Island juniors charge into Grand Final

WHAT a day for the future of the Phillip Island Football Club! Our Under 18s have stormed their way into the 2025 West Gippsland League Grand Final, after producing a brilliant four-quarter performance against Nar Nar Goon in the Preliminary Final.

It was tight early, with Nar Nar Goon coming out strong, but the young Bulldogs lifted their pressure and began to take control of the contest. With hard tackling, relentless running, and smart ball movement, Phillip Island slowly wore their opponents down. By the final siren, the scoreboard told the story: a composed and determined 29-point win that sends our boys through to the biggest game of the year.

This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication of the players, coaches, and families who’ve supported the group all season. The energy around the club is electric, and this

Saturday we call on every supporter to head to Garfield (at 10.10am) and get behind the 18s. Let’s make it a sea of red, white, and blue as the next generation of Bulldogs chase premiership glory!

A huge congratulations to Benjamin Chihotski, who was named runner-up in the League Best & Fairest Medal – a massive achievement in a very competitive competition.

Reserves

Our Reserves side gave everything in their Preliminary Final clash against Nar Nar Goon, but unfortunately fell just short in a hard-fought and physical contest.

The game was an arm-wrestle from the outset, with both teams locking down defensively and making scoring difficult. Phillip Island matched Nar Nar Goon for intensity across the ground, but the difference came down to 
conversion in front of goal – Nar Nar Goon took their chances, while the Bulldogs were left to rue a number of missed opportunities that could have changed the momentum of the match.

Despite the scoreboard, there were plenty of positives. Senior experience from the likes of Jack Keating and Beau Davies steadied the group when the pressure lifted, while younger players like Oliver Hibbert and Thomas Niven showed they can match it in big finals. Up forward, Travis Woodfield battled hard to finish with two goals, while Bryce Pewtress added another. The backline held strong all day, repeatedly repelling Nar Nar Goon’s attacks and keeping the contest alive right until the closing stages.

While the result wasn’t the one the boys wanted, this group should be incredibly proud of their season. They showed determination, 
resilience, and strong team unity week after week, and pushed deep into September as a reward for their efforts.

A very special mention to Finlay Cousins, who capped off his outstanding season by being crowned the West Gippsland League Best and Fairest Medal winner for the Reserves competition. This is a phenomenal achievement and underlines his importance to the side – a true leader both on and off the field.