BY NATHAN DOLE
THERE will be 15 clubs represented across this weekend’s grand finals in the Latrobe University Bendigo-backed finals series to complete the IGA Bendigo Junior Football League season.
Matches on Saturday and Sunday will be at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo, at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington, and at Triple M Park and Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The BJFL is also proudly suppored by Cavalier Homes and Bendigo Bank.
Week three in the BJFL’s finals series kicked off with last Friday night’s under-12 girls’ grand final between St Therese’s and Golden Square.
The Sharks and Bulldogs played under lights on O’Keefe Oval 2 at Mercy Junortoun Sports Precinct.
St Therese’s made a brilliant start to lead 22-nil by quarter-time.
Golden Square fought back to win the second term, 12-8.
In the third the Sharks seized control to score 3.2 as it kept the blue and gold scoreless.
Both teams added two behinds in the last as St Therese’s won 52-14 to cap an unbeaten run to the premiership.
The Sharks’ attack was led by Georgia Bray, Evie Gretgrix and Stella Rooke on two, and Verity Greenwell.
Goalkickers for Golden Square were Katie Graham and Annemarie Smith.
Best for St Therese’s were Evie Gretgrix, Georgia Bray, Milla Dalton, Elke Fletcher, Quinn Guthrie and April Wainwright.
Willow Dellar, Charlotte Carr, Matilda Smith, Abigale Smith and Ruby Meharry were Golden Square’s best.
Preliminary finals were played on Sunday.
Golden Square was too strong for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the under-12A match at North Bendigo’s Atkins Street Oval.
The Bulldogs led 30-1 at quarter-time and 44-2 by the long break.
In the third it was Maiden Gully YCW which goaled and kept the Bulldogs scoreless.
The Eagles also won the final term, 19-2, but it was the blue and gold which marked a 46-27 victory.
St Kilian’s-St Peter’s Gold was under pressure from Castlemaine in the under-12B match at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The St Kilian’s-St Peter’s had dominated most of the opening three terms to lead 31-3 going into the last.
The Magpies fought back brilliantly to score 3.2 as Gold struck just one behind in the final quarter.
Despite Castlemaine’s strong finish it was Gold which won 32-23.
St Monica’s won every quarter on its way to a 54-15 win against Eaglehawk Hawks in the under-12C match at Canterbury Park.
The Kangaroos led 13-8 at quarter-time and then added three goals in the second for a 31-9 lead by the long break.
St Monica’s won the next two terms, 16-0 and 7-6 in a 54-15 result.
White Hills Red kicked away from Golden Square in the last quarter of their match at North Bendigo.
The Demons led the Bulldogs, 16-14 going into the final term.
A tally of 2.2 to 1.1 was enough for White Hills to claim a 30-21 victory.
White Hills marked a five-goal win against Strathfieldsaye in the unde-14 girls’ preliminary final at Weeroona Oval.
The Demons led 20-14 at half-time and then added 3.2 as they kept Storm scoreless in the vital third quarter.
At the final siren White Hills led 46-16.
Strathfieldsaye hit the 20-goal mark in the under-14 seniors clash with South Bendigo at Weeroona Oval.
Storm led 52-19 at half-time and won the next two quarters, 40-13 and 38-45.
When the final siren sounded, Storm was up 130 to 45.
Huntly Gold scored a 69-24 win against Marong in the under-14 reserves, divison one match at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Hawks led 29-14 at half-time and 37-15 at a quarter to play.
Huntly added 5.2 to 1.3 in the final term.
The Magpies from Maryborough kicked on to the under-14 reserves, division two grand final after a 37-point win against White Hills.
Maryborough led 39-9 at half-time of the match at North Bendigo’s Atkins Street Oval.
The Magpies won the next two quarters, 14-9 and 20-18 to complete a 73-36 victory.
South Bendigo responded to a third-quarter fightback by Golden Square to win the under-14 reserves, division three match.
The Bloods led 28-9 at half-time of the game in North Bendigo.
In the third it was Golden Square which scored 1.2 to a point to draw within two goals at a quarter to go.
