EIGHT clubs had teams advance to grand finals after they won last weekend’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League preliminary finals.
A big weekend of 11 matches kicked off with Friday night’s under-12 Girls match between St Francis Green and South Bendigo Red at White Hills Recreation Reserve in Scott Street.
Both teams scored a goal in the first quarter and then won term two, nine-nil.
The second half was dominated by St Francis Green.
Stung by its loss to Rochester in the second semi-final after a 13-1 run to the finals, St Francis Green seized control against the young Bloods.
St Francis Green scored four goals in the third term and another in the last on the way to a 50-6 victory.
Goalkickers for St Francis Green were Lotti Childs, two; Bella Hope, Ellie Longford, Tilly Stewart, Albie Tyler and Eadie Willis.
Ruby Wilson was on target for South Bendigo Red.
Lists of best players for both teams were not supplied.
All other preliminary finals were played on Sunday at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park; or Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
St Therese’s won through to the under-12A grand final after a 15 point victory against St Francis in Marong.
The Sharks won 7.7 (49) to 5.4 (34).
The St Therese’s attack was led by Mason Cluff on three goals as Miller Cluff, Parker Findlay, Lenny Gretgrix and Brad Ladson added a goal each.
Max Nielsen kicked three goals for St Francis as William Hearps booted two.
Best for St Therese’s were Mason Cluff, Parker Findlay, Louis Lapthorne, Xavier Hubble, Marcus K, and Will Florence.
Aiden McDermott, Max Nielsen, Xavier Connolly, William Hearps, Will Campbell and Henry Harrington played well for St Francis.
Castlemaine broke clear in the second half to win the under-12B clash with Marong at Jackal Oval.
The Magpies led 15-13 at half-time and then scored 3.1 as the Panthers added a point in the third.
Two goals in the last as Marong added a major sealed a 46-20 win for Castlemaine.
Magpies’ captain Sid Wiese and Fletcher Cheesman kicked two goals as Sandy Atkin, George Cordy and Clancy Hendrickson added one each.
Goalkickers for the Panthers were Alfie Healey, Mason Loy and Rheef Smit.
Castlemaine’s best were Sid Wiese, George Cordy, Sandy Atkin, Fletcher Cheesman, Darcy Brown and Reuben O’Sullivan.
The Panthers’ best were Jack Lakey, Heath Bourke, Laylah Brown, Harvey Atkinson, Odie and Alfie Healey.
A big day for South Bendigo included the under-12C team winning its match against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Eaglehawk by 25 points.
The Bloods led 14-2 at half-time before the Eagles struck back to win the third, 12-6.
South Bendigo clicked up a few gears to score four goals in the last on the way to a 45-20 victory.
The Bloods’ attack was led by Tait Taruvinga on two as Jye Benbow, Levi Bright, Jaxson Brown, Jevan DeAraugo and Marcus Leske added a goal each.
Noah Black, Sullivan Bracey and Frankie Lees were on target for the Eagles.
Best for South Bendigo were Charlie Worme, Oliver Poole, Louis Fyffe, Levi Bright, Brodie Runciman and Tait Taruvinga.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ best were Xavier Wardell, Nate Baird, Harry Lowe, Jed Brooks, Sam Hill and Aston Fitzpatrick.
In the under-12D competition it was Kangaroo Flat which skipped to a 61-28 win against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Marong.
Otis Mahon and Taelon Watson kicked three and two as Cooper Cass, Huddo Kent and Mason Paynting were also on the list of goalkickers.
Jed Evans kicked three goals for the Eagles as Lachlan Webb added another.
Logan Jackson, Logan Moyle, Cooper Hunter, Otis Mahon, Luke Bell and Raine Whyman led the charge for the Kangaroos.
Best for the Eagles were Jed Evans, Max Young, Max Moss, Lachlan Webb, Harrison Miller and Xavier Dixon.
South Bendigo stormed to a 93-41 victory against Strathfieldsaye in the under-14A match in Marong’s Malone Park.
Henry Macnee and William Waters kicked three goals as Hadley Galea and Will Shadbolt slotted two.
Other goalkickers for the red and white were Noah Bell, Bennett Kemmer and Cael White.
Storm’s attack was led by Tommy Harrop and Wynn Jackson with two goals as Hamish Baker and River Davies kicked one each.
Best for the Bloods were Cael White, Charles Kochar, Henry Macnee, Finn Cullen, Will Tuddenham and Algie Marshall.
Tommy Harrop, Jude Place, Jordan Sherwell, Jack Leslie, River Davies and Hamish Baker played well for Strathfieldsaye.
The Dragons faced the Magpies as Sandhurst and Castlemaine lined up in the under-14B match in Marong.
Sandhurst sealed a 9.3 (57) to 6.7 (43) victory.
Dragons’ captain Sebastian Doak slotted five goals as Brady Brown kicked two and Riley Condon and Archie Smith added one.
Goalkickers for the Magpies were Mitchell Sturgess, two; Patrick Brasher, Jimmy Butler, Ted Cordy and Finn Morgan.
Best for Sandhurst were Samuel Gee, Sebastian Doak, Archie Smith, Henry Bannan, Ethan Schoder and Zachariah O’Meara.
