-By Nathan Dole
LINKS between school teams and the Bendigo Bank Junior Football League have lasted for many decades.
This season there are five schools represented across the BJFL in the under-9, under-10, under-12 Girls, and under-12 Mixed.
Students from St Francis, St Kilian’s, St Monica’s, St Peter’s and St Therese’s rack up the kicks, marks, handpasses, tackles and more.
Week five in the 2025 season was played last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For many divisions it was the first round of the home-and-away series after four weeks of grading matches.
In the under-12A competition, St Therese’s played Golden Square at Ewing Park.
It was the Bulldogs from Golden Square who marked a 48-21 victory.
Goalkickers for St Therese’s Sharks were Samuel Davie, Lenny Edwards and Harry Rees.
Best for the Sharks were Lenny Edwards, Samuel Davie, Jonathon Byrne and Charlie Sparrow.
St Francis played Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the under-12A match at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
The Eagles flew to a 38-28 win on their turf.
Goalkickers for St Francis were Xavier Connolly, Reid Marshall and captain Jude Place.
Best for St Francis were Jude Place, Darcy Kanzamar, Archie Dickson and Edward Perry.
In the under-12B competition, St Therese’s met Castlemaine at Castlemaine’s Wesley Hill ground.
The Magpies won 89-27.
Goalkickers for the Sharks were Brad Ladson with two, and Lincoln Dowler and Will Florence.
Fynn McInerney, Patrick Harris, Thomas Miller and Will Florence played well for the Sharks.
It was a closely-fought under-12C match between St Francis and Marong Blue at St Francis Oval.
The Marong Panthers won 16-8.
Banjo Place goaled for St Francis as Beau Wright, Theodore Den Hartog, Rupert Stewart-Eeles and Ned Anderson were best.
St Kilian’s-St Peter’s played White Hills Black in the under-12C match at the Scott Street ground in White Hills.
The Demons won 73-6 in the den.
Ethan Schoder goaled for St Kilian’s-St Peter’s and was in the best with Lucas McCarthy, Oliver Robinson and George Kornmann.
Two points was the margin in the under-12D match between St Monica’s and Kangaroo Flat at Crusoe College Oval in Kangaroo Flat.
The Roos won 23-21.
Rocco Lewis kicked both goals for St Monica’s and was in the best with Elodie Hoyland, Sam Miller and Jasper Duguid.
Round five in the under-12 girls competition was played on Friday night at Mercy Junortoun Sports Precinct and Ewing Park.
Golden Square scored a 19-point win against Marong Blue in Junortoun.
The blue and gold led 25-15 at half-time and then scored 3.4 as Marong added 2.2 in the second half.
At the final siren the Bulldogs led 48-29.
Molly Dang led the winners’ attack on three goals as Ava Lindrea added two.
Marong’s leading goalkicker was Kehna Burke on two.
Best for Golden Square were Molly Dang, Ava Lindrea, Ruby Carter and Stella Tully.
A list of Marong’s best players was not supplied.
Rochester scored a 32-point win against South Bendigo Red at the Mercy Sports Precinct.
The Tigers roared to a 26-1 lead by half-time and then added two goals in the second half to record a 40-8 victory.
Ella Forde and Frankie Hay led Rochester’s attack on three and two goals.
Leila Pellegrino goaled for the Bloods.
Best for Rochester were Ella Forde, Frankie Hay, Kaylee Saunders and Josie Lea.
South Bendigo Red’s best were Eliza Obudzinski, Harmony Owen, Arlie Brown and Frankie Connors.
It was a 10-goal win for St Francis Green against Eaglehawk at Mercy Junortoun.
The St Francis Green line-up scored 8.12 and kept the Hawks scoreless.
Tilly Stewart kicked three goals for St Francis as Layla Hand chipped in with two.
Best for St Francis Green were Lotti Childs, Tilly Stewart, Isabel Baker and Layla Hand.
