BY NATHAN DOLE
THERE were 11 clubs which achieved premiership success across the weekend’s grand finals in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League.
The finale to week four of the La Trobe University-backed finals series was played at Mercy Junortoun Sports Precinct, Quen Elizabeth Oval, Harry Trott Oval in Kennington, Triple M Park and Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye.
Grand final weekend kicked off with Friday night’s under-12 Girls match between St Therese’s and St Francis on O’Keefe Oval 2 at Mercy Junortoun Sports Precinct.
St Francis led 8-7 at half-time before the Sharks scored 1.1 and kept St Francis scoreless in the third.
A tally of 1.2 to 0.4 in the last term meant St Therese’s clinched a 22-12 victory.
Details on goalkickers and best players were not supplied.
In the under-12A competition, St Francis soared to a 33-8 win against Maiden Gully YCW at Triple M Park.
The St Francis team led 12-6 at half-time and 18-8 at a quarter to go.
A score of 2.3 to nil in the last clinched a 33-8 win for the St Francis Falcons against the Eagles.
St Francis captain Hamish Baker kicked three goals and was best afield along with Nate Malone, Will Shadbolt and Tommy Harrop.
Best for Maiden Gully YCW were Jimmy and Lachlan Brown, Riley Muir and Jagger Benaim.
Eaglehawk Eagles won a thrilling under-12B match against White Hills at Harry Trott Oval.
The Eagles led 34-29 at the final siren.
Xavier Docksey led Eaglehawk’s attack on three goals.
A list of the Eagles’ best was not supplied.
Best for White Hills Black were Jensen Sawyer, Tobi Nichols, Oliver Clark and Hunter Sloan.
Maiden Gully YCW fougth on for a seven-point win against Golden Square in the under-12C match at Harry Trott Oval.
Scores were eight-all going into the final term.
The Eagles scored 2.1 and held the Bulldogs to a goal.
At the final siren Maiden Gully YCW led 21-14.
Best for the Eagles were Mason Barker, Hudson Membery, Ryder Seiler and Jake Wiltshire.
Travis Smith, Alfie Uren, Lucas Smith and Conor Elliott were best for Golden Square.
South Bendigo (3) marked a 26-point win against St Monica’s in the under-12D match at Harry Trott Oval.
Rupert Marshall, Max Harper, Jed Hardinge and Leo Taylor were best in a 40-14 win for the Bloods.
Dash Riley, Macklin Travers, Mason Roulston and Eli O’Brien played well for the St Monica’s Kangaroos.
North Bendigo won the first of two grand finals when the young Bulldogs kicked on for 24-16 result against Maiden Gully YCW in the under-12E match at Harry Trott Oval.
The Bulldogs led 17-2 at half-time and 24-10 at the last change.
Although the Eagles goaled and kept the red, white and blue scoreless in the final term it was North Bendigo which led by eight points at the final siren.
Best for the Bulldogs were Harry LeFevre, Levi Bright, Archie Nash and Cody Stannard.
Tommy Clapp, Jax Noonan, Connor Wyatt and Blair Coghill played well for the Eagles.
Sandhurst scored a 38-point win against Strathfieldsaye in the under-14 seniors match played on Storm’s turf at Triple M Park.
Luke Cameron and Oscar Suckling kicked three goals in a 62-24 victory for the Dragons.
Best for Sandhurst were Tommy Byrne, Jaxon Kelly, Luke Cameron and Corben Bell.
Storm’s best were Darcy Tyler, Levi van Dillen, Zander Walker and Sam Cook.
White Hills kicked away in the second half to score a 64-36 win against Rochester in the under-14 reserves, division one match on Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye.
The Demons led 29-27 at half-time and then scored 3.3 to nil in the third.
Jakob Finch led the White Hills attack on three goals as Roman Middleton added two.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Manson Mundie on three goals.
Best for White Hills were Jackson Mahood, Miller Polglase, Ari Sawyer and Jakob Finch.
Rochester’s best were Harvey Keating, Jag Tarrant, Asher Rasmussen and Mason Mundie.
Maryborough had seven goalkickers in a 50-26 win against Marong in the under-14 reserves, division two match played on Enterprise Oval.
Tyler Pearce kicked two goals for the Panthers.
Best for the Magpies were Jayden Humphrey, Hayden Bartlett, Jack Smith and Jai Andriske.
