M M
MickMattinglyistheheadlineact forourfirstGVLTeamoftheMonth, leadingthecompetitionfor averagedisposals-36-andalso toppingthechartsforranking points
Mattinglyissecondonlyto Echuca’sMitchWalesforinside50 entriesandhaskickedsevengoals fortheseason
Euroamayhaveonlyonewinon theboard,butthestatisticalreturn ofLachlanHillhasbeenahighlight -leadingtheGVLforcontested possessions,groundballgetsand hardballgets
Therehavebeenanumberof outstandingperformancesinthe markingstakes,Euroa’sCohen Paul,EagleDirkKoenenand Rochester’sDylanGordonleading theinterceptmarkingandHugh Byrneaninside50markingbeast. Theyoungestmemberofthe TeamoftheMonthisOliver
Warburton,whohasbeenastar fortheunbeatenSwanssofar. Despitehavingjustonewin,the numbersofMarkMarriotthave beenimpossibletoignoreasthe numberonebigmanandCats starJackJohnstonalsoearnshis spotforsomebignumbers JackMurphyleadsagroupof goalkickingmid-fielders.
TEAM OF THE MONTH STATS TEAM OF THE MONTH
STATS
Jack JOHNSON
COHEN PAUL
CURTIS RYAN
DIRK KOENEN DYLAN GORDON
ARCHIE WATTS
DirkKoenen
LachlanHill
Ourfirstchancetotakeabreakth comessevenweeksintothe season,withtheInterleagueby whichwillprovideanopportuni toassessjusthowmuchground ifany-theotherteamshave madeuponEchucathisseason KyabramandSheppartonBear weretheothertwoteamstosta theseasonwithfivesuccessive wins,butonlyoneofthosewins cameagainstateaminsidethe topsix-Mansfield
TheEagleswererightintothe game,upuntilthelast10minut buteventuallylostby20points TheBomberswontheirotherth gamesby37,128,1056and116 points.
TheSwansalsofacedonlyone sixteam,Rochester,wherethey wereaninepointwinnerintheir closestresult-havingbeaten Taturaunderlightsby72points Mooroopnaby28,Seymourby3 andBenallaby89tostartthe season
NathanHrovat’s49disposalgame andtheimpactofruckmanMark Kovacevichavebeenthelead acts,buttheformofvicecaptain ZacAldertonhasalsobeena hi hli h
Echuca,however,remainsthe yardstickandwithJackson StewartofferingsupporttoMitch Wales,SamReidandJackMcHale theyagainleadthecompetition Stewarthad134rankingpointsin thegrandfinalreplaywiththe Bearsandhassevengoalsforthe season Defendersfeaturing,statisticallyat least,thisyearcomefromthe lowerrankedteams,withCurtis RyanandCohenPaulstars
ZacAlderton
CurtisRyan
JacksonStewart
STATS STATS
AnthonyDepasquale’s191 rankingpointgameagainst Benallafolloweda73-goal 2024seasonandhasledto himmakinghisseniordebut withWerribeeintheVFLonthe weekend.Inthatgamehehad fivedisposals,laidseven tacklesandhadone clearance.
IntheGVLthisseasonhehas 10.11fromthreegames,butit wasthe36disposal/20score involvementgamethat capturedourattention.
LastseasonDepasquale’s highestdisposalcountwas23. HighPBrankingpointspriorto theBenallagamewas156 againstRochesterinR1,2023 (fourgoals&23disposals).
STATS STATS
AndrewCiavarella’s Taturateammaysiton thebottomrungoftheladderafter foursuccessivedefeats,butheand someofhisdefensiveteammatesare sittingatthetopofthestatistical leaderboardsforkick-insand rebound50s(R50s).
IntheopeningfourroundsTaturahas hadd72kick-ins,sharedbetween Ciavarella,MichaelArcher,Curtisand ChrisRyan.Ciavarellaistopfivefor kickinsandR50sanduisaveraging fivemoredisposalsthanlastseasonwithaseasonhigh26disposals.
Whenitcomesto dynamicdefensive duosSeymour’s LachlanWaiteand DylanScopelhave beenrightupthere inrecentseasons. Thisyear,however,the pairhavetakenjust??? interceptmarksbetween themtostarttheyear. Theyhavealsofeatured inthespoilsand1%er categoriesfor 3seasons. Nextweekwewilllookat ateamofplayerswho haveledthecompetition in1%ersin2025.Inthis contestAndrewRiordan gainstheirattention.