The Bloods steadied to win the last, 13-12, and the match, 42-29.
Strathfieldsaye fought from a goal down at the start of the final term in the under-16 girls’ match to beat Golden Square by eight points.
It was 13-all at quarter-time at Weeroona Oval.
Golden Square won the next two terms, 8-6 and 6-2.
In the last it was Strathfieldsaye Storm which surged to the lead as it scored 2.2 to nil.
At the final siren Storm led 35-27.
Golden Square was too strong for Maryborough in the under-16 seniors, Gold division preliminary final.
The Bulldogs faced the Magpies at North Bendigo’s Atkins Street Oval.
Golden Square 23-5 at half-time and 57-12 at a quarter to go.
The Magpies played well to win the last term, 25-19, as the Bulldogs marked a 76-37 victory.
Rochester won the under-16 seniors, Gold division clash with Sandhurst Navy.
The Tigers and Dragons played at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Rochester led 23-18 at half-time and then scored 4.2 to 1.3 in the third term.
Sandhurst Navy fought on to win the last term, 14-2, but it was the yellow and black which advanced to the grand final.
Kangaroo Flat dominated the under-16 reserves, division one match against Strathfieldsaye.
The Roos and Storm met at Eaglehawk’s Kangaroo Flat.
After leading 26-12 at quarter-time, Kangaroo Flat powered away as it won the second term, 33-6.
The Roos went on to record a 114-45 victory.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles scored 10 goals in the opening half as it kept White Hills to a tally of one major in the under-16 reserves, division two match at Weeroona Oval.
The Eagles led 65-8 at half-time and went on record a 118-22 victory.
Woorinen scored a 70-point win against Golden Square in the under-18 girls’ match at Weeroona Oval.
The Tigers led 22-nil at quarter-time and won the next three quarters, 26-14, 26-4 and 20-6.
Preliminary final scoreboard in the Latrobe University-backed finals series run by the Bendigo Junior Football League:
Under-12A
Golden Square 7.4 (46) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 4.3 (27).
GOALS – Golden Square: Jack Allen 2, Declan Dupille, Chad Finch, Sonny Kennedy, Rheef Norman, Jimi Read. Maiden Gully YCW Eagles: Jordan Barker, Jack Hargreaves, Darby Thomson, Tommy Watson.
BEST – Golden Square: Jack Allen, Harper Pannett, Lachlan Fairley, Jimi Read, Nate Bishop, Jhak Burke. Maiden Gully YCW Eagles: Jack Farley, Darby Thomson, Jack Hargreaves, Zac Cavalier, Tommy Evans, Tyson Smith.
Under-12B:
Castlemaine 3.5 (23) lt St Kilian’s-St Peter’s Gold 5.2 (32).
GOALS – Castlemaine: Louis Parsons 2, Charlie Cordy. St Kilian’s-St Peter’s Gold: Wesley Scholtes 3, Isaac Manley, Archie Walsh.
BEST – Castlemaine: Declan Brasher, Charlie Cordy, Louis Parsons, Jude O’Sullivan, Seth McGill, Spencer Grainger. St Kilian’s-St Peter’s Gold: Jimmy Byrne, Wesley Scholtes, Callan McCarthy, Eddie Mansfield, Elijah Willits, Tarkyn Ralphs.
Under-12C
St Monica’s 8.6 (54) d Eaglehawk Hawks 2.3 (15).
GOALS – St Monica’s: Ethan Crocker 3, Sam Colbert, Raff Gallagher, Jesse Pidoto, Tyler Scullie, Henry Sherwood. Eaglehawk Hawks: Dash Abbott, Braxton Safstrom.
BEST – St Monica’s: Raff Gallagher, Henry Sherwood, Jesse Pidoto, Ethan Crocker, Max Bennallack, Cian Colbert. Eaglehawk Hawks: not supplied.
Under-12D
White Hills Red 4.6 (30) d Golden Square 3.3 (21).
GOALS – White Hills Red: Chase Kelson 3, Arlow Smith. Golden Square: Jarrod Carmichael, Jack Everett, Isaac Taylor.
