AFTER being overrun and outplayed for the first quarter and a half, the under 14 players found their run and teamwork to totally outplay South Belgrave.
The commitment to get to every contest and compete against bigger, stronger opposition was fantastic.
The under 12s’ loss to South Belgrave, provided a trial by fire for the team.
After a relatively quiet first quarter, Healesville began to move the ball toward attacking positions on the ground and the improvements kept coming.
Dean Cruddas made an impressive start in the full-back position, ably assisted in defence by Jason Broome and Mitchell Baker.
Jason Ison-Johnson, Harley Mills and Ryan Voges provided plenty of drive from the centre of the ground, and the teamwork improved as the game progressed.
In the under 11 match, Healesville got off to a slow start to the season, but got into it in the second half.
The team showed great promise and many of the first-gamers stood up.
Playing South Belgrave, Healesville’s under 10 team put in a spirited effort, with many players in their first game.
It was a tough assignment first up, but plenty of good things to take out of it.
The under 13 team opened the season with a good win over South Belgrave.
The first quarter saw the players dominate with a five-goal lead, and they were never headed.
Great teamwork by all the players around the ground resulted in the Bloods running out clear winners.
Congratulations to Tom Hague and Ethan Scanlon on playing their 50th games.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Wesburn Junior Football Club
THE under 16 team displayed some brilliant passages of footy to beat a determined Yarra Junction side to win the George Dounan Memorial Trophy.
Congratulations to Shannon Towan for winning the best player medallion awarded by the umpires.
In the under 14 match, Yarra Junction wanted the ball a lot more and was harder around the packs with a lot more run. The team put together some good passages of football.
The under 12 team put in a good first-up effort, particularly in the second half.
New players are desperately needed for the team, and training is the same as the under 11s.
After a slow start, the under 11 team finished off well to put in a good first-up effort.
The club thanked the under 10s who played to help make up the team. New players are desperately needed, with training on Wednesday evenings at 4.30pm at Wesburn.
The under 10 team put in a good standard of footy for what was the first game for most players from both sides, and the match showed a lot of promising signs for the future.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Yarra Glen Junior Football Club
THE Yarra Glen under 16 team started the season in great style with a convincing win over Woori Yallock at home.
With players prepared to run and back their judgment in the first quarter, the Glen players went to the first break with a 29-point lead and held Woori Yallock scoreless.
Stirling Twite-Moore’s and Daniel Avenell’s play was first-class and hard at the ball footy.
The next three quarters saw Yarra Glen extend its lead at every break.
Michael Ashton in his first year of under 16s played the game of his life with his second and third efforts at the footy a feature of his play.
Michael Sawyer had a solid four quarters and just kept getting better.
In his first game for the Glen Richard Gurney acquitted himself well, kicking two goals and setting up several more.
Jake Cooney worked hard and was rewarded with three goals while Matt Thurkle played a great game in the ruck and worked tirelessly.
If it wasn’t for inaccurate kicking the final margin would have been a lot greater.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Yarra Junction Junior Football Club
THE under 16 Eagles players, some of whom had never played the game before, took on a powerful Bulldogs unit on their home turf.
It had been a difficult start to the season for Yarra Junction with only six players – Cam Hoare, Scott Merrin, Curtis Wright, Alan Chandler, Alex Cumming and Sam Laidlaw –remaining from the 2005 team.
The experts predicted a thrashing for the Junction, who contested the game with only 16 players, including one under 14 player.
Wesburn came out hard and fast and played some great footy. To a man, Yarra Junction was gallant in its endeavours. Although a smaller and less experienced side, the Eagles stood up to their opposition. By three-quarter time Wesburn held a huge lead and the Junction, not for want of trying, had only posted two majors.
With pride and character on the line Yarra Junction took to the field in the last quarter and played as if the scoreboard did not exist.
Robert Klemm, playing his first game of Aussie Rules, began to take control of the centre ruck contests. Showing outstanding courage, skill and leadership, Hoare, Merrin and Wright led the way.
Others to excel were Tim Boff, Laidlaw, Chandler and Cumming, and Lording showed some class.
Yarra Junction refused to be broken, kicking four goals and holding the opposition for the term. The match ended with Wesburn posting a comfortable winning margin.
The team is looking forward to meeting the Woori Tigers in two weeks time.
Goals: Merrin, Hoare, Laidlaw, Chandler, Wright, Ian Gosland. Best: Hoare, Merrin, Curtis, Wright, Chandler, Boff. The club congratulated Joe Ward and the under 14 team on their first win.
