AFTER taking a look at the V/Line Cup Girls’ competition yesterday, we have reviewed each side in the V/Line Cup Boys, and noted the top goal scorers as well as those who were among the best in the coaches eyes.

Bendigo Pioneers

Division 1

lost to North East Border by 36 points
defeated Geelong Falcons by 34 points

Hugh Hamilton was the star for Bendigo Pioneers Division 1 side in their V/Line Cup loss to North East Border and win over Geelong Falcons. Hamilton booted four goals and was named best on ground for the Pioneers in both matches. Blake Evans was dominant up forward in the important win over the Falcons, booting four goals and finishing the carnival with five majors to lead the team goal kicking. Jordan Hynes was the other multiple goal kicker with two majors, while Lachlan Wright, Lincoln White and Noah Long were also among Bendigo’s most impressive Under 15’s across the V/Line Cup.

Division 2

defeated North East Border by 28 points
defeated Geelong Falcons by nine points

Corbin Anderson was the name to remember from the Bendigo Pioneers Division 2 side, named in the top two for his side in both games, booting two goals for the carnival with both majors coming against North East Border. Jessie Gosman also booted two goals in that 28-point win, while Harvey Gallagher and Angus Mayes both booted two majors in the narrow victory over Geelong Falcons. Gallagher led the team goal kicking for the carnival with three majors, while Kaidan Fuge and Todd Moule were others who impressed in Gippsland.

Geelong Falcons

Division 1

lost to Western Bulldogs NGA by 34 points
lost to Bendigo Pioneers by 34 points

Geelong Falcons could not manage a win in the V/Line Cup Division 1 competition, going down in both games by 34 points. Tom Dickinson booted four goals to lead his team up front, while Tom Gillett and William Milsome booted two goals each. Indiana Parish – brother of Essendon’s Darcy and the fourth Falcon to come through the program from the family – was named best on ground against Western Bulldogs, and was impressive again in the loss to Bendigo. Oscar Morrison was the top Falcon across both games, while Luke Bartolo was the best in the defeat to the Pioneers.

Division 2

lost to Western Bulldogs NGA by 68 points
defeated Bendigo Pioneers by nine points

Geelong Falcons Division 2 side had a tough loss to Western Bulldogs, before recording a terrific win over Bendigo Pioneers in the second game. Patrick McBain led the goalkicking with three majors ahead of Noah Bartolo and Tadhg Evans who both nailed two goals. Zeph Lamperd was the standout player in an even tournament for the Falcons; he was the only player to be named in Geelong’s best on both occasions. Alexander Dunn, Brock McDonald and Hugo Williams were other Falcons who impressed in their respective games, while Evans was the sole multiple goalkicker up forward against the Bulldogs.

Gippsland Power

Division 1

lost to Southern Stingrays by 26 points
lost to North East Border by 14 points

Gippsland Power’s top side finished the carnival with two losses, but both were close defeats. The Power had seven individual goal kickers in their losses, with Jacob Carnes named best-on for his side in the Power’s defeat to the Stingrays while hitting the scoreboard. Ned Hanily, Lewis Smith and Jobe Somerville all scored goals, while Cooper Whitehill and Cooper Heasley were also impressive on the opening day at Morwell. Against North East Border, Gippsland scored the only two goals of the first term, but conceded five in the second term, while booting 1.10 themselves after quarter time. Tajh Eden, Brodie Mabilia and Cooper Alger all hit the scoreboard, with Eden being the most impressive Power player on the day. Ben Green and Jahmain Harrison were also named in the Power’s best players.

Division 2

lost to Southern Stingrays by 32 points
lost to North East Border by one point

In Division 2, Blake Henderson was the sole multiple goal kicker across the two matches, booting a goal in each match. In the 32-point loss to Southern Stingrays, Caleb Van Oostveen and Ben Fleming were named in the best, with Van Oostveen kicking a goal in the one-point loss against North East Border. Flynn Kennedy and Bayley Coucher were both named in the Power’s best in that narrow defeat. Across both games, the clear standout was William Bromage who stood tall for the Power, and will be one to keep an eye on.

