ST THERESE and WDNA have both walked away with a title from the two Junior M-League grades after the grand finals were run and done on Wednesday night. In the older 17 and Under division, WDNA proved too strong, coming away with a 23-goal victory (55-32), while in the earlier 14 and Under clash, St Therese won by just two goals, 37-35.

In the 17 and Under match, it was WDNA who raced out of the blocks to score 13 goals to eight in the opening term as Nicolas O’Meara continued his wonderful season form with nine goals in that term. By half-time the Waverley side had doubled its score and extended the lead out to seven with O’Meara up to 17 goals. Reikken Brodie was doing well for St Therese, with the goal attack contributing 12 of his side’s 19 goals to the main break.

Goal keeper Feagaimaali’i Maliko had kept opponent Josh Francis to seven goals at that stage, prompting a chance for Francis to move into goal attack, and Liam Mason to come on in goal shooter. Brodie was move to goal defence and then centre in the final two quarters, with Alex Thomas largely holding down the midcourt across the first three quarters.

Unfortunately for St Therese, a 17 goals to seven third term put the final nail in the coffin as O’Meara and Campbell Brown dominated in front of the post, and Khi Horsburgh able to feed them. He and centre Matt Lorback both earned breaks in the last quarters as eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jonty Stickland moved from wing defence – where he had starred for the first three quarters – into centre for the final term. Chester Webb also got a run in the final term in wing attack.

A 12 goals to six last quarter finished off the game in style with WDNA winning all four quarters. O’Meara shot 35 goals in the win, with Stickland’s performance at wing defence earning him best-on honours. Daniel King was a rock in defence for the winners, while Thomas and Brodie tried hard all game for the losing side.

At the 14 and Under level, the match was far closer, with St Therese surviving a late comeback to hold on by two goals, 37-35. It was a strong start by the minor premiers to lead by four goals at the first break as Brodie Lilly shot nine goals and teamed up well with Wynter Morgan Eeles (four). Lilly would notch up 16 goals by half-time as St Therese would extend the lead to five by half-time.

Thomas Lane was doing his best for WDNA, scoring seven goals in the first term, before moving into goal attack and delivering another five. Noah Bacon (two goals in quarter one) critically slotted into centre to help reduce the bleeding, though he would move back into goal attack for the second half, as Max Major returned to centre for Waverley.

The third term again saw St Therese edge another goal further in front, boasting a 31-25 lead at the last change. Jack Shaw – who had rested in the third quarter – came on at goal keeper for the last stanza after being goal defence it the first half. Seamus Sullivan – who had been impressive all game in wing defence – moved back into that role from a short stint in centre, with Finn McLeod back into the midcourt after playing goal defence in the third term.

Ultimately the last quarter saw WDNA roar to life, scoring 10 goals to six, as Lane (six goals) and Bacon (four) teamed up to almost drag their side over the line. They did fall short though, with St Therese having done enough the first three quarters to record the win. Sullivan was named best-on n the victory, with Lilly shooting 27 goals in the wing. Lane scored 22 goals for the losing side, while River Zielinski was steadfast in defence despite the defeat.