The message came through at 10am, we would only have 17 available for our road trip to take on Werribee Districts. A spate of sickness and injury had hit our already thin numbered squad.

Adjustments began swiftly, out went talk of structures and interchange rotations. This would all be about heart.

Upon arrival the Werribee coaching cohort agreed to play 17 on 17 until help arrived. We would have two under 14's make the mad dash up the highway to join us at half time. Great clubs have great families, and the Moretti's and Bongiorno's are both that. To have Dean and Ryder join our game (after playing great games in the 14's) and both make significant contributions was outstanding. 

It had been a sluggish start. Jono had our first bit of luck when he won the toss (he is on a streak) and kicked with the breeze, but Werribee had the first two goals on board quickly. We settled and grit our way to a 2 goal lead at the first break.

The game ebbed and flowed through the second, but even without a rotation available, we held our own, holding the most slender lead into the main break.

I am not sure what you were doing late afternoon Sunday, but if you heard a booming beat off in the distance, it wasn't a rave at the Showgrounds, it was coming from Werribee, it was the pulsating heart beat of a Bernard's team hell bent on triumphing against the odds.

I haven't seen as many smothers, tackles and selfless acts by a group for a long time. They had no right finishing that game looking less fatigued than their opponents. Their attack on the ball and unrelenting pressure had Werribee looking exhausted. When Dean Moretti (under 14's) marked and goaled with 7 minutes remaining, we lead by 17 points. Werribee kept surging but couldn't find the punches, a 10 point win, one for the ages!
It was a Masterclass in heart and spirit. It was also the definition of an 8 point game, suddenly we were second on the ladder and had a buffer against the bottom three. Bring on the undefeated Newport I say!

U14G Team Roach

Losing one pregame then 3 more bad injuries to top line players in the first half, saw us down to 14 girls against an opposition that refused to even up numbers and played 2 extra  onfield the rest of the game + a bench. 

Despite the disgraceful lack of sportsmanship from the Albion coach (who also embarrassed himself with his comments on the sideline throughout the game) and up against a dangerous standard of umpiring, the girls only conceded 3 more goals to lose by 29 points. 

A character building effort against all adversity and one where the girls and club can hold heads up high with the way we conduct ourselves

U14 Team Bloomfield

Today’s game at the #Snakepit was a top-four clash: 2nd vs 4th. Our previous meeting with Yarraville ended in a 12-goal loss, so this was a great opportunity for the group to see just how much they’ve improved over the past two months.

We started the game with just 18 players, which was always going to make things tough against quality opposition. But I couldn’t have been prouder of the 18 young men who took the field today.

Although we didn’t come away with the win, it was a performance to be proud of. With 10 minutes to go, we were only 15 points behind a real testament to the effort and growth of this group. Some late goals from Yarraville pushed the margin out, but considering we played the entire last quarter with just 17 on the field, the boys showed outstanding resilience and heart.

Plenty to be proud of we’ll keep building.

U14 Team Sacco

A well-deserved win for our team today against a determined Tarneit. It's great to celebrate a win for one of our club favourites, Gussa Hogan, who saluted with 2 x goals on his 50th game.

Henry Sacco with 3 x goals and Joey Monaco "the difference" with 3 x goals in the last quarter to seal our 3 goal win. Henry Hill with 2 x goals and a huge game to boot and Christian Ripa everywhere in the second half.

An uplifting performance with too many names to mention today. The team lifted and responded when we were put to the sword. We'll umpired by Tim Hickey on his own in what was a tense game at times.

I am so proud of this group well done. 

U12G Team Zucco

BYE 

U12 Team Farrugia

No Report

U12 Team Trewin

Headed out to Willy today, fully prepared for a big game. After some tough losses, Coach Trewin organised special training sessions with our boys' dads.

This week, Luke Olanda focused on tackling and handling bigger bodies, which proved invaluable. In the first quarter, our tackling pressure was outstanding, helping us kick 3.3 while keeping Willy scoreless. Willy fired back in the second quarter, scoring 4.1. In the third quarter, Willy scored first, but we replied with two goals, leading by five points at the final quarter's start.

The boys elevated their pressure and quick ball movement, dominating play but managing only one point while keeping Willy goalless.

It was a terrific win with immense team effort and pressure. Bam Bam excelled in rucking, Oscar Bradfield was rock-solid in defense, and Cobra Kai kicked early goals, supported by Harvey Trewin, Will Hickey, Darcy Smith, and Tommy V.

U12 Team Fitzpatrick

Our team had several key outs today, but still managed to get up by 5 points in a thriller at Altona.

After winning the toss and kicking with the breeze The Chief - who took on the captain reins today due to multiple outs, led brilliantly from the front in the ruck, backed up by the Dodger when it was his turn in the middle. 

