GVL’s Nic Jephson launches a left-foot bomb.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The sun was shining, the wind non-existent, the Deakin Reserve deck was in perfect condition and the Goulburn Valley League under-18 boys were hungry for interleague redemption on Saturday afternoon.
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Heading into the under-18 interleague clash against Ovens and Murray League, GVL coach Ramadan Yze was clear that the game would be played in a free-flowing and attacking manner to showcase the players’ skills and that’s exactly what transpired.
Both sides had an abundance of high-quality players whose skills seem to have them destined for higher honours in the near future.
O&M started the match the best, booting the first couple of goals as concerns grew among the healthy-sized Deakin Reserve crowd that the result could be headed for a similar scoreline as 2023’s fixture (O&M won the match 89-30).
However, the GVL soon found its feet after a brilliant ground ball collect inside forward 50 from Shepparton key forward Ned Frostick started a handball chain which resulted in a running goal from Echuca’s Jaxson McMinn and GVL’s first of the match.
During the quarter-time break Yze asked his troops to keep a level head when faced with O&M’s elite-level pressure.
Yze encouraged his players to keep using their handball chains, but if in doubt, kick it long and gain distance.
In the second term, GVL’s ability to create overlapping runs and use its speed was evident, with Euroa’s Will Creevy, in particular, showcasing his running power.
Captain Xavier Chandler (Mooroopna) demonstrated his courage halfway through the quarter as he went back with the flight to spoil a marking contest on GVL’s defensive 50.
The ball then rebounded up the wing, with Shepparton’s Zayden Leocata finishing the play with a beautiful running goal from 50m out.
Heading into half-time, the match was evenly poised, with GVL’s accuracy helping it stay close to O&M — 4.1 (25) to 5.4 (34) — at the main break.
The third term started off as an arm wrestle, before O&M broke the shackles and kicked away to a handy 28-point lead (33-61).
O&M’s medium forward Max Bihun was proving to be a challenging task for GVL’s defence to stop, with Bihun the most potent threat for either side, booting 5.3 for the day while setting up one or two other O&M goals.
GVL’s Solomon Fleming tries to burst away from the pack.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Jaxson McMinn reaches out for the mark.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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The GVL’s final huddle at three-quarter time.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Mac Calleja was busy in defence.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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O&M’s Isaac Dickinson celebrates after a goal.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Xavier Chandler watches the ball get thrown in.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Ben Reardon just before chasing the football.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Oscar Lambourn stands up in the tackle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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O&M’s dangerous forward mix of Isaac Dickinson and Max Bihun.
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Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Oscar Lambourn tries to break a tackle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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GVL’s Riley Northcott listens closely to instructions.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
At the three-quarter time huddle, Yze instructed his players to take the game on, particularly the defence, telling them that once they had possession, they had the licence to run and gun.
“Three-quarter time we were down by four goals, I think, so we are here to win the game of footy, so I just told them as soon as we get the ball, let’s attack, attack, attack and try to hit the scoreboard,” Yze said.
Despite a push from GVL in the last term, the margin was too significant a mountain to climb as O&M kept the home side at arm’s length to win by 28 points, 7.4 (46) to 11.8 (74).
Bihun claimed player-of-the-match honours for his commanding performance in the forward half.
For GVL, key defender Mac Calleja (Mooroopna) and running half-back Caden Ratcliffe (Mooroopna) impressed, while Frostick (one goal) showed signs of his potential as a key forward prospect.
In the middle, ruckman Jensen Dowling (Shepparton) worked hard all day, while tall midfielder-forward Nic Jephson (Kyabram) was dangerous, bursting away from packs.
The contest may have ended with O&M nearly five goals clear of GVL, but Yze believes that had his side been cleaner with its ball use at times, the scoreline would have been much closer.
“I thought they (O&M) were really clean with the ball,” he said.
“We got our hands on it, but we just butchered the footy, turned it over and gave the ball back to them.
“We had enough of the ball to probably win the game, but it was the little things they did better than what we did.
“They were probably in first for the ball and we gave away some free kicks that we shouldn’t have, so full credit to them as they were cleaner on the day and got the result.”
The O&M may have walked away with the victory, but Yze believes there were more than enough signs that there will be a cornucopia of emerging talent in the Goulburn Valley League over the next few years.
“Seeing them today, a lot of them in the not-too-distant future will be playing senior footy, if not higher,” he said.
“That’s what I am looking forward to seeing where these boys take their footy to.
“We have got things to look forward to with the talent that was out there; it’s just disappointing they didn’t put it all together today.”
