A look back over last weekend’s action in the under-16 to under-18 junior competitions.
With Whittlesea having the bye this week, three games took place in Under 18 Girls with the round kicking off at Mill Park Lakes Reserve between South Morang and Diamond Creek Women’s. The Creekers looked to keep in touch with top side Montmorency while the home side hoped to bounce back from a defeat last week. The game was tight through the first three quarters with the margin just one point heading into the final break before the visitors came home strong to win by 16 points. Ashley Leeson kicked two goals while teammate Olivia Murray had a great game for Diamond Creek Women’s. Meanwhile South Morang’s Hailey Cordova stood out and was named as her side’s best player.
Eltham hosted Laurimar at Eltham Central Park with both teams looking to keep their finals hopes alive. The Panthers looked to build off their win last week while the Power were out to avoid back-to-back losses. It was the home side who started well and never looked back, keeping Laurimar goalless on their way to an impressive 54-point triumph. Maalu Choka was brilliant in front of the big sticks, kicking a game-high four majors. Despite the loss, Sarah Campbell played well and keeps her streak as being named in her side’s best in all 10 games she’s played in 2023.
The unbeaten Montmorency outfit took on third placed Yarrambat at Greensborough College. The Bats were hoping to improve on their Round 4 performance over the Magpies when they fell by 74 points, and they certainly did that on the weekend despite going down by 15 points. The ladder leaders won by their lowest winning margin of the season, but still saw outstanding performances from Charley Bandera and Sienna Rowe. Zoe Paulo kicked Yarrambat’s only goal of the day with Charlotte Adrichem putting together a brilliant game.
Four games took place in Under 17.5 Blue beginning with Montmorency traveling to take on West Preston-Lakeside at J.E Moore Park. The bottom placed Roosters were looking to cause an upset against a side who was in the finals hunt, but the Magpies dominated most of the game and registered 21 scoring shots to walk away 54-point winners. Kiran Keating had a day out kicking four majors for Montmorency to take his 2023 tally to 20, while teammate Jaxon Riley also played well kicking three. Taj Hill was great for the home side in just his second game of the year.
Yarrambat took on Diamond Creek Blue at Coventry Oval in what loomed as a massive top-four game. The Creekers could extend their gap on top of the table with a win, while the Bats would be right in the mix for a double chance spot with a victory. It was a one-point game at three quarter time before the visitors kicked three goals to two to prevail in a huge six-point triumph. Kyan Carman made it 40 majors for the season with a bag of five goals for the Bats. On the other end, Kade Garraway kicked three majors.
Eltham aimed to keep the pressure up in the top two when they battled with Laurimar at Eltham Central Park. The Panthers started well with a 22-point first quarter advantage but the Power, who were determined to keep pushing for finals, hung around keeping the game at arm’s reach for the rest of the afternoon. Eltham still did enough to claim an eight-point victory thanks to the efforts of Jett Williams and Miller Wortley while three goals from Laurimar’s Hayden Trim was a factor in keeping his side in the contest.
Whittlesea travelled to Epping Recreational Reserve to take on Epping as they looked to avoid a three-game losing streak and stay in touch with the top four. The Blues had a positive start to the game with a one-point quarter time lead, but a six-goal second term from the Eagles set up their 39-point win away from home. Jett Fraumano was on fire kicking five goals while teammate Jack Morley continued his outstanding season and added three of his own. Nickolas Kyriacou produced three majors for Epping while Nabil Temssah was impressive.
Three games took place in Under 17.5 Red starting with Greensborough taking on Diamond Creek Red at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Boro would well and truly be in the top two hunt with a victory while the Creekers were hoping for an upset to produce their second win of the season. The hosts took control of the game from the outset, finishing with 40 scoring shots on their way to a 110-point triumph. Ethan Edwards kicked six for the third time this season, taking his tally to 33 majors, while Jake Bohan was excellent again for the home side. Despite a tough loss for the Creekers, Cyrus Sculli kicked three goals with Brodie Schaefer-Vessely playing well.
Research aimed to claim a second straight win when they played Wallan at Research Park. The Magpies produced a good start to the contest, keeping the second placed Searchers to a six-point advantage at the first change, before the home side broke away quickly from the second quarter onwards, going on to win by 77 points. As has been the case all season, Josh Shepherd could not be stopped, booting 10 goals in an unbelievable performance. Tyler Sleep was named as Wallan’s best despite the defeat.
Another big top four game was played out between South Morang and Kilmore at Mill Park Lakes Oval. The Lions could go one step closer to sealing top spot with a win while the Blues would be well in the fight for the double chance with a victory. After trailing by six at quarter time, the Lions led by 13 at the main break before powering through to win by 32 points. Adam Tsantefskis produced a season high of four goals meanwhile Nicholas Terpou was in the home side’s best again. Brock Hall stood out for the Blues with four majors in a solid game.
Whittlesea had the bye with two games being played out in Under 16 Girls Blue this weekend. An enthralling a top-of-the-table clash between Research and Diamond Creek Women’s at Research Park kicked things off. The Searchers had a two-game gap on top of the ladder coming into the battle while the Creekers were aiming for a seventh straight win and to defeat the Searchers for a second time. In a tight battle, the visitors led by seven points at three quarter time and despite inaccuracy in front of goal, Diamond Creek Women’s held on to prevail by 12 points. Elisha Folino was an important player up forward for the away side, kicking two majors, while made it the third time in the last four games where she was named in Research’s best.
