FUTURE Bendigo Pioneers and GWV Rebels’ TAC Cup Girls’ sides were the standout performers in the under 16s V/Line Cup. The Pioneers had a dominant carnvial, registering two huge wins and finish with a percentage of 514.29 ahead of Western Bulldogs NGA (GWV Rebels catchment) on 485 per cent. Geelong Falcons maintained its unbeaten streak across all age groups at the V/Line Cup to finish third after two close victories.

Peninsula Stingrays and Gippsland Power both recorded wins, while the Yarra Ranges, and the split Murray Bushrangers’ sides of Goulburn Murray and North East Border got a good feel for high level football. For many of the players, they will head into the TAC Cup sides as bottom-agers, or will experience TAC Cup football in the coming years as the competition continues to grow.

Bendigo Pioneers’ big wins came over Goulburn Murray (38 points) and North East Border (49 points). Madeline Marks won the leading goal kicker for the Pioneers’ booting four goals, while Gemmi Morrell, Elizabeth Snell and Mia Ward all booted three goals across the two games. Snell was a shining light along with Morell, Maeve Tupper and Sharmaine Reilly who were named in the best in both games, while Grace Barton was dubbed best on ground for her performance in the Pioneers’ win over Goulburn Murray.

Western Bulldogs NGA had an equally impressive carnival, claiming a 38-point win over North East Border, before restricting Yarra Ranges to one behind in a 39-point victory. Chloe Leonard starred up forward in the win over North East Border, booting five goals, while Renee Saulitis backed up a promising performance in that game to boot three goals in the second match. Across both games, Nyakoat Dojiok, Sophie Molan and Nekaela Butler were named in the Bulldogs’ best and they are no doubt names that will pop up in Rebels’ colours soon.

Geelong Falcons had much tougher matches with a two-point victory over Peninsula Stingrays before a seven-point win over Yarra Ranges. Madeline Chandler‘s three goals against Eastern Ranges helped the Falcons get home in an accurate performance, leading the side’s goal kicking from Emmalyn Nekrep who finished the carnival two majors. Daisy Smith, Poppy Schaap, Luka Lesoksy-Hay and Jerusha Devakonda showed off their consistency, with the quartlet named in the best in both games.

After a bitterly disappointing narrow two-point win against the Falcons, Peninsula Stingrays showed what they were capable of against Gippsland Power, recording a five-goal win. Amie Carroll and Alisha Kelly booted team-high three goals each, while Lucy Cripps, Saige Bayne, Darcy Fennell and Abbey Jordan might be names to keep an eye out for in future years for the Dandenong Stingrays – all of whom were named in the best in both games.

Gippsland Power had a mixed carnival with one big 38-point victory, before suffering a 30-point loss in the second game. Lily-Rose Williamson booted three goals in a best-on-ground performance against Goulburn Murray, while Isabella Hodder managed two majors in the win. Across both games, Hodder, Holly Andrews and Chandra Abrahams were named in the Power’s best.

Yarra Ranges, Goulburn Murray and North East Border all finished the carnival without a win, but showed signs they were capable of matching it with teams throughout patches. For Yarra Ranges, Tahlia Merrett was the sole goal kicker with two majors, while Paige Buruma, Stephanie Williams and Alice Smith were named among the best in both games. For Goulburn Murray, Lakeea Charles and Aurora Smith booted a goal each, with both girls consistent across the two games, as were Georgia Gall, Kate Adams and Elle Brooks who were named in the best twice. For North East Border, Keeley Skepper finished with two goals against the Western Bulldogs, while Emily Nicholson booted the side’s other major. Skepper and Mikaela Shepherd were the side’s best across the two games with Vashti Miller.

Full results:

Gippsland Power 6.4 (40) defeated Goulburn Murray 0.2 (2)

Gippsland goals: Lily-Rose Williamson 3, Isabella Hodder 2, Megan Fitzsimon.
Goulburn Murray goals: Nil.
Gippsland best: Lily-Rose Williamson, Chandra Abrahams, Isabella Hodder, Holly Andrews, Maddison Shaw, Shanara Notman.
Goulburn Murray best: Georgia Gall, Kate Adams, Lakeea Charles, Ellie Mifka, Elle Brooks, Aurora Smith.

