Heart-stopping finish and intra-club clash highlight round two of finals for Benalla juniors
Finals footy always brings out the best in our young players, and Sunday’s matches at Wangaratta Showgrounds were no exception.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
While some of our Benalla teams saw their seasons come to a close, every side showed courage, skill and the kind of mateship that makes junior footy so special. From thrilling wins to hard-fought losses, our players can hold their heads high after a season of development and determination.
As we head deeper into finals, we celebrate the journey so far and throw our support behind the Benalla Red U12s who are still in the race for premiership glory.
U12s Benalla Black vs Benalla Red – Elimination Final
Benalla Red
In another elimination blockbuster, Benalla Red faced Benalla Black in the local derby. The Reds had not beaten Black throughout the season however the last month has seen them play some exciting team football.
The first quarter saw some exciting play with both teams looking dangerous and hitting the scoreboard. Benalla Red started to put the foot down in the second term with Roscoe providing his midfielders with first use in the centre bounces.
Jack Davies has hit a purple patch of form and was excellent ahead of the ball, slotting five majors for the day. Captain Xavier Beriman led from the front with his two-way running a feature of the match, while Toby Smith continued his stellar late season form, now an integral part of the midfield rotation.
The second half saw Red maintain their lead with a never-say-die attitude and key contributions from Manny Bourke and Spencer Whitechurch, who played telling roles on the wing.
The backline featured many unsung heroes led by the “bash brothers” Ron and Ben Staggard.
Benalla now looks to match its late season heroics with a big match up against Bright to gain a spot in the big dance.
Go Reds!
Goal kickers: Jack Davies 5, Max Reynolds, Jonathan Goodwin, Xavier Beriman.
Best players: Toby Smith, Jack Davies, Xavier Beriman, Spencer Whitechurch, Ron Staggard, Teddy Sheehan.
Benalla Black
Under the warm winter sun at Wangaratta Showgrounds, Benalla Red and Benalla Black faced off in a spirited U12s elimination final. Though they train side by side each week and share strong friendships, both sides brought fierce determination to this finals clash.
Benalla Red came out firing, setting the tone early and maintaining pressure throughout the game. Their first and last quarters were particularly dominant, locking the ball inside their forward 50 and stifling any chance of a Black comeback.
Benalla Black, while outgunned, never dropped their heads and fought hard across all four quarters, the third quarter being most impressive in slowing downs Red’s advance.
Lachie Osborne gave it his all in the ruck, competing with strength and determination against a tough opponent. He was well supported by teammates Frank Christie, Jimmy Jackson, Ollie Ross and Caleb Thwaites, all showing impressive development and grit in the centre. Jackson Quarrell also made quite the impact down back.
Benalla Black’s campaign ends here, but they can hold their heads high, having contributed to a cracking season of junior footy. Our community now turns its support to Benalla Red as they take on Bright in next week’s semi-final.
A massive thank you to our amazing families who volunteer week after week. And a huge shout out to our players - congratulations! We’re proud of every one of you and feel privileged to be witness to the significant levels of development in skill and team mateship we’ve seen over the season.
Goal kickers: Owen Shirmer 2.
Best players: Lachlan Osborne, Caleb Thwaites, Jimmy Jackson, Frank Christie, Jackson Quarrell, Ollie Ross.
Score:
Benalla U12s Red 8.5 (53) def
Benalla U12s Black 2.5 (17)
U14s Benalla Red vs Kangaroos JFC - Elimination Final
Benalla Red Under 14’s showed heart and determination in their elimination final clash against Kangaroos, delivering a spirited performance that kept fans on edge until the final siren.
Benalla burst out of the gates with confidence, dominating early contests and capitalising on forward entries to take a 17-point lead into quarter time. Their momentum continued into the second term, with clean ball movement and pressure around the ground extending the margin to 22 points at the main break.
However, the second half told a different story. With limited rotations and no bench, fatigue began to creep in. Kangaroos seized the opportunity, lifting their intensity and gradually chipping away at the deficit. Their midfield gained ascendancy, and they began converting crucial chances in front of goal.
Despite the mounting pressure, Benalla refused to back down, fighting valiantly in the final term with several players digging deep to keep the contest alive.
But the Kangaroos’ fresher legs and late surge proved decisive, as they edged ahead to claim a narrow seven-point victory.
While the result didn’t fall their way, Benalla Red can hold their heads high. Their grit, teamwork, and never-say-die attitude were on full display, capping off a season filled with growth and promise.
Final score:
Kangaroos JFC U14s 10.11 (71) def
Benalla U14s Red 8.16 (64)
Goal kickers: Jude Binion 5, Tom Mount, Cash Nolen, Sam Mount.
Best players: Charlie Pollard, Tom Mount, Xavier De Fazio, Jude Binion, Tom Snell, Jack Hart.
Come and show your support this weekend
Finals Round 3, Sunday, August 31, Wangaratta Showgrounds at 8:50am
Benalla U12s Red vs Bright JFC U12s - preliminary final.
Contributed content