Marong’s best were Jack Metherell, Harvey Humme, Ryan Roberts and Will Hope.
A six-goal haul by Anthony Callanan earned best on ground honours as North Bendigo won the under-14 reserves, division three clash with White Hills on Enterprise Oval.
The Bulldogs led 31-22 at half-time and 46-38 going into the last quarter.
A tally of 3.5 as it held the Demons to 1.1 in the last sealed a 69-45 victory for the red, white and blue.
Zac Edwards kicked two goals for North Bendigo.
The Demons’ attack was led by Darcy Mullen on three goals.
Best for North Bendigo were Anthony Callanan, Jaxson Challis, Zac Edwards and Malakai Challis.
A list of best for White Hills was not supplied.
Sandhurst won a closely-fought under-15 Girls, seniors match with Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park.
The Sandhurst line-up scored 2.5 in the first half as Storm added six behinds.
Both teams kicked two goals in the third as Sandhurst led 33-18 at the last change.
Storm fought on to score 1.2 and held the maroon and blue to a point in the final quarter.
A match-high two goals by Chloe Tweed played a big part in a 34-26 win for Sandhurst.
Best for the Dragons were Etta Place, Kyah Spiteri, Zara Mould and Chloe Tweed.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Jordan O’Bree, Marlie Skinner, Jorja Cunningham and Chella Fitzgerald.
Premiership glory in the under-15 Girls, reserves competition went to Kangaroo Flat.
The Roos faced Sandhurst in the grand final on Enterprise Oval.
Kangaroo Flat led 16-1 at half-time and then scored 3.3 as the Dragons added a goal in the third.
A closely-fought final term went the Roos’ way, 13-12, as they led 48-19 at the final siren.
London Benaim and Matilda Rose led Kangaroo Flat’s attack on two goals.
A list of the Roos’ best was not supplied.
Sandhurst’s best were April Wainwright, Layla Burn, Kiara Daly and Georgia Bray.
The under-16 seniors match between Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye kicked off the Bendigo FNL’s preliminary final day at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sandhurst raced to a 22-nil lead by quarter-time.
Storm struck back to score two goals in the second, but the Dragons also scored 2.2 as they led 36-13 by the long break.
It was 15-all in the third term.
Strathfieldsaye fought on to win the last, 15-7, but it was Sandhurst which raised the premiership cup after a 58-43 victory.
Eamon Austin kicked a match-high three goals in a best on ground performance for the Dragons as Noah Willits added two.
The Dragons’ best included Charlie Bannan, Mitchell Brown and Noah Willits.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Seamus Doherty, Sam O’Bree, Aydan Hand and Will Mayes.
The Magpies from Castlemaine soared clear of Huntly after quarter-time to win the under-16 reserves, division one match at Triple M Park.
Scores were 13-all at quarter-time.
The Magpies added 4.4 and kept the Hawks to a tally of 1.1 in the second.
Inspired by the play of Levi Bruce who kicked six goals it was Castlemaine which surged clear for a 79-46 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Magpies were Oscar Giddings on three and Oliver Britt on two.
The Hawks’ attack was led by Oscar Davies on three.
Castlemaine’s best were Ben Jardine, Levi Bruce, Harper Kneebone and Jeremy Barnes.
Best for the Huntly Hawks were Marshall Archer, Oscar Davies, Caleb Pellegrino and Joseph Buchanan.
It was the Tigers against the Panthers as Rochester faced Marong in the under-16 reserves, division two clash at Triple M Park.
Marong charged to a 27-6 lead by quarter-time.
The Tigers clawed their way back within seven points by half-time after they won the second term, 20-6.
At a quarter to go it was Marong which led 48-40.
Rochester dominated most of the final term to add 2.2 as it kept the Panthers scoreless.
At the final siren the yellow and black celebrated a 54-48 victory.
Jimmy Otto led the Tigers’ attack on three goals as Kade Pearse kicked two.
Marong’s Harry Arnett kicked a match-high four goals.
Best for Rochester were Sam Seabrook, Darby Martin, Jimmy Otto and Darcey Pump.
The Panthers’ best were Blake Wells, Liam Henson, Blake Smyth and John Bradley.
Bendigo JFL grand final scoreboard in week four of the La Trobe University Bendigo-backed finals series:
Under-12 Girls:
St Therese’s 1.1 1.1 2.2 3.4 (22)
St Francis Blue 0.1 1.2 1.2 1.6 (12)
GOALS, BEST – not supplied.