Geelong Falcons 3.3 (21) defeated Peninsula Stingrays 3.1 (19)

Geelong goals: Tess Craven, Emmalyn Nekrep, Laura Ryan.
Peninsula goals: Amie Carroll 2, Alisha Kelly.
Geelong best: Luka Lesosky-Hay, Ella Mahoney, Poppy Schaap, Charlotte Simpson, Daisy Smith, Jerusha Devarakonda.
Peninsula best: Lucy Cripps, Saige Bayne, Lucy Grocock, Amie Carroll, Darcy Fennell, Abbey Jordan.

Bendigo Pioneers 8.8 (56) defeated Goulburn Murray 2.6 (18)

Bendigo goals: Mia Ward 2, Madeline Marks 2, Gemmi Morrell, Elizabeth Snell, Rachael Stubbings, Tiana Shepherd.
Goulburn Murray goals: Lakeea Charles, Aurora Smith.
Bendigo best: Grace Barton, Sharmaine Reilly, Maeve Tupper, Elizabeth Snell, Gemmi Morrell, Olivia Taverna.
Goulburn Murray best: Aurora Smith, Kelsey Moylan, Kate Adams, Lakeea Charles, Georgia Gall, Elle Brooks.

Western Bulldogs NGA 8.9 (57) defeated North East Border 3.1 (19)

Western Bulldogs goals: Chloe Leonard 5, Laura Fitzgibbon, Isabella Simmons, Lucy Moloney.
North East Border goals: Keeley Skepper 2, Emily Nicholson.
Western Bulldogs best: Nyakoat Dojiok, Chloe Leonard, Sophie Molan, Renee Saulitis, Nekaela Butler, Victoria Jewell.
North East Border best: Keeley Skepper, Mikaela Shepherd, Vashti Muller, Jessica Ward, Chelsea Hargreaves, Samantha Pritchard.

Peninsula Stingrays 5.8 (38) defeated Gippsland Power 1.2 (8)

Peninsula goals: Alicia Kelly 2, Lucy Cripps, Keala Kennedy, Amie Carroll.
Gippsland goals: Shanara Notman.
Peninsula best: Keely Byrne, Darcy Fennell, Sylvie Repellin, Abbey Jordan, Saige Bayne, Lucy Cripps.
Gippsland best: Holly Andrews, Chandra Abrahams, Bella Brown, Megan Fitzsimon, Isabella Hodder, Samara Beaton.

Geelong Falcons 4.0 (24) defeated Yarra Ranges 2.5 (17)

Geelong goals: Madeline Chandler 3, Emmalyn Nekrep.
Yarra Ranges goals: Tahlia Merrett 2.
Geelong best: Daisy Smith, Laura Gardiner, Jerusha Devarakonda, Poppy Schaap, Luka Lesosky-Hay, Sophie Milsome.
Yarra Ranges best: Paige Buruma, Stephanie Williams, Jasmine McNair, Alice Smith, Savannah Bowden.

Bendigo Pioneers 8.4 (52) defeated North East Border 0.0 (3)

Bendigo goals: Gemmi Morrell 2, Elizabeth Snell 2, Madeline Marks 2, Mia Ward, Grace Barton.
North East Border goals: Nil.
Bendigo best: Elizabeth Snell, Jemma Finning, Maeve Tupper, Gemmi Morrell, Sharmaine Reilly, Kate Douglass.
North East Border best: Georgia Moorman, Vashti Muller, Keeley Skepper, Mikaela Shepherd, Chloe Frost, Charlotte Beavan.

Western Bulldogs NGA 5.10 (40) defeated Yarra Ranges 0.1 (1)

Western Bulldogs goals: Renee Saulitis 3, Isabella Simmons, Lucy Moloney.
Yarra Ranges goals: Nil.
Western Bulldogs best: Renee Saulitis, Sophie Molan, Nyakoat Dojiok, Nekaela Butler, Isabella Simmons, Jordie Mcauliffe.
Yarra Ranges best: Alice Smith, Mietta Kendall, Stephanie Williams, Paige Buruma, Catherine Chamberlain, Tahlia Merrett.