By KATH GANNAWAY
THE most promising young football talent from around the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges headed south over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend to represent the DRJFL in the annual interleague competition.
The under-11s, under-12s and under-13s players – representing 12 clubs – played in the Price-Purdon Academy Goodwill Youth Program on Sunday in sunny but chilling conditions at Casey Fields.
Under-13 coach, Yarra Glen’s Brad Hall said the competition was an opportunity for the players to compete against kids of the same age level, often with kids they went to school with but who played for different clubs, and to experience different game styles.
“Everyone gets the chance to get good game time and play in different positions.
“It’s about football development, and it’s not a winning and losing thing, there’s still a strong element of participation as well as competitiveness.”
Best-on-ground awards went to Patrick Huynh from Wesburn in the under-11s, Jude Hay from Woori Yallock in the under-12s and Yarra Glen’s Harrison Keeling in the under-13s.
DRJFL representative teams in the under-14s, under-15s, under-16s and under-17s played on Saturday and Monday in the Subway Dandenong Junior Carnival against South East Juniors, Frankston District and Mornington Peninsula.
