LOVE The Game, Not The Odds was highlighted across all Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League games and leagues in AFL Central Victoria at the weekend.
Host matches in the Bendigo JFL were at White Hills in Scott Street and at the home of the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Marist College, Maiden Gully.
AFL Central Victoria’s commercial, media and operations manager Sam Skinner said the round provided an important message for all boys and girls at junior clubs.
As part of the event, coaches wore hats and lanyards which gave tips for children to not participate in sports betting.
“The goal umpires waved branded flags in the matches at Marist College and White Hills,” said Skinner.
“The support from White Hills president Damian O’Brien, Maiden Gully YCW president Allan Battersby to host the round was outstanding, and we appreciated all coaches wanting to be involved and supporting this important message.”
Foundation CEO Shane Lucas said our Love the Game partners play a crucial role in reducing the exposure of young people to sports betting ads and driving conversations about the risks of sports betting.
‘Having grown up with sports betting ads all around them, it’s not surprising that young men – those aged 18–24 years – now make up almost a third of all sports bettors in Victoria, and that participation by young women is rising.
‘As role models, coaches can help equip younger players to make informed choices about gambling as they approach adulthood and, ultimately, reduce the risk of gambling harm.’
As part of the Love The Game Round, all community coaches have been invited to a free online event, The Game Plan – Creating a Culture for Success.
Through the forum, hosts Gerard Whateley and Abbey Holmes will chat to some AFL greats about their knowledge and insights to creating a culture for success.
The panel will also discuss the negative effects of gambling advertising and ways for coaches to protect themselves and teams from gambling-related harm.
“It’s an important message for coaches, players and parents at all levels,” said Skinner.
By being part of Love the Game round in May, clubs can upload a photo to social media platforms to be in the running for three $1000 sporting equipment vouchers.
There are rewards for coaches too, which include signed merchandise, game day tickets, whiteboards, field markers and more.
Love the Game Month is highlighted across this month and AFL Central Victoria will continue to promote the message that football, and netball should not be affiliated with any sports gambling.
We encourage all clubs to participate in this month’s activities and support the important message.
On the footy field, White Hills won the under-18 girls match on home turf at Scott Street against Golden Square by 57 points.
The Demons led 47.6 at half-time on the way to an 82-25 victory.
Eve Cail kicked three goals in a best afield performance as Lucia Painter, Jorja Morrison and Matilda Murrell were among the best for White Hills.
Best for Golden Square were Stephanie Demeo, Mackenzie Bickley, Pepper Bannon and Indi Hollingsworth.
White Hills scored 21 goals in the under-14 Girls match against Eaglehawk at the Scott Street ground.
Mia Clark kicked five goals as Jayda Alford and Sophie O’Connell added four each.
Best for the Demons were Maeve Caine, Lily Rochester, Layla O’Brien and Ella McKinnon.
Sianna Thatcher, Tarnika Freeman, Claudia Fisher and Bobbie Fasham played well for the Hawks.
In the under-12 Mixed grading on the White Hills turf, White Hills (2) scored a 50-7 win against South Bendigo (2).
There were seven goalkickers for the Demons as Memphis Slattery, Blaik Young, Charlie Clark and Ethan McDonnell led the way.
There were mixed results for Maiden Gully in the under-14 Mixed and under-12 Mixed grading matches played at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
In the under-14s, Maiden Gully (2) was beaten by Strathfieldsaye reserves (1) by 122 points.
Riley Davey, Joel Wittingslow, Angus Addlem and Lucas Hoctor were best for the Eagles.
In the under-12s, Maiden Gully (1) and Kyneton Tigers Yellow played out a great match.
The Tigers led 3.1 (19) to 1.10 (16) at the final siren.
Josh Bellenger goaled for the Eagles in a match where Jasper Morcombe, Austin Coghill, Tommy Evans and Mitch Cathrine were best.
Maiden Gully (3) scored 26 goals against Kyneton Tigers.
Jack Hargreaves kicked four goals as Jack Farley, Noah Mulqueen, Patterson Murphy and Nate Ralton chipped in with three each.
Best for the Eagles were Darby Thomson, Patterson Murphy, Jack Hargreaves and Zac Cavalier.
Maiden Gully (4) was beaten by St Francis, 109 to nil.
Cooer Waegeli, Jake Hardiman, Tyson Drum and Deacon Lovell played well for the Eagles.
