Under-17 Bulldogs
Very proud of the U17 Bulldogs this week holding the Magpies to half-time, yet couldn’t quite maintain the pressure enough to contain them in the second half.
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A great performance from Jim Cooke and Ryan Storer in the ruck, while the backline was busy all day and held their line well with Jaxon Brunner, Jesse Dyer and George Lithgow being very competitive.
The forward line battled well against a strong Magpies backline, and great effort by Jet Russell again showing that playing in front reaps reward on the scoreboard.
Toby Reeve and Sam Gates stepped up from the Under-14s, and showed plenty of endeavour, in what was a top effort from these two lads after already playing a full game earlier in the day.
Final Score: Magpies 9.10.64 defeated Bulldogs 4.8.32
Goalkickers: Daniel Farley 1, Jesse Liddington 1, Jet Russell 1, Sam Gates 1
Best Players: James Cooke, Ryan Storer, Jaxon Brunner, Sam Begley, George Lithgow, Jesse Dyer.
Under-14 Bulldogs
Coming up against the third-ranked team, and with five players unavailable pre-game and another two out with illness on the day, we knew we would be up against it this week.
To the credit of the team though, it was never daunted by the task.
Despite the Magpies, who were also missing players, having most of the play in the first three quarters, our efforts and pressure in defence ensured they were wayward in their kicking, scoring 6.21 in the first three quarters.
Down by 34 points at three-quarter time, the aim was to win the final quarter and finish the game strongly.
That challenge was accepted, and a whole-team effort saw the Doggies kick four goals to one in the final term and cut their lead to just 13 points.
Thanks to Luke Boulton and Ollie Wardill for putting their hands up to fill in after their Under-12 game. Great effort from both of you.
Final Score: Bulldogs 7.9.51 v Magpies 7.22.64
Goalkickers: Jonty Priest 2, Lincoln Woolley 1, Connor Breheny 1, Toby Reeve 1, Max Beaton 1, Oscar Beaton 1.
Best Players: Hunter Carter, Sam Gates, Nate Nicholas, Angus Richardson, Max Beaton, Josh Ward.
Under-12 Bulldogs
It was a perfect winter’s day at the Friendlies oval on Saturday as the Bulldogs lined up to play the second-placed Magpies.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were short on numbers and began the day with just 16 players.
The Bulldogs kept the pressure up in first half keeping the Magpies score down, but the Bulldogs could not get a score on the board.
A tough third quarter stretched the Magpies lead out to 64 points.
Hugh Ross soaked up the great conditions and ran the ball out of the centre all day.
Josh Montgomery again, was an asset in the ruck and was applying good pressure and tackling.
Tom Osborne and Charlie Bell were strong, fast and effective getting in and under to get the ball out.
Riley Hilton worked hard up and down the ground. Joel Lewis proved how versatile he is as a player and was moved to different positions throughout the day. Luke Boulton put in a huge effort and led from the front and didn’t give up all day.
The Bulldogs stuck together and pushed through with a good team effort, but the Magpies were too strong.
Well done to Ollie Wardill and Luke Boulton who stepped up to help out with numbers and play in the under-14s match afterwards, great job.
Final Score: Magpies 13-10-88 def Bulldogs 0-0-0
Coaches Awards: Luke Boulton, Riley Hilton, Josh Montgomery, Charlie Bell, Hugh Ross, Joel Lewis.
Best Players: Luke Boulton, Josh Montgomery, Charlie Bell, Riley Hilton, Hugh Ross, Thomas Osborne.
Under-17 Giants
The U17 Giants took on the Wang Kangaroos in perfect conditions for footy at the WJ Findlay Oval.
The Giants came out firing in the first quarter, kicking seven goals.
The Kangaroos proved in the second quarter that they were not going to be a pushover, kicking three goals to close the margin to 25 points at half-time.
The Giants had a strong quarter in the third to extend their lead to 35 points at the last change.
The last quarter belonged to the Kangas, with the Giants unable to get the ball into their forward line, and the Kangaroos ended up running out winners by one point.
The boys will now regroup and look to put in a strong team performance this weekend against the Junior Magpies.
Huge thanks to Owain Boyle, who stepped up from the Under-14s, and performed strongly.
Final Score: Kangaroos 12.14.86 defeated Giants 14.1.85
Goalkickers: Sam Cox 5, Thomas Binion 3, Hamish Willett 2, Ryley Ely 2, Cooper Gracie 1, Flynn Weeks 1.
Best Players: Hamish Willett, Cooper Gracie, Will Botten, Trent Nicholson, Owain Boyle, Campbell Drury.
Under-14 Giants
On Saturday in perfect conditions for football, the Giants travelled up the freeway to take on a Kangaroos outfit that was sitting above them on the ladder.
From the first bounce, the young Giants showed that they had turned up to play.
Max Smyth got the Giants on the board early, but the young Giants failed to convert many chances kicking 1.4 to take a nine-point lead into the quarter.
The Kangaroos hit back hard in the second kicking three goals in five minutes putting the Giants’ backline under pressure.
But the Giants’ midfield got back on top and replied with three goals of their own to take a three-point lead at half-time.
The third quarter was a real arm wrestle with the Giants kicking two goals to one to extend their lead to nine points at the final change.
In a thrilling final quarter, the teams went goal for goal, but it was the determined Giants that held their nerve to run out 10-point winners.
All 19 players contributed, in what was arguably their best team performance of the year.
It was probably the efforts of the back six led by Xavier Wapling and Bryce Ashcroft that got the Giants over the line.
Final Score: Giants 9.9.63 defeated Kangaroos 8.5.53
Goalkickers: Owain Boyle 4, Kai Dervish 2, Max Smyth 2, Cooper Binion 1.
Best Players: Owain Boyle, Bryce Ashcroft, Xavier Wapling, Max Smyth, Billy Buitenhuis, Dustin McCarthy.
Under-12 Giants
In what is the toughest assignment in U12 football, the Giants tested themselves against the undefeated Kangaroos side at WJ Findlay Reserve on Saturday morning.
The task was not made easier by the fact that several players were unavailable because of injury and illness.
The Giants battled hard in the first quarter, limiting scoring opportunities, however, the floodgates opened in the second quarter with the Giants players outclassed and overpowered by a determined Kangaroos outfit.
The coaches challenged the Giants at half-time, and asked for a lift, with several positional changes spurring the young Giants onto a sensational second half hitting the scoreboard placing pressure on the Kangas.
Amy Lowe and Hailey Ziebell battled hard in the ruck and broke even throughout the game. Xavier Defazio never gave in and was a standout yet again in his first season at the club.
The move of Thomas Mount to half-back also provided the Giants with extra run and dash with a sensational running goal providing a highlight of the game. Harry Skelton was moved to defence in the second half looking like a young Matthew Scarlett stopping his opponent while providing run and carry.
Jakzen Davies played a standout game starting at half-back, reading the play like a book and when thrown into the middle provided a spark the Giants desperately needed.
Special mention to Riley McCarthy and Cash Nolen who were also fantastic contributors throughout the day.
Hopefully the return of some key players will help the Giants in what was one of the games of the season earlier in the season against the Junior Magpies. Go Giants!
Final Score: Kangaroos 12.11.83 defeated Giants 1.2.8
Goalkickers: Tom Mount 1.
Best Players: Tom Mount, Xavier DeFazio, Jakzen Davis, Amy Lowe, Harry Skelton, Riley McCarthy.
Coaches Awards: Noah Cooney, Cash Noley, Lizzy McNair, Boden Hazell.