PHOTO: WAYNE
TaturagoalerCharlette Grayisoneofthestarsof thecompetition,sitting thirdonthegoalshooting tableafterfourrounds behindEuroastarOlivia Morris(218goals)and SheppartonleaderKim Borger(167goals). Grayhasshot115goals, narrowlyaheadofSwans goalerChelseaMcDonald (113)andUnited’sHannah Onley(112). Inthiscontest Grayusesherbody perfectlytopullinthe scoringchancedespitethe effortsof Kyabram’s MoniqueWilliams.
Kyabramcontinuesto be oneoftheyoungestteams intheGVLAgradenetball competition,withUnder17 starsfromyearsagoAbbyWaasdorp(pictured) nowa starofthe competitionalongside NatashaDodosandIsla Carver.TheBombershave alsogivenpreviousunder ageleaguebestandfairest AvaPellanopportunityat thetoplevel,whilestill playingintheUnder17 competition.Formore aboutnetballfuturestars turntopagesevnof todayt’sGVLMonthly.
MarkMarriottiscontinuingtobuildon hisreputationasaruckmanintheGVL. Lastyearhewentpastthe200rankingpointmark onthreeoccasions(includinga229pointeffort againstSeymourwhenhehad30disposals,52hit outs(12toadvantage),9clearances,8I50sandfour tackles.Thisyear,intheopeningthreegames,hehas alreadyregisteredonedoublefiguretacklegame(11againstAsh HollandandtheBearsinroundtwo)andisaveraging44hitouts agamethisyear. MarriottandHollandleadthehitoutsfromMansfield’sGusVan derHeydenandCatsfollowerJackJohnston.Marriottisalsoa topfiveplayerforfreekicks.
STATS
CooperHamiltonseems tobeenjoyingplaying alongsidehistwinbrotherHughintheGVL. IntheRound3winagainstEuroaCooperhad 28disposals,7tackledandfourclearances, whileHughhad24touchesand6 clearances.Theyhad13I50sbetweenthem. Hughmissedallof2023anddidn’tplayuntil Round11in2024.Cooperalsomissedthe entire2023seasonandplayedjustnine gamesafterbeingdraftedbyGreater WesternSydneyin2022.ElderbrotherWill, thisyear’sTigerco-captain,haskickedsix goalsinfourgamesafter37from21games inaterrificseasonafterheplayedonly11 gamesinthreeseasonsfrom2021-23.
FourthgenerationfootballingprodigyOliverWarburtonleadsan impressivegroupofdebutantesintheGVLthisseason.Heisthe greatgrandsonofa74-gameCarltonplayerKeith,thegrandsonof Peter(whoplayedfourgamesatCarltonbeforecompletinga stellarcareerintheGoulburnValley)andsonofBrett,whoplayed areservegamefortheBluesandwasaSwanschampionplayer. WhileOlivermissedtheSwansR4winagainstTatura,thefirst threegamesofhiscareerhavereapedseasonhighsof34 disposals,sevenclearancesandseveninside50s.Hehasalso taken27marksand kickedtwogoals.
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ELLA KIGHTLY (TAT)
KELLIE DAVIDSON (EUR)
GRACE McINNENY (UNI)
MOLLY BOYLE (TAT)
HOLLIE REID (EUR)
ASH LANCASTER (MOOR)
CASEY ADAMSON (SEY)
RUBY HIGGINS (BEARS)
KIM BORGER (BEARS)
OLIVIA MORRIS (EUR)
Taturamaysitthirdontheladder,butwiththebestdefensive returnfortheseasontheirdefensiveduoofMollyBoyleand EllaKightlyhavebothearnedaspotintheTeamoftheMonth. United’sGraceMcInernyalsoearnedaspotduetoherteam havingthenextbestdefence.OliviaMorrispickedherself,on thevergeofscoring300goalsfromsixgames,whileKim Borgercompletesadreamteamgoalingcircleduo. Euroahasthreerepresentativesintheteam,whileRuby Higginsdeservesherspotasoneofthegreatpassersinthe competition.Thereisagoaler,defenderandmid-court playeronthebench-allfromtopfiveteamssofarin2025.
