Many clubs represented across grand final weekend
THERE will be 14 clubs represented across this weekend’s grand finals to complete the Latrobe University Bendigo-backed finals series in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League.
Action kicks off at 8.45am on Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Oval when Golden Square meets Sandhurst in the under-16 seniors match.
All other grand finals will be played on the main oval at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane, or the neighbouring Enterprise Oval in the Tannery Lane precinct on Saturday or Sunday.
Most recent meeting between under-16 seniors grand finalists Golden Square and Sandhurst was the second semi-final at North Bendigo’s Atkins Street oval.
On that occasion it was Golden Square which won 71-46.
The Dogs led 44-40 at three quarter-time and scored 4.3 to a goal in the last.
Riley Dillon, Oliver Eaton, Jack McMahon and Xavier Cain were Golden Square’s best.
Jacob Austin, Deakin Andrews, Finlay Lockhart and Declan Stevenson played well for Sandhurst.
A big weekend for Sandhurst involves being in the deciders for under-14 seniors, under-16 reserves division one, and under-16 girls.
It will be a battle between Sandhurst and South Bendigo for the under-14 seniors premiership cup.
A Sandhurst line-up that includes Eamon Austin, Nicholas Long, Carter Reid, Lucas Tzouroutis and Noah Willits will be aiming to cap an unbeaten season.
Best for the Bloods in the preliminary final win against Maryborough included Sam Bardsley, Jack Bell, Cooper Coll, Sonny Cluff, Rylan Newman and Aydin Price.
It will be Sandhurst against Maryborough in the under-16 reserves, division one grand final.
The second semi-final between these teams ended in a 42-41 win for Sandhurst as Campbell Mackenzie, Thomas Davie, Will Bennett and Kobi MacDonald were best.
Key players for the Maryborough Magpies include Jake Gavriladis, Kaian Constable, Khoa Do and Bailey Walhouse.
Sandhurst will face Kangaroo Flat in the under-16 girls’ grand final.
It was a one-point thriller when these teams met in the second semi-final.
Sandhurst led 14-10 at three quarter-time, but the Roos scored 2.1 to 1.2 in the last for a 23-22 victory.
The Roos best included Nikeah Anderson, Shelby Boliston, Chelsea Cole, Jorja Hill, Zarli Waugh and Abbi Wells.
Sandhurst’s best across two finals matches have included Ava Bibby, Shanae Daly, Olivia Lacy, Lacey Nihill, Neve Pinner and Chloe Taylor.
The young Bloods from South Bendigo will feature in the under-12C and under-16 reserves two matches.
After a seven-point loss to St Kilian’-St Peter’s in the second semi-final, South Bendigo is up against the Saints to decide the under-12C premiers.
Best for St Kilian’s-St Peter’s in the semi were Beau Butler, Tommy Byrne, Bentley Geary, Thomas McMurray, Wesley Scholtes and Elijah Willits.
The Bloods’ best in the preliminary final win against Kangaroo Flat were Miller Slattery, Blake Dobbin, Blaine Anderson, Ryan Packer, Charles Neilson and Darcy Ford.
South Bendigo won its way to the under-16 reserves, division two grand final after a qualifying final victory against Kangaroo Flat and a 55-43 win against Strathfieldsaye in the second semi-final.
Best for the Bloods across those two matches included Ryan Foster, Baden France, Angus Martin, Cooper Russell, Alife Taylor and Liam Westerway.
Stung by the second semi-final defeat, Strathfieldsaye hit back for a 10-goal win against Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final.
Storm’s in-form players include Selwyn Bratby, James Connor, Nathan Di Camillo, Ethan Giddings, Jack Molloy and Archie Stevens.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles features in both of the under-14 reserves matches.
The Eagles will take on Huntly Hawks in the division one grand final.
These teams met in the second semi-final where Maiden Gully YCW won 92-22 as Ollie Clapp, Lewis Pigdon, Lincoln Hancock and Noah Hadden were best.
The Hawks struck back to win the preliminary final against Sandhurst as Thomas Biggs, Deegan Swinnerton, Mitchell Lawrence and Ben Miller played well in a 50-37 victory for the brown and gold.
It’s the clash of the neighbouring Maiden Gully YCW and Marong in the under-14 reserves, division two match.
