Intraleague wrap up
The fourth U16 East v West Intraleague match was held on a bitterly cold but dry Wednesday night at the Lang Lang Community Reserve in Caldermeade and it saw the West prevail with an impressive 47 point victory. It was the West team's third win in a row after the initial game in 2022 finished in a draw. The West team comprised players from Bunyip (1st on ladder), Catani (8th), Ellinbank (2nd), Poowong (4th), Lang Lang(6th) & Longwarry (10th). The East team was represented by Buln Buln (7th), Nilma Darnum (11th), Trafalgar (3rd), Neerim Neerim South (9th) and Yarragon (5th).
The West team went into the match as favourites based on having three clubs in the top four on the ladder but it was the East that took the early honours when Harrison Jones marked and converted from 30 metres at the four minute mark. In a fast paced opening, kicks and goals were hard to come by until late goals by Cruze Deal - after a handy mark and Kai Jones - with a wonderful snap put the West six points to the good at quarter time.
In the second quarter the West's captain Jackson Bennett surged forward on a long run and with a terrific finish put his team 12 points in front. East captain Wes Scott also led by example and he too streamed forward to set up Jones for his second goal to reduce the West's lead to only six points. A goal mid term by Ethan Densley from a tight angle extended the West's lead to 12 points before the East gained traction in the contest with classy left foot snap on goal by Nic Meggeto to peg the margin back to just one kick.
A late major by Deal - his second - gave the West an 11 point lead at the main break.
Early in the third term Kai Jones slotted through his second goal to give the West an 18 point buffer. Not to be denied the East then produced some of their best football but with three consecutive behinds it failed to convert its chances. Midway through the term further goals from Deal, Kai Jones and Densley put the Westerners 36 points up entering the last quarter. In the fourth term the West extended its lead with goals off the boot of Xavier Ridsdale, Densley - his 3rd and Deal - his fourth.
After the match EDFNL Junior Development Officer Stephen Pratt asked the respective coaches Mitchell Smith and Gabe Marsden to present their teams BOG medals. The West medal was won by Kai Jones and the East medal by Corey Smith. Jones was the architect of the West's win, using his pace, dash and goal sense to regularly trouble the Easts defence. Smith showed good ball sense and racked up many midfield possessions.
Among others to impress for the West included ruckman Ryder Comben who floated all over the field and repelled many attacks. Forwards Cruze Deal and Ethan Densley read the ball well and converted accurately, Jackson Bennett and Lachlan Knight drove the ball forward often and Lachie Child and Lachlan Casey stood up well in defence in a very good team effort. For the East, Smith was a standout, full back Jackson Marx made a good impression, half back Coen Jennings was never far from the action and ruckman Will Rhodes prominent. Lachlan Gringhuis was busy up and down the ground, Wes Scott had a bustling presence - especially in the first half while there was a lot to like about the under age pair of Nic Meggeto and Ollie Bain.
The league would like to thank all the coaches, for the West - Mitchell Smith, Mitch Vanthof, Stuart Casey and Ben Cunningham and for the East - Gabe Marsden, Steve Tweddle and Ben Johnston. Also, we would like to acknowledge the trainers, photographer Jeff Tull, the Lang Lang Football Netball Club for use of their ground and facilities, the Gippsland Umpires Association who officiated the match and Roger Gwynne for all his errands. And last but not least, the league is indebted to all the parents, guardians, families and friends that provided the boys with transport and support in the lead up to the match and on match night. Looking forward, a squad will now be selected for our match against the WGFNC to be held on the 25th June and also to be played at Lang Lang.
QTR by QTR SCORES
WEST: - 2.0.12, 5.2.32, 9.6.60, 12.7.79
EAST: - 1.0.6, 3.3.21, 3.6.24, 4.8.32
Goalkickers:
West - Cruze Deal (4), Ethan Densley (3), Kai Jones (3), Jackson Bennett & Xavier Ridsdale.
East - Harrison Jones (2), Nic Megetto & Wes Scott.
Best:
West: Kai Jones (BOG medal), Ryder Comben, Lachie Child, Cruze Deal, Jackson Bennett & Lachlan Knight.
East: Corey Smith (BOG medal), Jackson Marx, Will Rhodes, Wes Scott, Coen Jennings & Lachlan Gringhuis.
Gippsland Umpires Association
Field - Charlotte Waller, Matt Finger, Josh Lee.
Goal - Zaiden West, River Firth, Aiden Noonan.
Boundary - Nate Murray, Jack Flegg.
