Fantastic finale

By Kath Gannaway
WITH thirteen clubs represented in the DRJFL Grand Finals at Woori Yallock on Sunday it comes as no surprise to the juniors lined up before a record grand final crowd.
DRFJL secretary, Barry Freeman, said it is the first year he can recall where so many clubs actually played in the finals.
“It has been a fantastic series, and yesterday’s games provided a fantastic finale with five separate clubs – Emerald, Mt Evenlyn, Belgrave, Gembrook-Cockatoo and Healesville coming away with premiership flags.”
Mr Freeman said spectators were treated to some exciting football with very little separating the teams in any of the games.
“If you look at the scores, there’s not much of a difference. In the Under 13, Healesville were in their own scoring territory and just three points down when the final siren went,” he said.
He said while it was sad to see just two clubs, Yarra Junction and Yarra Glen missing out on a finals berth, it was good to see Belgrave come through with two teams in the grand finals after struggling with numbers and having to drop their under 16 team during the year.
Mr Freeman congratulated Emerald’s Under 16s player Ryan Castricum who kicked his 100th goal during the finals series, and all the clubs who he said had been magnificent in the way they conducted themselves during the year.
The DRJFL Presentation Dinner will be held at the York on Lilydale on 15 September.
Grand Final results
Under 11: Emerald 3.7.25 d Woori Yallock 2.1.13.
Under 12: Belgrave 7.3.45 d Upwey-Tecona 2.3.15.
Under 13: Mt Evelyn 3.6.24 d Healesville 2.9.21.
Under 14: Gembrook-Cockatoo 7.10.52 d Belgrave 5.9.39.
Under 16: Healesville 11.10.76 d Emerald 9.3.57.