Clear blue skies were the backdrop for Benalla Junior football as our teams paid tribute to our servicemen and women on our annual Anzac weekend match.
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Players stood at attention with respect and pride for the last post and the New Zealand national anthem topped off with a beautifully haunting performance of Australia’s anthem sung by Emily Snell.
At the conclusion of each match, the umpires awarded one player from each age group the prestigious Anzac Day medal for the player that best embodied the Anzac spirit of mateship, courage and endurance.
U12 Black vs U12 Red
In the opening match of the day, Benalla Reds showed strong tackling, impressive overhead marks up forward and moved the ball well throughout the day in a terrific team performance.
Blacks have been really putting in the work at training and it showed in game play with consistent shepherding and great teamwork all day. The backline showed off some really strong intercept marking.
There were great passages of play from both teams throughout the day and the hard work at training is starting to pay off.
Score: Benalla Black 3.1 (19) def by Benalla Red 7.6 (48)
Goals
Black: Dustin Nolan, Cooper Rheese, Spencer Whitechurch
Red: Archer Pickering 2, Harry McConachy, Maximus Reynolds, Oli Ross, Toby Smith
Best
Black: Harley Kupke, Bill Bourke, Eli Fielding
Red: Ollie Ross, Toby Smith, Hunter Symes
Anzac Day medallist: Ollie Ross, Benalla Red
U14 Black vs U14 Red
The Red team started the game running on top of the ground and this was by far the best ten minutes of play they had put together all season.
This allowed the Reds, for the first time, to play a little more front half football. The efforts of Ollie Smith and Josh Bamford across the half forward line to present up at the ball carrier was also a very pleasing result.
It was unfortunate that they were unable to reward themselves with more scores on the board. Our goal scorer Bodie Gall bagged his first career goal and gave spectators a celebration dance to remember.
The effort of on field leaders to lead from the front was evident all day, the fact that every player had to play 100 per cent game time was always going to be a big ask and the longer the game went on the harder it became.
A massive step forward was taken by Becky during this game, shown by really standing up in a couple of one-on-one contests. The efforts of all players did not go unnoticed by anyone watching our team play today and all the players have to be congratulated on the way they held their heads high and gave everything they had when the score board was not reading the way anyone wanted it to.
For the Black team, they came out strong and determined. Jack Hart led the charge kicking two early goals. The ball movement throughout the ground was fast and frantic helped by the leg speed of midfielders Jimmy Jackson and Caleb Thwaites.
First year player Jake Soyer was moved into multiple positions, excelling in all, proving to be a versatile member of the team.
Overall, the game was played in the right spirit and the Reds continued to apply pressure all day never dropping their heads.
Score: Benalla Black 17.12 (114) def Benalla Red 1.3 (9)
Goals
Black: Jack Hart, Tyson Brown 4, Teddy Sheehan 3, Robin Arnold 2, Jack Christie, Jack Davies, Caleb Thwaites, Georgia Trethowan
Red: Bodie Gall
Best
Black: Jack Hart, Caleb Thwaites, Tyson Brown
Red: Oliver Smith, Thomas Snell, Lachlan Osborne
Anzac Day medallist: Jack Hart, Benalla Black
U17
On a weekend defined by solemn reflection and the Anzac spirit, the Benalla under-17s delivered a performance to remember at the Benalla Showgrounds, securing a gritty, hard-fought victory against the Wangaratta Imperials.
The contest was physical from the opening bounce, but Benalla’s leaders rose to the occasion. Harry Skelton put in a true captain’s shift, leading by example with his work rate and composure under pressure. His ability to direct play and inspire his teammates was pivotal in steadying the side during the game’s most intense moments.
Trevor Maru’s dominant performance across the ground embodied the courage and resilience the weekend represents. Joining him in the thick of the action was Ben Wells, who became a crowd favourite for his fearless defensive pressure, consistently laying match-saving tackles on opponents nearly three times his size.
Up forward, the team had a clinical finisher in Tom Mount, who proved to be the difference maker. Mount was unstoppable in the air and on the lead, finishing the day with a bag of five goals to ensure Benalla stayed ahead on the scoreboard.
This victory marks a significant turning point for the young squad, proving that when they play for each other and maintain their intensity for four quarters, they are a formidable force in the competition.
Score: Benalla 11.7 (73) def Imperials 11.5 (71)
Goals: Tom Mount 5, Boden Hazell, Trevor Maru, Charlie Pollard, Jack Pollard, Harry Skelton, Oli Wardell
Best: Harry Skelton, Trevor Maru, Nick White, Ben Wells, Jack Pollard, Tom Mount
Anzac Day medallist: Trevor Maru