A look back over last weekend’s action in the under-16 to under-18 junior competitions.
Three games were played in Under 18 Girls with Montmorency having the bye. The round kicked off at Diamond Hills Reserve in a clash between Diamond Creek Women’s and Eltham. The Panthers were still searching for their first victory of the season against the finals bound Creekers, but they couldn’t gain control of the match, with the home side registering 15 scoring shots on their way to a 21-point win. Alexis Baillie and Willow Priest both kicked a season high two majors while Cassie Hicks and Ava Klaic were the most impressive for the visiting Panthers.
It was also impossible to split Whittlesea and South Morang in their battle at A.F. Walker Recreation Reserve. It was a particularly important game for the Eagles as they looked to close the gap between them and the Lions in the top four. The hosts led by two points at three quarter time, and it was an advantage they maintained in the final term to claim victory. Emily Wunderlich took her tally to 10 goals after kicking three while Emily Frankenberg was terrific for Whittlesea. Olivia Curavic and Amina Keegan were crucial in keeping South Morang in the contest.
Second placed Yarrambat secured their third straight win after defeating Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve. The Bats kept the Power scoreless in the first half but despite dominating, could only manage 1.8 themselves. However, it would prove to be a gap they maintained throughout the afternoon, finishing with a 20-point win as a result. Zoe Paulo led the way up forward with two goals with Laura Messimeris playing her best game of the year for the Bats. Madison Rhys-Jones was superb for Laurimar.
There was plenty of highlights in the four games of Under 17.5 Blue last weekend, beginning with Whittlesea hosting West Preston-Lakeside at Whittlesea Showgrounds. Both sides were coming off heavy defeats the previous weeks and sensed an opportunity to bounce back. It would be the Eagles that would get the better of the Roosters throughout the match, producing 28 scoring shots to win by 42 points, their first victory since coming up from Under 17.5 Red. The home side had three multiple goalkickers, while Jack Morely continues to shine with another strong display. Forward Willun Thorpe kept the scoreboard ticking for the visitors with three majors.
Eltham travelled to Epping Recreation Reserve to clash with the Blues as they looked to further solidify their top two spot. The Panthers dominated from start to finish and despite inaccuracy in front of goal, still finished as comfortable 55-point victors, registering 36 scoring shots. The visitors had 10 individual goalkickers for their 13 majors, with Jett Williams making it eight goals in three weeks with another three majors. Massimo Capitanio continued his brilliant campaign for the Blues, finishing as his side’s best on the day.
The first draw of the season was produced at Yarrambat War Memorial Park between the Bats and Laurimar. It was a brilliant contest between two sides looking to back up their Round 7 wins. The Power led by nine points at the first break before the Bats took a 10-point and six-point advantage into half time and three-quarter time respectively. In a see-sawing battle, the visitors managed to kick one more major than their opponents in the final term to force a draw. Carter McCall’s three-goal game was a catalyst in Laurimar’s final term efforts, with teammate Jack Muggivan also producing three majors. The Bats’ Max Hanlon also kicked three as Jesse Robb was a standout for the hosts.
Diamond Creek Blue set out to make it eight consecutive wins in 2023 when they faced Montmorency at Montmorency Park North Oval. The Magpies jumped out of the blocks to take an early 22-point advantage before having the task of absorbing the Creekers’ comeback throughout the remainder of the match. The ladder leaders got close many times throughout the second half with the lead constantly under a goal, but the Magpies did enough to end their opponent’s run and win by six points. Jaxon Riley kicked two of the home side’s seven goals, making it now 11 majors in his last three weeks with William Panozzo playing a brilliant match. Jesse Lambert was Diamond Creek Blue’s best alongside Trent Gipp.
A round of big wins took place in Under 17.5 Red starting with Greensborough as they hosted Wallan at Anthony Beale Reserve. The Boro were looking to capitalise on the winless Magpies and after leading by 19 points at half time, they kicked 10 goals to three in the second half to claim an impressive 66-point win. Five Boro players kicked two goals each, with Lachlan Clark’s performance standing out. Jack Taylor and Bailey Anderson were solid contributors for Wallan away from home.
Research produced a resounding triumph over Kilmore in their clash at Research Park. The Searchers won every quarter in a strong 60-point victory, making it their fourth straight win since joining the competition post-grading. Kynan Mason was the main target up forward, finishing with six majors while teammate and competition leading goalkicker Josh Shepherd slotted through three goals. The Blues’ Mitchell O’Dwyer had no problems keeping up on a goals front despite the loss, finishing with a season-high five majors, with Cooper Dulson finishing as his side’s best.
South Morang finished the weekend on top of the ladder after a comfortable win over Diamond Creek Red at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The Lions kicked at least four goals in each term to secure the 88-point triumph and like Research, have now won four consecutive games after coming into Under 17.5 Red. Four players kicked three majors for the hosts, but it was Andre Leitch (who kicked two of his own) that was named as South Morang’s best. Brodie Schaefer-Vesely played a terrific game despite the loss, kicking a season high four goals.
Diamond Creek Women’s had the week off as two games were played in Under 16 Girls Blue. A huge top of the table clash took place between Research and Laurimar at Research Park. The Power were undefeated coming into the game, but it was the Searchers who started the contest on the right foot, leading by 19 points at the main break. The visitors tried to reduce the gap, but Research held their nerve, producing six scoring shots on one in the last quarter to win by 23 points and shoot to the top of the ladder. Isabella Turner and Katelyn Busuttil (fresh off a best on ground performance in Wednesday night’s representative game) were excellent for the hosts. Emma Hendrie was Laurimar’s best.
