By Callum Ludwig
With football and netball clubs taking a break for Easter, here’s how clubs (Senior Men’s Football and A-Grade Netball) in the Valley have started their seasons:
Coldstream are the only local club competing in the Eastern Football Netball League and are sixth in Division Three with a 52-point loss to Silvan, a 39-point win over Fairpark and a narrow 11-point loss to The Basin. The Cougars have had a consistent set of top performers, with Bailey Grant, Matthew Langdon, Darcy Carrigan, Leigh Warne and Sam Figg all featuring in the best players in two games, while Darcy Fritsch is the league-leading goalkicker with 10. They play Donvale away on Saturday 26 April.
Over in the Outer East competition, Healesville are top of the tree in the Premier Division with two wins and a whopping percentage that has marginally edged out Wandin for top spot. They beat Upwey-Tecoma at home by four goals and followed it up with a 61-point win over Emerald away. Callum Bradley has been a standout in both games while Aidan Rouse leads the Bloods’ goalkicking with 5. The A-Grade netballers have had a mixed start, sitting sixth after a 15-point win over Upwey-Tecoma and a 25-point loss to Emerald. Kim Ryan and Brooke Erickson have been consistent performers in both games. Healesville will play Mt Evelyn away after Easter.
Just behind in second sits Wandin, with a 141-point win over Mt Evelyn and a 14-point win over Woori Yallock under their belts. Aaron Mullett, who also leads the league with 16 goals, and Patty Bruzzese have been top Dogs in both games. The netballers have won one and lost one, going down to Mt Evelyn by 10 points before beating Woori Yallock by 21, to sit in fourth. Kali Dolphin and Maddy George have been among their best players in both games and Wandin will head to Monbulk after the break.
Despite their loss to Wandin, Woori Yallock’s footballers are fourth in Premier Division thanks to an 87-point win over Emerald. Hunter Ryan, Angus Smith and Tayor Gibson have been in their best each week, with Gibson also right on the tail of Mullett for leading goalkicker honours with 15 goals. The netballers are toughing it out with two losses in their first games, beaten by Emerald by 12 points as well as their Wandin loss. Hayley Debuf, Haylee Wilcox, Chelsea Smith and Amber Thorn have all featured once in the best and the Tigers take on Officer in Round Three.
In Division One, Seville are the highest-ranked Valley side in second after two wins over Yarra Glen (78 points) and Alexandra (44 points). Domenic Aloi’s 8 goals has him third in the league goalkicking but no player has featured in the best players in both games, with multiple players stepping up when called upon. The netballers are fourth but with two wins, by 22 points over Yarra Glen and 58 points over Alexandra. Luiza Sulemani has been in the best players both weeks and the Blues take on Belgrave in their new traditional Anzac Day clash.
Warburton-Millgrove are third, thanks to a 46-point win over Belgrave and having the bye. Shawn Andueza, Nelson Aldridge, Thomas Baker, Jack Farrugia, Tyson Henry and Patrick Huynh were their best in the game while Tom Barr and Bailey Humphrey each snagged 3 goals. The A-Grade netballers are second as a result of their 44-point win over Belgrave, along with the bye. Indiana Pinnock, Bianca Daniels and Taylah Moschetti were the Burras’ best and the club takes on Yarra Junction in their next match.
Yarra Glen’s footballers have mustered one win and one loss, the big loss to Seville by 78 and the win over Belgrave by 10 to sit fifth. Ben Ashton and Jayden Capuano have been their best, while Josh Hawkins’ 10 goals leads all comers in the league. The netballers are also fifth, having lost to Seville by 22 and beaten Belgrave by 29. Madeline Hargrave and Jasmine Evans have featured in the best both weeks and the River Pigs take on Yea away after the break.
Powelltown are down in seventh with one win by 32 over Yarra Junction and one loss to Pakenham by 135. Jayden Mullan has found himself in the best two weeks running while Josh Cowan’s five goals is among the most in the league so far. The netballers are dead last, having lost by 41 points to Yarra Junction and 94 to Pakenham. Kasie Pitts has been their most consistent performer and the Towners have a bye to follow the Easter break.
Yarra Junction’s footballers are finding it tough, sat last with a 32-point loss to Powelltown and a 63-point loss to Yea to their name. Leigh Mccombe has been a bright spark with 9 goals, good for second in the league, and two features in the best players, joined by Hori Jury. The netballers are better off, though, sitting in third with back-to-back wins over Powelltown (41 points) and Yea (20 points). Jade Rogers and Chenile Chandler have been the top performers as the Eagles are set to take on Warburton-Millgrove in Round Three.