Eaglehawk’s best were Addilyn Westaway, Amaya O’Connell, Ivie Safstrom and Sienna McDonald.
St Therese’s dominated its clash with South Bendigo White at Bendigo’s Ewing Park.
The Sharks led 32-nil at quarter-time and then scored seven, four and two goals across the next three quarters to complete a 117-6 victory.
Perry Westley led the St Therese’s attack on seven goals as Lyra Haythorpe kicked three majors.
Milla Frankel was on target for South Bendigo.
Best for St Therese’s were Perry Westley, Lyra Haythorpe, Florence Lapthorne and Eden Haythorpe.
Macie Pilcher, Gemma Elliott, Eadie Gogoll and Sophie Pedrotti were best for the Bloods.
Mount Pleasant marked a 92-point win against Marong Yellow in Junortoun.
The Blues charged to a 37-2 lead by half-time and then added another 10 goals in the second half for a 101-9 result.
Georgia Wings led the Mounts attack on four goals as Charlee Lampard kicked three goals and Emma Browne and Pippa Shannon added two each.
Mia Trembath was on target for the Panthers.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Chloe Lalor, Georgia Wings and Charlee Lampard.
Willow Neivandt, Jewel Lower and Mia Trembath played well for Marong Yellow.
White Hills had the bye.
Week five scoreboard:
Under-12A:
Golden Square 7.6 (48) d St Therese’s 3.3 (21), Eaglehawk Eagles 5.13 (43) d South Bendigo 6.1 (37), Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 5.8 (38) d St Francis 3.5 (23).
Under-12B:
Quarry Hill 6.8 (44) d Heathcote 5.5 (35), Strathfieldsaye 6.7 (43) d Maryborough 4.3 (27), Huntly 10.13 (73) d North Bendigo Red 3.2 (20), Marong Red 10.6 (66) d Maiden Gully YCW 1.2 (8), Castlemaine 14.5 (89) d St Therese’s 4.3 (27).
Under-12C:
Marong Blue 2.4 (16) d St Francis 1.2 (8), South Bendigo 7.11 (53) d Golden Square 3.2 (20), White Hills Black 10.13 (73) d St Kilian’s-St Peter’s 1.0 (6).
Under-12D:
Kangaroo Flat 3.5 (23) d St Monica’s 3.3 (21), Strathfieldsaye 2.3 (15) d Golden Square 1.5 (11), South Bendigo 9.6 (60) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 6.7 (43), White Hills Red 10.13 (73) d Eaglehawk Hawks 6.5 (41).
Under-14 seniors:
South Bendigo 12.13 (85) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 6.5 (41), Strathfieldsaye 13.11 (89) d Golden Square 3.3 (21), Sandhurst bye.
Under-14 reserves, division one:
Rochester 14.9 (93) d Maryborough 13.12 (90), Strathfieldsaye 5.9 (39) d Huntly 4.11 (35), South Bendigo 10.8 (68) d Marong 7.6 (48), White Hills Black 17.10 (112) d Eaglehawk 9.6 (60), Castlemaine bye.
Under-14 reserves, division two:
Golden Square 12.9 (81) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 4.4 (28), Sandhurst 29.19 (193) d White Hills Red 3.2 (20).
Under-14 reserves, division three:
Kangaroo Flat 10.8 (68) d Strathfieldsaye 5.5 (35), Mount Pleasant 12.8 (80) d South Bendigo 5.9 (39), North Bendigo 18.12 (120) d Eaglehawk 5.1 (31).
Under-15 Girls, seniors:
Marong A 3.13 (31) d Kangaroo Flat 3.5 (23), Eaglehawk 5.9 (39) d Sandhurst B 2.4 (16), Strathfieldsaye 13.5 (83) d Castlemaine 3.13 (31), Sandhurst A 15.2 (92) d Golden Square 1.1 (7).
