A look back over last weekend’s action in the Under-16 to Under-18 junior competitions.
Three games took place in the Under 18 Girls competition with the round opening at Research Park as Eltham travelled to take on Research. The home side eased into the game well, kicking four first term goals and were able to produce a comfortable 32-point lead at half time. The Panthers were held goalless for the afternoon as the Searchers kept up their undefeated run going with a 54-point win. Ally Pilakis was dangerous up forward kicking four goals while Alli Allen put in another great performance. Jessica van Hattum kept up her great form of late, earning a place in Eltham’s best.
Montmorency Park North Oval hosted the clash between Yarrambat and Montmorency. The Bats prevailed by just 15 points when these two sides last met, and as the game wore on, it looked as though the visitors would finish victors again. After leading by 25 points at half time, Yarrambat kicked six goals to one in the second half to finish 55-point victors. Jasmine Farrell led from the front for the away side in a great game which included a goal. Charly Bandera stood out for the Magpies.
The round finished at Whittlesea Showgrounds as Diamond Creek Women’s made the trip to Whittlesea. It was the Creekers who had all the answers from the opening bounce, kicking at least two majors in each quarter to win by 77 points and produce their third consecutive victory. The away side had eight individual goalkickers for the match with Zoe Ricardo leading the way with a season-high of three. Another outstanding performance from Eagles’ star Emma Pyle has seen her been named in her side’s best in five of seven matches in 2024.
The three-game slate in Under 17.5 Boys (1) this week started with South Morang Blue hosting Yarrambat at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Little could separate the two sides throughout the opening three quarters, with the Bats holding a narrow two-point advantage at the final change before kicking two goals to nil in the last term to finish 16-point winners. Mulin Fernando had one of his best games of the season for the visitors while Archer Harvey bagged another four majors. Christopher Stingas impressed for the Lions in a great game as did Jack Traianou.
Whittlesea took the trip down to Research Park to face off against Research. Eight goals were kicked between the two sides in the opening quarter before the Eagles made their move and broke the game open with a second consecutive five-goal term. With a 30-point lead intact at half time, the away side went on with the job to win by 64 points. Caden Allen had a huge day in front of the big sticks with six majors, while Blake Morley also impressed for Whittlesea. Nathan Bradshaw looked strong for the Searchers after his making his first appearance for the team since Round 4.
Eltham Central Park hosted the final game of Round 7 as Eltham Black took on Montmorency. The Magpies won the last encounter between the two teams by just five points in an entertaining contest in Round 3, but it was the Panthers who took control this time around, finishing with 34 scoring shots in a huge 71-point triumph. Jack Hartney kept up his great goal kicking form with a season-high four majors, while Luca Klaic also produced four goals for the home side. Zachary Broadbent battled hard throughout the afternoon for the Magpies.
Under 17.5 Boys (2) saw another three games for Round 7, beginning with Laurimar who took on South Morang Gold at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. After scores were level at quarter time, the Power was the team to kick away throughout the rest of the game and won each of the last three quarters to prevail by 35 points. Thomas Pascoe was a standout for the visitors, booting three goals in a great display up forward. Nicholas Torquati meanwhile battled hard for the Lions and finished as his side’s best.
A massive win took place at J.J Clancy Reserve as Kilmore played host to Epping. When these sides last met, it was Epping who claimed a narrow two-point victory, however Kilmore, who are yet to taste defeat since that match, put their opponents to the sword, with a seven-goal to one opening quarter setting the tone for a 133-point triumph. The home side had a flurry of contributors, including William Bowshall-Tanner, Riley Callaghan, Benjamin McCarthy and Corbin Stray, with the latter trio booting three goals each. Lochyln Whelan was a standout for Epping despite the loss.
Waterview Recreation Reserve saw the battle between Mernda and Eltham Red. The Demons had the perfect start to the contest, with a five-goal to nil opening quarter. The gap extended throughout the afternoon to hand the home side a 70-point victory. It was a third bag of four goals for the season for Darcy Kinash, who now has booted 11 majors in his last three games, while Mernda teammate Jack George was excellent in his own right. The Panthers best efforts were led by William Failla and Aiden Tickle.
Three games took place in Under 16 Girls (1). Montmorency took on Eltham on their home deck Eltham Central Park in the first meeting between the two sides in 2024. The Magpies were able to kick goals in each of the first three terms while keeping the Panthers scoreless in the same period of time. Eltham did well to keep Montmorency to just one-point in the final term, but the visitors had done enough earlier in the game to win by 33-points. Athanasia Patroungas and Bridie Watson each had strong impacts on their side’s win while Yuriko Johnstone battled hard all day for Eltham.
