girls, beginning with the first semi-final between Diamond Creek Women’s and Yarrambat. The Creekers put together an excellent opening term, kicking four goals to nil to lead by 20 points, which proved to be the same margin at three quarter time. With the Bats staying in the hunt, they surged in the final term with two last term majors, but ultimately fell short by eight points. Diamond Creek Women’s had three players combine for their seven-goal total, as Elisha Folino led the way with three majors. Jordan Herni battled hard for Yarrambat.
Research and Eltham then faced off in the second semi-final, with the Searchers bringing the heat early to keep their opponents scoreless in the opening term before taking a 21-point advantage into the main break. The Panthers responded in the third quarter however, with a two-goal to one term reducing the deficit to 11 points approaching the final term, but the minor premiers held their nerve, kicking the only goal of the last quarter to win by 16 points. Katelyn Busuttil kept up her stellar form to start the finals campaign for Research and finished as her side’s best. Abbey Vaughan starred for the Panthers and kicked three of her team’s four goals.
In Under 17.5 Boys (1), Coventry Oval held the two finals, beginning with Montmorency and Whittlesea’s first semi-final. The match was tight throughout the afternoon, with six majors in the opening half helping the Magpies take an 11-point advantage into the main break. But the Eagles managed to get the game back on their terms, with a 3.6 to 0.1 third quarter seeing them hit the front, and despite having to face a fast-finishing Montmorency side, Whittlesea held on to claim a five-point upset triumph. Baylie Day stood up when it mattered for the Eagles and was his team’s best, while Blake Morley kicked a season-high three goals. Zachary Broadbent and Nash Dyer led things for the Magpies.
The two top sides in Yarrambat and Eltham Black went to head-to-head in an intriguing second semi-final. Both sides struggled to be accurate in front of the big sticks, but it was the Panthers who edged out their opponents to lead by five points at half time. They would go on with the job in the second half, recording consecutive three-goal terms while keeping the Bats to just 2.4 in the same period to be the first side into the Grand Final with a 33-point victory. Thomas Bell was excellent for Eltham Black and finished in his side’s best for the fourth straight match while also being one of his team’s six individual goalkickers. Archer Harvey kicked two of Yarrambat’s four goals.
Eltham Central Park played host to the Under 17.5 Boys (2) finals in week one. First up was the first semi-final between Laurimar and South Morang Gold, with the Power coming into the match having defeated the Lions in all three prior clashes. After a strong and accurate start from South Morang Gold saw them lead by three points at quarter time, the trend of games gone by would continue, as the Power kicked 13 of the next 16 goals of the match to romp to a terrific 67-point victory. Forward duo Aston Carrick and Jack Cornwell booted four goals each for the winning side, as teammate Thoams De Maria also starred again. Jordan Tarpkos and Nicholas Torquati ended their seasons with two goals each for the Lions.
A highly anticipated second semi-final between Kilmore and Mernda was the other match to play out. The Blues made a massive statement early with a 6.0 opening term, before extending their lead to 35 points at half time. The Demons tried to keep up, but the Blues continued to press hard and produced a huge eight-goal final term to seal a Grand Final spot with a 65-point triumph. Kilmore had 10 individual goalkickers, with Jett Davies and Jackson Mansfield nailing four majors apiece to lead the way inside 50. Noah Beetson’s good form continued for Mernda despite the loss.
In Under 16 Girls (1) Yarrambat and Montmorency got the finals series underway at A.E. Cracknell Reserve. The Bats were able to gain a narrow lead early in the before slowly raising their advantage out to a game-high 30 points by three quarter time, which was enough to see them continue their season in an eventual 26-point win. Mia Gigliotti had one of her best games of the year for the winning side, with teammate Grace Daly the only multiple goalkicker for the match with two majors. Magpies captain Bridie Watson was a solid contributor for her team and finished in her side’s best for the eighth time in 2024.
