‘Just didn’t go our way’: under-18s do BFNL proud

BFNL under-18 coach Jason Stevens says he could not have been prouder of the effort and determination shown by his players in a 17-point loss to Ovens and Murray at the QEO on Saturday.

Bendigo was left to rue some wayward kicking for goal in a 9.4 (58) to 5.11 (41) loss, with even a few of the misses enhancing the chances of a massive upset.

Down by six points at quarter time, Bendigo added a costly five behinds to the O&M’s two goals in the second term, to be 13 points down at the main break.

It proved telling in the wash-up.

“Conversion was the bad part, but I can’t argue with the effort and the contest,” Stevens said.

“I would have thought we were in front in contested ball stats and potentially time in our forward half.

“Credit to the guys, the way they played, but it just didn’t go our way.

“But full credit to O&M too, they played a good brand of footy and clearly were a quicker side than what we were. We were the bigger side of the two, which was a bit of a flip from what we had last year (against the VAFA).

“They moved the ball really well on the outside early and took advantage on the scoreboard and we couldn’t peel it back.

“It was disappointing when we had that many shots and opportunities. We left a few easy ones out there.

“It would have been a big scalp and a big story for Bendigo football.”

From the coaches box early in the final term, Stevens admitted to a sense of expectation of what even one extra early goal could have meant.

“We felt we could really get a run on and it could turn pretty quickly. Even Ben (Talarico), the O&M coach, thought that too,” he said.

“Credit to the boys for persisting. They’ve bought into the program really well; they’ve become a connected group.

“We harped on that towards the end. We hope they can keep that connection post the weekend.

“Even when they cross over and play each other week-in, week-out, hopefully the bond that’s been formed is kept.

“Proud is the overall word I feel now.”

Golden Square’s Joshua Kelly won the Robert O’Connell Medal as the BFNL’s best on ground.

 

If history repeats it might not be long before Kelly makes huis mark with the senior interleague team.

Last year’s inaugural recipient, Gisborne’s James Gray, played a starring role in the senior team’s win on Saturday, and was only narrowly pipped by his Bulldogs teammate Dylan Johnstone for the Derrick Filo Medal.

Strathfieldsaye’s Will Bartlett contested strongly through the midfield, while Storm teammate Seamus Doherty was a constant stumbling block at centre half back, both in the air and at ground level.

Thrown onto the ball later in the contest, Gisborne’s Will Elliott provided immediate spark, while Benjamin Jardine (Castlemaine) Riley O’Donnell (Strathfieldsaye) played prominent roles.

Doherty was the sole survivor from last year’s junior team – an under-19 as opposed to under-18 outfit – against the VAFA.

Stevens hailed the team’s leaders – captain Anthony Gray (South Bendigo), Elliott and deputy-vice-captains Bartlett and Logan Howell (South Bendigo) – as exceptional in driving standards.

Howell was the team’s multiple goal kicker with two.

An up-beat Stevens believed a bold showing against the O&M pointed to bright times ahead for the BFNL.

“A lot of these junior guys who are playing senior footy aren’t getting a lot of the credit for their performances, but there is talent coming through Bendigo footy,” he said.

“It bodes very well for the future.

“I think we are going to have a strong competition for years to come.”

Part of that future will be a return clash between the two leagues’ under-18 teams next season on Ovens and Murray turf, likely in either Wangaratta or Wodonga.