CHARLIE ISAAC (KYAB)
FLETCHER EVERARD (MOOR)
JIM HENRY (EUROA)
JAI MILLIGAN (ECHUCA)
MAKAI CRONIN (ECHUCA)
ARCHIE WILSON (EUROA)
OLIVER WARBURTON (SWANS)
JESSE BROCK (SEY)
RORY KENNEDY (SEY)
ARCHER HEUSTON (UNITED)
REECE EVANS (MOOR)
TANNER MILLER (TAT)
TOBIE WOODFINE (ROCH)
HARPER SIMPSON (SWANS)
HENRY THOMAS (EUROA)
LUCAS CAVIGAN (SEY)
GVL DEBUTANTES GVL DEBUTANTES
Threeofthisseason’sdebutantesstartedtheirGVLcareersin spectacularfashion-HarperSimpson,TobieWoodfineand RoryKennedyallkickedthreegoalsintheirfirstsenior appearance. TheylineupalongsideLucasCavigan,whohas kickedthreegoalsinhisfirstfiveseniorgamesandTanner Miller-whoisamongseveralplayerswhohavesharedtheir seasonswiththeMurrayBushrangers.Millerisstilleligiblefor theBushrangersUnder16squad,buthasplayedthreegames withtheBulldogsseniorteam.
OliverWarburtonleadsthemid-field,whileJesseBrockfrom SeymourplayedhisbestgameagainstEuroaintheruck-33 hitoutsand4clearances.ForthereigningpremierJai MilliganandMakaiCroninhavebothmadetheirdebuts.
CAL HOWELL (EUROA)
NOAH WILLIAMS (MOOR)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Rochestrer’supsetroundtwowinagainstMooroopna,whenthey recoveredfromafourgoalquartertimedeficittoscore14goalsto fiveinthesecondterm,washeavilyinfluencedbysistersMaddyHolt andBridgetteMcCarty.Bridgettsplayedher200 gameearlierthis year,makingherandhusband(seniorfootballcaptainNathan)a ratherunusualpairinginthatbothareGVLLifeMembers.Like Mooroopna,whichwon25goalsinroundoneandby34goalsin roundthree,Rochesterhasbeenalittleinconsistenttostartthe seasonandhasonlyhadgungoalerTiaWebbintwoofthosegames. HeretheyaredefendingCatsgoalerClaudiaPlatfuss.
JuliaClark’spassingabilityhasbeenakeytothe3-1win/lossrecord ofTaturatostarttheseason-sometimesshedoesn’tevenhaveto belookingattheteammatesheispassingtheballtoinorderto completetheassist.Clarkhasn’tmissedaminuteofplayingtime thisseasonasherpartnershipwithCharletteGrayhasTaturasitting fourth.Itis,however,attheoppositeendofthecourtwheretheteam isreallyfiring-EllaKightly,MollyBoyleandswing-playerJasmine Fraserleadingwhatiscurrentlythebestdefenceinthecompetition. Theyare,however,onlythesixthhighestscoringoffenceafter 39 goalsinatightwinagainsttheSwansinRoundfour.
NotasingleGVLfootballexpert willdaretosuggestMooroopnais betteroffwithoutKeelinBetsonin itsline-up.Therankingpoints “beast”producedsomeofthe mostoutstandingindividual statisticalgamesonrecord, butisnowplayingwithSt Joseph’sintheGeelong league.Steppingupto takehisplaceinthe ruckhasbeenJack Johnston.Theformer keydefenderlast season averaged15.8 disposals,, kickedjustonegoalinhisfour games(whileplayingfourgames withPortMelbourneand has alreadymatchedhisthreegoal haulfromGVLseason2023. InfourgamesthisyearJohnston hasalreadyrackedupaPBof24 disposals,istopfive forhitouts andhitoutstoadvantage,has sevenclearancesagainstthe SheppSwansinalosingteam and hadaseasonhigh48hitouts ina187rankingpointgame againstRochester(againina losingteam),mwhereheand LoganCampbellweretheonly multiplegoalkickersfortheCats. JohnstonwhowaspartoftheGolf CoastSunsAcademyin2021 and priortothisyearwasknownmore asainterceptmarkingkey defender.HeandtheCatshave facedfourteamsinthetopsixso farthisyear,buthavegames againstEuroaandUnitedinthe nextfortnight,wheretheywill considerthemselvesachance.
