The EDFL’s venture to Ballarat for the 2018 AFL Victoria Worksafe Community Championships proved hugely successful on Saturday after it achieved victories over the Horsham District Football-Netball League at U16, U18 & Senior level.
The EDFL U16s set the tone for the day. They were up and about early with four unanswered goals to take a 24-point lead into the quarter time break and thereafter had few problems in recording a 35-point victory. Lachlan Crook (who was awarded the VCFL medal) and Geordie Wells were instrumental in setting up many key forward thrusts, Bailey Stephens showed dash, Ryan Atherton strong around the packs and Matthew Dare and Ryan Knight prominent. Hayden Wallis (3 goals) and Brayden Hefford (2 goals) finished off the good work up field in a terrific team effort that was demonstrated by the fact it had nine individual goal kickers.
On a cold day the travelling EDFL supporters were made to sweat it out while watching the U18s - who won by 15 points but did not hit the front until the last quarter. The HDFNL looked the likely winners early when they established a three-goal lead but two goals in the last minute of the second term put the EDFL back into the contest. After the main break high leaping ruckman Travis Stewart and centreman Josh McNally proved to be game changers. Stewart gave his smalls first use of the ball and sealed the VCFL BOG medal with a big mark and crucial goal in the last term while McNally won plenty of contested ball and used it well. Will Robertson marked strongly and kicked four goals and in tandem with Lauchlan Gregson both played a pivotal role as dual forward targets. Trailing by nine points at the last break the EDFL went into overdrive and with six last quarter goals finished full of running. The half back line of Blake Kahan, captain Jason Cox and Jai Newcombe were exceptional after the main break in another very good team performance.
In the senior match the HDFNL kicked the opening goal and controlled play in the first five minutes before the EDFL settled and cranked it up with six goals in a row to take a 31-point lead into the quarter time break. Russell Lehman, Nick Visser, Dylan Heylen and Jake Hazendonk all tore at the ball in the first quarter and seized control of the midfield for the entire game. Poowong rover Tom Wyatt proved elusive, kicked four goals and was awarded the VCFL Best on Ground medal. The defence led by Dale Johnson and Tim Hancock played will surety. The team played with confidence that belied their inexperience considering a dozen players were 22 years of age or less. All 22 players did all that was asked of them by coach Daniel Fry who also played his part on field steering through two first quarter goals to set the example early on.
The EDFL would like to thank the efforts of all players, trainers, volunteers, parents and supporters that travelled up to Ballarat and especially thank the efforts of coaches Daniel Fry (seniors), Toby Wallace (U18s) and Rob Hefford (U16s) who all did a tremendous job in the lead up to the match and on game day with their leadership that played a significant role in their teams victories.
Last Modified on 21/05/2018 08:41