FOOTBALL
Traralgon District Junior Football League failed to get over the line in the under 16 Gippsland Junior Interleague Football Championships grand final.
Opponent Bairnsdale and District Junior Football Association was too good, winning 13.12 (90) to 2.7 (19).
Bairnsdale went on to win two of the three titles on offer at the three-day carnival which featured representative teams from six junior football leagues and associations and concluded with grand finals at Sale Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
Bairnsdale opened the day with a 20-point win against Warragul District Junior Football League in a quality under 12 decider.
Captain Will Bromage led from the front with two goals and was named best-on-ground in the 6.2 (28) to 3.0 (18) win.
Teammate Randall Stewart was named player-of-the-carnival.
Warragul did not finish the day empty handed, defeating Alberton Junior Football League in a hotly-contested under 14 grand final.
Alberton’s Mitch Nicholas kicked the only goal of the opening quarter, but Warragul hit its straps in the second term and went on to win 7.16 (58) to 2.6 (18).
Best-on-ground was Warragul skipper Tom Fitzpatrick, while the player-of-the-carnival was Chance Doultree from Sale and District Junior Football Association.
Bairnsdale rounded out the carnival with a dominant victory against Traralgon in the under 16 grand final.
Aaron Barling spearheaded the Bairnsdale attack with six goals, but it was their defence that proved the difference, keeping Traralgon goalless until three-quarter-time.
Bairnsdale’s Norm Betts was named best-on-ground.
Bairnsdale’s Kyle McNamara and Sale’s Jaxsyn Whitehill shared the player-of-the-carnival award.
Traralgon (under 12), Bairnsdale (under 14) and Sale (under 16) each received a code of conduct award.
AFL Gippsland oversaw the administration of the event for the first time and senior operations manager Tim Sexton said the carnival was a great success.
“Representative carnivals give young players a great opportunity to test themselves at a higher level and we saw some fantastic football played across the three days,” Sexton said.
“We were extremely fortunate with the weather and had great assistance at each of the venues ensuring everything ran smoothly.
“Thanks goes to the countless volunteers and parents for making it all possible for the kids.”
Under 16 Bairnsdale 4.6, 4.8, 9.10, 13.12 (90) Traralgon 0.1, 0.3, 0.3, 2.7 (19)
Goals: Bairnsdale: A. Barling 6, W. Addison 2, F. Somerville, J. Mills, K. Derbyshire, B. Smith-Crisp, N. Betts. Traralgon: J. Nichols, J. Balfour. Best: Bairnsdale: A. Barling, J. Cullen, N. Betts, K. McNamara, K. Derbyshire, A. McKenzie. Traralgon: N. Twomey, J. Balfour, B. McAuliffe, D. Weir, M. Roberts, H. Koolen.
Under 14 Warragul 0.3, 2.8, 4.12, 7.16 (58) Alberton 1.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.6 (18)
Goals: Warragul: T. Fitzpatrick 2, B. Friend 2, S. Tapner 2, N. Prowd. Alberton: M. Nicholas, K. Pavlou. Best: Warragul: N. Prowd, J. Kallady, T. Burr, S. Tapner, T. Fitzpatrick, R. Knight. Alberton: C. Smith, K. Benson, J. Wilson, D. McRae, M. Nicholas, K. Pavlou.
Under 12 Bairnsdale 1.0, 3.0, 4.2, 6.2 (38) Warragul 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 3.0 (18)
Goals: Bairnsdale: W. Bromage 2, H. Wilmot, L. Carroll, J. Nicholls, J. Anderson. Warragul: B. Brasier, J. Konstanty, Z. Atkins. Best: Bairnsdale: W. Bromage, N. Somerville, C. Frith, R. Stewart, H. Wilmot, L. Carroll. Warragul: T. Stern, J. Konstanty, I. Braaksma, J. Zaccari, L. Serong, F. Fox.