MickMattinglywasthebest playerintheGVVLin2019, winningtheMorrisonMedal beforeplayingjustfivegames withKyabramin2021. Heplayedonlytwogameslast year,havingstarredwithWest Adelaidein2023.
TheformerNorthernKnights mid-fielderproducedthebest rankingpointsgameofthis seasonagainstBenallatwo weeksago-finishingwith241 rankingpoints.
Heleadsthecompetitionfor disposals,istopfivefor contestedpossessionsand leadsallcomersforground ballandlooseball gets.Heistopfive forclearancesand inhisonlyfullgame for2024had33 disposals.
His241pointgame includeda70point openingtermwherehehad11 disposals,sixtacklesandthree clearances.Hefinishedthe gamewitha69pointquarter thatincludedtwogoals,three inside50sandthree clearances.Hefinishedwith42 disposals,nineI50s,four rebound50s,eighttackles, nineclearances,10marksand threegoals.SheppBears’ XavierStevensonistheonly otherplayertoregister200pluspointsthisyear(207).
BeingatwotimeMorrisonMedal runner-upisprobablyenoughofahintastothe talentandconsistencyofKaineHerbert.Hehas thisyearsignalledhisintentionsto buildfurtheronhisreputation,having kickedsevengoalsinfourroundsand registeredaseasonhightallyof41 disposalsinthegameagainstSheppartonUnited. Hehad11I50sand10clearancesinthe180ranking poointgame.In2024hetwicewentpassed40 disposals,whilein2023hehad10ormoreI50sin sixgamesfortheyear.
STATS STATS
CobyJamesplayedonlytwo seniorGVLgamesin2023, whileonCoatesTalent Leaguedutieswiththe MurrayBushrangers.The Catswonthegameagainst SheppSwans,butlostin Round18toEchucabyjust fivepointsandwerebundled outofthefinalsbyEuroaa weeklater.Jameshad26 disposalsandsixI50sinthat Swansgameandin2023 continuedhisrisebyplaying 16games(heplayedfour gamesintheVFLwithNorth Melbourne)andtwice registeredaseasonhigh36 disposals.Hisbest2025 returnhasbeen109ranking pointsagainsttheCats.
PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Echucaco-captainJackMcHaleisa “doasIdo”typeleader,hopingto leadhisteamtoafourthstraightflag. McHalejusttippedMickMattinglyout forPlayeroftheMonthhonoursdueto histeamsittingtopoftheladder. McHalehasplayedeverygamethis year,havingrarelymissedsince makinghisdebutfortheMurray Bombersin2018-thesameyearas heplayed14gamesfortheBendigo PioneersintheCoatesTalentLeague. HearrivedatEchucahavingplayed 25gameswithMoamaasa16and17year-oldintheMurrayLeague. Herearehisseasonhighs:
Disposals-34(R4vBenalla) Rankingpoints-175(R4Benalla) Clearances-14(R4Benalla;10(R1 United,R2Euroa) Scoreinvolvements-13(R3Tatura) Tackles-16(R4Benalla) GroundBallGets-16(R5Bears) Contest.possessions-23(R5Bears)
-Neverwriteoffachampion,ora championteam-that’sthemessage thateveryotherteamintheGVLA gradenetballcompetitionshould rememberwhenitcomestogrand finalistofthelasttwoseasons, Echuca.
OurNetballeroftheMonth,AshHare, playedher300 gameagainstherold team,Kyabram,inRoundsixand despiteherteamsittingeighthonthe ladderno-onewillbediscountingthe MurrayBombersasathreatcome finalstime. th
Sheisthesecondplayertonotchthe milestonethisseason,SheppSwans starKateBetsonalsoreaching300. LastseasonEchucaplayedoffintheir secondgrandfinal,butthisyearthey havelosttothetwotopteams-Euroa andShepparton-alongwithTatura. Theywillbehopingtoimprovethat rankingwithgamesagainstother teamswithtwowinssofarthisyear.
