Ahead of junior footy returning this weekend, we thought we'd revisit the interleague carnival and catch up with the coaches of each side to review the carnival, and highlight some of the key moments and performers!
Next up, the Under 15s.
UNDER 15 BOYS DIVISION 1
Coach: Nathan Taylor
Firstly, I’d like to thank the assistant coaches Andrew Ball, Paul Dunn, Steve Glenn, and Liam Cauchi for their time and efforts during the rep program. A great group of experienced coaches that worked well together. The team and myself were lucky to have you. Thank you for your time, ideas and contribution to each training session and game day. Amazing effort guys, thank you and congratulations on a successful carnival. I would also like to thank Cole Harvey (EDFL Coaching Director) and Patrick Moloney (EDFL Junior Football Operations Manager) for their continued support throughout the program, Bree for the team manager duties, Ray the traine,r and for all the other parents who filled roles across the three games, without you it’s not possible to run the carnival. Thank you.
It was a great experience to coach this group for their final year of representative footy. To see them come together, listen, learn, adapt, play out of their comfort zones and buy in on a game plan that we put in place was exceptional. The talent in this squad is unbelievable and to win all three games the way they did against quality opposition shows exactly what this group can do. I look forward to watching them over the coming years.
Game one, we took on a fast-starting NFNL team. They jumped us early, kicking 4.1 to 1.3 in the first quarter. From there we worked our way back into the contest, and I thought we controlled the game for majority of the next three quarters. Our pressure around the ball lifted and we started to win at stoppage. We started to link up well and our switching and running game started to control the game. We finished the game strong in the second half running away by 30 points. Jake Bajinskis started to impact around the ball and give us momentum out of the stoppages, taking home the BOG medal for his four-quarter effort. Riley Verall (three goals) and Landon White (four goals) presented well up forward providing some big targets. Will Young ran all game providing plenty of run and carry through the midfield. Harvey Ball was dominant in the ruck giving our mids first use and taking marks around the ground. Caleb Cheshire was solid in defence along with Xav Walsh and Jordan Lewis whose run and carry from half back was pivotal.
It was a great start to the series and NFNL really pushed us, great response from the boys after quarter time to respond and get back into the game and finishing the game off full of run.
Game two we took on RDFNL up at Woodend. Again, after a slow start in the first quarter we then controlled the game for the last three. Our ball movement was quick, we defended well. Our mids started to control the game at the contest and spread hard once we won the ball. Today our theme was “team-first football, play your role". Harvey Bishop was solid for four quarters through the midfield and was awarded the BOG medal, Bodhi Taylor was dangerous in the forward line kicking two goals and setting up plenty of others for teammates. Dash Minton was in and under all day feeding the ball to the runners. Sam Contessa was lively up forward and his forward pressure was a feature. Jayden Nadzielski, Ned Ryan, Diesel Fletcher, and Leo Amato all hit the scoreboard kicking two goals each. Tom Pitt kicked one and played well as a link up between the backs and forwards playing on a wing. After another solid performance we ran out winners by 67 points.
Game three we took on the WFNL, today we kept it simple with the message “go out there have fun, take the game on, it’s the last time you will be representing the EDFL so enjoy it". Unlike the first two games we started like a house on fire, kicking 4.4 to 0.1 our mids Harvey Ball, Will Young, Jake Bajinskis, Bodhi Taylor, and James Mastropasqua were dominant and won plenty of the ball. The boys were on today and we played some blistering footy, our ball movement, link up, run and carry were a feature and we played great footy for four quarters. Aston Paino was great across half back with his rebounding left foot. James Compagnino controlled his wing providing plenty of drive and run. Ollie Trimbos was good in the air and set up plenty of goals for his teammates. Kai Laidler hit the scoreboard and used his foot skills to set up a couple more. Bailey Freeth was a handful up forward and kicked three, while our talls Liam Micallef (one goal) and Landon White (four goals) were dominant in the air. Harvey Ball was awarded the BOG medal for his outstanding game, he was dominant in the ruck and his contested marking around the ground was a feature. After a dominant four quarters we had come out on top by 55 points, a great result and a great way to finish off the carnival.
A lot of work had gone into this series, the program started back in December and it is a credit to the boys for showing up each week. I have been with this group the past three years of interleague and it has been a pleasure being part of their EDFL representative journeys. To go 8-0 over the three years is a credit to them and the work that they have put in.
Thank you to all involved, I have enjoyed every minute.
MATCH 1
NFNL 10.5 (65) def. by EDFL 14.11 (95)
GOALS: Landon White 4, Riley Verrall 3, Leo Amato 2, William Young 2, Sam Contessa, Bailey Freeth, James Compagnino.
BEST: Jake Bajinskis, Riley Verrall, Landon White, William Young, Harvey Ball, Caleb Cheshire.
MATCH 2
RDFNL 5.10 (40) def. by EDFL 16.11 (107)
GOALS: Leo Amato 2, Caleb Cheshire 2, Diesel Fletcher 2, Jayden Nadzielski 2, Ned Ryan 2, Bodhi Taylor 2, Jake Bajinskis, Sam Contessa, Dash Minton, Thomas Pitt.
BEST: Harvey Bishop, William Young, Bodhi Taylor, Jordan Lewis, Dash Minton, Sam Contessa.
MATCH 3
EDFL 13.12 (90) def. WFNL 5.5 (35)
GOALS: Landon White 4, Bailey Freeth 3, Leo Amato, Jake Bajinskis, James Compagnino, Kai Laidler, Liam Micallef, William Young.
BEST: Harvey Ball, William Young, Jake Bajinskis, Oliver Trimbos, Landon White, Bodhi Taylor.
UNDER 15 GIRLS DIVISION 1
Coach: Cal Tenabel
The Under 15 Girls Division One were a pleasure to coach again having attended training since November last year, the girls had put in a huge amount of work ahead of the interleague matches. Key areas we focused on were driving legs through tackles, taking risks in our game play, and pushing our abilities to the point of making mistakes.
The first match of the series was in horrid wet and windy conditions played in Eltham on a muddy oval against Northan Football Netball League. Having stated against the wind and letting NFNL take a lead in the first quarter, the EDFL girls corrected stoppage structure and started winning clearance taking back the lead by half time. With the game even going into the last quarter the EDFL girls dominated the play for the first 10 minutes but were unable to fully capitalise on the opportunities kicking one goal and four behinds. Being up by 10 points with just a few minutes left, NFNL took some lucky opportunities leading to two quick goals to steal back the win by two points on the siren. Ruby Evans (Aberfeldie) was the best player along with Octavia Amy (Maribyrnong Park) a multiple goal scorer, and Freya O'Neill (Craigieburn) excellent in the wing role.
Game two at Martin Reserve against Frankston was a dominating match by the EDFL girls from start to finish holding the F&DJFL to just one single shot on goal for the game. Charlotte Taylor (Ascot Vale) was the best player on the ground along with Alba Kheir (Strathmore) providing tackle pressure and drive from half back.
The final game was the toughest of the series against Eastern Football Netball League. The EFNL are the hardest team to beat each year being such a large catchment area and vast number of community clubs feeding the program. The EDFL girls showed incredible tackle pressure and took every opportunity, eventually going down by 13 points on the day. Holly Sutton (Greenvale) was incredible in the midfield as was Milla Villani (Keilor) in the ruck.
The coaching team and I are incredibly proud to be mixing it with the best few leagues in Division 1 and showcasing their talent.
MATCH 1
NFNL 4.6 (30) def. EDFL 4.4 (28)
GOALS: Octavia Amy 2, Dzenneta Mujaric, Taliah Pistikakis.
BEST: Ruby Evans, Octavia Amy, Sienna Gentikoglou, Holly Sutton, Freya O'Neill, Charlotte Taylor.
MATCH 2
EDFL 7.7 (49) def. FDJFL 1.0 (6)
GOALS: Chloe Milner 2, Mikayla Allen, Giselle Garro, Mackenzie Sheridan, Holly Sutton, Lucy Villalobos.
BEST: Charlotte Taylor, Alba Kheir, Milla Villani, Holly Sutton, Isabella Chiera, Willow Lysaught.
MATCH 3
EFNL 4.16 (40) def. EDFL 4.3 (27)
GOALS: Milla Villani 2, Isabella Chiera, Mackenzie Sheridan.
BEST: Holly Sutton, Milla Villani, Ruby Evans, Alba Kheir, Tiana Efron, Chloe Milner.
UNDER 15 BOYS DIVISION 2
Coach: Damien Gillman
This year's EDFL Interleague Carnival was an outstanding experience for everyone involved. We were fortunate to have 23 players represent our league, with an incredible 13 players pulling on the interleague jumper for the very first time. To see so many new faces embrace the opportunity and represent the EDFL with pride speaks volumes about the talent coming through our competition and the future of representative football.
Our carnival began with a tough challenge against Northern at Diamond Creek. We were slow out of the blocks and, despite fighting hard throughout the match, went down by 25 points. While the result wasn't what we were after, there were still plenty of positives to take away, particularly the determination shown by the group. Congratulations to James Wood, who was recognised with our Best on Ground medal after an outstanding individual performance.
The second match took us to Woodend to face the Riddell District Football League. The response from the playing group was exceptional. From the opening bounce, the players displayed intensity, teamwork and a real commitment to our game style, resulting in a comprehensive 120-point victory. It was a complete team performance, with every player contributing to the result. Congratulations to Samuel Dean, who earned Best on Ground honours after an outstanding display.
Our final game was played on King's Birthday at Maribyrnong Park against Western. Knowing we had the opportunity to finish the carnival on a high, the group once again rose to the occasion. It was a fiercely contested match, but our players remained composed under pressure and worked tirelessly for one another, securing a well-deserved 16-point victory to finish the carnival with two wins from three matches.
While the wins were pleasing, the true success of the carnival went far beyond the scoreboard.
The greatest achievement was watching the development of every player throughout the program. Over the three games, we saw players grow in confidence, challenge themselves against quality opposition and improve their understanding of representative football. Just as importantly, players from different EDFL clubs came together as one team, built genuine friendships and created memories that will stay with them for years to come. That is what interleague football is all about.