The Eagles soared into the grand final after a 25-point win against Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Joel Wittingslow, Drew Warren, Declan Downing and Angus Addlem were best in that contest.
Marong’s run to the grand final began with a win against South Bendigo in the first semi and another big victory against Sandhurst in the preliminary final.
Players to watch for the Panthers include Harry Allison, John Bradley, William Hope, Jake Mannix and Max O’Donnell.
White Hills will play Strathfieldsaye in the under-14 girls’ grand final.
The Demons and Storm met in the second semi which White Hills won 38-17.
Mia Clark and Sophie O’Connell led the White Hills attack on two goals to be among the best with Jayda Alford, Maci Gough, Madisyn Morrison and Lily Rochester.
Storm’s best across two finals include Maddie Dunn, Gemma Fox, Lilly Hope, Rania Jackson-Leahy, Louise Khodja and Scarlett Ward.
The Demons and Storm also feature in the under-18 girls decider.
Storm won the second semi against White Hills by two goals as Taylor Mitchell, Taylah Petrusma, Penelope Hendy, Beana Dunn and Kaleah Bonanno were best.
Players to watch for the Demons include Acacia Edwards, Jorja Morrison, Estella Murphy, Milli Newlan, Sasha Pearce and Kadeisha Smith.
First of Sunday’s matches on the main oval at Triple M Park will be the under-12A clash between St Therese’s and Strathfieldsaye.
The St Therese’s Sharks won the second semi against Golden Square as Jake Rosa, Jaxon Kelly, Jamison Westley and Corben Bell were best.
Strathfieldsaye scored a 21-14 win against White Hills in the first semi and then beat Golden Square in the preliminary final by five points.
Players to watch for Storm include Clifford Fitzgerald, Nicholas Hietbrink, Max Perkins, Levi van Dillen, Zander Walker and Spencer Worthington.
St Francis will play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the under-12B match.
A 30-16 win against Eaglehawk in the second semi put St Francis into the grand final.
Best for St Francis in the win against the Hawks included Quinlan Cody, Henry Dewhurst, Archer Horan, Alistair Hughes, Etta Place and Darcy Tyler.
The Eagles’ run began with a 20-point win against Maryborough in the first semi and two-goal victory against Eaglehawk in the preliminary final.
Best for the Eagles across their two finals matches include Molly Austin, Jordan Barker, Zac Cavalier, Harry Clapp, Jack Hargreaves, George Polkinghorne and Darby Thomson.
Kangaroo Flat will take on St Therese’s in the under-12D grand final.
The Roos and Sharks met in the second semi which Kangaroo Flat won 39-30.
Izak Cole, Jett Edwards, Thomas Pluck, Adrian Bellis, Darcey Dingfelder and Samuel Hurley in the Roos’ latest victory.
The Sharks best across two finals include Levi Bell, Quinn Casey, Callen Harrington, Jack Holland, Jye McDonald and Xavier Mulqueen.
North Bendigo will face White Hills in the under-12E grand final.
The second semi-final match between these teams ended in a 51-10 win for the North Bendigo Bulldogs as Malakai Challis, Ethan Miller, Tadym Borserio, Jaxson Challis, Isaac Widdicombe and Cooper Russell were best.
White Hills has played two finals matches in which Dennis Edwards, Darcy Mullen, Henry Rice, Cruz Shill, Memphis Slattery, Hunter Sloan have played well for the red and black.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at on main oval at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Under-12C at 9.30am: St Kilian’s-St Peter’s v South Bendigo.
Under-12B at 11am: St Francis v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Under-12E at 9am: North Bendigo v White Hills.
Under-12D at 10.30am: Kangaroo Flat v St Therese’s.
Schedule for Sunday’s grand finals on main oval at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Under-12A at 9am: St Therese’s v Strathfieldsaye.
Under-14 seniors at 10.30am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
Under-18 girls at 12.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v White Hills.
Under-16 reserves, div. one at 1.50pm: Sandhurst v Maryborough.
Under-16 reserves, div. two at 3.40pm: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.
Schedule for Sunday’s grand finals at Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Under-16 girls at 9.30am: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
Under-14 girls at 11am: White Hills v Strathfieldsaye.
Under-14 reserves, div. one at 12.30pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Huntly Hawks.
Under-14 reserves, div. two at 2.20pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Marong.
Written by Nathan Dole.