Whittlesea did battle with Kilmore at Whittlesea Showgrounds as they looked to bank consecutive wins. The Eagles kicked the all-important opening goal of the match to lead at quarter time, before the Blues levelled things up by the main break. The home side impressed in the third but could only manage four behinds, before they slotted a crucial final term major to win by nine points. Kiah McKinnon-Rowe played another great game for Whittlesea and kicked one of the two decisive majors for her side. Hannah Gibson meanwhile finished in Kilmore’s best for the fifth straight game.
The round concluded at Yarrambat War Memorial Park as Yarrambat clashed with Diamond Creek Women’s 1. Just one-point separated the two sides by quarter time, in a what looked to be a game that mirrored their opening round meeting. But the Creekers were able to wrestle control of the contest from the second term onwards and went on to win by 35 points. The away side saw terrific performances from Grace Farah, Aliesha Ryan and Alice Ward while Maya Glassey had one of her most impressive performances of the year for the Bats.
With Research having the bye, two games were played in Under 16 Girls (2) with South Morang taking on Darebin at Mill Park Lakes Reserve to start the round. It was difficult to split the two sides by half time, with the Lions holding a small seven-point advantage, however a big four-goal to nil third term proved to be the difference between the teams, as they went on to win by 21 points. South Morang’s Natasha Penn was a game changer, kicking four goals to help get her side over the line. For the Falcons, Vieda Simons-Moemai and Zoe Colosimo were some of their best.
Mernda, who was still looking for their first win of the season, hosted Diamond Creek Women’s 2 at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Demons held on to two and one-point leads at quarter time and half time, before a three-goal third quarter was the catalyst to the team claiming a terrific nine-point triumph to open their account in 2024. Lily Bondrov, Taylah Buck and Charli King were all impactful in the victory for Mernda, while Jordyn McClure was a standout for the Creekers.
Two games were had for Round 7 in Under 16 Boys (1) with Montmorency Black having the bye. A huge top of the table clash loomed at RMIT Sports Oval as Mill Park faced Eltham Black. The Parkers, who went into the game unbeaten, struggled to get into the game early as the Panthers piled on seven goals to nil by half time. Eltham were able to keep things going in the second half to finish 44-point winners. Harvie Cooke played brilliantly for the Panthers with teammate Anthony Street kicking three goals. Despite the loss, Gabby Mouhamed was solid for Mill Park.
The other match in Round 7 saw Diamond Creek with hosting duties, as they welcomed Yarrambat to Coventry Oval. The Bats had an excellent start to the game and went into the half up by 32 points after six goals to one in the opening two quarters. They continued to keep the Creekers at bay, holding them to one goal by three quarter time, on their way to a 47-point triumph. Harrison McMahon was dangerous up forward for Yarrambat and produced a season-high of four goals. Jack Morgan kept up his strong season for Diamond Creek with another terrific game.
Four games took place in Under 16 Boys (2). Montmorency White took on Eltham Black at Eltham Central Park with the game looking to be a competitive match at quarter time with scores level. But it was a huge five-goal second term from the Magpies that put them in the box seat to run away with the game. The Panthers would end the match with more scoring shots, but inaccuracy saw the away side finish 17-point winners. Patrick Johnston was the driving force in the win for Montmorency as was Zachary Locklier and Cameron Percy, who booted two goals each. Jack Mitchell, meanwhile, impressed again for Eltham.
Wallan clashed with Mernda at Greenhill Reserve and after a 10-point quarter time lead, the Magpies took control of the contest to lead by 40 points at half time and 52 points at the final break. A 6.0 final term then capped off a terrific 68-point victory for the hosts. Noah Tolevski stood tall for the Magpies and finished as his side’s best, while Campbell Harrison scored a season-high of three goals. The Demons were led once again by Bailey Hockey, who has now made it six straight appearances in his side’s best.
Whittlesea travelled down to Anthony Beale Reserve take on Greensborough in a top of the table clash. It was the unbeaten Eagles who started the game strongly, keeping the Boro goalless in the first half on their way to establishing a 35-point half time advantage. The away side would finish with six of the last nine goals of the game to run out 50-point victors and move to a 7-0 start to 2024. Jack Wunderlich showed no signs of slowing down with another awesome display, with Liam Parkinson slotting three majors. Judd Denman was a solid contributor for the hosts.
Round 7 wrapped up at Laurimar Reserve as Laurimar hosted South Morang. Despite a strong start from the Power which saw them lead by 20 points at quarter time, the game was still in the balance at three quarter time, as the Lions had reduced the margin to 10. But a three-goal to two last term sealed an 18-point triumph for Laurimar. The hosts were led by three goals from Conor Nolan and another great game from Jaxon Kueffer. Toby Luke was South Morang’s best and finished the afternoon with two goals.