Under-15 Girls, reserves:
Strathfieldsaye 2.4 (16) d Mount Pleasant 2.2 (14), Rochester 3.9 (27) d North Bendigo 3.4 (22), White Hills 8.8 (56) d Marong B 1.0 (6).
Under-16 seniors:
South Bendigo 13.8 (86) d Strathfieldsaye 7.8 (50), Sandhurst 15.9 (99) d Golden Square 5.9 (39), Castlemaine bye.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Kangaroo Flat 9.9 (63) d Strathfieldsaye 7.9 (51), Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 14.12 (96) d Rochester 11.5 (71), White Hills 8.15 (63) d Eaglehawk 5.6 (36), Huntly 16.12 (108) d Sandhurst 5.1 (31), Marong 21.14 (140) d South Bendigo 4.2 (26), Maryborough bye.
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Golden Square 17.19 (121) d Kangaroo Flat 0.3 (3), Leitchville Gunbower v Lockington Bamawm United Cats not supplied, Heathcote/Mount Pleasant bye.
League ladders:
Under-12 Girls:
St Francis Green 16 points, 100 match ratio; St Therese’s 20, 100; Golden Square 20, 100; Mount Pleasant 12, 60; South Bendigo White 12, 60; White Hills 8, 50; Rochester 4, 25; South Bendigo Red 4, 25; Marong Blue 4, 20; Eaglehawk 0, 0; Marong Yellow 0, 0.
Under-12A:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 20 points, 100 match ratio; Eaglehawk Eagles 16, 80; Golden Square 16, 80; South Bendigo 12, 60; St Francis 12, 60; St Therese’s 8, 40.
Under-12B:
Marong Red 80 match ratio, Castlemaine 80, Huntly 60, Strathfieldsaye 60, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 40, Heathcote 40, Maryborough 40, North Bendigo Red 40, St Therese’s 40, Quarry Hill 40.
Under-12C:
Marong Blue 16 points, White Hills Black 12, St Kilian’s-St Peter’s 8, St Francis 8, South Bendigo 8, Golden Square 4.
Under-12D:
Kangaroo Flat 32 points, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 28, South Bendigo 24, Strathfieldsaye 24, Golden Square 20, St Monica’s 20, White Hills Red 20, Eaglehawk Hawks 16.
Under-14 seniors:
Strathfieldsaye 20 points, South Bendigo 16, Golden Square 12, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 12, Sandhurst 8.
Under-14 reserves, division one:
White Hills Black 16 points, South Bendigo 16, Castlemaine 12, Strathfieldsaye 12, Rochester 12, Maryborough 8, Huntly 8, Marong 8, Eaglehawk 4.
Under-14 reserves, division two:
Golden Square 12 points, Sandhurst 8, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 8, White Hills Red 8.
Under-14 reserves, division three:
Kangaroo Flat 60 match ratio, Strathfieldsaye 40, North Bendigo 40, Mount Pleasant 40, South Bendigo 0, Eaglehawk 0.
Under-15 Girls, seniors:
Sandhurst 20 points, 100 match ratio; Marong 16, 80; Eaglehawk 16, 80; Strathfieldsaye 12, 60; Kangaroo Flat 12, 60; Sandhurst 8, 40; Golden Square 8, 40; Castlemaine 4, 20.
Under-15 Girls, reserves:
White Hills 14 points, Rochester 10, Mount Pleasant 8, Strathfieldsaye 8, North Bendigo 4, Marong 0.
Under-16 seniors:
Sandhurst 100 match ratio, Castlemaine 75, Strathfieldsaye 60, South Bendigo 60, Golden Square 50.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Huntly 80 match ratio, Marong 80, Strathfieldsaye 60, White Hills 60, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 60, Maryborough 50, Kangaroo Flat 50, South Bendigo 40, Eaglehawk 20, Sandhurst 20, Rochester 20.
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Golden Square 40 match ratio, Kangaroo Flat 40, Lockington Bamawm United Cats 33, Leitchville Gunbower 33, Heathcote/Mount Pleasant 0.