KICK A GOAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS
JACK McHALE ASH
KaiMadgwickhassteppedup totheplateaftertheCatslosta significantamountofitsmidfieldfirepowerintheoff season.
In2023Madgwickwascredited withaseasonhighdisposal countof26,whichheachieved onthreeoccasions,inaseason wheretheCatsfinishedfifthon theladderwith11wins. Henevermanaged,however, tobreakthroughthe100 rankingpointbarrtierandonly oincemadeitintothenineties in2023.
Lastyearhe played15home anawaygames,alongwith twofinals,thefirstweekofthe finalsagainstKyabram producinghisseasonbest. Hehad36disposals,took12 marks,andhad131ranking pointsinasevenpointwin. During2024hetopped30 disposalstwiceduringthe homeandawayseason, includingagamewherehe hadaseasonhighsixI50s. Intheopeningroundofthis seasonheproducedacareer best39disposalgame,hada careerhigh12dispoals,laid fivetackles,andrackedup158 points.HemissedRoundfour, butinroundthreehadanother 31disposalsinagamewhere healsohadfiveI50sand11 clearances-topping100 rankingpointsforthesecond timethisseason.
KaiMadgwickhassteppedup totheplateaftertheCatslosta significantamountofitsmidfieldfirepowerintheoff season.
In2023Madgwickwascredited withaseasonhighdisposal countof26,whichheachieved onthreeoccasions,inaseason wheretheCatsfinishedfifthon theladderwith11wins.
Henevermanaged,however, tobreakthroughthe100 rankingpointbarrtierandonly oincemadeitintothenineties in2023.
Lastyearhe played15home anawaygames,alongwith
Benalla’srecordfromthelastthreeGVLseasonsis11 winsfrom59games,sopositivearehardto fineno matterhowhardyoulook.InthecaseofChris Welsh,however,youdonothavetolookveryfar atallinordertofindseveralpositivesabouthis game-inparticularhisamazingstatistical recordfortheSaints.In2024,whenhewas the mostprolificballwinnerintheGVL,hehadan averagedisposalcountof34.7(from,16games), hadaseasonhighof44touchesagainsteventual finalistRochester,and onlytwicefailedto makeit intothethirtiesfordisposals, Betweenround 13and17hedidn’tfgllout ofdouble figuresfor clearancesand twicehad10ore10or moreinside50stogowith10+disposalsand35+ possessions.
Welshthisyearhascontinuedhisamazingstatistical performances,openingtheseason witha 36-touchgameagainstSheppartonSwans, whentheSaintslostby89points.Healsohad nineclearancesinthatgame.He hasfinishe everygamethisyearwith110rankingpoints ormore. andinRound2againsttheBearshad10I50s
Therehavebeenanumberofimpressive debutantesintheGVLthisseason.Inhis firstgameMooroopna’sReeceEvanshad limitedopportunitiestomakeanimpact, butthatsoonchangedinroundtwo.He had15disposalsagainstRochester,had twoI50s,2clearancesandkickedagoal. Hehassincereturnedtoschoolandwas amemberoftheScotchCollegeteam whichopenedtheseasonagainstXavier CollegeonApril26intheAssociated PublicSchoolscompetition. ThreeofEvans’rookiecolleagueshave causedplentyoftalkwiththeirfirst gamesbecauseoftheirgoalkicking ability.InroundoneRochester’sTobie Woodfinekickedthreegoalsfromeight disposals,whileRoryKennedykicked threegoalsforSeymourinhisfirstgame (from12disposals)andShepparton SwansdebutanteHarperSimpson achievedthesamefeatagainstTatura withthreeI50marksandseven disposals.
EchucafirstgamerMakaiCronin kickedtwogoalsfromjusteight dispoaslsinhisRoundfourdebut.
SheppartonUnitedmaybe sittingfifthontheGVLA gradenetballladderatthe moment,butthedefensive unitoftheDemonscanhold theirheadshigh.Grace McInneny(pictured)leadsa defencewhichhasgivenup thesecondleastgoals (behindTatura)sofarthis season.Theyareaheadof Euroa,SheppartonBearsand Seymourintheirdefence, withMcInnenysupported mostlybyOliviaKirby,with TaylahLloydand NicoleForte indefensiverolesatdifferent stagesthisseason. Theyalmostdidenoughto causeanearlyseasonupset againstlastyear’sgrand finalist-Echuca-which scoredjust44goalsatthe Demonslostbythreegoals.