BEST – White Hills Red: Declan Mills, Cooper Boyd, Dennis Edwards, Chase Kelson, Oliver Clark, Tobi Nichols. Golden Square: Jack Everett, Henry Morton, Joshua Jones-O’Brien, Issac Taylor, Noah Smith, Lachlan Baker.
Under-14 Girls:
White Hills 7.4 (46) d Strathfieldsaye 2.4 (16).
GOALS – Mia Clark 2, Maleah Alford, Sophie Healy, Jemma House (only names supplied). Strathfieldsaye: Louise Khodja, Kirra Molloy.
BEST – White Hills: Sophie O’Connell, Maleah Alford, Lucy Newton, Mia Clark, Belle Mapperson, Layla O’Brien. Strathfieldsaye: Chella Fitzgerald, Lara Cockerall, Jorja Cunningham, Lannah Mayman, Akiva Morrissey, Eden Pollard.
Under-14 seniors:
Strathfieldsaye 20.10 (130) d South Bendigo 6.9 (45).
GOALS – Strathfieldsaye: Will Mayes 5, Samuel Whitford 3, Ned Browell, Aydan Hand, Lucas Sharam 2, Charlie Elliott, Mannix Grieve, Coby Hilson, Kaleb Hodgskiss, Jesse Webster (only names supplied). South Bendigo: Rylan Newman 3, Archie Rooke, Harry Warne, Zachary Watters.
BEST – Strathfieldsaye: Will Mayes, Tait Gardiner, Aydan Hand, Charlie Elliott, Ned Browell, Will Brandt. South Bendigo: Liam Fyffe, Henry Turnbull, Harry Warne, Lachlan Bray, Rylan Newman, Sebastian Carter.
Under-14 reserves, division one:
Huntly Gold 10.9 (69) d Marong 3.6 (24).
GOALS – Huntly Gold: Oscar Davies 4, Caleb Pellegrino 3, Lincoln Cain, Oscar Kleinert, Zayver Marwood. Marong: Ryan Marwood 2, Max O’Donnell.
BEST – Huntly Gold: Hudson Archer, Hunter Adamson, Lachlan Griffin, Callum Whyte, Oscar Davies, Oscar Kleinert. Marong: Harry Wilson, Tayte Tyler, Jack Miller, Jaxon Marwood, Harry Allison, Ryan Marwood.
Under-14 reserves, division two:
Maryborough 10.13 (73) d White Hills 5.6 (36).
GOALS – Maryborough: Jack Smith 3, Oliver Cassidy, Jayden Humphrey 2, Ed Boyes, Max Skinner, Clinton Wings. White Hills: Benjamin Jorgensen 3, Charlie Dickins, Cooper Russell.
BEST – Maryborough: Oliver Cassidy, Dechlan Bridges, Chase Larkin, Jack Smith, Aidan Davis, Charlie Bartlett. White Hills: Benjamin Jorgensen, Finnigan Parker, Dehkeal Kelly, Jackson Mahood, Seth Fuller, Jack Newton.
Under-14 reserves, division three:
Golden Square 4.5 (29) lt South Bendigo 6.6 (42).
GOALS – Golden Square: Spencer Snell 2, Tim Byrne. Darby Martin. South Bendigo: Paw Si 2, Tyson Campbell, Jayden Evans, Charlie Robertson, Sonny Tuckerman.
BEST – Golden Square: Archer Brown, Samuel Morgan, Tellium Morgan, Tynan Thomas, Noah Stewart, Brae Goode. South Bendigo: not supplied.
Under-16 Girls:
Strathfieldsaye 5.5 (35) d Golden Square 4.3 (27).
GOALS – Strathfieldsaye: Tessa Skipper 2, Mikayla Davis, Evie Nuttall (only names supplied). Golden Square: Lucy Johansen, Luci Kornmann, Lily Mansfield, Keely Milne.
BEST – Strathfieldsaye: Tessa Skipper, Scarlett Ward, Maddie Dunn (only names supplied). Golden Square: Gemma McPhee, Lucy Johansen, Lily Mansfield, Makayla Roberts, Luci Kornmann, Ella Meharry.
