Under-12
On a glorious winter morning, the Under-12 Benalla Giants met the Benalla Bulldogs — their training partners and friends in a competitive tussle within an event themed Family Fun day.
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The first quarter was an even affair with the ball travelling from end to end with neither side able to put a score on the board early.
For the Bulldogs, Josh Bamford was having a great quarter working into space to give options for his teammates.
Hugh Ross was in and under winning the hard ball.
If the first quarter was any indication the game was going to be tight and skilful.
At the same time in the Giants camp, Angus Leavold performed strongly at centre-half back and after quarter time brought this determination to the ruck.
Sam Mount played his best game for the year as he, along with Tom Snell, displayed aerial strength, tackled hard and swept up all across half back.
The second quarter was tough arm wrestle the Giants began to send the ball forward with regularity and at half-time the Giants had a two-point lead.
Inspired by the relentless efforts of the indomitable Xavier DeFazio and a game-changing two goals from Jack Hart, the Giants broke the match open with multiple goals in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a doer performance from the entire team as the Benalla Bulldogs were relentless in effort and persistence.
The Dogs were still in the game and needed to find a spark.
Charlie Bell (Bulldogs) was moved into the centre and had an immediate impact with his uncompromising bullish play, Lucas Webster and Harry Bast for the Giants saved many a goal by meeting the ball with courage, while Oli Smith played the wing with smarts.
The Giants, however, finished full running and went on to a 24-point win.
Player of the match: (Awarded a Sherrin footy sponsored by De Fazio Concreting) Bulldogs — Josh Montgomery, Giants — Tom Mount
Final Score: Giants 4.7.31 def Bulldogs 1.1.7
Giants Best Players: Tom Mount, Xavier DeFazio, Sam Mount, Jack Hart, Oli Smith, Lucas Webster.
Goals: Jack Hart, 2, Noah Cooney and Charlie Bowen, 1.
Bulldogs Best Players: Josh Montgomery, Nicholas White, Hugh Ross, Alex Lambert, Charlie Bell, Josh Bamford.
Goals: Josh Montgomery, 1.
Under-14
The Under-14 battle was always going to be a tight one as the teams are very evenly matched.
The game was a definite see-sawing event with neither team able to break free easily. Defensive pressure from both sides was formidable.
Hunter Smyth for the Giants found himself in the right place at the right time and was able to throw the ball on his boot for his very first goal of the season.
His teammates were quick to get around him and celebrate this achievement.
The ball swung from end to end and the hard work both teams put in at training was starting to shine through.
Kicks to targets, handballs to running players and determination to win the ball were all on display.
The Giants were able to convert their pressure and hard work into scoreboard reward for a small two goal advantage at the half-time break.
The Bulldogs showed no signs of slowing down as they also started to impact the score.
Hard running and smart ball usage from Bulldogs Kobi Thwaites, Nate Nicholas and Angus Richardson looked to break the game open, but the Giants leaders in Josh Hart, Josh Mathieson and Kai Dervish kept the game in control with again a two-goal lead heading into the last.
Kai certainly turned on the flair with an over-the-head kick resulting in his first goal of the game.
The fourth quarter was hard for both teams as fatigue started to come into the game.
Bulldogs Kobi Thwaites, Nate Nicholas and Jackson Fry found space regularly, but the Giants did not give up and were able to hold off the Bulldogs for a 17-point win.
Player of the match: (awarded a Sherrin footy sponsored by De Fazio Concreting) Bulldogs — Kobi Thwaites, Giants — Josh Hart.
Final Score: Giants 8.5.53 def Bulldogs 5.6.36
Giants Best Players: Josh Hart, Josh Mathieson, Liam Fielding, Ayden Barnard, Boden Hazell, Kai Dervish.
Goals: Josh Hart, 3, Kai Dervish, 2, Hunter Smyth, Logan Gould and Dusty McCarthy, 1.
Bulldogs Best Players: Kobi Thwaites, Nate Nicholas, Ryder Robertson, Jackson Fry, Jobe Stovell, Luke Boulton.
Goals: Jackson Fry, Jack Montgomery, Tom Osbourne, Angus Richardson and Ryder Robertson, 1.
Under-17
With both sides without a win as yet for the season, this was shaping up to be an epic battle.
The Giants, missing captain Will Botten, were able to get away to a quick start and showed that their continued improvement across recent weeks would end up being reflected on the scoreboard.
While the Bulldogs displayed courage and great use of the ball, the majority of this was in their defensive half as the Giants controlled much of the play.
Jaxon Brunner for the Bulldogs was able to find much-needed space on the wing and burn off his players to help set up their forwards, down the other end Lucas Ham was working hard all day in defence for the full four quarters.
The Giants’ running mids and forwards were too strong for the Bulldogs on the day.
Ryder Levy, Bryce Cooney, Josh Stacey and Mitch Cooney all created opportunities for their teammates and set up multiple goals for their team.
Player of the match: (awarded a Sherrin footy sponsored by De Fazio Concreting) Bulldogs — Connor Breheny, Giants — Owain Boyle.
Final Score: Giants 22.11.143 def Bulldogs 5.5.35
Giants Best Players: Owain Boyle, Xavier Wapling, Bryce Cooney, Max Smyth, Ryder Levy, Josh Stacey.
Goals: Owain Boyle, 6, Max Smyth, 4, Mitchell Cooney, 3, Lochlan Duggan, Ryder Levy and Josh Stacey, 2, Austin Siede-Davon, Xavier Waplint and Josh Hart, 1.
Bulldogs Best Players: Jazon Brunner, Connor Breheny, Blake Calvert, Lucas Ham, Kyle Pearce.
Goals: Connor Breheny, 3, Blake Calvert and Jet Russell, 1.
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