A look back at last weekend’s action in the under-16 to under-18 junior competitions.
With second placed Diamond Creek Women’s having the bye, we saw three games take place in Under-18 Girls. The round kicked off with Eltham facing Whittlesea at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. In search of their first win of the season, the Panthers shot out of the blocks with a three goal to nil opening term. That quarter became the base of what would be an impressive 27-point triumph for the visitors. As she has all year, Ava Klaic starred for Eltham in a best on ground performance while Maalu Choka kicked two majors. Tahlia Pyle was excellent for the Eagles despite the loss.
Just one game separated Yarrambat and South Morang when they met at Yarrambat War Memorial Park, with both sides looking to secure a spot in the top four. The Bats started the game well, taking a 19-point advantage into the main break before the Lions reduced the deficit to seven at three quarter time. However, the hosts held their nerve to maintain that seven-point lead by full time. Darci Fitzgerald stood out for Yarrambat with one of her best games of the season, while Ruby Failla was named as the visitors’ best.
Montmorency’s unbeaten streak went into another week when they did battle with Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve. The Power, who were coming off a big win over South Morang last week, kept in touch with Magpies, trailing by 13 points at the main break, before the ladder leaders kept the home side goalless in the second half on their way to a 39-point win. In her first game since May, Kira Lemire kicked four majors in another strong display up forward for Montmorency. Her teammate Jemma Gersh was brilliant while for Laurimar, Sarah Campbell impressed.
Some of the top sides flexed their muscles in the four games played in Under-17.5 Blue on the weekend. A huge top four clash kicked the round off when Eltham hosted Montmorency at Eltham Central Park, with both sides on the same points coming into the clash. The Panthers held a slight 15-point advantage at half time before a huge seven-goal to nil final two terms secured a comfortable 62-point triumph at home. Eltham had seven individual goalkickers for their 11 majors, with Ashton Roeg leading the way with three goals. Isaac Pote was a solid contributor for the Magpies as well as Zane Mouhamad.
Diamond Creek Blue made it back-to-back wins in a comprehensive display over Epping at Coventry Oval. The top of the table Creekers dominated throughout the match, keeping the Blues goalless in all four quarters on their way to a 122-point triumph. Kade Garraway kicked a season-high six majors in an outstanding effort up forward with teammate Zach Thomas also contributing well with four goals. Nicholas Bott made it a fourth straight week in his side’s best for the hosts while for Epping, Alo Tiatia stood out.
Laurimar have kept in touch with the top four after a strong victory over Whittlesea at Laurimar Reserve. It did take a while for the Power to get going as the Eagles established a small lead at quarter time, before the home side surged through to finish 54-point winners. Laurimar were led by Hayden Trim who kicked a season-high five majors, he’s now produced 18 goals in the 2023 campaign. Lachlan Cotter was also superb while for the Eagles, Jack Morley continued his impressive form.
West Preston-Lakeside were on the road for a second straight week when they faced Yarrambat at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. The Bats recorded a fourth straight match without loss after registering 29 scoring shots on their way to a 67-point victory. Competition leading goalkicker Kyan Carman produced his best performance of the season with a seven-goal haul, now taking his 2023 tally to 35 majors. Jett Muse was also brilliant for the hosts while Christian Ganino was named as the Roosters’ best for the second time in three weeks.
Another three games took place throughout the Under-17.5 Red competition beginning with a clash between Wallan and Kilmore at Wallan Recreational Reserve. The Blues were excellent throughout the contest, leading by 50 points at half time before going on to win by 57 points to claim their first triumph since Round 5. Benjamin Doyle kicked three majors with teammate Cameron Bryant having a great game for the visitors. The Magpies’ Thomas Repic did all he could, also going up forward to kick one of his side’s three goals for the game.
A critical top four game occurred between Greensborough and South Morang at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Lions got on top early with a massive five goal to nil opening term, allowing them to control the game throughout and prevail by 36 points to move to the top of the ladder. William Micelotta’s great goalkicking form continued with another three majors, now making it eight goals in his last three games. Jake Kenovski too impressed for South Morang while Ethan Ferris stood out for the Boro.
Research bounced back from a heavy defeat to produce a big win of their own when they travelled to Coventry Oval to take on Diamond Creek Red. The Searchers were on song from start to finish, finishing with 29 scoring shots to record a comfortable 84-point victory. Tom Dozzi was brilliant around the ground for the visitors while Josh Shepherd again led the way up forward with a bag of five to take his tally to 30 goals in the previous five weeks. Jaye McGrath was the Creekers’ best.
Laurimar had the bye ahead of the two-game slate in Under-16 Girls Blue. Diamond Creek Women’s ventured out to A.F. Walker Recreation Reserve to face Whittlesea in the hopes of recording a sixth consecutive triumph. From the outset, it looked as though that would be achieved after a five goal to one opening term, and the Creekers would indeed go on to claim a 65-point win. Sierra Filippone made it seven goals in the last fortnight following a strong three-major effort on Sunday. Emma Pyle did all she could for the Eagles, being adjudged as her side’s best, while also being their only goalkicker.