Wolf, Jet and Scorpian ran hard and pressured all day in the middle with little rest.
Magic, Wizard and the Postman played brilliantly with the Postman shaking off his sore thumb, delivering with a big team lifting goal in the 3rd. 

Our backline was great all day - holding firm from a lot of inside forward entries from Altona Vikings. The Wasp, JD , Doc and Hammer throwing everything into their defensive efforts.

Our forwards, led brilliantly by the Bear, Prince and Moose presented hard with Bear running himself to exhaustion and earning himself the heartland award!

The general turned up in the 2nd quarter and he did what the general does - not letting the ball past him while utilising skills on both sides. Buzz was lively when thrown forward , his pressure will get him a goal very soon!

A big thanks to Austen (danger) and Benji for helping out our numbers today.

Another great win cementing our position in the 4, percentage off top with momentum building !

U10G Team Smith

We also decided to kick into a gale in q1. 

We led at every break and ran out convincing winners.

Fish, Isla Smith, was joint BOG with Zoe Groves. Young Liv Cruz played her best game for the club. 

U10 Team Biggs

Caro at Caro is always a tough contest and today wasn’t any different. 

A bit of strategic advise from Team Manager Tony Stoichevski (Sorry about the spelling Tone) to kick into a 4 goal wind was contentious. Skipper Eamonn Williams won the toss and did exactly that!

Our back 6 and mids were given strict instructions to get back and help out. Forrest Johnson was pivotal at CHB racking up kicks and intercepts.  While Billy Vernon provided vital arial support for the backs. 

At 1/4 time we had kept them to 1 pt.

The 2nd 1/4 was a complete flip of the game plan from all out defend to all out attack, and attack we did, kicking 3 goals, when with 2 mins to go Caro got a lose ball over the back and it was Benji Kernich 1 on 1 with a Caro player. Benji saved an almost certain goal with true effort and intent. But, just before halftime Leo Biggs copped a scary front on head high bump that was all too close to home for Coach Biggs, and against my better judgment, he refused to come off. 

The 3rd was all Caroline Springs. They were always going to have their time in the sun at some point. 4 goals to 3 by quarters end. 

The final Quarter was an arm wrestle and the competitive juices flowed. Billy Vernon who was struggling a leg knock, persevered and kicked another goal to put us within a couple of points. Tiarnan O’Dwyer kept bringing the ball to ground for our mosquito fleet AJ Barbaro, Sam Sanka, Ethan Manica and JP Healy who were everywhere.

In the final passages of the game Caro were on the attack again, when Leo Biggs made another bone crunching tackle on the wing to win the footy back. 

We ran out 4 point victors in a game that was as physical a contest as you’d want to see from u/10s. A huge team effort, proving that if you want something bad enough then it can and does happen!

Well done boys and TM for the strategic edge!

Hamish Carrucan received Coaches award for pushing through the pain barrier, being sick all weekend
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Forrest (FJ) Johnson received the Heartland award for a 4 1/4 effort and JP Healy received the clubs BOG agan for his relentless work ethic.

U10 Team Manley

A great team effort for the day, the boys getting deserved reward for their improving skill level and ball movement. 

With a strong wind blowing to one end, we were able to capitalise on our time with the wind, whilst owning the ball in our forward half even into the breeze. 

Dominating possession and field position, we probably should have hit the scoreboard more than we did. A solid 4/5 goal win and the boys sung the song loudly in the rooms.  

Strong performances across the board, with Jack Sacco’s ground work leading the way, with top performances also from Jack Clampett in the ruck/CHF and Isaac Cauduro across half back and midfield.

U9 Team Round

No Report

U8 Team Ryan

Back on our home turf at the snake pit the boys were quick out the gates with three early goals. Aston Gentikoglou was everywhere. We then went to sleep and the game was even at quarter time.

We asked the boys to wake up and lift the intensity in the second quarter and they responded with some excellent handball chains and went into half time a few goals in front. 

An absolute highlight was Alarik Szymula scoring his first goal! The crowd went wild and the whole team swamped him! Very proud of the lads!

Skipper Arlo Runnals had some excellent touches and showed off his impressive skills.
Liam Stapleton continued his great form and is really setting the example of our team first mentality with plenty of handballs bringing his teammates into the game.

We finished the game 5 goals in front in another well deserved victory.

U8 Team Cameron 

No Report

U8 Team Mirtsis 

Always was going to go down to the wire as did our 1st game against this mob, got pipped right at the end by a kick but couldn't be prouder of the effort.

Captain Jack was brutal, and the T train was damaging on the scoreboard, king Cary copped a cheap shot to the solar plexus but bravely fought on, bring on next week!