Perfect End to Bumper Junior Season

Sunday’s Grand Final showpiece provided a perfect end to what has been a fantastic season of Junior AFL.

The season started in April with a new club at Nambucca, five additional teams, plus the inaugural four team Youth Girls competition showing that the code is going through significant growth. It finished with six of the ten clubs in action on Grand Final day showing that the overall strength and competitiveness is rising.

The Under 11 match provided a thrilling opening to the day, with Port Macquarie Magpies snatching a thrilling last minute, one point victory over the gallant Northern Beaches Blues. The Blues had led throughout and took a handy 9 point lead into the last quarter. They were camped in their forward 50m arc for the early stages of the final term but couldn’t find the goal that would have proved decisive.

Port forced their way back into the match late in the game with excellent, fast ball movement and kicked a goal to close the margin to five points and put the large crowd on the edge of their seats. One last forward entry saw a towering mark to Tom Ryan who coolly slotted the goal with so little time remaining that the umpires weren’t able to get the ball back to the middle to re-start the match.

Tom Ryan‘s final quarter two goal heroics saw him awarded the Best on Ground for Port, whilst Serge Denblyden claimed the same award for the Blues thanks to his all round performance and two goal effort.

End of season awards saw the Rising Star (best Under 10) presented to William Devereaux from Nambucca Valley Lions, Runner-Up in the Best & Fairest to Beau Guthrie of Coffs Breakers, and the Best & Fairest to Tom Ryan of Port.

PORT MACQUARIE MAGPIES 4.2.26 defeated NORTHERN BEACHES BLUES 3.7.25

In the Under 13 Grand Final, Macleay Valley Eagles had a dominant second quarter to open up a five goal lead over Sawtell Toormina Saints. The Saints battled hard in the third quarter but were unable to make any headway into the Eagles lead and it looked as though Macleay Valley was cruising to victory.

The Saints mustered one last major push in the last quarter to kick three goals and it looked as though another grandstand finish was on the cards, but Macleay Valley slotted a goal to seal the win.

For the victors, Justin Kelly was a tower of strength across the half back line and was awarded the Eagles’ Best on Ground. Hamish Anderson from Sawtell was fantastic all round the ground, contesting every loose ball to be adjudged the Saints’ Best on Ground.

Hamish Anderson‘s efforts were reflective of his season and he was awarded the Under 13 Best & Fairest medal. Harrison Lee from the Bellingen Bulldogs was Runner-Up in the Best & Fairest, whilst Port Macquarie’s Will Kelly was the winner of the Rising Star award (best Under 12).

MACLEAY VALLEY EAGLES 8.13.61 defeated SAWTELL TOORMINA SAINTS 6.4.40

The first ever Youth Girls Grand Final was an absolute spectacle featuring Coffs Breakers and Grafton Tigers that showcased the rapid rise in popularity, competitiveness, and ability of the players. Grafton held a slender lead at the first break before Breakers clicked into gear in the second to be up by three goals at the main break. The second half was an arm wrestle where neither side could gain the ascendancy and Breakers held on to claim  a narrow 7 point win.

Matisse Martin (Breakers) and Lilly Doyle (Grafton) were deemed to be the Best on Ground for their respective teams.

Brisbane Lions AFLW player Nikki Wallace was on hand to present the Best & Fairest Medal which has been named in her honour to Cassidy Ronalds of Breakers, whilst Grafton Tigers pair Lilly Doyle and Mackenzie Bagnall claimed the Runner-Up and Rising Star (best Under 14) medals respectively.

COFFS BREAKERS 7.3.45 defeated GRAFTON TIGERS 4.8.32

The final scoreline in the Under 15.5 Grand Final between Port Macquarie Magpies and Sawtell Toormina Saints didn’t do justice to the quality of the contest and the effort displayed by both teams. Port Macquarie sealed an unbeaten season with a win in the Grand Final but there was no doubting that this was by far their toughest contest of the season which was acknowledged by Coach Steve Davis at the end of the match.

Port’s Ed Smith led the way to be awarded his team’s Best on Ground, whilst Alex Pyke was a stand out for Sawtell to receive the same award.

The Rising Star award (best Under 14) was presented to Alex Byrne of the Magpies, Noah Dalton from Coffs Breakers was the Runner-Up in the Best & Fairest, whilst Jackson Terley of Port Macquarie claimed the top honour.

PORT MACQUARIE MAGPIES 10.9.79 defeated SAWTELL TOORMINA SAINTS 1.4.10

Junior AFL continues to go from strength to strength on the North Coast and we look forward to an even bigger and better season in 2018.