YVMDFL pipped at the final siren

By Stephen Walter
IN PERFECT weather, YVMDFL travelled to St Arnaud on Saturday to play North Central/Mallee Leagues in senior and Under 18 football and senior netball.
With a huge crowd in attendance, the senior YVMDFL team was pipped at the siren with North Central/Mallee’s last kick of the game resulting in a goal.
In a high standard game, YVMDFL always looked in control and got off to a flyer with a seven goal to three opening term.
Goal sneak Brendan James was prominent early in the game kicking three goals. From quarter time the game was an arm wrestle although YVMDFL were never headed until the last 20 seconds of the game.
It was probably bad kicking that cost the YVMDFL with a 1 goal 6 behind last quarter.
Mark Sandilands, YVMDFL coach was disappointed with the final result but had nothing but praise for the efforts of his team.
Final scores: North Central/Mallee 15.7.97 d YVMDFL 13.17.95.
Daniel Ryan with 3 goals was a solid performer and was well supported by Sam Turner 2, Robert Allan 2 and Cam Buckland 2.
Danny Ryan and Ryan Van Hoorn were YVMDFL’s best a-field players.
Earlier, the Under 18s set the scene with a 99-point win, 19.16.103 to North Central/Mallee 5.1.31.
A seven-goal first quarter laid the foundations with an outstanding all-round team performance.
James Shambrook, captain and full forward was best on ground with an eight-goal haul in an awesome performance. He was well supported by Monbulk pair Justin Creed (three goals) and Kieran Gray 2.
Dean Lunn-Wilson also played well providing great drive on the wing with James Dunnett showing his potential with a solid effort for all four quarters.
The YVMDFL’s netball team asserted their dominance early and ran away with a 66-33 win over North Central.
Captain Jade Hottes showed her class with a brilliant best on court performance.
Kate Youlton was on fire up forward shooting 40 goals and Sam Coller was evergreen with her performance as goal defence and her regular intercepts were a key factor in the YVMDFL victory.
Youngster Mary Livesy was also dominant in the goalkeeping position thwarting many attacking moves from North Central.
Sarah Hogan, Kath Brown, Rachel Snell and Courtney McDonald were also dominant players on the day.