Under-12A:
St Francis 0.0 1.6 2.6 4.9 (33)
Maiden Gully YCW 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.8 (8)
GOALS – St Francis: Hamish Baker 3, Lenny Anderson.
BEST – St Francis: Hamish Baker, Nate Malone, Will Shadbolt, Tommy Harrop, River Davies, Josh Prowse. Maiden Gully YCW: Jimmy Brown, Lachlan Brown, Riley Muir, Jagger Benaim, Zach Sheahan, Ashton Hutton.
Under-12B:
Eaglehawk Eagles 5.4 (34)
White Hills Black 3.11 (29)
GOALS – Eaglehawk Eagles: Xavier Dockseyu 3, George Hillard, Bailey Stone. White Hills Black: Nicholas Griffiths, Chase Kelson, Jensen Sawyer.
BEST – Eaglehawk Eagles: not supplied. White Hills Black: Jensen Sawyer, Tobi Nichols, Oliver Clark, Hunter Sloan, Declan Mills, Kayden Callanan.
Under-12C:
Maiden Gully YCW 0.0 0.1 1.2 3.3 (21)
Golden Square 0.0 0.2 1.2 2.2 (14)
GOALS – Maiden Gully YCW: not supplied. Golden Square: Mason Torossian, Edward White.
BEST – Maiden Gully YCW: Mason Baker, Hudson Membrey, Ryder Seiler, Jake Wiltshire, Milton Scoble, Thomas Hogan. Golden Square: Travis Smith, Alfie Uren, Lucas Smith, Conor Elliott, Edward White, Mason Torossian.
Under-12D:
South Bendigo (3) 6.4 (40) d St Monica’s 2.2 (14)
GOALS – South Bendigo (3): Leo Taylor 2, Lachlan Cakebread, Zane Cini (only names supplied). St Monica’s: Mitchell Bird, Sam Colbert.
BEST – South Bendigo (3): Rupert Marshall, Max Harper, Jed Hardinge, Leo Taylor. St Monica’s: Dash Riley, Macklin Travers, Mason Roulston, Eli O’Brien, Blake Felsbourg, Sam Miller.
Under-12E:
North Bendigo Red 0.5 2.5 3.6 3.6 (24)
Maiden Gully YCW 0.1 0.2 1.4 2.4 (16)
GOALS – North Bendigo Red: Jye Benbow, Levi Bright, Chaise Cook. Maiden Gully YCW: Mac Doherty, Harry Lowe.
BEST – North Bendigo Red: Harry LeFevre, Levi Bright, Archie Nash, Cody Stannard, Noah Ryan, Toby Collins. Maiden Gully YCW: Tommy Clapp, Jax Noonan, Connor Wyatt, Blair Coghill, Dusty Balic, Andrew Teece.
Under-14 seniors:
Sandhurst 9.8 (62)
Strathfieldsaye 3.6 (24)
GOALS – Sandhurst: Luke Cameron, Oscar Suckling 3, Tommy Byrne, Jaxon Kelly, Knox Westley. Strathfieldsaye: Ted Brandt, Kobi Read, Jed Willis.
BEST – Sandhurst: Tommy Byrne, Jaxon Kelly, Luke Cameron, Corben Bell, Patrick McNamara, Oscar Suckling. Strathfieldsaye: Darcy Tyler, Levi van Dillen, Zander Walker, Sam Cook, Bentley Geary, Dominic Gormly.
Under-14 reserves, division one:
White Hills 3.2 4.5 7.8 9.10 (64)
Rochester 2.1 4.3 4.3 5.6 (36)
GOALS – White Hills: Jakob Finch 3, Roman Middleton 2, Isaiah Cass, Joseph Conlan, Harry Morrish, Miller Polglase. Rochester: Mason Mundie 3, Declan Carmichael, Makore Dickinson.
BEST – White Hills: Jackson Mahood, Miller Polglase, Ari Sawyer, Jakob Finch, Roman Middleton, Finnigan Parker. Rochester: Harvey Keating, Jag Tarrant, Asher Rasmussen, Mason Mundie, Zac Morgan, Harry Rasmussen.
Under-14 reserves, division two:
Maryborough 3.0 5.0 6.3 7.8 (50)
Marong 1.4 1.5 2.6 3.8 (26)
GOALS – Maryborough: Jai Andriske, Ed Boyes, Lucas Mitchell, Xavier Parker, Heath Powell, Jack Smith, Ethan Wings. Marong: Tyler Pearce 2, Will Hope.
