WFNL v SFNL interleague analysis, report

Two dynamic forwards lit up the Western and Southern interleague clash as a gun defender made his presence known. See how it played out.

SNFL player Kai Stretton handballs. Picture: Andrew Batsch

It was fitting Western Football Netball League star Tom Condon kicked the goal which all but sealed his side’s interleague win.

Last year’s Division 1 leading goalkicker played a pivotal role as his side ran out 10.16 (76) to 9.8 (62) against the Southern League in a thrilling contest on Saturday afternoon at Avalon Airport Oval.

The Parkside gun finished with four goals to take home the best on ground medal for his side.

Southern threatened to produce a stunning comeback in the final quarter to bring the margin back to single digits before Condon ran into an open goal to break the tension.

Condon was able to do it all in the tough conditions with his ability to be clean with ball in hand.

“Tommy is a big game player, he loves the big stage,” WFNL coach Chris Muratore, who is also the coach of Parkside, said.

“These kind of games he always plays well in.”

“The guys have really brought into what we’ve sold,” Muratore said.

“I couldn’t ask anymore with the way they played. Both coaches would have said play to your strengths and go out and enjoy the day which is what both sides did.”

HELLIWELL FIRES

Yarraville Seddon Josh Helliwell was a standout in defence for the hosts with a monster performance. He took intercept marks at will and was able to break the game open with his kicking. He had some big moments late as Southern got a run on and could have easily won the best afield medal on another day.

“Just every time it was in his area I thought ‘we’re perfect here, we’re going to rebound’. We were blessed to have him today and Yarraville are blessed to have him running around every week,” Muratore said.

ROGERS ON FORM

He’s been sidelined for four weeks through suspensions but Dareo Rogers played a starring role for Southern. The dynamic small forward from Murrumbeena was awarded the best on ground medal for his side in strong signs for his local club. He zipped around the forward line and was classy in the difficult conditions.

FULL DAY RESULTS

The senior women’s game was won by Western 6.8 (44) to 2.7 (19), built on a performance where they held the opposition goalless for the first three terms.

Southern claimed the under-19 game, 11.5 (71) to 5.8 (38).

The open netball was won by Western 42-39.

WESTERN 3.1 4.7 8.11 10.16 (76)

SOUTHERN 0.0 3.4 4.6 9.8 (62)

BEST

Western: Condon, Helliwell, Laguda, D. McPherson, Bryant

Southern: Rogers, Colak, Hayes, Cooper, Benton

GOALS

Western: Condon 4, Laguda 2, Di Stefano, Green, Kardachi, Tessari

Southern: Rogers 4, Standish 2, Benton, Hilton-Joyce, Johnson

PREVIEW

Western Football Netball League interleague senior men’s coach Chris Muratore has given his side license to thrill this weekend.

The WFNL will return to interleague action for the first time since 2019 when it takes on the Southern league at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The day’s schedule will involve under-19s, women’s and men’s games while a netball clash will be played around the corner at Eagle Stadium.

Muratore said the three training sessions in the lead up to the game had been exceptional as he and his assistant coaches went about building a list which will showcase of the league’s best talents.

Unfortunately no players from last year’s grand finalists, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Districts, along with Spotswood were named.

Albion star Caleb McPherson has been named as the WFNL captain while Caroline Springs duo Max Tessari and Keenan O’Shea will share the vice-captain responsibilities.

“There’s a lot of excitement, we can’t wait to go out there and show everyone what we’re about,” Muratore said.

“We want to be predictable to each other. We’ve put some basic structures in place and when you’re getting to work with this quality of player, they just get it straight away which has been a blessing.

“We’ll play to our strengths and give ourselves an opportunity to come away with the win.”

The Southern league will have its own exciting squad led by 2023 Cheltenham premiership coach Des Ryan as it seeks back-to-back interleague victories.

Last year, the SFNL produced a stunning final quarter comeback to overcome the Riddell District league.

“I think it’s time that Southern put their hand up and showed everybody how good we are,” Ryan told the Southern league website.

“It’s going to be a contest, but we can’t establish ourselves without knocking off somebody.”

Lachlan Benton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lachlan Benton, SFNL

The Dingley gun is a dominant inside midfielder who can also get to the outside and hurt his opposition.