Under-16 seniors, Blue:
Golden Square 11.10 (76) d Maryborough 5.7 (37).
GOALS – Golden Square: Archie Eaton, Xavier Grant 3, Archie Edwards 2, Jackson Lowery, James Peter (only names supplied). Maryborough: Zac Cicchini 3, Jayden Brydon, Logan Howell.
BEST – Golden Square: Hunter Wright, Xavier Grant, Jeremy Corr, Charlie Mortimer, Seth Cooke-Kingston, Dalton Webb. Maryborough: Campbell Wood, Zac Cicchini, Nash Fraser, Cale Wright, Archie Chadwick, William Soulsby.
Under-16 seniors, Gold:
Sandhurst Navy 5.11 (41) lt Rochester 7.9 (51).
GOALS – Sandhurst Navy: Carter Reid 2, Harry Carter, Nicholas Long, Oliver Taylor. Rochester: William Hipwell, Trey White 2, Cooper Harbour, Oakley Tarrant, Oliver Williams.
BEST – Sandhurst Navy: Noah Willits, Carter Reid, Miller Armstrong, Harry Byrne, Oliver Taylor, Charlie Bannan. Rochester: Sam Seabrook, Jordy Rasmussen, Oliver Williams, Lachlan Joyce, Matthew Harrington, Oakley Tarrant.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Kangaroo Flat 17.12 (114) d Strathfieldsaye 7.3 (45).
GOALS – Kangaroo Flat: Raymond McNamara 4, Xavier Coghill 3, Tajh Blythman, Jye Clarke, Jye Dingfelder, Brayden Franken 2, Jack Bodycoat (only names supplied). Strathfieldsaye: Joseph Buchanan, Harvey Jackson, Nathan Jones-Stibbe, Cooper Lacey, Jaxson Smith (only names supplied).
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 18.10 (118) d White Hills Red 3.4 (22).
GOALS – Maiden Gully YCW Eagles: Dylan Goddard, Steven Neervoort 4, Cooper Attard, Nash Blake 2, Oliver Bowman, Declan Downing, Noah Hadden, Lincoln Hancock, Cleveland Tucker-Young, Joel Wittingslow. White Hills Red: Kai Pearce, Tylan Ready, Tyler Sanders.
Under-18 Girls:
Woorinen 14.10 (94) d Golden Square 3.6 (24).
GOALS – Woorinen: Madison Johnston 5, Sunny Barry 4, Brydi Lewis, Ayla McLean 2, Issy Boulton. Golden Square: Lucinda Malone 2, Jorja Hill.
BEST – Woorinen: Sunny Barry, Samantha Johnston, Sophie McClelland, Issy Boulton, Aylah McLean, Gaby Sanford. Golden Square: Ava Barker, Abby Weir, Gemma Roberts, Lucinda Malone, Shelby Boldiston, Hannah Crane.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand final at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
Under-16 seniors Blue at 8.45am: Sandhurst Maroon v Golden Square.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington:
Under-12D at 8.30am: Strathfieldsaye v White Hills Red.
Under-12A at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square.
Under-12B at 11.30am: South Bendigo v St Kilian’s-St Peter’s Gold.
Under-12C at 1pm: Marong v St Monica’s.
Schedule for Sunday’s grand finals at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane, Strathfieldsaye:
Under-14 seniors at 8.40am: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
Under-16 reserves, division two at 10.30am: Lockington Bamawm United Cats v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Under-18 girls at 12.20pm: White Hills v Woorinen.
Under-16 seniors, Gold at 2.10pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Rochester.
Under-16 reserves, division one at 4pm: White Hills Black v Kangaroo Flat.
Schedule for Sunday’s grand finals at Enterprise Oval in Tannery Lane, Strathfieldsaye:
Under-14 reserves, division three at 8.50am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v South Bendigo.
Under-14 reserves, division two at 10.40am: South Bendigo v Maryborough.
Under-14 girls at 2pm: Sandhurst v White Hills.
Under-14 reserves, division one at 3.30pm: Strathfieldsaye v Huntly Gold.
Under-16 girls at 12.30pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.