Heading into the second semi-final on a 13-game winning streak was Diamond Creek Women’s 1, who faced off against Whittlesea in the other final at A.E. Cracknell Reserve. The dominance of the Creekers throughout the year was on full display again, kicking five goals in the first half and six goals in the second half, all while keeping the Eagles to just one-point in a strong 76-point victory. Adele Coppola kicked an equal season-high of three goals for the minor premiers, showcasing the efforts that has seen her play seven senior matches in 2024. Astonishingly, Kiah McKinnon-Rowe made it 12 appearances in her team’s best from 12 games.
The two finals to open the series in Under 16 Girls (2) took place at Redleap Reserve, beginning with South Morang and Mernda’s first semi-final. With plenty on the line, both teams were hard to split throughout the opening half, with the Lions kicking the only goal of the first two terms to lead by eight at half time. The Demons hit back with a brilliant two-goal third term hit the front approaching the final term, before one last push from South Morang saw them kick the go-ahead goal to prevail by just two points. Amelia Di Benedetto was vital in the Lions’ triumph as was teammate Sophia Hrysoulakis, while Lily Brondov did all she could for the Demons.
Research and Diamond Creek Women’s 2 then battled it out in the second semi-final. After a scoreless opening term between the two sides, it was the Searchers who hit the scoreboard first and were able to take an important 10-point lead into half time. They had the chance to extend their lead in the third term but could only muster five behinds, while the Creekers got an important major to chase a nine-point deficit in the last term. But Research held firm with the last two goals of the match to win their way to the Grand Final in a 24-point victory. Molly Wright finished as the winning side’s best, while Sienna Bandera kicked two of her team’s three goals. Jerzie Bishop played well for Diamond Creek Women’s.
Commencing the Under 16 Boys (1) finals campaign at Waterview Recreation Reserve was the first semi-final between Montmorency Black and Yarrambat. Despite the Magpies having three more wins than their opponents coming into this game, the Bats started well with a three-goal to one first term. They then produced a 0.7 second quarter but still held Montmorency scoreless to extend their lead to 17 points at the main break. They would soon nail six of the last seven goals of the contest to keep their season alive in an impressive 48-point triumph. Captain Dylan McLaughlan had a best on ground performance with three goals for the Bats, while Sjouke Eyre was admirable in defeat for Montmorency Black.
A highly anticipated second semi-final took place between Eltham Black and Mill Park. A massive start from the minor premiers in Eltham set the tone, kicking four goals to one in the first quarter. Their lead narrowed slightly to 16 points at the main break, before that extended to 22 points by the final change. The Parkers did finish the game strongly with five last quarter goals, but it was enough to hit the front, going down to the Panthers by 11 points. Axton West was a star again inside 50 for the winning team with four goals and has now kicked nine majors in his last two games against Mill Park. Brian D’Intinosante was also excellent for Eltham Black, while Luca Caridi and Blake Justice battled hard for Mill Park, kicking four majors apiece.
J.J. Clancy Reserve saw the two finals in Under 16 Boys (2) take place, beginning with Greensborough and Mernda’s clash. This was an entertaining contest with multiple lead changes throughout. The Demons led by seven points at quarter time, before a three-goal second term helped the Boro take a six-point advantage into the main break. Mernda fought to get the game back on their terms with a strong three-major quarter of their own to create a one-goal gap from their opponents approaching a fascinating final term, but Greensborough again responded with their best quarter of the match, keeping the Demons goalless on their way to a brilliant 13-point victory. Kobi Gibson and James Harding led the way in the Boro’s terrific win, while Ethan Athanasiou earnt a ninth mention in his side’s best in 14 games. for the Demons.
Two in-form sides in Whittlesea and Wallan did battle in the second semi-final for a spot in the competition’s Grand Final. The Magpies stunned their opponents with a huge 6.9 opening half, all while keeping the Eagles to just two behinds in the same period of time. Wallan however were eager to continue their charge and after an even third term where both sides managed two majors, a monster nine-goal last quarter sent Wallan into the big dance with a 101-point victory. In a win with many contributors, it was the likes of Jack Bell, Jack Brundell, Campbell Harrison and Domenico Luci which helped the Magpies prevail. Xavier Morrison was a standout for the Eagles