GennaOgierisamongseveralGVLAgradenetballers wearingdifferentcoloursthisyear. LastyearshewasaSheppartonBearandshot106 goalsfortheseason. TheCatslosttotheBearsin Roundfourthisyear.
Ogier,whoisnowplayingwithhersisterCharlotte, hasshot42goalsfortheyearandhasworkedat differenttimeswithClaudiaPlatfussandAsh Lancasterinthegoalingcircle.
EllaKightlyisnowatTaturaandhasbeenastarin defencefortheBulldogs,havingswitchedoverfrom SheppUnited.
FormerUnitedgoalerTamSkinnerhasn’tyethadthe impactonKyabramshewouldhaveliked,butthe seasonisinitsinfancy.
TaylorLloydhasmovedfromtheCatstoUnitedand hashadapositive influenceonthedefensiveunit.
FROM THE PAST
2015
2005
Round1
April12
-JasonMorganwasbeston groundasKyabramstarted theseasonwitha15point winagainstSheppUnited.
PaulBurnett,Andrew SeirakowskiandMark Adamson(sixgoals)were thestarsofthewin,whilefor theSwansitwasBrett Warburton,RamadanYze andthreegoalsfromDamien Yzewhichwerethestandout performances.
-RhysArchardkickedfour goalsandwasbeston groundforEchucainits38 pointwinagainstRochester.
-MattForyskickednine goalsforUnitedasitwonby 70pointsagainstTatura, PaulKirbyandMickRoberts thebestplayersforTatura.
-Tongalalostby96pointsto Shepparton,withAndrew Reidkickingfourgoalsfor theBlues.
Round4
May3
-Euroawassittingunbearten ontopoftheladder,theonly teamnottohavelosta game,havingjustbeaten fourthrankedShepparton Bearsby33points.
HaydenLamarokickedsix goalsandCraigBamford fourinthewin,witheight goalsfromAnthony Mellingtonahighlightforthe Bears.
AfterfourroundBenallastar RickySymeshad24goals, whileMellington(22)and Kyabram’sAdamson(20) werenottoofarbehind.
JasonMorganwonKyabram’sbestandfairestin2005.
2005
-MattCollingskicked10 goalsforSeymourina110 pointwinagainstTatura. Hadhadaconstantsupply fromBernieHaberman,Peter KingandBenDavey,who kickedthreegoals.
-TrentHottonwasbeston groundforMansfieldas DavidMenschkickedfive goalsinthe11pointwin againstEchuca.
Round6
May24
-SaadSaadkickedeight goalsforSeymour(27forthe season)astheymovedto thirdontheladderiwthawin againstMansfield.Michael Thomson,RobbieInnessand RodneyVanReitwerethe Lionsbestinthevictory.
2005
JararodSutherlandwasbest ongroundforSheppSwans initsninepointwinagainst United,leavingtheteamin sixthplaceaftersixrounds. HehadsupportfromHayden BestandJasonRachele. -Anthony“Tank”McPhee kickedsixgoalsin Rochester’sonepointwin againstShepparton.Third fromthebottomRochester beatthefourthranked SheppartonBearsbykicking sevengoalstofourinthe secondtermandnevergave upthelead.DeanMoonwas bestfortheTigers,withChris McCartyandDylanCuttriss alsofeaturing. -AnthonyStevenskicked threegoalsina89point BenallawinagainstTongala.
Fourweeksintothe2015 seasontherewasonlyone unbeatenteam,Rochester havingjustbeaten Sheppartonby36pointswith SteveStroobantskicking fourgoals. DaveWilliamswasbeston mgroundandHeathAitken wasalsoastarfortheTigers. -NickGraywasbeston groundforMansfieldasit beatTaturaby63pointson thebackofthreeAdam Boshevskigoals. Round10
July1
-Rochesterwasstill unbeaten,threegamesclear ofsecondrankedKyabram. TheTigershadjustbeaten Unitedby30points,Nathan MarroneandAshWatson starsinthewin.
