The Ballarat FL defeated the Bendigo FL by 11 points in this year’s Senior Worksafe Championships match held at the QEO in Bendigo on Saturday.
The Bloods had two players involved in the team – Braedan Kight and Jack Walker – who were both playing representative senior football for the first time.
Kight finished with two goals, but Walker’s day came to an early end after a collision midway through the third quarter saw him assisted off the ground with a few broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Melton Bloods Football Operations Manager Brad Jamison was pleased to see the club have two representatives in the final squad. “Playing interleague football was a wonderful opportunity for both our boys. The standard of the game was very high, and the pressure went up a notch in the last quarter when the game was up for grabs. Unfortunately Jack’s day came to an early end and he missed the last quarter and the post game celebrations. He spent a couple of days in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back out on the ground sooner rather than later. You often hear people talk about the risk of your players copping an injury in a rep game, and unfortunately it’s happened to us on this occasion”.
In the Under 18.5s, the Bendigo league were victors by 32 points. Jordan Kight and Liam Martin represented the club in the early game. Kight kicked a goal playing as a small forward, while Liam Martin battled manfully in the backline and then through the ruck.
Bloods Football Operations Manager Brad Jamison was again pleased to have representation in this game. “We had two boys play in the game, and a couple of others who were disappointed to be cut from the squad during the week. The Ballarat team struggled against a very impressive Bendigo team who were dominant on both the inside and outside. I can’t recall seeing a junior side move the ball that well with clean hands and link up run, full credit to them and the squad they selected. Of our boys, Jordy finished with a nice goal from a quick snap and Liam didn’t put a foot wrong in defence, but they had their work cut out. The game probably reflected where our Under 18.5 competition is currently at, and the work that needs to be done to increase participation levels which will in turn improve the standard of footy that the boys play week in, week out”.
The Bloods also had off field representation with Michael Licciardo on the support staff running the rotations from the bench. “Michael expressed a desire to be involved from early on and it was pleasing that Shaun O’Loughlin (BFL interleague coach) appointed him to a role with the team. Michael has a strong interest in coaching and the past few weeks will have been very valuable in his development as a coach”, Jamison noted.
PICTURE: Michael Licciardo and Braedan Kight post game with the trophy.
Full Results:
Senior Football
Ballarat FNL v Bendigo FNL
Ballarat FNL 5.3 (33), 8.5 (53), 11.8 (74), 16.9 (105)
Bendigo FNL 3.1 (19) ,5.5 (35), 10.9 (69), 14.10 (94)
Goals: (Ballarat FNL)
N Pring 4, J Maksymow 3, B Kight 2, B Graham 2, C Graham, C Currie. N Horbury, W Young, S Sherlock 1.
Best: (Ballarat FNL)
B Graham, S Sherlock, C Giampaolo, N Pring, R Luke, N Horbury.
Best on ground medal – (Ballarat FNL) - Brian Graham - Darley
Under 18.5s Football
Ballarat FNL v Bendigo FNL
Bendigo FNL 2.2 (14), 8.2 (50), 13.4 (82), 15.5 (95)
Ballarat FNL 1.4 (10), 3.5 (23), 5.8 (38), 9.9 (63)
Goals: (Ballarat FNL)
M Brehaut 3, L Goater 2, D Okely, A Clarke, J Kight, J Marshall 1.
Best: (Ballarat FNL)
M Edwards, M Brehaut, J Marshall, L Goater, D Okely, A Clarke.
Best on ground medal – (Ballarat FNL) - Dustin Okely
Last Modified on 15/05/2017 22:54