BEST – Maryborough: Jayden Humphrey, Hayden Bartlett, Jack Smith, Jai Andriske, Darcy Hoban, Ethan Wings. Marong: Jack Metherell, Harvey Humme, Ryan Roberts, Will Hope, Cooper Bray, Indie Gardam.
Under-14 reserves, division three:
North Bendigo 2.2 4.7 6.10 9.15 (69)
White Hills 1.4 3.4 5.8 6.9 (45)
GOALS – North Bendigo: Anthony Callanan 6, Zac Edwards 2, Ethan Miller. White Hills: Darcy Mullen 3, Knox Kane, Bowden Murley, Logan Whittle.
BEST – North Bendigo: Anthony Callanan, Jaxson Challis, Zac Edwards, Malakai Challis, Ethan Miller, Laylah Bennett. White Hills: not supplied.
Under-15 Girls, seniors:
Sandhurst 2.5 2.5 4.9 4.10 (34)
Strathfieldsaye 0.0 0.6 2.6 3.8 (26)
GOALS – Sandhurst: Chloe Tweed 2, Mia Maxted, Ady Neilson. Strathfieldsaye: Jorja Cunningham, Louise Khodja, Lannah Mayman.
BEST – Sandhurst: Etta Place, Kyah Spiteri, Zara Mould, Chloe Tweed, Tully Place, Evie Gretgrix. Strathfieldsaye: Jordan O’Bree, Marlie Skinner, Jorja Cunningham, Chella Fitzgerald, Dempsey McDonnell, Lannah Mayman.
Under-15 Girls, reserves:
Kangaroo Flat 2.2 2.4 5.5 7.6 (48)
Sandhurst 3.1 (19)
GOALS – Kangaroo Flat: London Benaim, Matilda Rose 2, Ava Ahearn, Kayla Guthrie, Lora Soko. Sandhurst: Poppy Carter, Alice Fraser, Clodagh Whelan.
BEST – Kangaroo Flat: not supplied. Sandhurst: April Wainwright, Layla Burn, Kiara Daly, Georgia Bray, Mia Wardell, Clodagh Whelan.
Under-16 seniors:
Sandhurst 3.4 5.6 7.9 8.10 (58)
Strathfieldsaye 0.0 2.1 4.4 6.7 (43)
GOALS – Sandhurst: Eamon Austin 3, Noah Willits 2, Charlie Bannan, Bailey Holland, Carter Reid. Strathfieldsaye: Deklan Cleave, Cooper Lacey, Max Morrison, Riley O’Donnell, Archie Stevens.
BEST – Sandhurst: Eamon Austin, Charlie Bannan, Mitchell Brown, Noah Willits, Bailey Holland, Charlie Bombardieri. Strathfieldsaye: Seamus Doherty, Sam O’Bree, Aydan Hand, Will Mayes, Deklan Cleave, Jack Oldham.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Castlemaine 2.1 6.5 8.5 12.7 (79)
Huntly 2.1 3.2 4.2 7.4 (46)
GOALS – Castlemaine: Levi Bruce 6, Oscar Giddings 3, Oliver Britt 2, Jeremy Barnes. Huntly: Oscar Davies 3, Mitchell Lawrence, Zavyer Marwood, Harley Matthews, Jack Mullane.
BEST – Castlemaine: Ben Jardine, Levi Bruce, Harper Kneebone, Jeremy Barnes, Flynn Culph, Alex Welch. Huntly: Marshall Archer, Oscar Davies, Caleb Pellegrino, Joseph Buchanan, Baylee Murley, Harley Matthews.
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Rochester 1.0 4.2 6.4 8.6 (54)
Marong 4.3 5.3 7.6 7.6 (48)
GOALS – Rochester: Jimmy Otto 3, Kade Pearse 2, Cale James, Tom McFadzean, Sam Seabrook. Marong: Harry Arnett 4, Max O’Donnell, Mitchell Pickering, Harry Wilson.
BEST – Rochester: Sam Seabrook, Darby Martin, Jimmy Otto, Darcey Pump, Cale James, Mitch Munro. Marong: Blake Wells, Liam Henson, Blake Smyth, John Bradley, Harry Wilson, Trey Olsen.