A WINDY day of football and netball brought with it tricky results for the footballers, while it was largely better news for the netballers in the region.
Riddell District Football Netball League
Diggers Rest rolled into Greenhill Reserve to play Wallan in a game the Pies would rather forget.
Hoping to impress the crowd for his 300th game, Chris Stewart was stunned by the ladder-leading Diggers attack, as even with Cameron Cloke and Jake Carlisle back in the lineup together, the Magpies could only record one early goal in the first change, trailing 6-42.
The Magpies were unable to trouble the scorers too much in the second term, trailing 16-54 at the main break.
The visitors sunk the Magpies’ hopes in the third term, and with gusto they piled on three consecutive goals taking the margin out to 77 points, 16-93.
The Pies got some respectability back on the scoreboard with six goals in the final term, but it was not their day and were defeated 8.4 (52) to 15.10 (100).
Matthew Perri’s three goals saw him named Wallan’s best, but he was well supported by Corey Viani, Harley Short, Riley Gilchrist, Steven Boyall and Brodie Gilchrist.
UNDER PRESSURE: Harley Short had to negotiate fierce Diggers Rest pressure to get his handball away on Saturday.
At the other end of the equation, Lancefield played 2024 premiers Riddell at Lancefield Park and were defeated by 65 points.
Riddell posted seven consecutive goals in the first term, and while there was some spark from the Tigers, the final score eventually favoured Riddell by 65 points, 5.5 (35) to 15.10 (100).
Reuben Schembri, Leroy Ristevski, Riley O’Meara, Max Taylor, Corey Reid and Adam Miles were all named in the best for the Tigers.
An inaccurate Romsey fell to Kyneton by 18 points at the Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Redbacks had to play catchup from the opening term, trailing by 19 points, and while they trailed by just five points at the final change, they were unable to overrun the Tigers, who kicked four goals to two in the final term to win 11.15 (81) to 7.21 (63).
Joseph Stapleton and Nathan Rayment kicked two goals apiece, with Ash Millane, Liam Muir, Kane Brinkhaus, Stapleton, Justin Waldron and Matt Burkett all named in the best.
Northern Football Netball League
Kilmore was no match for Ivanhoe in its round ten matchup, having its colours lowered by 37 points at JJ Clancy Reserve.
In a battle between fifth and sixth coming in, the Hoers never looked back after jumping the Blues in the opening quarter.
The Hoers stunned the Blues with a 32-1 lead at the first change.
Kilmore closed the gap slightly in the second term, but it was unable to stem the tide sufficiently and trailed 19-41 at the long break.
Ivanhoe roared back onto the ground and ripped a hole in the Blues hearts by kicking six goals in the third term to put the game out of reach, leading 81-37 at the final change.
Kilmore did what it could, and its defenders were able to restrict the Hoers ball movement well, reducing Ivanhoe to just one behind.
A late goal was never enough to bring the Blues back as they fell 7.3 (45) to 12.10 (82).
Jesse Taylor and Jaden Smith kicked multiple goals for the Blues and Joshua Alford, Ethan Derrick and Zack Ferguson each kicked one.
Joshua Coe, Bailey Derrick, Chris Barton, Kye Maher, and Grant Paxton were listed in the best.
Goulburn Valley Football League
Seymour was desperately close to scoring an upset victory over Rochester at Kings Park on Saturday.
The Lions were on the back foot early, with Rochester getting the jump by kicking four goals to one in the opening stanza to lead by 18 points at the first change.
Seymour settled in nicely in the second quarter with two quick goals to reduce the margin to seven points, but the Tigers had a response by kicking the last two of the term to lead by 21 points.
However, a Lewis Lubeck-inspired passage gave the Lions a pathway back into the game.
His two goals, plus majors to Ricky Schraven and James Wooster, saw the game tied going into the final change.
The Lions’ run was halted in the last term as Rochester managed the only goal to win 7.12 (54) to 7.3 (45).
Despite the loss, it was an impressive effort against the second-placed Tigers.
Nathan Beattie was the Lions’ best, while Nathan Fowler, Seamus Feery, Tom Jeffrey and Lucas Cavigan also played well.
Netball
Wallan has taken a much-needed win to keep its finals hopes alive, taking apart Diggers Rest to win by 29 goals at Greenhill Reserve.
The Magpies were simply too good for the Burra, scoring 17 goals to 10 in the second quarter, before clearing away with 19 goals to six in the third, eventually scoring a 61-32 victory.
Maeve Donegan was dominant in the goal circle, scoring 36 goals.
Lancefield has dropped to third position on the ladder after Riddell proved too good by 19 goals at Lancefield Park.
The Bombers made a fast start to lead by 13 goals at the first change, and while the Tigers were much more competitive in the final three quarters, could not overhaul the gap.
Shanae Brundell scored 25 goals in the loss.
Romsey has maintained the pressure on the top five with a 15-goal win over Kyneton.
The fast-starting Redbacks got the jump on the Tigers and held the ascendancy all day to win 55-40.
Charlize Bellette scored 41 goals.
In the Northern Football Netball League competition, Kilmore did not quite have the Friday night they wanted, taking two wins from seven games.
However, it was better news for Broadford, who were able to win two of its three games on the night.
Representative games
THE 2025 AFL Victoria Metro Junior Development Series wrapped up on the Kings Birthday Weekend in style, with three rounds to determine the greatest league.
THE Northern Football Netball League put forward their best players and Kilmore Junior Football Netball Club was represented with three stand outs.
Cooper Winnell played with the U14 division one team, they went on to win two out of three matches.
PICTURED: Cooper Winnell #17 with the U14 Division 1 Representative Team
CREDIT: FIELD OF VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY
In round one, against Essendon District Football League (EDFL) at Sewell Reserve it was a case of stage jitters, and they were defeated by 21 points, 9.10 (64) to 6.7(43).
Round 2, was another story, in the match against Western Football Netball League (WFNL) at Eltham Central Park, the boys from the North took away a 17-point victory, 8.5 (53) to 11.4 (70).
Round 3. The blockbuster against Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) at Waterview Reserve delivered a 110-point win, 18.14 (122) to 2.0 (12).
PICTURED: Will Barlow #24 and Parker Schultz #53 with the U14 Division 2 Representative Team
CREDIT: FIELD OF VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY
Will Barlow and Parker Schultz played in division two, and against the EDFL rustled up an amazing 59-point win, 13.10 (88) to 4.5 (29).
In round two against WFNL they racked up and outstanding 129-point win, 20.16 (136) to 1.1 (7).
It was three in a row for the team when they were up against RDFNL at Waterview Reserve with a 164-point win, 25.20 (170) to 1.0 (6).
PICTURED: Parker Schultz #53
CREDIT: FIELD OF VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY
