A look back at last weekend’s action in the under-16 to under-18 junior competitions.
With Eltham having the bye this week, three games took place in the Under-18 Girls competition last weekend. The round kicked off on Saturday night with Yarrambat hosting Diamond Creek Women’s at Yarrambat War Memorial Park, with the winner set to solidify a top two spot. The Creekers kicked two goals to nil in the opening quarter and never looked back, going on to win by 26 points and claim their third straight win. Ashley Leeson had another great game in front of goals kicking a season high of three majors while teammate Tayla Grech was a standout for the winning side. Phebe D’Arro was impressive for the Bats.
Laurimar travelled to Mill Park Lakes Reserve to take on South Morang in an important mid-table clash. The Power came out of the blocks quickly, taking a 20-point lead into the first break, keeping the Lions scoreless in the process. It would be a lead they maintained throughout the afternoon, winning their second game of the season. Larissa Tedford and Alana Gagglano both kicked two goals each for the visitors while teammate Maddison Rhys-Jones put in another brilliant performance. Sophia Hrysoulakis kicked South Morang’s only goal in her first game of the year for the club.
Whittlesea took on the task of heading to Montmorency Park North Oval to take on the undefeated Montmorency. Fresh off the bye, the Magpies controlled proceedings right from the outset with a huge eight goal to nil first half. They matched that goal tally in the final two terms to win by 104 points. Indra Lambeth and Anayah Maher slotted three majors each, with teammate Piper Warry finishing as her side’s best. Despite the heavy loss, Emily Frankenberg and Abbey Partington both produced solid efforts for the Eagles.
Four matches took place in Under-17.5 Blue with Montmorency’s trip to Epping Recreation Reserve to face Epping the first game of the round. Fresh off beating the top of the table Diamond Creek in Round 8, the Magpies continued that momentum into this clash, keeping the Blues scoreless and taking a 21-point lead into quarter time. The hosts pegged the deficit back in the lead up to the main break, before Montmorency kicked away to win by 27 points. Kieran Keating and Darcy Rigg booted two goals each for the visitors, with Keating in particular performing exceptionally. Alo Tiatia had a great performance for Epping, continuing his good form of late.
A massive top of the table battle took place at Coventry Oval with Diamond Creek facing Eltham. A win for the Panthers would have placed them in equal first but it was the Creekers who responded from their Round 8 defeat with a 13-point triumph after leading by just five points at half time. Kaylen Pennell continued his terrific run of form with one of his best performances yet for Diamond Creek while Kade Garraway added a further two goals to his 2023 season tally. Three majors from Matthew Zrna kept Eltham in the game throughout the afternoon.
Laurimar took on West Preston-Lakeside at Laurimar Reserve with the Power looking to keep their good form rolling. The game was tight throughout the opening three terms, with just five points separating the two sides at half time and three-quarter time, before a four goal to nil final term secured a 32-point victory for the Power. Hayden Trim kicked three majors to take his season tally to 13 goals while Cooper Fitzpatrick continues to build quite the season following another best on ground performance. The Roosters’ fight throughout the match was led well by Benjamin Sauro.
Another important game in the competition took place between Yarrambat and Whittlesea at Whittlesea Showgrounds. The battle of fourth and fifth was hard to split at the main break with the Bats leading by six points despite having six more scoring shots. But those scoring shots foreshadowed the flow of the second half, as they kicked five goals to nil to claim a 36-point win. For the fourth time this season, Kyan Carman kicked four majors in another influential display. Jess Malfi also impressed while for the home side Harvey Hempenstall stood out.
Three important clashes were played in Under-17 Red, starting with Greensborough and Kilmore at Anthony Beale Reserve. With both teams being on 16 points and sitting in the top four leading into the game, the four points were crucial for either side. The Boro held a slight lead throughout the opening two quarters before a massive third term broke the game open, securing a 31-point win for the home side. Ethan Edwards kicked six in a monster effort, he now has 25 goals for the 2023 campaign with Jake Bohan being named in the Boro’s best for a fourth straight match. The Blues’ Tristan Lilburn did all he could for his side.
Wallan hosted Diamond Creek Red at Wallan Recreational Reserve in a match between two sides seeking an opportunity to get back on the winners list. The first three terms were tight, with the Creekers leading by five points approaching the last term. But the Magpies made the final quarter their own, kicking five goals to nil in one of their best terms of the season, and claiming their first win in 2023 as a result, defeating the Creekers by 31 points. Bailey Anderson led all goalkickers with four majors for Wallan while teammate Lachlan King was named as the side’s best. Adam Shaw and Bryce Chamberlin had great games for Diamond Creek, witht he latter kicking two majors.
South Morang shot to the top of the ladder by the conclusion of Round 9, after a comprehensive victory over Research at Research Park. The Searchers kept things tight in the first half and only trailed by 19 points at the main break before a huge nine goal to four second half sealed an impressive 51-point triumph for the Lions, which was their fifth successive win. James Sotirovski had one of his best games after slotting four majors, while Jesse John Christidis again excelled. Rory Knight’s performance for the home side was admirable despite the loss.