A closer game played out between Whittlesea and Yarrambat at A.F. Walker Reserve. With the two sides fighting out for fourth spot, plenty was on the line, and it was reflected on the scoreboard, with the Eagles claiming a six-point advantage at three quarter time. That lead was kept by the home side throughout the final term, jumping the Bats into fourth spot as a result of the six-point win. Ava Keith was brilliant for Whittlesea and had a major influence on the match, while the same can be said for Ebony Smith who was excellent in her first game of the season for Yarrambat.
Darebin and Mernda’s Sunday morning clash at A.H. Capp Reserve kicked things off in Under 16 Girls Red. It was top of the ladder against bottom of the ladder, but you wouldn’t know it by the scoreline as the Demons kept up the pace with the ladder leading Falcons. The margin didn’t reach greater than three points at any of the first three breaks, with the home side just holding on to win by five points. Lucy Humphries was the only goalkicker of the match with Darebin teammate Matilda Thomson playing a solid game. Rihanna Vaega continued her great campaign and was named as Mernda’s best player.
Two sides vying for fourth spot in Diamond Creek Women’s 2 and Montmorency produced an exciting clash at Diamond Hills Reserve. The Magpies led by nine points at quarter time before scores were level in the proceeding two quarter breaks. In an intense final term, the Magpies just edged the Creekers, scoring two behinds to one to claim a one-point triumph. Sadie Cotterill was massive inside 50, kicking four goals to earn Montmorency’s best on, while Milca Tanic kept things ticking for the home side, kicking three majors.
The round finished off with Wallan making the trip to Eltham Central Park to face Eltham, it was a big battle between two sides in the top four with the game living up to their ladder current positions. The Magpies shot out to a 15-point lead in the first term before the Panthers brought it back to seven points at the main break. That sequence was similar in the second half as the visitors’ advantage increased to 17 points at three quarter time before Eltham made another attempt to bring the margin down. But it wasn’t enough to see the Magpies win by 11 points, with Jayda Cooney a standout by scoring four goals. Charlotte Laszczuk was the Panthers’ best.
Mernda had the bye ahead of last weekend’s Under 16 Blue action which saw three games take place. It began on Saturday night with Yarrambat hosting Eltham Black at Yarrambat War Memorial Park. The Bats started well with leads at quarter and half time, before being kept to just one behind while the Panthers piled on five majors to lead by 22 at three quarter time. But that lead threatened to be chased down by a determined home team in the final quarter as they kicked five goals of their own. However, two more majors from the visitors were enough to see them hold on for a dramatic one-point win. Lucas Di Giovine led the way inside 50 with three goals for Eltham with teammate Aiden Tickle playing a terrific contest. River Bourke was brilliant for the Bats and was a key part in getting his team back in the game.
Kilmore Blue were no match for South Morang Blue at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, with Lions winning by 82 points. Fresh off the bye, and having not won a game since Round 5, South Morang were determined to get back on the winners list as were the Blues, who were yet to taste victory in 2023. After a six-goal to nil first term, the hosts never looked back on their way to a commanding triumph. Kaden Isherwood booted a season high five goals and was one of 10 individual goalkickers for his side. Aidan Trefz kicked two goals in the loss for Kilmore while Lyndon Burke was a standout for the Blues for a second straight week.
Whittlesea have kept their spot on top of the ladder despite losing to fellow top four side Montmorency at Montmorency Park North Oval. The Eagles were looking to make it seven consecutive games without defeat but were no match for a powerful Magpies outfit, who produced 29 scoring shots to win by 48 points. Sebastian Murphy was the star of the show for the home side, with a game-high three goals alongside teammate Nick Canavan who also booted three majors. Angus Regan was one of Whittlesea’s most impressive.
Three games were played in Under 16 Red starting off with South Morang Gold battling it out with Eltham Red at Eltham Central Park. The Lions made it three straight victories over the winless Panthers, registering 31 scoring shots to claim a 68-point triumph. Domenic Grillo was outstanding for the visitors as was Joshua Evans, who finished with five majors. Reece Flanagan did all he could for the hosts while Joel Brown made it back-to-back weeks of three goal games.
Fourth placed Epping were hoping to extend the gap between them and Kilmore White in their clash at Epping Recreation Reserve. The Blues hopes soon turned into a reality as after leading by 18 at half time, they kicked 11 goals to three in the second half to win by 72 points. Dominic Galati led all goal scorers with four majors while David Aherne added another great game to his solid season. Blake Gauci was a strong stand out for the Blues despite the heavy loss, also going up forward to kick a goal.
A huge top of the table clash took place between Laurimar and Research at Laurimar Reserve. The game was tight with plenty of lead changes between the two teams between the opening siren and three-quarter time. The Power led by five points despite having five more scoring shots at the final change, before kicking four goals to one in the last quarter to win by 21 points, ending the Searchers undefeated run. Four goals from the home side’s Aston Carrick took his 2023 tally to 18 majors, with teammate Jye Brincat standing out as one of the best players on the ground. Competition leading goalkicker Joshua Northey kicked two majors for the Searchers to keep in slight lead in the goalkicking charts intact.