Kyabramhadjustlostits thirdgameoftheyear,to Seymour,asPaulScanlon andJasonColedominated themid-fieldbattle. JustinMaddernfromthe Swansledthegoalkicking with48goals,threeclearof JoshMellingtonfrom Benalla.
CobyMcCarthyin2015 whenhewaspickedinthe VicCountryUnder16team toplayontheGoldCoast.
KICK A GOAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS
PHOTO: PAUL MARTIN
KimBorgerisagainhotontheheals ofthemostprolificgoalscorerinthe GVLAgradenetballcompetition-Euroa premiershipstarOliviaMorris. Borger’sBearsandMorris’Magpiesare bothunbeatenthisseasonandtheyare theonlytwogoalerswhohaveshotin excessof200goalsfortheseason. Morrishas260goalsandBorger214, althoughtheBearsskiphasonly gonepastthe50-goalmarkonce thisseason(inRoundone,with 52goals).Morrishaspassedthe halfcenturymarkinthreeofher games,withaseasonhighof60 goalsinroundone.
Lastseason.Morrisfinishedthe yearwith907goalsandBorger shot809fortheyear(her powerfulreboundingafeature ofhergame.Otherstarslast yearwhoareagainpostingbig nnumbersareSwansstar NatashaAtkinson-Brownand Mooroopna’sAshLancaster.
STATS
MansfieldstarMatthewKinghas nowstrungtogethersixstraight 30+-disposalgamesafter playinginRound18lastyearand thenbeingadominantplayerof 2025.Kinghad33disposalsinlast year’s41-pointfinalroundwin againstEuroaandhasstrung togethergamesof37,33,32,33 and38disposalssofarthis season.
Hehad177rankingpointswhen hehadfourtackles,sixI50sand 10scoreinvolvements-against theunbeatenBombers. WiththeNorthernBullantslast yearKingaveraged21.1disposals in18games.Heturnedplentyof headswiththeOakleighChargers in2016-17andisoneoftheEagles designatedkickers-his173 disposslsbrokendowninto130 kicksand43handballs.
PHOTO: PAUL MARTIN
NathanHrovatseemstoliks playingagainstTatura,ifhis statisticalreturnfromthelast coupleofseasonsisany indication.
Hrovat,now30-years-old, played30gameswiththe WesternBulldogsand39 gameswithNorthMelbourne from2013-19,buthishighest everstatisticalreturnwas30 -inRound18againstSydney inalosingteamwhenhe kickedonegoalandhadfour clearances.
AgainstTaturainthelast threeseasonshehashad disposalcountsof41(2024) andmostrecently,49,inthe 72pointroundfourwinunder lightsonAnzacDay.
Hrovathad15disposalsinthe openingterm,thenfive clearancesandthreetackles inthesecond.Hefollowed thatupwitha16-touch thirdtermandthen cappedoffhisnight withagoaland anotherthreeclearancesfinishingwith12clearances, sixtackles,fiveI50sandtwo goalsforthegame(199 rankingpoints,whichwas fivemorethanhisprevious best-164vBears,R17,2023).
STATS STATS
NickGray’sreturntoMansfieldthisseasonhashadan immediateimpactontheEagles-histacklingandclearance workahighlightafterlaying35tackles(14againstKyabram)in thelastthreeweeks.Healsoaveragednineclearancesagame. GraymadehisseniordebutwithMansfieldwaybackin2010,a yearaftertheEagleswontheflag. Afterastandout2012season heplayed75gamesinthenextfiveyearswithCollingwood’sVFL team.Inthreeofthoseseasonsheplayedahandfulofgamesfor theEagleswhentheMagpieshadthebye.
PHOTO: PAUL MARTIN
KaylahMoon(pictured)is oneoftheRochesterAgrade debutanteswhohasher sightssetontakingtheteam backintotheGVLAgrade finals.TheTigerettesarea teamontherise-oneofhalf adozenteamswhowillfight itoutforthelasttwospotsin thefinalsthisyear.Reigning premierEuroa,SheppBears, TaturaandSeymourlookto belocksforthefinalsthis year,withRochester, Echuca,SheppartonSwans, UnitedandEchucaall battlingitouttocompetein September. Ithasbeensometimesince theteamhasmadethe finals,butMoonandChance Powles,alongwithanother newcomerAvaNihillhave theteampoisedfora potentialreturntofinals.
