AFL Victoria Community Championships: Merger talks continue but South-East and Yarra Ranges square off at Beaconsfield

On Saturday the SEFNL’s rep side gave prospective suitor AFL Yarra Ranges a glimpse of just what quality it will bring to a proposed marriage.

AFL Yarra Ranges’ Chris Graham is wrapped up by Anthony Vella of the South-East Football Netball League. Picture: Valeriu Campan

While talks are ongoing and the crystal ball is still a little cloudy as to what the future may hold for the South-East Football Netball League, on Saturday the league’s rep side gave prospective suitor AFL Yarra Ranges a glimpse of just what quality it will bring to a proposed marriage with a comfortable win in their AFL Victoria Community Championships clash.

Though the contest was generally an even one played in tremendous spirit, South-East was far more accomplished with hand and foot and made more of its opportunities on the way to a 16.13 (109) to 10.13 (73) win at Holm Park Reserve in Beaconsfield.

Despite rain on Friday, the Beaconsfield surface was in good nick and a large crowd was treated to an up tempo run and carry contest.

ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED IN COMING WEEKS ON RESTRUCTURE

Yarra Ranges had their chances but too often delivery into the forward line was more in hope than with system and South-East was able to rebound from half back and set up a scoring drive.

Jake Matthews gets a handball away for AFL Yarra Ranges. Picture: Valeriu Campan

While Yarra Ranges blazed a wasteful 0.4 to start the match, three of those hitting the post, Cranbourne’s Ryan Jones was getting plenty of the ball early and the imposing strength of his clubmate Marc Holt was proving a handful.

Despite South-East opening an early lead, a couple of late goals dragged the visitors to within a few points at the first change and, when Olinda Ferny Creek’s Ethan Greenall converted a relayed free kick two minutes into the second quarter, Yarra Ranges had the lead.

But the momentum shift that had drifted Yarra Ranges’ way was short-lived and South-East kicked the next three goals to lead by 18 points at the half..

The opening minutes of the third term then ended the visitors’ chances.

A snap from best-afield Tim Gunn was followed by a goal from Berwick’s Mitch Cotter and another from Holt as the scoreboard began moving at an alarming rate.

Woori Yallock’s Jake Matthews stemmed the flow of goals when he drilled one from 15m for Yarra Ranges but the margin had ballooned to a daunting five goals at the final change.

In the opening minutes of the final quarter, Matthews climbed a pack spectacularly and hung in the air long enough to provide Yarra Ranges with its highlight. But sadly in keeping with his side’s day, he missed from close range.

Wandin’s Patrick Bruzzese, who battled gamely all match and was named Yarra Ranges’ best, then scored from the top of the goalsquare to briefly spark hopes of a revival but Holt found Gunn with a bullet pass at the other end and that spark was doused.

Gunn (four goals), Jones (three) and Holt (three) bankrolled the South-East win while Berwick’s Michael Riseley and co-captain Michael Collins (Narre Warren) also impressed.

For the Yarra Ranges, Olinda Ferny Creek’s James Charge was the only multiple goalscorer, with three, while Bruzzese and skipper Marcus Hottes (Olinda Ferny Creek) got plenty of the ball.

AFL Yarra Ranges and SEFNL, maybe team mates next year?. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Perhaps the most telling moment of the day came after the final siren when players from both sides gathered in the centre square with much hand shaking and back slapping.

Not so much opponents wishing each other well but players acknowledging that in 12 months time they could well be teammates on the same interleague weekend.

MEANWHILE, in the under-19 clash, South-East was far too strong, winning the curtain-raiser 12.11 (83) to 3.7 (25).

Tallin Brill, Jordan Hattwell and Hunter Greenall kicked AFL Yarra Ranges three goals, while Daniel O’Dwyer, Dante South, Braden Wood, Matthew Brierley and Jackson Merrett battled gamely against a pretty handy South-East outfit.

AFL Yarra Ranges coach Danny Ryan was pleased with his side’s effort. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

AFL YARRA RANGES HAD ITS CHANCES SAYS COACH

AFL Yarra Ranges coach Danny Ryan said he was proud of the way his side went about things, despite its six-goal defeat on Saturday.

“They (SEFNL) were just a bit more polished on the day and just had a bit more leg speed across the ground,” he said. “Things could have been very different, we hit the post three times in the first quarter. If we’d put a bit more scoreboard pressure on early enough things might have been different.”

Ryan also noted the tremendous spirit that existed between players ahead of possible league mergers.

“There’s a couple of guys in both teams who’ve played together,” he said. “After the game a lot of us met up at the local pub and had a few beers. No-one knows what’s going to happen in the future, its up to the (SEFNL) clubs to decide. But Yarra Ranges has put up a pretty good option.”

Jade Heinrich was drafted in as coach at the last minute Picture: David Crosling

LATE CALL-UP HAS THE KNOWLEDGE

Thrust into the coaching role at the last minute, when original coach Kaitlyn Black earned a called up for ANL’s Victorian Fury, stand-in coach Jade Heinrich used her knowledge of both competitions to engineer Yarra Ranges’ 48-43 win over the South-East league in Saturday’s open netball clash.

“We came into the coaching role a little late,” she said. “But we knew most of the girls from the netball world and that helped. When we looked at the list we knew it was going to be a very even game.”

AFL Yarra Ranges jumped early, establishing a handy first-half lead before the South-East threatened to roll over the top in the final quarter. Yarra Ranges eventually saluted 48-43.

“To our advantage we probably knew how to match up on the SEFNL a bit better,” Heinrich said.