It's always a privilege to play on Yarraville Oval. The historic red brick grandstand hovers over the field, a field of dreams, ghosts of passed VFA champions ever present.
It's a ground you want to play well at.

Our Under 16's arrived for our clash with a Yarraville outfit littered with guns, including a couple of Vic Metro stars, eager to write a bit of their own history.

Let's make the game harder for our opponents and easier for each other was the messaging for the day. By quarter time, a four goal lead suggested we were ticking all the boxes.

A game plan adjustment kicking into the wind reaped further success as we went into the main change 33 points ahead.

Yarraville threw their Vic Metro full forward into the midfield after half time and the game changed, his enormous height and strength providing headaches for coaches and player alike, a special goal late by Harrison Crichton giving us a 22 point lead at 3/4 time.

It was a brilliant final quarter. We moved the ball well, took the first option. Composure reigned in the final 10 minutes, we made the game harder for their superstar, easier for our teammates who worked hard to create space, managed the clock, a four goal win the prize for a full team effort.

This team is writing their own history, another big scalp taken, next stop Werribee where the story continues.

U14G Team Roach

After a tight start the U14 girls controlled the game against Flemington, winning by 37 points and not allowing any goals against in a physical hitout at home.

Some wayward kicking again with 4 goals and 16 points - guess what the girls will be doing at training!

Macy ‘Big Chook’ Roach dominated play with her long kicking, while Alice ‘Fingers’ Healy and Piper ‘Noodles’ Odlum impressed in a depleted midfield. 

Our usual rock at full back Mia Prus snagged a second career goal up forward and could have had a few more, while Olivia ‘Bazza’ Barham took a ripper ball bursting mark but couldn’t quite convert. Next time Bazza!

Special shoutout to Alice Ruth for the chase-down and tackle of the season, that poor girl is still wondering what happened!

U14 Team Bloomfield

The boys made the trip out to Newport today, and as always, it's never easy coming away with a win and today was no exception.

It was a tough, scrappy game from the outset. After a fairly average first half, we managed to go into halftime with a narrow 2 goal lead. The third quarter mirrored much of the first half untidy football and we found ourselves trailing by 2 points at the final break.

To the boys' credit, they responded brilliantly in the last quarter, finally playing the brand of footy the coaches have been asking for all day and powered home to secure a solid 3-goal victory.

Special mentions to Harvey & Ben who were outstanding across the first three quarters and kept us in the game when things weren’t going our way.

U14 Team Sacco

Today, we hosted top of the ladder Williamstown. Both sides were affected by injury. Williamstown fielding just 18, and we not much better with 19 with our only interchange unable to train and during the week but brave enough to pull on the strip to help out. Scores even at quarter time, we were a goal in front at half time. A 10 min lapse and a little fatigue to start the 3rd quarter allowed our guests 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd term.

We won the last quarter to gallantly lose by 13 points. Plaudits all round with winners on every line. Standouts were our VC - Joel Zammit at full back, Cooper Saric on his birthday getting his touch back with some perfect timing across half back and our skipper Jack McConvill trying to will his team across the line like all great captains and big men should.

But the comedic event of the day had to be with our esteemed President officiating out in the middle having a fair old spat with his umpiring counterpart a WNFL umpire who tried to overturn one of Hogis decisions, our President wouldn't have it and told the veteran umpire to stay in his lane.

Thanks for the chuckle Prez. Overall, a great effort, and I am immensely proud of this group today. We push towards a win next week against Tarneit.

U12G Team Zucco

With Coach Zucco off on a mid season holiday the girls travelled out to windy Point Cook starting the game with the breeze but couldn’t quite capitalise on the scoreboard. The opposition had their turn and piled on 2.4. The third term we had our go again but couldn’t get a goal kicking 0.4 to 1.0.

We held Point Cook goalless in the last quarter but in the end it was a small loss 0.6.6 to Point Cook 3.6.24. So good to see all the girls starting to get their hands on the ball. Could have easily been us in front at the end today. 

Olivia James was a deserved Heartland recipient with a great game as Captain defending really well all day. Also congrats to Sammy Miller as SLAY Queen showing rapid improvement. Alyssa Galle, Ella McGowan, Ruby Bayliss, Georgina Cruise and Eva McManus all fought hard.

U12 Team Farrugia

Another road trip 4 on the trot to Newport this week always a  tough gig but pumped up from the start we kicked 2 goals into the first quarter and we held off Newport for the next 2 qrts and somehow a gale blew to their end in the last qrtr (was like they turned on the fans) and they managed to kick a couple with the wind and won by 13pts.

Very disappointing loss after a great battle. We keep challenging these top teams for 3 Qrts, may need Rhyss under 14 30 min running session from Last weds this week!!!  To get last qrt fitness up! We battle on.

U12 Team Trewin

This week was a tough game for our boys. Whilst we were actually quite competitive in patches, Hoppers ran over us convincingly in the end. 

We lacked a bit of our usual spark this week, but credit to the boys who all kept their heads up. This is really important and has been a focus for us. 

Positives we were that we won the first quarter! And every time we play the better teams, it hopefully shows our boys we need to keep on improving and practising. 

Well done to Austin on his 50th game and a special mention to Liam for his early goal in the first quarter.

