FOOTBALL/NETBALL

JUNIOR INTERLEAGUE

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

MORWELL Recreation Reserve was a hive for local junior sportspeople last week, hosting the 2025 Gippsland Interleague Carnival.

Tradition for decades, young footballers arrived for the round robin tournament during the midst of school holidays, but additionally the junior netball scene from each league across Gippsland was incorporated on the day to truly make it an even livelier and more inclusive environment.

Gippsland League was crowned Youth Interleague Champions for 2025, finishing highest across both codes in football and netball, which included winning the junior netball tournament.

West Gippsland went back-to-back in under 18s football, claiming all bragging rights as the best in the land after going undefeated across the day.

It ultimately comes down to what you have available, and with restrictions on Gippsland Power players participating, the depth of each league was on display the most.

Proceedings began at Morwell with Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland facing off, with Mid Gippsland winning 4.3 (27) to 2.2 (14).

Led by Yinnar premiership player Sam Mills as coach, in their first bout, Fish Creek’s Tom Vuillermin, Hill End’s Darcy Paul, Tarwin’s Ky Gow, Yinnar’s Harvey McKay, Fish Creek’s Wilkie Edgelow, and Meeniyan Dumbalk United’s Brayden Sellings were among the best.

Mills was supported by 2022 Yinnar premiership player, Nathan Rowley.

North Gippsland on the other hand was led by a contingent of Glengarry representatives Brett Sutton, Damian Clifton and Bruce Waite, along with Alex Harris from Combined Saints Junior Football Club.

Mid Gippsland didn’t have the same luck when facing the Gippsland League next, going down 5.6 (36) to 1.3 (9).

Gippsland League under-18 players had quite the knowledge at their disposal, with Morwell senior coach Boyd Bailey at the helm, alongside assistant coaches Moe and Casey footballer Riley Baldi (Gippsland League senior best-and-fairest last year), Wonthaggi’s Ryan Sparkes (who played for Collingwood VFL last season), and multiple Leongatha premiership gun Cade Maskell.

Under their guidance, Drouin’s Max Williames, Bairnsdale’s Kael Frith, Wonthaggi’s Jayden Burns, Maffra’s Harper Walker, Warragul’s Levi Moore and Traralgon’s Levi Macumber stood tallest in their first hit-out.

The ‘grand final’ occasion arrived at midday, with the two strongest sides in West Gippsland and Gippsland League going head-to-head.

Both leagues would have circled this match specifically, with both featuring at the top of last year’s carnival as well.

Gippsland League rued their missed opportunities, especially in the second half, as West Gippsland carried the ball from their backline and nailed one on the run close to home late in the piece, sealing their victory, and ultimately the trophy, in a 3.3 (21) to 1.5 (11) finish.

With the result already set in stone heading into the afternoon, it didn’t see any let up from the players on the field across the rest of the day, with Mid Gippsland picking up an additional win against Ellinbank & District, 6.7 (43) to 0.3 (3), and as the top two sides of the competition continued to run rampant against their opposition.

Garfield’s Ding Dieng was recognised as player of the carnival, representing West Gippsland.

Across at the netball, Gippsland League claimed the prize as the best on offer across the region.

The winning side led by Bairnsdale’s Jo Ballinger were on a heater across the entirety of the day, going undefeated and claiming victory by an average of 22 goals.

Gippsland League and Mid Gippsland started things off, with Gippsland League winning 24 to 11.

While North Gippsland struggled on the football field (winless across the day, but showed great heart), the netball representative side began on fire with a 20-11 win over Ellinbank & District.

However, they weren’t able to back up their effort against Mid Gippsland, succumbing 26-14.

In the meantime, Gippsland League was running amuck, beating West Gippsland, Ellinbank & District and North Gippsland convincingly.

Mid Gippsland defeated West Gippsland, 23-12, and then followed it up by taking Ellinbank & District, 32-6, while North Gippsland capped off the day, winning a thriller against West Gippsland, 19-16.

Traralgon’s Sianna Wilkinson took home player of the carnival from the Gippsland League.