BY DYLAN BOLCH & MAE JAMES
Round 1 has come and gone as the South Metro Junior Football League’s (SMJFL) member clubs settle back into the swing of footy season.
Round 2 falls on Sunday 25 April this year, with many of the SMJFL’s member clubs holding ceremonies to commemorate ANZAC Day and acknowledge the men and women who fought for their country.
Along with ANZAC Day, clubs will need to prepare themselves for some classic wet-weather footy.
The fields are sure to be muddy when SMJFL kids head out on the field for the second time this season.
Here’s the Round 2 SMJFL Preview.
U8 Mixed Maroon – Caulfield Bears JFC 008 vs Ajax Under 8 Stars
Sunday, 9:00am, Koornang Park
The Caulfield Bears and Ajax Stars’ youngest are eager to be heading back onto the field after getting their first taste of a traditional football game last week.
It will also be the players’ first experience playing in the rain and it’s sure to be a whole lot of fun. You can head over to Koornang Park if you want to see why the kids love playing in the wet-weather – puddle splashing included!
U10 Mixed Yellow – Highett Under 10s Yellow vs U10 SPMJFC Chris’ Doggies
Sunday, 1:30pm, Highett Reserve Oval 1
The Highett Doggies and Saint Paul’s McKinnon Doggies will be looking to find out who reigns the ‘top dog’ this Sunday. We will see which team has more bite and which has more bark.
Highett FC will fully embrace the ANZAC Day spirit with plenty of festivities taking place in the afternoon. Following the match at 3:00pm, there will be a ‘Last Post’ bugle call, a minute of silent, an ‘In Flanders Fields’ poem recitation and a special parents-take-kids novelty match.
U13 Mixed Div 1 – Brighton Beach U13 Macgowan vs East Brighton Vampires JFC – Div 1 Mount / Cripps
Sunday, 11:30am, William Street Reserve
Cross-town rivals Brighton Beach and the East Brighton Vampires will face off at 11:30am this Sunday. Both teams won their Round 1 hit-offs, so both teams will be brimming with confidence heading into Round 2.
East Brighton piled on eight goals to one in the second half against East Sandringham, with scores just one point the difference at the main break. Brighton Beach’s first half against the Ajax Under 13 Comets was enough to ensure victory in their matchup, with Marcel Szynkowski’s three goals proving pivotal to the result.
U15 Boys Div 1 – Mordialloc Braeside JFC U15 Div 1 vs St Kilda City JFC Inc.
Sunday, 9:30am, Gerry Green Reserve
Mordialloc Braeside host St Kilda City at Gerry Green on Sunday in what promises to be a feisty affair. St Kilda City were in scintillating form in their return to footy last week, defeating East Malvern JFC (Blue) by 53 points.
Levi Ashcroft started his 2021 campaign off in flying fashion, booting six goals. Mordialloc Braeside fell 17 points short of the East Brighton Vampires JFC in their Round 1 encounter, but there was plenty to like about their performance. Ethan Nancarrow and Will Kingston both kicked three majors and were a threat around goals for the Mustangs.
U16 Girls Orange – Port Melbourne Colts JFC vs Prahran JFC U16G McKay / McMurrick
Sunday, 3:00pm, Murphy Reserve – Woodruff Oval
The Port Melbourne Colts JFC girls return to their home deck for the first time since 2019 to host Prahran JFC. Both teams won their respective matchups last week. Prahran beat St Kilda City JFC by 22 points whilst Port Melbourne overcame the South Melbourne Districts by 28 points. In a post-match interview with the SMJFL, the Prahran girls were buzzing with excitement.
Lily Wallace, 15, said “I loved playing with all of our friends.”
Harriet Kogler, also 15, said that she relished the competitive aspect of the return to football.
“My favourite part of being back playing is being able to tackle,” she said.
Port Melbourne’s Siena Farrell will be looking to continue her hot start to 2021 as well, after kicking a league-high six goals against St Kilda City. Farrell is one of only two girls to have kicked multiple goals in Round 1 in the U16 Girls Orange group, along with Charlotte Evans from SMDFC with two goals.
U17 ½ Boys Div 2 – DJFC Under 17 – Thomas vs Bentleigh JFC
Sunday, 3:00pm, Souter Ovel
The Bentleigh Demons will be heading over to the Dingley Dingoes’ home ground this Sunday for what is looking to be a standout game. The first and third place ladder holders both scored wins last weekend and will both be looking to continue their streaks.
The intensity is sure to be high. Both teams have a selection of standout goal kickers including Dingoes gun Kyden Vella who snapped up four goals last week, and Bentleigh pair Charles Parkin and Lachlan Lawrence who put away three goals respectively.