In an important game for both sides, Yarrambat travelled to Laurimar Reserve to take on Laurimar. A win for the Bats would see them go into the top four while Laurimar could inch closer to a top two position with the four points. The Bats led by six points at half time in what looked to be a close contest, before the Power came out the stronger side in the second half, kicking three goals to nil to win by 12 points. Rylee Mountney (two goals) and teammate Jordan Herni critical in the home side’s victory. Olivia Andreatta was standout for Yarrambat with a brilliant effort.
Three games took place on Sunday in Under 16 Girls Red beginning with Montmorency and Mernda at Montmorency Park North Oval. The Magpies were looking to bounce back from defeat last week to try and re-enter the top four while Mernda continued to build towards their first win of the season. The hosts were on top for the whole afternoon, keeping the Demons scoreless to claim a 36-point triumph. Ruby Bishop and Matilda Brownhill were superb for Montmorency, while Marnie Carton-Rigney had an admirable performance for the visitors.
Diamond Creek Women’s 2 did battle with Wallan in what was an imperative contest for both sides finals chances. Two points separated the two teams coming in, but it was the Creekers who turned a one-point deficit at quarter time into a 28-point win at the final siren. Abbey Eddington took the lead in the competition goalkicking charts after another bag of four, now kicking seven majors in the last two games. Meanwhile Ellen Kubeil had one of her best games of the season for the Magpies.
In a massive top-of-the-table clash Darebin faced off against Eltham at A.H. Capp Reserve. In what looks to be a preview of a future finals matchup between the two sides, it was the Falcons who started the game well, keeping the Panthers scoreless in the first term. The visitors fought back throughout the second and third quarters to tie the scores at the final change, before keeping the Falcons to two behinds in the last term to win by four points in a terrific contest. Riley Parks’ three majors for Eltham helped win her side the game, while Darebin were led by terrific efforts from Alexandra Ware (three goals) and Claire Stephens.
Kilmore Blue had the bye as a Saturday night contest between Yarrambat and Whittlesea at Yarrambat War Memorial Park kicked things off in Under 16 Boys Blue. This fourth vs first clash was a huge game for both sides in the context of the season. After trailing by six at the first change, the Eagles kicked five goals to lead by 13 at half time. But the visitors would only produce two majors for the rest of the game, as the Bats hit the led in the final term and held on for a four-point win. Archer Harvey was excellent with three goals while Lucas Martin made it back-to-back weeks as Yarrambat’s best. Justin Chambers-Jones did all he could for Whittlesea, kicking three majors.
Fresh off the bye and in search of a seventh straight game unbeaten, Eltham Black hosted South Morang Blue at Eltham Central Park. The Lions had to win if they were to keep in touch with the top four, but it was the Panthers who maintained an early built lead throughout the afternoon, going on to win by 21 points. Lucas Di Glovine and Henry Kirby both kicked two goals each with Zain Andreetta putting together a great performance for the hosts Eltham. Jordan Diver kicked two goals with Seth Hudson-Joseph continuing his good season for South Morang.
Mernda had the tough task of facing a Montmorency side who were aiming for a third straight win at Montmorency Park North Oval. The Demons did what they could to keep up with the Magpies, but the hosts kicked four majors in each quarter on their way to a brilliant 59-point victory. Nash Dyer kicked four majors for the second time this season, while teammate Harry Prior kicked three, making it seven goals in his last three weeks. Ethan Hicks-Thorn and Edmond Salkaly were some of the better players for the visitors.
In a round of big wins, three games took place in Under 16 Boys Red with the round kicking off at Research Park for Research and Kilmore White. The Searchers put the Blues on the backfoot from the first term as they aimed to maintain their gap on top of the ladder, piling on 44 scoring shots to claim a 126-point triumph. Will Hensel led all goalkickers with six majors while Nathan Bradshaw had a brilliant performance, also getting on the scoreboard with a goal. The Blues’ best efforts came from Joshua Bolan who kicked two majors.
A crucial top four game was played out between Epping and South Morang Gold at Epping Recreation Reserve. In what could be a semi-final preview next month, the first three quarters saw some great footy from both sides, with the Blues taking a slight four-point advantage into three quarter time. But the home side powered through in a massive final quarter, kicking 3.3 to 0.2 to produce a brilliant 23-point triumph. The Blues’ Joshua Bawden kicked a season high of four majors while teammate David Aherne was named as his side’s best. Joshua Evans produced five goals in a game for the third time in 2023 to keep his side in the hunt throughout.
Eltham High School hosted the clash between Eltham and Laurimar with both sides looking turn around losses in Round 10. The Power took care of the winless Panthers from the opening term, kicking 11 majors in either half to finish 95-point winners away from home all but securing a top two spot. Five majors from competition leading goalkicker Aston Carrick and excellent efforts from Tyler Aghan and Kyan Rowe contributed to the win. Joel Brown (three goals) and Lucas Richardson didn’t give in throughout the match.