Week two scoreboard:
Under-12 Mixed, grading:
Huntly Hawks (2) 2.5 (17) lt North Bendigo 9.8 (62), Marong Blue 2.3 (15) lt Kangaroo Flat (2) 2.7 (19), Maiden Gully YCW (4) 0.0 (0) lt St Francis (2) 16.13 (109), St Kilian’s-St Peter’s 4.5 (29) d Heathcote 2.2 (14), St Francis (1) 4.1 (25) lt Golden Square (1) 8.9 (57), White Hills (2) 8.2 (50) d South Bendigo (2) 1.1 (7), St Therese’s (B) 10.6 (66) d Strathfieldsaye (B) 4.1 (25), Golden Square (2) 2.1 (13) lt St Therese’s D 5.5 (35), Kangaroo Flat (1) 5.3 (33) d South Bendigo (1) 2.11 (23), Maryborough (1) 25.20 (170) d Eaglehawk 0.0 (0), Castlemaine 1.4 (10) lt White Hills (1) 9.5 (59), Maiden Gully YCW (1) 1.10 (16) lt Kyneton Tigers Yellow 3.1 (19), Maiden Gully YCW (3) 26.19 (175) d Kyneton Tigers Black 0.0 (0), Quarry Hill 12.12 (84) d Maiden Gully YCW (2) 0.0 (0), Strathfieldsaye 3.5 (23) lt St Monica’s 16.5 (101), St Therese’s A 17.15 (117) d Strathfieldsaye (A) 0.1 (1), Huntly Hawks (1) 1.6 (12) lt Eaglehawk (1) 15.6 (96).
Under-14 Mixed, grading:
Huntly Hawks (2) 16.13 (109) d Golden Square (2) 4.2 (26), Sandhurst (3) 14.13 (97) d Strathfieldsaye res. (2) 3.3 (21), Castlemaine 0.1 (1) lt Strathfieldsaye senior 21.18 (144), Kyneton Tigers 0.5 (5) lt Sandhurst (1) 11.10 (76), Eaglehawk (1) 9.7 (61) d Sandhurst (2) 6.7 (43), Maryborough v South Bendigo (abandoned), Maiden Gully YCW (2) 0.4 (4) lt Strathfieldsaye res. (1) 17.24 (126), Kangaroo Flat (1) 6.3 (39) lt White Hills 6.14 (50), Huntly Hawks (1) 2.2 (14) lt Maiden Gully YCW (1) 19.13 (127), Marong 14.10 (94) d South Bendigo (2) 0.3 (3), Golden Square (1) 38.20 (248) d Rochester Tigers 0.0 (0).
Under-16 Boys, grading:
South Bendigo (1) 5.6 (36) d Castlemaine 3.7 (25), Kyneton Tigers 4.4 (28) lt Strathfieldsaye senior 9.16 (70), White Hills (2) 1.0 (6) lt Golden Square (2) 36.13 (229), Eaglehawk (2) 3.7 (25) lt Kangaroo Flat 16.15 (111), Maryborough 0.0 (0) lt Sandhurst (1) 29.18 (192), Maiden Gully YCW (1) 21.17 (143) d South Bendigo (2) 2.1 (13), Sandhurst (2) 22.10 (142) d Strathfieldsaye res. 5.4 (34), Marong 6.2 (38) lt Eaglehawk 14.19 (103), White Hills 10.9 (69) d Kangaroo Flat (1) 9.11 (65), Golden Square (1) bye.
Round two, matches for premiership points:
Under-14 Girls:
Golden Square 2.6 (18) lt Strathfieldsaye 3.4 (22), Kangaroo Flat 0.0 (0) lt South Bendigo 10.21 (81), White Hills 21.15 (141) d Eaglehawk 0.0 (0), Sandhurst bye.
Under-16 Girls:
Sandhurst 0.3 (3) lt Kangaroo Flat 8.10 (58), Castlemaine 2.4 (16) lt Strathfieldsaye 13.12 (90), Kyneton v White Hills (not supplied).
Under-18 girls:
White Hills 12.10 (82) d Golden Square 4.1 (25), Eaglehawk 2.6 (18) lt Woorinen 9.8 (62), Strathfieldsaye bye.
Ladders after two rounds:
Under-14 Girls:
White Hills 1435 per cent, 8 points; Strathfieldsaye 516, 8; South Bendigo 412, 4; Sandhurst 113, 4; Golden Square 39, 0; Kangaroo Flat 3, 0; Eaglehawk 0, 0.
Under-16 Girls:
Kangaroo Flat 568, 8; Strathfieldsaye 160, 4; Sandhurst 72, 4; Castlemaine 17, 4; Kyneton 31, 0; White Hills 0, 0.
Under-18 Girls:
Woorinen 318, 8; White Hills 231, 8; Strathfieldsaye 81, 0; Golden Square 31, 0; Eaglehawk 29, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole.