Footballers make interleague squads

THIRTY junior footy players from the Bacchus Marsh and Darley Football Netball Clubs have made Ballarat Interleague squads this year, and the clubs are beyond proud.

Across the five squads – U13, U14, and U15 Boys, and U14 and U16 Girls – 13 Cobras were named to play, as well as 17 Devils.

The U14 Girls side had a particularly significant local contingent, with both clubs contributing five players each.

Female Football Coordinator for the Darley Junior Football Netball Club, Danielle Dale, said the club was thrilled to see so many of its members play at the interleague level.

“Having such a strong presence is evident in our coaching team’s dedication to develop and grow our girls,” Ms Dale said.

“Also, our success comes down to Janelle Hoey who has been a main player at our club, representing the girls in the past three years to grow the presence of girls’ football within the BFLW and Moorabool community, and assist with providing the coaches with the tools and support to provide strong development to our girls.

“The proof is in the pudding this year with strong numbers in both the U14s and U16s teams, and the number of local Darley Devil girls being selected to play in the BFLW Interleague. A true testament to Janelle for all of her hard work, and we will continue this legacy.

“Thank you as well to our U14 coach Kane Stewart, and U16 coach Gareth Ryan.”

The Bacchus Marsh Football Netball Club also put out a statement congratulating the local kids who’d made the cut.

“As a small regional town we can sometimes be tribal with our passions towards the north side and south side of the bridge, but as a 3340 community we all unite and be proud of the mums, dads, coaches and clubs that invest and be proud of ‘our’ kids,” the club said.

“Thanks Faulky, thanks Damo, thanks Sissa in building a solid foundation of girls footy for 3340 to be recognised and selected.”

The cherry on top for the two clubs was that, on Saturday 1 June, when the Ballarat Interleague squads all played their Bendigo counterparts at CE Brown Reserve, they finished with five out of five wins.

Congratulations to the following players for making the Ballarat Interleague sides:

U13 Boys: Elijah Grero, Cooper Salmon (Bacchus Marsh), Cooper Black (Darley)

U14 Boys: Patrick Grey, Harry Metcher, Tyler Borg (Bacchus Marsh), Jayden Smyth, Archer Ward, Griffin Edwards, Simon Antonello (Darley)

U15 Boys: Riley Cook, Lewis McDaid (Bacchus Marsh), Oscar Heaviside, Jet Darcy (Darley)

U14 Girls: Anika Tran, Charli Peterson, Emily Kennedy, Kayla Kruik, Lucca Raft Rakatau (Bacchus Marsh), Annie Thomas, Emma Betts, Kailey Lang, Peisha Stewart, Tahlee Van Leth (Darley)

U16 Girls: Miah Bradbury (Bacchus Marsh), Charli Parsons-Jones, Evie Johnson, Scarlette Guarino, Tahlia Dodd, Tahli Sciarra (Darley)