Yarrambat had the rest ahead of Sunday’s action in Under-16 Girls Blue. The round started with a massive result for Diamond Creek Women’s as they made the trip to Laurimar Reserve to take on the Power. The Creekers kept the home side scoreless until half time, before going on to kick their highest total score since Round 5 to win by 70 points. One of the stars of the show for the visitors was Sierra Filippone, who for the second time this year kicked four goals. Lily Bondrov was a standout in a tough day for Laurimar.
Research’s place at the top of the ladder remained intact for another week following a close win over Whittlesea at Whittlesea Showgrounds. In a low scoring contest, the Searchers led by one straight kick at half time before both teams were tied at 2.4 (16) apiece in the lead up to a highly anticipated final quarter. It would be the visitors who would edge the Eagles in an intense last term, winning by 11 points. The work of Alli Allen and Isabella Turner were key to their side’s win while for Whittlesea, Alexis Knight had one of her best games of the season.
Three games took place in Under-16 Girls Red starting with an important clash between Montmorency and Eltham at Montmorency Park South Oval, with both sides aiming to grab a spot in the top four by week’s end. Both sides had six points to their name at three quarter time, but the Magpies’ score came solely from behinds. Their efforts up forward would be rewarded in the final term, with Reese Andonovski kicking a major to win by six points. Ruby Bishop stood out for the Magpies as well as Bridie Watson. Eloise Sanders finished as the Panthers’ best.
Ladder leaders Darebin produced a seventh straight victory after proving too strong for Wallan at Wallan Recreational Reserve. The Falcons were challenged early by a resilient Magpies side, leading by just six points at half time, but pulled away in the second half to claim an 18-point victory away from home. Betsy Kelly was superb for the visitors alongside Molly Atkinson and Annabel Carwyn. While performances from Wallan duo Lily Borg and Ella Jordan kept their side in the match.
Diamond Creek Women’s 2 returned to the winner’s list and maintained second position as a result, following a win over Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Demons, who were still looking for their first victory of the season struggled to keep up with Creekers in the first term, as the visitors’ 25-point margin at quarter time was an advantage they roughly maintained throughout to win by 19 points. Five goals between Abbey Eddington and Milica Tanic were pivotal in the Creekers’ triumph while Chloe Harris and Sierra Teo impressed for the hosts.
With Montmorency having the bye this week, three games were played in Under-16 Blue. Whittlesea aimed to respond to their Round 8 defeat to the Magpies when they hosted Mernda at Whittlesea Showgrounds. The Demons kept things close until half time when they trailed by two goals, but the Eagles did enough in the second half to produce a 26-point victory. Justin Chambers-Jones was excellent for the home side as has now been named in his side’s best in five of his last six games. Harrison Hegarty was Mernda’s best performer for the afternoon.
A cracking match took place between South Morang and Yarrambat at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The four points were important for both sides as they looked to create some breathing room in the top four. After trailing by two points at half time, the Bats made the most of the wind to lead by 19 points at the final change. But with the wind in their backs, the Lions mounted one final charge and with the game going down to the wire, neither team could be separated at the full-time siren with the game finishing as a draw. Kaden Isherwood kicked three for the Lions with teammate Cooper Comfort outstanding. Luke Cassar and Archer Harvey were ultra impressive for the visitors, finishing with three majors apiece.
J.J. Clancy Reserve saw Kilmore have the tough task of facing an Eltham Black side who haven’t lost a game since Round 3. The Blues’ effort never ceased, but the Panthers flexed their muscles in a strong performance, registering 28 scoring shots to claim a 79 -point triumph. Luke Zahra slotted home three majors to compliment a dominant display from Tom Hutchison. Despite the loss, it was an improvement for the Blues who lost by 127 points when they last faced Eltham Black in Round 5. Jackson Mansfield was the home side’s best.
It was a round of big wins in Under-16 Red with three games being played. The round kicked off at Research Park as South Morang Gold took on Research. It was apparent from the outset that the Searchers were determined to the return to the winners list, and despite the Lions’ best efforts to keep up with their opponents, a five goal to one last quarter signalled a 55-point triumph. Hamish Collins and Angus Robinson were both critical in the away side’s win. For the Lions, Jordan Tarpkos had a great day in front of goal with three goals, it’s now the fourth consecutive game where he has finished with multiple majors.
Kilmore White hosted Laurimar at J.J. Clancy Reserve. After ending Research’s unbeaten run a fortnight ago, the Power were full of confidence heading into this clash and it showed on the scoreboard, with a six goal to nil opening term setting up an impressive 79-point win over the Blues. Competition goal leader Andrew Carrick was at his bets inside 50, producing a season-high bag of five goals, and was well assisted by Cooper Fox who kicked four of his own. Lucas Chesswas kicked two for the home side while Mitchell Browne had a strong performance.
Epping looked to keep up with the top sides in the competition as they travelled to Eltham Central Park to face the winless Panthers. The home side managed to grab a one-point lead at quarter time, but the Blues powered through their opponents for the remainder of the game, kicking 18 goals to three after the first change to win by 98 points. Epping had 12 individual goalkickers for their 19 majors, with David Aherne, Yussef Ayoubi and Joshua Bawden some of the standouts. In a tough day for Eltham, Thomas Devine was a great contributor.
