Southern juniors star in season finale
THE last of the Gippsland football competitions for season 2023 have been run and won with two talent-search teams from Southern Gippsland, the Under 15s and the Under 13s claiming the premierships in their divisions of the AFL Gippsland Dahlsens...
THE last of the Gippsland football competitions for season 2023 have been run and won with two talent-search teams from Southern Gippsland, the Under 15s and the Under 13s claiming the premierships in their divisions of the AFL Gippsland Dahlsens All Stars Carnival.
With games against Eastern, Western and Latrobe Valley in April, June, July this year and the final last Friday, September 29 at Morwell, the two local teams came out on top in the 15s and 13s.
After a win against the Latrobe Valley in April, a loss to Eastern in June and a win over Western in July, the Southern Under 13s 14.9.93 defeated Eastern 3.12.30 in the final last Friday to win the Under 13s Shield with their best player of the carnival being Beau Elkin from Leongatha while Hudson Froud from Wy Yung.
Members of the successful Under 13 Southern team included: Noah Murray, Lukah Fawaz, Cruz Maund, Finn O’Halloran, Eamon O’Keefe, Charlie Boulter, Maddison Leed, Gemma Fischer, Linc Chila, Jesse Moschetti, Shelton Winmar, Archer Gee, Frazer Livingstone, James Martin, Harvey Leary, Max Tonkin, Gypsy Quaife, Tierlin Hamley, Jackson Glen, William Hullick, Beau Elkin, Noah Bradley, Cobie Milner, Zeb Anderson and Harvey Sorensen.
In the showpiece match of the day, the Under 15s final Southern 6.5.41 defeated Latrobe 5.1.31 in what was a cracking final.
“The Latrobe Valley, with players coming from Morwell, Traralgon and right around central Gippsland, took it right up to us in the final with nothing between the teams until half time,” said coach Matt Pugh of Wonthaggi.
“But we had 12 players selected to go forward to the interleague carnival at Shepparton over the weekend, and we pulled away from them in the third quarter.
“They’re a talented group and we’d expect to see quite a few of them up for selection in Gippsland Power teams next year.”
Jeremy Kelly of Phillip Island was named best in the carnival for te Southern Under 15s but Thomas and Connor Macmillan of Wonthaggi dominated the competition and also shone out at Shepparton over the weekend.
As well as Matt Pugh the Under 15s coach, Jason Hullick and Glen Jobe supported as line coaches.
Thanks to all volunteers, players, coaches, coordinators, umpires and supporters for your support of the program this year.