Research was looking to take another step towards the minor premiership in the lead up to their clash with Yarrambat at Research Park. After a tight first term, the Searchers quickly started to break the game open, kicking seven goals to one in the final three quarters of the game to claim a 43-point win. Katelyn Busuttil and Abigail Flenley kicked two majors each and stood out as their side’s best alongside Olivia Gorman. Madeleine Ball and Isabel Becker performed well for the Bats throughout all four quarters.
Some intriguing results took place across the Under-16 Girls Red competition, starting with the game between Darebin and Montmorency at A.H. Capp Reserve. The Falcons were looking for their ninth win of the 2023 campaign but trailed by three points at three quarter time against a Magpies outfit who were aiming to produce a third straight victory. But the home side rallied hard in the final quarter to finish 16-point victors. Darebin had four individual goalkickers for their majors while Ruby Kane produced two of the three goals kicked by the Magpies.
Still searching for their first points of the season, Mernda hosted Wallan at Waterview Recreation Reserve. After falling behind by 13 points at half time, the Demons quickly returned to the contest to lead by two points heading into the final quarter. In a huge last term, both sides fought hard to grab the advantage, but neither team could be separated, both finishing on 4.5 (29) apiece. Hayley Griffey and Macy Aylward were superb for Mernda while Brook King and Nikita English were crucial in keeping the Magpies in the game right until the end.
A massive top four battle was played between Eltham and Diamond Creek Women’s 2 at Eltham Central Park. The Panthers led by 10 points at three quarter time before storming home to win by 31 points, avoiding a third straight loss in the process. Scarlett Fitzpatrick was brilliant for the hosts, with Scarlett Johnson and Yuriko Johnstone kicking two majors each. The Creekers had all individual goalkickers for their three majors, one of those being Madeline Toone who has now kicked 10 goals in 2023.
It was Eltham Black’s turn to have the bye in Round 10 action in Under-16 Blue. Mernda and Yarrambat kicked things off on a Friday night at Waterview Recreation Reserve. It was a tight opening half with the Bats holding on to an 11-point advantage at the main break despite inaccuracy in front of goal, before a huge second half saw them finish with 38 scoring shots and win by 64 points. Lucas Martin starred for the visitors in a brilliant performance while Mason Di Biase finished with a season-high of four goals. Jack McNiven impressed for the Demons.
A first vs seventh battle took place between Whittlesea and Kilmore Blue at Whittlesea Showgrounds. The top of the table Eagles were almost flawless throughout the match, keeping the Blues scoreless on their way to a 151-point victory, their seventh of the 2023 season. The hosts shared the load inside 50, with their 23 goals coming from 14 individual goalkickers, with Henry Davis being adjudged the side’s best player. William Bowshall-Tanner produced a gallant performance for the Blues despite the heavy loss.
Coming off the bye, Montmorency were looking to continue their charge towards top spot when they travelled to Mill Park Lakes Reserve to face South Morang Blue. The tone of the Magpies 15-point triumph was set in the opening quarter when they kicked five goals to nil, and despite being kept scoreless in the last term, their work in the early stages of the game was enough to prevail. Sebastian Murphy kicked a season-high five goals in a best on ground performance for the visitors, meanwhile Tyson Gresham impressed for the Lions.
The top four is starting to take shape in Under-16 Red following three games over the weekend. Research was aiming for back-to-back wins when they visited Epping at Epping Recreation Reserve. The Searchers had their opponents’ measure from the first siren, with a strong performance culminating with a 58-point triumph. Another four goals from Joshua Northey have pushed his total in this campaign to 23. He was the Searchers’ best alongside Kale Bollenhangen who kicked two majors. Dominic Galati stood out for the Blues and kicked one of his side’s three goals for the afternoon.
Kilmore White claimed their second victory of the season after a big triumph over the winless Eltham Red at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The Blues produced their highest total score for the season in the 58-point win, keeping the Panthers to three goals while finishing with 25 scoring shots of their own. Blake Gauci kicked the most goals for his side with three while teammate Alexander Ryan, who has put together a strong month, was excellent again. Xavier Sutton did what he could for the visitors, kicking two goals.
An entertaining battle was played out between South Morang Gold and Laurimar at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The Lions led by 14 at half time before trailing to the Power by 11 at three quarter time, setting up an enthralling last term. It would be the hosts who did enough in the end, keeping the visitors scoreless in the last quarter to win by 10 points. Nicholas Torquati made it back-to-back weeks of being named as South Morang’s best. Harry McKeown kicked three goals in a strong effort for Laurimar.