U12 Team Fitzpatrick

A stirring win and superb full team effort from the boys against the current top side Truganina away on their home deck today ! The whole team should be super proud of that performance where we were able to grab a 16point win. 

After a long drive down the highway, we could tell the boys were switched on from the start with instructions followed to a tee. 

It was great to have General Van Zuiden back marshalling the troops in defence all day and JDs last quarter was outstanding stopping wave after wave of Truganina offensive drives. 

The Postman (Ryder) threw himself around with reckless abandon and thus consistently delivered on the 1% list ! 
In doing so he collected the coaches award for his outstanding performance today.

On the end of these efforts were the Prince (James) who is starting to get a real taste for opportunist goals booting 2, Scorpian (Will), Jet (Ari) and Flash (Anthony) all jagging 1.

Great team effort !

U10G Team Smith

Probably the girls most even performance across the board with everyone contributing. Willow Cameron was BOG with a club record 6 goals and 4 goal assists.

Juliet Smith (on debut) and Eve Stafford both kicked their first goals.

Special mention to Captain Courageous Pippa Biggs who also kicked her first goal and had another 12 tackles.

Crowd went 🍌 🍌

U10 Team Biggs

After an interrupted couple of weeks the lads were keen for solid hit out.
Skipper Archer “Harders” (Hard As Nails) Hardwick led the boys out and won the toss to kick with a slight breeze.

The boys took a while to settle in but once they did the scoreboard began to tick over. 
We welcomed Tiarnan O’Dwyer back after a length finger injury. He made an instant impact, providing a big target up forward, and bring the ball to ground for our mosquito fleet to feast. 

AJ “Big Tone” Barbaro and Billy Vernon continued their great form, as well as hitting the big sticks. 

Eamonn Williams got his chance in the middle and took it with both hands, getting plenty of hard ball gets, to take out our best player for the day.

Our link up play by hand and foot was exceptional, particularly into a difficult breeze. This was exemplified by a Leo Biggs smother that turned the ball over at half back, Sam Gia swooped, hitting a target 30m away which then led to a crucial goal against the breeze.
Bulldog Benji Kernich was at the bottom of every pack, and Remy Earl proved he is a natural tap ruckman.

There were several other examples of players displaying our commitment to “Team First” 1%er Acts to mention, other than to say it was a full 4 quarter team effort.
Well done boys. I’m a very proud coach!

U10 Team Manley

A tightly contested game out at Yarraville, with the battle of our strong contested ball winners against their outside leg speed. 

The boys realised the need for greater intensity around the contest after their outside run gave them the early lead. 

We battled fiercely for the rest of the game with more intent and better ball movement found more scoring opportunities. We went down by 11 point in the end, a few bad bounces deep forward unluckily kept us from closing the gap. 

Taylor Cittarelli was super with his contested game, winning the ball at will. Ably supported by a determined run, carry and pressure game from Chase and strong aerial and contested ball performance from Justin.

U9 Team Round

The boys travelled to Sunshine Heights for an exciting clash and came away with a convincing victory slaying the Dragons! Despite lending them a few players and playing without a bench, the boys showed tremendous resilience and teamwork throughout the match.

The game kicked off in style, with the boys moving the ball with precision and flair, driving it deep into the forward line. Led by Captain Levi "Hulk" Hill, the team was relentless, winning the ball and putting in hard tackles.

Archie "Chippa" Maiorana was a standout, taking home the Best on Ground honours after bagging two goals while playing for the opposition. His work rate was immense, running all day and impacting every contest.
Charlie "CJ" Johnston also had a stellar performance, kicking two goals—his first a cheeky snap and the second a composed finish after jumping on a loose ball. His efforts earned him the Coaches Award.

There were plenty of other highlights too, with Jimmy "JD" Duray, Charlie "Choco" Hardy, Mikael "Nails" Mikhael, and Flynn "Flipper" Wishart all getting on the scoreboard, while Captain Levi also led by example with a goal of his own.

Overall, it was a fantastic team effort, with the boys showing great improvement, solid teamwork, and a strong work ethic—proof of the hard work they've been putting in at training. A very proud coach and a well-deserved victory for Bernards!

U8 Team Ryan

Today was our most impressive team display with every player contributing in a hard fought victory against Yarraville Seddon.

Skipper Aston Gentikoglou had a super game and Rio Orlando was everywhere in his best game for the year.

Against a bigger opposition our willingness to put our heads over the ball and win the contested footy was sensational.

Special mentions to Levi Byrne, Josh Smith and Dion Tangopoulos who were fantastic at both ends of the ground.

U8 Team Cameron 

Another solid outing from our side who continue to improve each week. Led by captain Ashton Verona who kicked his first career goal he was also supported by Jonah Kolokithas who also scored his first career goal. 

The match was very tight throughout and it was only late when Yarraville pulled away with a few goals to be victorious. 

Best players Darcy Langford, Rory Byrne, Noah Perkins and Gus Vescio

U8 Team Mirtsis 

Domination from start to finish against aintree giants, lead by captain Josh with 3 sausage rolls, and 4 goals from the T train who only knows one way.

We used the Geelong example from yesterday and never took the foot off the gas as all great sides do. A great defensive effort all game resulted in Aintrees only goal coming in the last minute via a contentious free kick.