The fog lifted in time for the first junior game for the season.
The majority of the club travelled to Woori Yallock with the exception of the Under-12 girls, who went to Belgrave, and the Under-14 and Under-16 girls who had their game postponed due to the Worawa team not being available during school holidays.
The Under-9s kicked off what is to be the first of many seasons of playing football with lots of enthusiasm and excitement.
They worked hard and scored a couple of goals.
There was some strong marking by Austin in the back line and running through the lines by Patrick.
The club is looking forward to watching all the players improve throughout the season as their confidence and understanding grows.
The Under-10s had their first taste of full ground football.
They moved the ball well and continued to improve on their skills developed last year.
In their first taste of competitive football, the Under-11s put up a great fight against Woori who were just a little stronger on the day.
The Under-12 girls came up against the 2018 Premiers in their first game.
Half the girls were in their first game, but acquainted themselves well as they started to learn the game, rather than just skills.
They were ably assisted by a number of girls who have one or two season under their belt.
The Under-12s had the wind to their advantage in the first quarter, which with amazing link up work for the first game of the season put two goals on the board.
Against the wind in the second quarter they worked the ball up the field, slowly but surely, to score two more goals to Woori’s one.
First use out of the middle – with Liam Warner rucking all four quarters and Jeremy Newsome and Liam Senti winning the centre clearance – meant the Under-12s were able to give their forwards the best chance to score.
Brylee Anderson, Eli Nieuwesteeg and Thomas Handasyde capitalised.
Fielding two Under-14 teams in 2019 meant that both Healesville teams are running lean, and it will take a few weeks for the players to find their rhythm in the higher grade.
Healesville White relied on a number of fill-ins from the Under-14 girls and Under-12s to boost their numbers this week.
Coming up against the Under-12 premiers in the opening game for the season was tough ask for the team.
They showed a lot of promise and had opportunities to score, but couldn’t capitalise this week.
Healesville Red also had a tough day against a taller and stronger opposition, and a number of players played in unfamiliar positions.
The final game of the day saw a tough contest between Healesville and Woori.
Healesville came out of the blocks quickly and piled on six goals in the first quarter to have a 40-point lead at quarter time.
Woori hit back in the second quarter, making the most of the wind.
Under-16 boys
Healesville 13.10.88 d Woori Yallock 7.7.49
Goals: S. Gebert, R. Duncan 4, C. Beattie, L. English 2, B. Murphy.
Awards: C. Sibley, R. Duncan, S. Gebert.
Under-14 Red
Woori Yallock 16.13.109 d Healesville 2.4.16
Goals: C. Anderson, C. Nyko.
Under-14 White
Woori Yallock 10.12.72 d Healesville 0.0.5
Under-12
Healesville 6.6.42 d Woori Yallock 1.5.11
Goals: O. Moreton 2, E. Nieuwesteeg, J. Newsome, T. Handasyde, B. Anderson
Awards: L.Warner, L. Senti, B. Anderson.
Under-12 girls
Belgrave 5.6.36 d Healesville 2.1.16
Goals: B. Anderson, L. Potter
Under-11
Woori Yallock 3.6.24 d Healesville 2.3.12
Goals: A. Crossman, T. Braden.