Tom Condon, WFNL

A star forward for Parkside locally who won the Division 1 goalkicking last season. Capable of impacting the game in the air and at ground level.

Lachlan Green, WFNL

A silky player who is capable of turning nothing into something brilliant. A key for Yarraville Seddon at local level usually.

Sam Hayes, SFNL

One of the best defenders in his respective competition. Attacks the balls as well as he defends.

Jake Richardson, SFNL
The Narre Warren star has returned to footy this year after spending last season in London. He’s a big mobile forward who will be a handful for the opposition defenders.

Daniel Strnak, WFNL

An exciting small forward who has previously broken through for VFL opportunities. Give him space inside forward 50 and he can convert.

SFNL SQUADS

Senior men: Alec McComb (Cheltenham), Kyle Cooper (East Brighton), Sam Hilton-Joyce (St Paul’s McKinnon), Dareo Rogers (Murrumbeena), Jackson Peet (Dingley), Kai Stretton (Dingley), Lachlan Benton (Dingley), Jack Ferraro (Dingley), Benjamin Dessent (East Brighton), Rhys Kennedy (St Paul’s McKinnon), Rex Kilburn (Cheltenham), Jacob Duscher (Dingley), Castan Racunica (Bentleigh), Cameron Blitsas (Cheltenham), Sam Hayes (Cheltenham), Sean Lai (Cheltenham), Andrew Green (Cranbourne), Liam Purcell (St Paul’s McKinnon), Luke Grima (East Brighton), Joel Zietsman (Narre Warren), Jake Johnson (Dingley), Edward Standish (Murrumbeena), Alex Windhager (Dingley), Jake Richardson (Narre Warren), Matthew Colak (Bentleigh).

Senior women: Milly Nankervis (Bentleigh), Eden Tone (Casey Thunder), Alesha White (Endeavour Hills), Leah Frater (Dandenong West), Ash Bertagno (Murrumbeena), Bree Supple (Black Rock), Charlotte Trewarn (Murrumbeena), Kiana Te Huia (Lyndale), Isabella Whelan (Murrumbeena), Sarah Ventura (Casey Thunder), Jemma Gray (Mordialloc), Alicia Heins (Casey Thunder), Emily Terlicher (Black Rock), Alyssa Weston (Endeavour Hills), Nicola Weston (Endeavour Hills), Bianca Moody (Casey Thunder), Brooke Borchard (Endeavour Hills), Kaitlyn Roleff-Woolhouse (Lyndale), Talya Cunnington (Frankston Dolphins), Jessica Howroyd (Murrumbeena), Eboni Crawford (Bentleigh), Tabatha Jones (Endeavour Hills), Ally Williams (Murrumbeena), Natalie Bradley (Lyndale). Coach: Lauren Luff (Murrumbeena)

Under-19 men: Thomas Dowsing (Bentleigh), Scanlan Lynch (Dingley), Xavier Supple (Heatherton), Brodie Woodcock (Mordialloc), Judd Lemon (Dingley), Jarvis Zarb (Frankston Dolphins), Lachlan Elgin-Stuczynski (Springvale Districts), Joshua Datt (Hampton), Lachlan English (Murrumbeena), Blake Meadows (Murrumbeena), Thomas Washington (Bentleigh), Jimmy Dwyer (Narre Warren), Julian Callahan (Murrumbeena), Bailey Rudd (Port Melbourne Colts), Luke Corbyn (Frankston Dolphins), Jack Sotiriadis (Cheltenham), Tom Limpens (Frankston Dolphins), Ethan Campbell (Cranbourne), Toby Griffiths (Narre Warren), Michael McLachlan (Murrumbeena), Kaden Bassett (Frankston Dolphins), Connor Montgomery (Murrumbeena), Louis Nousis (Murrumbeena), Bevan Nelson (Cheltenham). Coach: Liam Dimattina.