Goulburn Murray

Division 1

defeated Southern Stingrays by 41 points
lost to Western Bulldogs NGA by four points

Goulburn Murray’s Division 1 side enjoyed a big win over Southern Stingrays in its first game, before just falling short against the Western Bulldogs NGA team in the second match. Tom Brown‘s four majors in the tight loss was crucial to keeping the side in the game, and he was named best on ground for his efforts. Brown finished the carnival with five majors, ahead of Jayden Dhosi (four) and Matthew Pellegrino (three). Josh Rachele also hit the scoreboard multiple times, booting two in the victory over the Stingrays, earning the title of best on ground on that day. Max Clohesy was named in the best for both matches, while Achaung Agog and Diesel Batey also impressed in the tournament.

(2) lost to Southern Stingrays by 72 points
(2) lost to Western Bulldogs NGA by 81 points

Goulburn Murray’s Division 2 side had a tough V/Line Cup, scoring just the six goals, but Campbell Steigenberger was a standout with three majors against the Western Bulldogs NGA in a 12-goal loss. Jayden Hollands, Kian Roche and Liam Serra all booted goals in the carnival, while Connor Fleming was the clear best, earning best on ground for his side in both games. Will Sheehan and Drew Docking were another couple of players who earned praise from their two matches.

North East Border

Division 1

defeated Bendigo Pioneers by 36 points
defeated Gippsland Power by 14 points

Ned Pendergast has burst onto the scene with the Yarrawonga product booting 10 goals in his two games – five in each win over the Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power respectively. The team only booted 15 goals for the carnival, with Joshua Mathey booting two goals. Hunter Gottschling was best on ground against Gippsland Power, and amongst the best in the victory over Bendigo Pioneers. Jett Smith impressed the most against the Pioneers, while Zac Banch was the standout player across both games, named second best on both occasions. Bode Stevens was another who impressed, named among the best twice.

Division 2

lost to Bendigo Pioneers by 28 points
defeated Gippsland Power by one point

North East Border’s Division 2 side split their results, going down to Bendigo Pioneers before toppling Gippsland Power by a point. Alex Dowsley, Charlie St John and Jake Nicholson all booted two goals for North East Border, while Luke Menhenett and Sam McKenzie were deemed best on ground in their respective games. Flynn Butterworth was one of the top players across the carnival, named in the best in both games, while Charlie Young and Isaac McGrath also stood tall.

Southern Stingrays

Division 1

defeated Gippsland Power by 26 points
lost to Goulburn Murray by 41 points

Southern Stingrays’ Division 1 side had a mixed bag in the V/Line Cup, defeating Gippsland Power on day one at Morwell, before being held goalless in a 41-point loss to Goulburn Murray. Fergus Anderson and Lachlan Robinson both booted two goals in the victory, while James Cahill and James Egan were named the Stingrays’ best, while also booting a goal. In the loss, Daniel Didomenicantonio was the Stingrays’ standout, along with Mitchell Harvey and Zed Quick.

Division 2

defeated Gippsland Power by 32 points
defeated Goulburn Murray by 72 points

Tall forward, Callum McNair was the standout for the Stingrays in front of goal, booting five goals in his two games. He booted three majors against the Power, before adding two more in the 12-goal win over Goulburn Murray. Thomas Lewis was also prominent inside 50 with four goals, while Jamie White, Kane Timms and Xavier Donazzan all booted two goals. Mac Andrew and Callum Pola were named in the Stingrays’ best in the win over Gippsland, while Lachlan Auhl was named best on ground in the big victory.

Western Bulldogs NGA

Division 1

defeated Geelong Falcons by 34 points
defeated Goulburn Murray by four points

Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy – GWV Rebels zone – was the only side to win all four games across the V/Line Cup. They accounted for Geelong Falcons by 34 points and got across the line against Goulburn Murray in the second game. Charlie Molan led all-comers with five goals, ahead of Archie Stevens (four) with the pair booting seven between them in the side’s narrow victory over Goulburn Murray. Molan was the best on ground that day with four majors, while in the other game, Ben Hobbs was named the top player for the Bulldogs. Sam Breuer, Hamish Sinnott, Sam Butler and Jamieson Ballantyne were also named among the Bulldogs’ top players and will be names to keep in mind for next year.

Division 2

defeated Geelong Falcons by 68 points
defeated Goulburn Murray by 81 points

Western Bulldogs’ NGA Division 2 side never looked like losing a game with a combined 149-point winning margin over its two opponents. Josh Rentsch was the standout player, named best on ground and second best-on in the two big wins, booting four goals, including three against Goulburn Murray. Duncan Rentsch, Geordy Slater and Kai Lohmann booted four goals each, with the latter best on ground in the Bulldogs’ second game. Tex Mitchell was named in the best across both games, as was Austin Reinehr.