THOUGH all teams were always going to make the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) Junior M-League finals, there was plenty of interest in the order. That order was decided last Wednesday night, as Round 10 – the final round of the regular 2021/22 season – was completed across the Under 18s and Under 15s competitions. Here is how they all went down.

UNDER 18 MIXED:

In the Under 18 Mixed competition, DDNA overcame an early scare to run over the top of last placed Darebin, whilst WDNA Red reminded the league of its premiership favouritism. In the tight game, it was DDNA that won by just four goals over Darebin, fighting back from a five-goal half-time deficit to post a 42-38 win. The Doncaster side trailed 18-23 at half-time, but a 13 goals to nine third term cut that deficit to just one goal, then the team piled on 11 goals to six in the final stanza to run away with the 42-38 victory, denying Darebin its second win of the season.

Leona Hristovska was sensational in goal attack, feeding her shooter Angus Hood, and putting up 17 goals, 13 of which came in the crucial second half. Hood finished with 25 himself in a strong pairing. Midcourter Jessica McLaren also stood out in the victory, as did goal defence Samantha Kirkwright. For Darebin, Jamie Shannon scored 13 goals in his half on the court, whilst Joshua Fell – who also played a quarter in goal defence – managed 14 himself. Niamh Ryan – who switched ends in the second term – shot eight goals from goal shooter.

In the other match, top of the table WDNA Red continued its winning ways with a strong 11-goal win over second placed St Therese in a potential grand final preview. Leading by just a goal at quarter time, WDNA Red piled on 14 goals to six in the second term to opening up a nine-goal buffer at the main break, before extending that to 12 heading into the last term. Though St Therese marginally won the final quarter, it was a case of too little, too late, going down 32-43.

Defender Joel Brown was a standout for WDNA Red, really nullifying the opposition, whilst midcourters Lily Graham and Annie Barnes were equally impressive in feeding the shooters. Sophia Bloch finished with 18 goals in the win. For St Therese, Aaron Shaw started strongly with seven goals in he opening term, then came back on to really command the position in the third term.

ROUND 10 RESULTS:

WDNA Red (43) defeated St Therese (32)
DDNA (42) defeated Darebin (38)

UNDER 18 BOYS:

If the sequel is every bit as good as the original, then next week’s semi-final between Wyndham and Darebin is set to be a beauty. In the most crucial final of all the juniors, the winner of the Round 10 clash grabbed second spot. Though effectively it meant the same thing as a three-team compeition, the victory would carry momentum and confidence heading into the do-or-die final next week. That team was Wyndham, emerging with the two-goal victory over Darebin.

Wyndham started strongly to get out to an early lead, taking a five-goal advantage at the first break. They built on that lead in the second erm to go up by eight at the half, 23-15. Darebin made a switch of their shooting pair, with goal attack Jamie Shannon moving into goal shooter, and Luke Farrell taking the goal attack bib. That move seemed to e the difference, with Shannon piling on 11 goals in the third term – and Farrell four – to cut the deficit in half. That continued into the final term, where they scored eight goals to 10, but it would prove ultimately not enough, going down 42-44.

Brodie McLeish was damaging for the winners, finishing with 20 goals in goal attack, as Blake Cachia shot the 24 goals. Shannon did all her could with a match-high 30 goals, whilst Wyndham centre Jacob Mudie was also impressive for the victors. Though Wyndham and Darebin both face off again next week, top of the table WDNA Panthers got a good look at both sides, and will be well rested from a two-week break before playing the winner of the knockout final, in the grand final the following week.

ROUND 10 RESULTS:

Wyndham (44) defeated Darebin (42)

UNDER 15 BOYS:

Kew grabbed just its second win of the season with a memorable nine-goal win over third placed Darebin, to go into the final series with confidence. The last placed side has to try and overcome the might of WDNA Black who remained undefeated this season, easily accounting for second placed Caulfield in the other clash to further establish itself as the team to beat over the next two weeks.

In Kew’s victory over Darebin, the bottom side started strongly to race out to a five-goal lead at quarter time having restricted its opponents to just four goals. Though fairly even over the next two quarters, Kew maintained the lead and extended it to five, before finishing off strongly with a 10 goals to seven last term. John Allen starred for the winners, putting up 23 of his side’s 34 goals. For Darebin, Christopher Petroyiannis did well in goal defence in the first half, before being thrown into goal attack for the second, and firing off a handy 12 goals in that time.

WDNA Black put together an almighty four-quarter performance to see off Caulfield in a 25-goal victory. The ladder leaders scored 29 goals to 16 in the first half to really set up the win, whilst continuing to apply the pressure in the second half, restricting Caulfield to just five goals after half-time. Hayden Zani was a key player across three quarters in wing attack, with Kai Hickcox scoring 26 goals in the victory. Meanwhile Caulfield centre Eric Billing looked impressive through the midcourt, named the losing side’s best player on the night.

ROUND 10 RESULTS:

WDNA Black (46) defeated Caulfield (21)
Kew (34) defeated Darebin (25)