Season 1988
In a fiercely contested game the Under 15 premiership was won by
Imperials,
its third, by defeating Mildura, 10.8 (68) to 5.6 (36). The standard of play
was excellent, with Mildura taking a six-point lead at the first change,only to
see Imperials fight back in the second term to reverse the margin at half time.
Imps gained the initiative in the third quarter when they kicked 3.1 against the
slight breeze to Mildura's 1.2, to increase their lead to 14 points at the last change.
Imps then proceeded to wrap up the premiership with a further 3 goals to Mildura's
1 and win by 32 points.
Mildura's Clinton Snell was judged best player on the ground by the umpires and
was awarded the John Groves Memorial Medal.
Best Players: Imperials:- C Woods, D Lynch, M Sharman, L Wilkinson, S Carr,
L Young, C Watkins, S Crotty, S Scott
Mildura:- C Snell, B Goss, H Jackson, S DeRosa, A Watson
Goals: Imperials:- M Sharman 5; L Wilkinson, R Knights 2; S Carr 1
Mildura:- S Bell 2; C Pearson, A Watson, S Woods 1
Under 15 Ladder
1
|
Imperials
|
48
|
2
|
Robinvale
|
44
|
3
|
Mildura
|
44
|
4
|
Red Cliffs
|
40
|
5
|
Wentworth
|
40
|
6
|
South Mildura
|
36
|
7
|
Irymple
|
16
|
8
|
Merbein
|
12
|
The Under 13 premiership was won by
Mildura,
its second,
by defeating Imperials, 11.14 (80) to 2.2 (14). Mildura with their
taller players were far too strong for the gallant Imperials. Imperials
were still in the game at half time but failed to score in the
second half and Mildura raced away to be winners by 66 points.
Best Players: Mildura:- S Cameron, L Burnham, J Hosking, A Driver,
D Bergin, T Byrne, A Gotch, A Fricke
Imperials:- T Anderson, M Kee, C Lawry, A Sharman, N McTaggart, T Clarke
Goals: Mildura:- D Bergin 4; L Burnham 2; S Sleep, J Hosking, T Byrne,
A Fricke, A Gotch 1
Imperials:- M Adamson, C Sharman 1
Under 13 Ladder
1
|
Mildura
|
52
|
2
|
Imperials
|
52
|
3
|
Euston
|
36
|
4
|
Robinvale
|
36
|
5
|
Irymple
|
32
|
6
|
Wentworth
|
24
|
7
|
Merbein
|
20
|
8
|
Red Cliffs
|
20
|
9
|
South Mildura
|
8
|
Sam DeRosa of Mildura won the Virgona Medal.
Virgona Medal Votes
S DeRosa
|
Mildura
|
20
|
R Bowden
|
Robinvale
|
14
|
S Neyland
|
Robimvale
|
12
|
B McKinnon
|
Imperials
|
11
|
L. Wilkinson
|
Imperials
|
10
|
A Goldup
|
Red Cliffs
|
10
|
V Saris
|
Red Cliffs
|
10
|
S Perry
|
Wentworth
|
9
|
Chris Bulzomi of Euston won the Hynes Medal.
Hynes Medal Votes
C Bulzomi
|
Euston
|
28
|
M Adamson
|
Imperials
|
25
|
S Cameron
|
Mildura
|
19
|
D Falvo
|
Euston
|
15
|
T Hill
|
Robinvale
|
15
|
J McPhee
|
Irymple
|
15
|
L Garraway
|
Irymple
|
15
|
J Hosking
|
Mildura
|
13
|
L Burns
|
Merbein
|
12
|
J Spivey
|
South Mildura
|
11
|
Participating Clubs
1
|
Alcheringa U11 team only
|
2
|
Euston No U15 team
|
3
|
Imperials
|
4
|
Irymple
|
5
|
Merbein
|
6
|
Mildura
|
7
|
Red Cliffs
|
8
|
Robinvale No U11 team
|
9
|
South Mildura
|
10
|
Wentworth
|
Club Delegates
Alcheringa
|
Mr Ian Roberts
|
Euston
|
Mr Geoff Windmill
|
Imperials
|
Mr Peter Adair
|
Irymple
|
Mr John Hogan
|
Merbein
|
Mr Paul Mannix
|
Mildura
|
Mr Peter O'Toole
|
Red Cliffs
|
Mr Murray Higgins
|
Robinvale
|
Mr Keven Stafford
|
South Mildura
|
Mrs Janet King
|
Wentworth
|
Mr Rod Nokes
|
The VFL Vic Kick Footy Program was introduced.
The Junior Development Board took over the organisation
of the Under 15 School Boys. Consequently, all proceeds from
blanket collections will go to junior football
Office Bearers
Patron
|
Mr Neil Hurley
|
Chairman
|
Mr William Hynes
|
Vice Chairman Registrations
|
Mr Peter O'Toole
|
Vice Chairman Matches
|
Mr Robert Virgona
|
Secretary
|
Mrs Evelyn Andrew
|
Treasurer
|
Mr William Antonie
|
SJFL Development Officer
|
Mr Gordon Casey
|
Club Representative
|
Mr Peter Adair
|
VFDF Development Officer
|
Mr Brian Weightman
|
Comments from Peter O'Toole in the
Sunraysia Football Guide
1988 will best be remembered as the year in which we
established an initiative to produce quality umpires by forming
the Sunraysia Junior Football Umpires Association which already
is starting to show results.
On the negative side the SJFL U15 division is still subject to
a two byes per week handicap, however, I feel that reaction
among clubs will see this problem being rectified before
the start of next season.
More words of wisdom from Peter O'Toole
In a Sunraysia Football Guide Peter mentioned the importance
of trying to manufacture a 50% up and 50% stay policy in
the structure of a Junior club.
To explain the policy and its future ramifications the Red Cliffs'
1987 U13 premiership team was used as an example. Only about
ten of the lads that played in this team are eligible to play
this year at the U13 grade.
By the time this 1987 U13 team goes out of the U17 grade,
Red Cliffs will have over 20 lads looking for a game at the
Reserves and Senior level. Junior footballers only have a
two-year life span because of the age conditions. On leaving
U17 players can have a 10+-year football life span.
It is obvious that there will be a big degree of player loss at
Red Cliffs in 1993 as this U13 squad, on progressing through the
U17s, have to compete against the 10+ football life players
for a game. By contrast the 1987 U13 runners up, Mildura,
will have by 1993 12 boys progressing though the system into
Reserve and Senior grade football. Of these 12 boys, taking
into consideration their present attitudes and rate of development,
I rate nine of them of being able to handle Reserve and Senior
grade football after they finish their U17 program.
Taking into account that approximately half of these will go
out of the district for further schooling or employment I would
expect about five lads to take a place, and be qualified to do so,
in the Senior part of the club.
Unless Red Cliffs can re-structure at the Junior level, the
expected 1993 problem will become an annual event after that.
Knowing the high calibre of the tiger development program, I am
sure they will come up with a solution to this famine or glut problem.