The AFL New Zealand Youth competition was back in full swing in Auckland and Wellington over the weekend after taking a break for the Labour Day long weekend.
Auckland
On a tremendous day in Auckland, the Youth Girls Lions took on the Bulldogs in what was an exciting game. First gamer Daina Brazier (Massey High School) showed potential while Whangaparaoa College student Buell Verkade produced some great passages of play. 2016 Female player of the year Killarney Morey (Epsom Girls Grammar) was in fine form and she helped the Lions to a victory by kicking 3 goals. NZ Kahu Youth Girls Captain Kayla Paniora lead the way for the Bulldogs as she guided the new players in the team around the field. O’Shea Macmillan (Whangarei Girls High School) and Jasmine Paki (Epsom Girls Grammar) had outstanding games for the second week in a row.
Goalscorers:
Lions: Killarney Morey 3, Jolyn Collins 2, Daina Brazier
Bulldogs: Kayla Paniora 2, Charley Green, Jasmine Paki
Best Players:
Lions: Jaimee Wyatt
Bulldogs: Jasmine Paki
In the U14 Boys game, the Tigers took on the Magpies with the Tigers taking the honours. Player of the day Brodie Richardson (Stonefields) provided great tackling pressure all game as Luke Buckley (Albany Junior High School) showed off his AFL skills with his accurate kicking and handpassing. Westlake Boys High School student Brook Robson was player of the day for the Magpies.
Goalscorers:
Tigers: Levi Boyd 3, Flynn Robbins 1
Magpies: Tom Hack 1
Best Players:
Tigers: Brodie Richardson
Magpies: Brook Robson
In the U17 competition, all three sides had a win as the Crows, Suns and Saints put on a great display of AFL footy. Lachlan Kennedy (Whangarei Boys High School) worked on his run off the half back flank and was great in defence as he was the player of the day for the Crows. Aidan Anthony Collins (Massey High) got better and better as the day went on and was awarded player of the day for the Suns. Declan Crann followed up his form from last week and he was unstoppable in the middle of the field and linked well with Saints player of the day Levi Boyd (Rutherford College) who kicked a number of goals in the forward line.
Game 1: Suns vs Saints
Goalscorers:
Saints: Levi Boyd 2, Declan Crann, Luke Dunning, Couper Jones, Quin Pocock, Daniel Howie
Suns: Clayton Walters
Game 2: Crows vs Saints
Goalscorers:
Crows: Dawson Mele Nanai, Jackson Hemmingsen, Lachlan Kennedy
Game 3: Crows vs Suns
Goalscorers:
Suns: Lewis Barrow-Young 2, Aidan Anthony Collins, David Stein
Crows: Lachlan Kennedy
Best Players:
Crows: Lachlan Kennedy
Saints: Levi Boyd
Suns: Aidan Anthony Collins
Wellington
A close game in the Wellington U14 Boys competition as the Lions edged the Bulldogs by 2 points at Hutt Park in Seaview. Wellington College superstar Milo Crispin backed up his four goals from last round to slot another three goals. George Hopkins was awarded the player of the day for the Lions with his sharp skills and all round effort. The Bulldogs fell just short but some exceptional performances from Doug McJorrow (Scots College), Cam Kerr (Palmerston North Boys High) and Will Anderson (Karori School) along with player of the day Sam Morgan (Fergusson Intermediate) means they will come back strong next week.
Goalscorers:
Lions: Milo Crispin 3, Bailee Laurenson, Munro Short
Bulldogs: Douglas McJorrow 2, Sam Morgan 2, Jaydn Che Robson
Best Players:
Lions: Milo Crispin
Bulldogs: Sam Morgan
