Footy action returned in central Victoria on Saturday with the opening round of the new Bendigo Junior Football League under-18 boys competition played.
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With the HDFNL and LVFNL seasons cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions, AFLCV introduced a combined under-18 competition for the two leagues.
Nine teams entered the league - Calivil United, Maiden Gully YCW, Marong and Newbridge from the LVFNL and Huntly, Leitchville-Gunbower, Mt Pleasant, North Bendigo and White Hills from the HDFNL.
Round one action was completed on Saturday.
MARONG v NORTH BENDIGO
Marong kicked off its campaign with an emphatic 163-point win over North Bendigo.
Marong's bigger bodies and depth across the field proved too much for the young Bulldogs to handle.
The Panthers were consistent across the four quarters, kicking six goals in each of the first two quarters, four in third and then nine in the final term.
Luke Ellings kicked four goals for Marong in a best on ground performance, while Bryce Chapman also impressed with a five-goal haul.
Xander Hartland won plenty of the ball for the Panthers and kicked three goals, while Lachlan Frischke booted four majors.
The Bulldogs battled hard against the odds.
Bailey Muscat, Robert Muscat, Lucas Keating and Nathan Phillips were best for a North Bendigo side that will be better for the experience.
Marong 6.4, 12.9, 16.13, 25.17 (167)
North Bendigo 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.4 (4)
Goals - Marong: B. Chapman 5, L. Frischke 4, L. Ellings 4, X. Hartland 3, M. Bowen 2, T. Wilson 2, N. Naughton, T. Kinnane, H. Knight-Thomas, C. Bennett, N. McCaig.
Best - Marong: L. Ellings, X. Hartland, B. Chapman, T. Kinnane, F. Stewart, S. Taylor. North Bendigo: B. Muscat, R. Muscat, L. Keating, N. Phillips.
Read more: Catch up on all the latest local footy news
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER v NEWBRIDGE
Perennial HDFNL under-17 power Leitchville-Gunbower outclassed a young Newbridge side.
The Bombers piled on 24 goals to one to win by 149 points.
Bombers' star Dominic Dick-O'Flaherty put on a show for the Bombers.
The elusive midfielder/forward kicked six of his side's 24 goals.
Austin Windridge and Billy Hawken added four goals each for the Bombers and were two of their side's better players.
Tyler Leonard and Bailey Taylor also impressed for Leitchville-Gunbower.
Ethan Wright kicked Newbridge's only goal of the game in the third quarter.
Leitchville-Gunbower 7.4, 11.6, 18.9, 24.12 (156)
Newbridge 0.0, 0.1, 1.1, 1.1 (7)
Goals - Leitchville-Gunbower: D. Dick-O'Flaherty 6, A. Windridge 4, B. Hawken 4, H. Danziger 3, H. Byrne 2, W. Ross 2, C. Cox 2, R. Varcoe. Newbridge: E. Wright.
Best - Leitchville-Gunbower: D. Dick-O'Flaherty, A. Windridge, T. Leonard, B. Taylor, B. Hawken, J. Kervin. Newbridge: not supplied.
HUNTLY v WHITE HILLS
Huntly won the all-HDFNL battle with White Hills at Strauch Reserve.
The Hawks had 23 scoring shots to eight in their 10.13 (73) to 6.2 (38) win.
Flynn Campbell had a day out for the Hawks, kicking five goals to be best afield.
William Doncazy, Bryn Burke and Mitch Billings all played well for Huntly.
White Hills won last year's HDFNL under-17 premiership, but the vast majority of that side was recruited by BFNL under-18 teams.
Braydn Murley was the standout player for the Demons, while Sam Lewis, Callum Broderick and Luke Monaghan were solid performers.
Bailey Burkitt was the only multiple goalkicker for White Hills.
Huntly 3.5, 5.8, 8.10, 10.13 (73)
White Hills 1.0, 3.1, 4.1, 6.2 (38)
Goals - Huntly: F. Campbell 5, K. Gibson 2, W. Donaczy 2. White Hills: B. Burkitt 2, C. MacDonell, M. Ripper, D. Saliba, M. McMurray.
Best - Huntly: F. Campbell, W. Donaczy, B. Burke, M. Billings, K. Gibson. White Hills: B. Murley, S. Lewis, C. Broderick, L. Monaghan, Z. Englefield, T. Meharry.
MGYCW v MT PLEASANT
Maiden Gully YCW scored a 67-point win over Mt Pleasant at Marist College.
The Eagles opened their account with a 101-34 victory.
Recruit Jye Formosa was best for Mt Pleasant ahead of Sam Thompson, Fletcher White, Marcus D'Angelo and James Barri.
MGYCW did not supply any goal kickers or best players.
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