Castlemaine’s best were Finn Morgan, Xavier Britt, Ted Cordy, Darcy Minster, Miles Cheesman and Jimmy Butler.
It was a five-goal win for South Bendigo in the under-14C clash with White Hills at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The young Bloods led 16-6 at quarter-time and 36-12 by the long break.
White Hills fought back to win the third term, 9-3.
Another three goals in the fourth quarter as the Demons added a major clinched a 60-30 win for South Bendigo.
Navarre Blake led the Bloods’ attack on two goals as Bailey Cason, Ryleigh Cole, Sebastian Collie, Jake Lawrence, Ethan Shea and Koby Shelton added a goal.
Sam Kerville, captain Patrick Millar and Nate Vassallo were on target for the red and black.
Best for the Bloods were Flynn Bell, Jake Lawrence, Navarre Blake, Sebastian Collie, Koby Shelton and Hunter Fitzallen.
The Demons’ best were Mason Argus, Logan Brown, Myles Dobbin, Thomas Parks, Tyler Heard and Arlie Thacker.
Strathfieldsaye dominated the under-15 Girls match against Sandhurst White in Eaglehawk.
The Storm team led 15-12 at quarter-time and 23-12 by half-time.
After winning the third, 7-2, Strathfieldsaye added three goals in the last to complete a 51-14 victory.
Goalkickers for Storm were Mia Hirst, two; Millie Balic, Layla Hand, Addison Probert, captain Lahni Tyrrell and Scarlett Woodmore.
The Dragons’ goals were off the boot of Isabel Baker and Stella Rooke.
Storm’s best were Mia Hirst, Addison Probert, Layla Hand, Alex Houghton, Greta and Lucy Pollock.
Best for Sandhurst White were Ella Saunders, Georgia Bray, Indie Kramer, Lola White, Thea Hulls and Isabel Baker.
Strathfieldsaye dominated the under-16A clash with South Bendigo at Canterbury Park.
After working to a 20-3 lead by quarter-time, Strathfieldsaye scored five goals in the second to be up 51-11 by the main break.
Storm won the third, 20-4, and then went on a seven-goal blitz in the last quarter.
When the siren sounded Strathfieldsaye led 116-22.
Storm’s attack was led by Charlie Giddings and Darcy Tyler on four and three goals.
Tadgh O’Keefe and Kobi Read racked up two goals as Dominic Gormly, Ailstair Hughes, Jed Monaghan, Jimi Read, Henry Strang, Zander Walker and Jed Willis added a goal.
Goals for the Bloods were kicked by Thomas McMurray and Koby Wilson.
Best for Storm were Darcy Tyler, Angus McIntosh, Henry Strang, Tadhg O’Keefe, Jed Willis and Kobi Read.
South Bendigo’s best were Harvey Keating, Hser Yu Say Wah, Callan McCarthy, Tarkyn Ralphs, Reuben Turnbull and Thomas McMurray.
It was the Hawks against the Bulldogs as Eaglehawk and Golden Square contested the under-16B preliminary final at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park.
The Hawks charged to a 33-12 lead by quarter-time and then won the second term, 21-2.
Golden Square fought back to score four goals and kept the Borough to a tally of 1.2 in the third.
A four-goal margin for the Two Blues at the start of the last was six by the end as Eaglehawk marked an 81-45 victory.
Taj Ferguson led the Hawks’ attack on three goals as Max Scandolera and Taiglan Turton kicked two each.
The Borough also had Zac Farrow, Archer Harrison, Jackson Nisbet, Lachlan Stanton and Brodie Taylor on target.
Ethan Crocker kicked a match-high four goals for Golden Square as Max Haw booted two and Jack Hargreaves the other.
Best for Eaglehawk were Finn Neivandt, Taiglan Turton, Brodie Taylor, Jace Hope, Zac Farrow and Jackson Nisbet.
Blake Goodes, Cooper Dando, Riley Whitehead, Tim Byrne, Ethan Crocker and Jack Farley were best for the Bulldogs.
There will be 14 clubs represented in next weekend’s grand finals.
Action kicks off with Friday night’s under-12 Girls match between Rochester and St Francis Green at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
It’s an early start at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday as Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye contest the under-16A match from 8.45am.
There will be season deciders on Saturday at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
The ’26 season winds up Sunday when grand finals are played at Triple M Park in Strathfiledsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Schedule for next weekend’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League grand finals:
Friday at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park:
Under-12 Girls at 5.15pm: Rochester v St Francis Green.
Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
Under-16A at 8.45am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.
Saturday at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington:
Under-12D at 9am: Heathcote v Kangaroo Flat.
Under-12C at 10.30am: St Kilian’s-St Peter’s v South Bendigo.
Under-12B at 12pm: White Hills v Castlemaine.
Under-12A at 1.30pm: South Bendigo v St Therese’s.
Under-14C at 3pm: Marong v South Bendigo.
Sunday at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Under-14B at 9.15am: South Bendigo v Sandhurst.
Under-14A at 11.10am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
Under-15 Girls at 1.05pm: Sandhurst Navy v Strathfieldsaye.
Under-16B at 2.35pm: Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk.