The 2024 AFL Victoria Metro Junior Development Series recently wrapped up so we thought we'd catch up with the coaches of each side to review the carnival, and highlight some of the key moments and performers!
Next up, Under 15 Boys Division 1.
Coach: Cole Harvey
Game One - NFNL 7.8 (50) def. by EDFL 14.12 (96)
Our first mission of the 2024 carnival was against Northern FNL at the picturesque Eltham Football Ground. The weather gods were on our side allowing both teams to showcase their talents in perfect conditions. Our boys certainly came to play and their effort was rewarded with 26 scoring shots and a comfortable 46-point victory. George Holderhead (Moonee Valley) marked everything across half back in the first half and was swung forward in the second half hitting the scoreboard in a best-on-ground performance. Our mids went to work off the back of our aerial dominance by Mac Dullard (Maribyrnong Park) and Slayde Law (Keilor). Koby Bewick, Archer Legudi, Tevita Rodan, Ollie Ashworth, Moustafa Darwish, and Veron Pantazis were brutal on the inside with Lachie Mitchell, Charlie Tudor, and Bailey Summers providing our forwards with some high quality entries allowing us to hit the scoreboard. Our back seven held up many NFNL forays forward especially Devon Logan, Nate Jenkins, William Jani, Ollie Noto, Noah Ingham, and Zachary Massis. A great start to our 2024 campaign.
Goal Kickers: Moustafa Darwish 3, Koby Bewick 3, Veron Pantazis 2, Charlie Tudor 2, George Holderhead, Slayde Law, Mac Dullard, Nate Jenkins.
Best Players: George Holderhead, Lachie Mitchell, Archer Legudi, Devon Logan, Koby Bewick, Veron Pantazis.
Game Two - EDFL 11.11 (77) def. RDFNL 8.2 (50)
Game two was at another picturesque venue in Rupertswood's home of Salesian College. The ground was in perfect condition; however it was cold and some intermittent rain made conditions difficult for both teams at times. The RDFNL certainly came to play and were extremely good in the contest, really challenging our boys physically. Noah Hanegraaf came in for his first game of the carnival and provided wonderful support to our mids on the inside. We unfortunately lost one of our key defenders Devon Logan early in the game with a torn calf, so Mac Dullard went to centre half back and was absolutely outstanding for us. William Jani played brilliantly in defence in the absence of Devon Logan and Bailey Summers continued his red hot form with his razor sharp kicking off half back. Our outside mids in Ollie Noto, Lachie Mitchell, and Charlie Tudor continued on with their outstanding form providing great chain running and defensive support for our backs. Our mids accepted the challenge presented by the RDFNL mids and really cracked in. Ollie Ashworth, Zachary Massis, Slayde Law, Veron Pantazis, Koby Bewick, and Noah Hanegraaf leading the way. However, in trying conditions it was our smaller forwards who really went to work. Isa Merhi, Ahmad Abdallah, and Archer Legudi were outstanding winning plenty of ball between them and being exceptionally clean by hand and foot. Cain Davis was a wonderful taller target for us up front and his strong work ethic was rewarded with three goals. Rising star Koby Bewick was involved in a big marking contest and came off second best to which he was unable to take part in the final term. In the end our boys steadied and were very clean and precise for the entire game against a gallant RDFNL team – one to go!
Goal Kickers: Cain Davis 3, Koby Bewick 2, Ahmad Abdallah, Archer Legudi, Zachary Massis, Isa Merhi, Slayde Law, Moustafa Darwish.
Best Players: Ahmad Abdallah, Mac Dullard, Zachary Massis, Lachie Mitchell, William Jani, Isa Merhi. `
Game Three - EDFL 11.15 (81) def. WFNL 6.9 (45)
Coming up against a white-hot WFNL team who hadn’t lost a game in three years, we knew we had our work cut out for us. In perfect conditions on a perfect Willowbrook Reserve, our theme for the day was Weapons Day. We encouraged our boys to play with freedom and show case their individual talents against a high-quality opposition in front of a big crowd – and our boys delivered in spades. With Lachie Mitchell setting the tone with a quality pre-game joke, the stage was set for a fun and exciting day. The WFNL came out of the blocks hard and fast and really put our boys on the back foot early, but to our boys' credit, they slowly worked their way into the game by the end of the first quarter. After some encouraging words by the coaching group at quarter time, the boys really took control of the game. Our two captains for the day Tevita Rodan and Koby Bewick stepped up to the plate along with Noah Hanegraaf and Ollie Noto, kicking five goals unanswered in the second quarter to really set the game up. Switching from a forward to a defender, Hunter Holland was outstanding. In the absence of Devon Logan, Ollie Ashworth went from the midfield to defence and was brilliant. Again, Nate Jenkins and Cain Davis worked tirelessly as high forwards being wonderful connectors for us. Baxter Payne, Noah Ingham, and William Jani enjoyed great games in defence with Bailey Summers yet again providing great rebound off half back with his laser foot skills. George Holderhead held down the centre half back post against WFNL power forward Jake Miller and was terrific. Mac Dullard rucked tirelessly with Slayde Law providing a big target as our deep forward. Our outside mids were brilliant again, Legudi, Mitchell, Tudor to name a few. Ahmad Abdallah made it to Baseline Footy with a brilliant goal from the boundary, Isa Merhi busy and classy as usual, Veron Pantazis marking everything. But it was Tevita Rodan who rose to the challenge. A brilliant individual game with a team-first mentality to take out best on ground honours.
Goal Kickers: Cain Davis 3, Koby Bewick 2, Ahmad Abdallah 1, Archer Legudi 1, Zachary Massis 1, Isa Merhi 1, Slayde Law 1, Moustafa Darwish 1
Best Players: Tevita Rodan, Ollie Ashworth, Hunter Holland, Bailey Summers, Noah Hanegraaf, Koby Bewick.
Thank you to all of our coaches, support staff and most importantly the families and friends who supported both teams on this wonderful journey. An outstanding performance by our boys to finish the carnival 3-0. All the very best for the future to these fine young men.
Player of the Series: Mac Dullard
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