A program like this simply doesn't happen without the support of many people behind the scenes.
A huge thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their time throughout the carnival. Whether it was helping with timekeeping, escorting the umpires, running water or simply lending a hand wherever it was needed, your support was invaluable and greatly appreciated.
A special thank you to Carly Antonello, who did a fantastic job as team manager and ensured everything ran smoothly throughout the carnival. Thank you also to Deanne for looking after first aid, and to Tom and Noah for their efforts running water during the games. Your willingness to help allowed the players and coaches to focus on the football.
I'd also like to acknowledge our outstanding coaching group. Thank you to Phil, Marcus and Seamus for your professionalism, commitment and the time you invested into developing these players throughout the carnival. A special mention also goes to Matilda, who managed the player rotations seamlessly and ensured every player had their opportunity to contribute.
Finally, thank you to Patrick and everyone at the EDFL for the enormous amount of work that goes into organising and delivering this program each year. Representative football provides young players with experiences they simply can't replicate elsewhere, and we're incredibly grateful for the opportunities you continue to create.
Congratulations once again to every player who represented the EDFL this year. You should all be extremely proud of your efforts, the way you conducted yourselves and the pride you showed in wearing the interleague jumper. We hope this experience has not only made you better footballers but also created friendships and memories that will last long after the final siren.
MATCH 1
NFNL 10.6 (66) def. EDFL 5.11 (41)
GOALS: Harris Holland 2, Max Thorneycroft 2, Samuel Dean.
BEST: James Wood, Liam Kinniburgh, Bilal Derbas, David Antonello, Thomas Te Paa, Samuel Dean.
MATCH 2
RDFNL 2.2 (14) def. by EDFL 19.20 (134)
GOALS: Jackson Bossio 5, Jason Camm 3, David Antonello 2, Lincoln Downs 2, Noah Wing 2, James Wood 2, Samuel Dean, Emmanuel Hrousis, Liam Kinniburgh.
BEST: Samuel Dean, Harris Holland, Toby Monaghan, Noah Wing, David Antonello, Liam Kinniburgh.
MATCH 3
EDFL 10.7 (67) def. WFNL 7.9 (51)
GOALS: Liam Jeffery 4, Mason Lambley 2, Declan Carroll, Bilal Derbas, Max Thorneycroft, James Wood.
BEST: Toby Monaghan, Jackson Bossio, Bilal Derbas, James Wood, Declan Carroll, Liam Jeffery.
UNDER 15 GIRLS DIVISION 2
Coach: Heath Mahoney
The extended training period in the leadup to the 2026 Vic Metro Carnival saw some major advancement in the skill development and game knowledge of our Under 15 girls. An attacking style of play was taught, encouraging risk and exploring ways to break down stop start football. The growing number of girls committed to football in our region is encouraging and the steps made by the EDFL Under 15 girls proved that we are moving in the right direction. The "three E's" -Effort, Engaged and Enjoy was the motto of the team.
Game one in Eltham against NFNL started in slow fashion with the Western Ring Road taking first honours on a cold Wednesday night. The girls worked into the game after half time matching Northern with intensity and showing the style of football practiced through training. Clara Trotta was awarded best on ground for a brilliant four-quarter effort down back.
Game two in Woodend against RDFNL was a close fought battle all game in wet and cold conditions. The EDFL's game style mantra started to take hold with ball movement by foot and line breaking handball chains ensuring quality football. The girls battled hard falling just short of Riddell's number one team. Natalia Mitsiou backed up a strong performance in game one and dominated play again being awarded best on ground.
Game three was at Monk Oval against WFNL. With Western only fielding one Under 15 girls team, this game was always going to be a tough assignment. To the players credit, they came out all guns blazing with physicality and intensity taking it right up to Western in the first quarter trailing by just seven points at quarter time. From there the class of Western took hold and built a commanding lead by three quarter time. Despite this, our girls refused to throw in the towel showing the three E's right until the end. Mia Teesdale's fantastic effort in the ruck saw her being awarded best on ground in the last game of the carnival.
Thankyou to all the parents for their commitment and support through this process. To all the players, they should be proud of everything they have done and the massive amount of improvement they have shown.
MATCH 1
NFNL 10.8 (68) def. EDFL 1.0 (6)
GOALS: Olivia Rainey.
BEST: Clara Trotta, Mahli Hope, Natalia Mitsiou, Abbey Bradler, Olivia Monforte, Mackenzie Felmingham.
MATCH 2
RDFNL 4.8 (32) def. EDFL 2.3 (15)
GOALS: Nina Ah Ta, Olivia Monforte.
BEST: Natalia Mitsiou, Mia Teesdale, Olivia Monforte, Nina Ah Ta, Mia Fraser, Mackenzie Felmingham.
MATCH 3
EDFL 1.2 (8) def. by WFNL 13.14 (92)
GOALS: Mia Fraser.
BEST: Mia Teesdale, Natalia Mitsiou, Mahli Hope, Madison Gilcrist, Nina Ah Ta, Eve Morrison.