CaidenPhillipshashadagreatstarttothe 2025season,whichwillsurprisenobodywho followedhisprogresslastseason. Nowwithhisnewclub,Shepparton United, hewopenedtheseasonwith14disposals againstreigningpremierEchuca.Healso tookthreeinterceptmarksandfollowedthat upwithaseasonhigh99rankingpointsin Roundthreeagainsttheother2024grand finalist-SheppBears. Hehad17disposals(14intercepts)inthat game,sixrebound50sandthreeinside50s. Phillipsplayednineseniorgameswith SheppSwanslastseason,whilealso debutingwiththeMurrayBushrangersand featuringamongthebestplayersonthe groundinaonepointlosstoEchucainthe GVLUnder18grandfinallastyear. Hecomesupagainsthisoldteam,including Under18grandfinalteammatesKade Anderson,SamBicknell, andHarper Simpson,inRoundseven.
PHOTOGRAPHY
EllieFuhrmeisterisamonganumberofGVLAgradenetballerswhohave notchedmilestonesthisyear,havingbeenrecognisedearlyintheyear forplaying200games-earningleaguelifemembership. Elliehascoached,captainedandplayedinmultiplepremierships, includingahistoricseniornetballcleansweepin2022. Itwasaspecialmomentforthestargoaler,whositssixthonthelistof goalscorersthisyearwith113,joiningseveralfamilymemberswhoare SFNClifemembers-parentsGerardandSandra,sisterLyndel,uncle MattandauntiesRonni,RosandPaulineasLifeMembersoftheSFNC.
LewisMcShanestartedtheseasoninspectacularfashion,butitcouldbeen evenmoreimpressiveifnotforsomeinaccuratekickingatgoal.Inthe openingtworoundsMcShanekicked11goalsandsevenbehinds,hisabilityto findtheballinattackafeatureofhisseason.Inthelastthreeweekshehas kickedamoreimpressiveeightgoalsandfivebehinds,pickingupaseason high26disposalsagainsttheMurrayBombersonDeakinReserveinthegrand finalreplay.
InthelastthreeweeksMcShane’sGroundBallGetstotalhasgrown dramatically.Hehadonlyfiveinthefirsttwoweeks,butinthelastthreeweeks hashad26.Despitehisstatusastheleague’sleadinggoalkickerhehashad vfourrebound50sthisseasonand isontracktosmashhis22game-41goal 2024season.Hehasalreadybetterhisseasonhighfromlast yearoffourgoals(achievedonthreeoccasions)
EarlierthisyearEuroa’sall-conqueringnetballteam-and clubpresidentScottWatson-tookalittletimetocelebrate its2024successbyshowingoffthelatestadditionstothe trophycabinet.ScottiswithpremiershipcoachEllie WarnockandAgradeassistant,coachKellyHill-a memberoftheEuroaBgradepremiershipteam. Euroaisintracktocontestanotherfinalsseriesthisyear afterfeaturinginbothofthelasttwograndfinals. Whiletheyhavethebestoffensiveunitinthecompetition theyareratedonlysixthwhenitcomestoscoresagainstin 2025.Tatura’sdefencehashadtheleastgoalsscored againstitin2025,withUnited,Mooroopna,Shepparotn BearsandSheppSwansalsoaheadoftheMagpies. Lastseasontheyhadthebestdefencebyfar,butwere secondtoMooroopnaforgoalsscoredduringtheseason.
Makingyourseniorfootballdebuthasbecomesomewhat ofafamilyaffairinrecentyearsandKyabram’sCharlie Isaac(withparentsIanandKristen)isamongseveral playerswhohavedebutedatthetoplevelin2025.Hehas playedthreegameswiththeBombersthisseasonand remainseligibleforUnder18football.Therehavebeen severalspectaculardebutsthisseason,andlastweekend SheppartonBearsgoalsneakSamO’Brienjoinedthatelite “firstkickinseniorfootballwasagoal”clubintheRound fivegroundfinalreplayagainstEchucainRoundfive. Rochester’sTobieWoodfine,SwansgoalkickerHarper SimpsonandSeymourstarRoryKennedyallkickedthree goalsondebutwiththeirrespectiveclubs.