Netball: Sophie O’Shea (Caulfield Bears), Annabella Gorman (Cheltenham), Grace Loelu (Narre Warren), Brooke McCarthy (Dingley), Brittany Mashado (Narre Warren), Jaz Daniels (Cheltenham), Holly Taubert (Caulfield Bears), Charlie Considine (Dingley), Ava Van Leemput (Caulfield Bears), Gabrielle Dwyer (Narre Warren), Lauren Hucker (Cheltenham), Grace Taberner (Caulfield Bears). Coach: Darren Stafrace (Cheltenham).

WFNL SQUADS

Senior men: Jackson Barrett (Parkside), Cody Bench (Albion), Alipate Bryant (Caroline Springs), Ben Caluzzi (Caroline Springs), Jack Condon (Parkside), Tom Condon (Parkside), Charlie Di Stefano (Parkside), Lachlan Green (Yarraville Seddon), Darcy Grieves (Yarraville Seddon), Josh Helliwell (Yarraville Seddon), Xavier Kardachi (Sunshine), Will Kliszewski (Yarraville Seddon), Billy Kolyniuk (Point Cook), Bruno Laguda (Parkside), Jy Lambley (Parkside), Caleb McPherson (Albion), Darcy McPherson (Albion), O’Neill Moncrieff (Parkside), Johnathon O’Brien (Albion), Keenan O’Shea (Caroline Springs), Cooper Pepi (Caroline Springs), Colby Redpath (Altona), Jamie Ristoski (Caroline Springs), Tom Stapleton (Parkside), Daniel Strnak (Point Cook Centrals), Max Tessari (Caroline Springs). Coach: Chris Muratore (Parkside).

Senior women: Taquila Angel (Parkside Spurs), Lauren Basto (Werribee Centrals), Meghann Basto (Werribee Centrals), Hayley Bennett (Point Cook Centrals), Mariah Burton (Wyndhamvale), Rachael Burton (Wyndhamvale), Ruby Cashmore (Yarraville Seddon), Rita Ceravolo (Parkside Spurs), Paige Cook (Werribee Centrals), Rachel Culvenor (Yarraville Seddon), Sharni Currie (Suns), Emma Davis (Point Cook Centrals), Jacinta Kondis (Caroline Springs), Akima Manoah (Caroline Springs), Julia Nash (Werribee Centrals), Natalie Pearce (Parkside Spurs), Caitlin Pretty (Caroline Springs), Larissa Renaut (Werribee Centrals), Charlize Sindoni (Caroline Springs), Jessica Spall (Werribee Centrals), Keely Spiteri (Werribee Centrals), Nyomi Stowers (Caroline Springs), Kyah Tessari (Caroline Springs), Stephanie Thompson (Caroline Springs), Jordin Williamson (Caroline Springs). Coach: Alex O’Shea

Under-19 men: Noah Andreula (Sunshine), Lachlan Armstrong (Hoppers Crossing), Will Baker (Yarraville Seddon), West Barker (Yarraville Seddon), Tyler Carrington (Laverton), Max Downing (Point Cook), Mahmoud El-Haouli (Newport), Mohamed El Hawli (Newport), Brodie Gallop (Werribee Districts), Lucas Hayes (Point Cook), Lachlan Heriot (Spotswood), Max Hewitt (Spotswood), Kane Holden (Albion), Grayson Lafaialii (Hoppers Crossing), Lachlan Leonard (Point Cook), Brodie Lyons-Jones (Parkside), Oscar May (Point Cook), Tom McAuliffe (Hoppers Crossing), Obie Miller (Werribee Districts), Michael Morda (Newport), Oliver Murray (Caroline Springs), Marcus Russell (Sunshine), Spencer Wray (Yarraville Seddon). Coach: Kirk Heberle

Netball: Kiara Boyd (Caroline Springs), Olivia Craske (Caroline Springs), Elise Dick (Werribee Districts), Georgia Hellyer (Glen Orden), Rebecca Hicks (Glen Orden), Majar Hikuroa Betham (Glen Orden), Colleen Lavea (Sunshine), Akira McCormack (Glen Orden), Taliah Mullane (Werribee Districts), Melissa Prismall (Spotswood), Payton Simeki (Glen Orden), Emma Vitalone (Caroline Springs). Emergencies: Avana Hobsons (Altona), Eden Mitchell (Caroline Springs), Casey Smart (Sunshine). Coach: Rebecca Hicks