U16 FOOTBALL INTRALEAGUE – EAST V WEST REVIEW
In the third and now annual EDFNL U16 East v West Intraleague match held on a chilly Wednesday night at the Lang Lang Community Reserve in Caldermeade the West team proved too good, winning by 27 points. The West was comprised of players from Catani, Ellinbank, Lang Lang, Longwarry & Poowong while the East team was represented by players from Buln Buln, Nilma Darnum, Neerim South and Trafalgar.
It was back-to-back victories to the West team that won by 22 points last year - after the inaugural match in 2022 finished in a draw. The end margin did not do justice to the competitiveness of the East team, for it only trailed by two points early in the last quarter before the West finished full of running with the last four goals of the game.
Both teams brought heat to the contest early and with tight defence goals were hard to come by in the opening quarter before a clever snap on goal by Blake McDonald quickly followed by a good mark and major to Flynn Bravington gave the East a 13-point lead. Late in the term a good chain of football by the West led to a goal by Van Wilson to trim the margin back to seven points at the first change.
The East wrestled back control when Blake McDonald steered through his second goal mid-way through the second quarter to restore a 13 point buffer however in the later stages of the term the West started to probe and with late goals by Archie Thompson - set up after a searching three bounce pacy run by the lively Jackson Bennett - and after a strong mark and goal to Hugh Cunningham, the match was all tied up 20 points apiece at the main break.
The West controlled the flow of the game in the third quarter but many timely interceptions from East defenders Charlie Kilmartin and Blair Loft along with strong work around the packs from Charlie Lindau and Wes Scott kept them in the contest until Archie Thompson bobbed up with his second goal to give the West an eight-point lead - but not a bridgeable gap at three quarter time.
It looked like a thrilling finish was building when three minutes into the last quarter the East through a six-pointer by Dylan Strating reduced the deficit to only two points but thereafter the West shifted up several gears and with successive goals to Hugh Cunnington, Jhy Good, Van Wilson and Charlie Armour, the later after a very strong mark the West ran away with a 27-point victory.
For the West team EDFNL Football Development Co-Ordinator Steve Pratt presented its Captain Gavin Monson with his team’s best on ground medal. He was a driving force in and around the middle while ruckman Nate Murphy and wingman Jackson Bennett pumped the ball forward regularly. Ethan Seskis offered steady defence, Charlie Armour provided a focal target up forward and Ashley Debenham instigated many forward thrusts. Poowong tall Kohen Mandemaker looms as a likely prospect as do opportunist forwards Van Wilson and Archie Thompson.
For the East side, half back Dan Christian was awarded his team’s best on ground medal. Dan read play superbly behind centre and distributed the ball well. Blair Loft and Chris Kilmartin thwarted many attacks and forward Blake McDonald proved hard to contain. Midfielders Charlie Lindau, Wes Scott, Jesse Etchell and Declan Shortis all picked up regular touches. The East lost one of its key players Ash Mounsey early in the game to a shoulder injury and we all wish Ash a quick recovery.
The league would like to acknowledge the respective coaches, Lachie Guy & Sam Pratt along with their assistants Matt Irwin, Brock Dorling, Stuart Casey & Zac Gray. Also, thanks to the trainers, photographer Jeff Tull, the Lang Lang Football Netball club for the use of their ground and facilities and the Gippsland Umpires Association # who officiated the match.
Just as important, the leagues are also indebted to all the parents, guardians, families and friends that provided the boys with transport and attended training and tonight’s match. As we have said many a time, the EDFNL Board of Management believes the foundations of all clubs and the league sit with the development of its junior ranks, hence the organisation of this match. Moving forward to the U16 Interleague, a squad will now be selected for our match against the WGFNC on the 19th of June and to be played at Lang Lang.
# Denotes our GUA umpires who officiated were:
Field – Simon Finger, Matt Russell & Carmen Stuckey.
Boundary – Rachel Finger, Hamish Buchanan & Alana McNabb.
Goal - Carmen Stuckey & Roy Barake.
QTR by QTR SCORES
WEST: - 1.0,6, 3.2.20, 4.4.28 – 8.5.53
EAST : - 2.1.13, 3.2.20, 3.2.20 – 4.2.26
West Goals – Van Wilson (2), Archie Thompson (2), Hugh Cunningham (2), Jhy Good, Charlie Armour.
West Best: - Gavin Monson, Nate Murphy, Jackson Bennett, Ethan Seskis, Charlie Armour & Ash Debenham.
East Goals – Blake McDonald (2), Dylan Strating & Flyn Bravington.
East Best: - Dan Christian, Blair Loft, Charlie Lindau, Charlie Kilmartin, Blake McDonald & Wes Scott.
