JUNIOR front-running sides St Therese and WDNA have played out two thrillers across the 17 and Under and 14 and Under M-League divisions in Round 3. In a remarkable night of nail-biters, WDNA first took the chocolates in the 14 and Under game by a goal, before St Therese returned the favour in the 17 and Under grade showcasing just how competitive the clubs were across the junior competitions.

In the 17 and Under Division, a thrilling final term saw St Therese hold on agains a fast-finishing WDNA outfit. St Therese stormed out of the blocks in the opening term to lead by five goals at quarter time, before WDNA hit back to cut the deficit to three at half-time. Both sides were able to score 11 goals apiece in the third quarter to set up a grandstand finish, and though WDNA did outscore St Therese by two goals (7-5), the side still fell shot by one, 34-33.

Campbell Brown was named best-on in the loss playing a half in goal attack to start with six goals and provide plenty of movement in the circle, before going to goal defence for the last term. Nic O’Meara was also lively between goal shooter and goal attack, piling on nine goals in the third term and 18 for the match. St Therese had plenty of contributors including Reikken Brodie who came on at goal attack in the second half and scored 14 of his side’s 16 goals having played wing attack in the first quarter. Zachary Vesovic impressed through the midcourt in both the centre and wing attack bibs.

In the other clash, Darebin picked up a 12-goal win over Peninsula Waves. The winners were too strong through the second quarter in particular, scoring 18 goals to 11 and opening up a nine-goal buffer at the main break. The influence of Hudson Ebbage coming on at goal shooter was profound, scoring 13 goals for the quarter, then moving into goal attack and piling on another 10 in goal attack for the think term. Darebin ended up winning all four quarters to claim the 45-33 victory.

Ryan Francis D’Amour was strong in centre for the first half, then moved alongside Ebbage into defence for the final term. Connor Drysdale (18 goals) was Peninsula Waves’ best, while Alec Wooley impressed across four quarters in goal defence.

17 & UNDER ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Darebin (45) defeated Peninsula Waves (33)
St Therese (34) defeated WDNA (33)

In the 14 and Under match, WDNA scraped home in a low-scoring defensive battle over St Therese. Both sides were level at quarter time with seven goals apiece, then WDNA moved a goal clear by half-time. A narrow 4-3 score in the third term levelled things up for St Therese, before WDNA again came good, outscoring the opponent by a goal in the last quarter and winning, 23-23. The match featured reduced 12-minute quarters for the last three terms after the contest had to be moved from court two to court three following a roof leak on court two.

River Zielinski was best-on for WDNA, playing three quarters in goal defence and limiting the opposition to just five goals for the match. Jack Campbell (eight goals) tried hard in goal shooter, with Thomas Lane (nine) working well with him. For St Therese, Finn McLeod stepped up in goal defence playing all four quarters, while Jack Shaw was prolific through the midcourt, particularly in centre in the second half.

In the other match, TBC ground out a seven-goal win over Melbourne Up & Comers. After a high scoring first term of 11 goals to nine in favour of TBC, the game shut right down with just 14-9 scored in the remaining three quarters. Luckily for TBC that first term had build the lead, with an 8-1 third term just capping off the performance well. In the end, TBC triumphed 25-18.

14 & UNDER ROUND 3 RESULTS:

WDNA (23) defeated St Therese (22)
TBC (25) defeated Melbourne Up & Comers (18)