Severely undermanned Hoppers show grit

Waaia: Charlie Burrows 8, Brayden Coates 2, Mark Meyland 2, Samuel Richardson 2, Mark Benjamin 1, Jayden Clarke 1, Jesse Trower 1.

Best: Rennie: Hamish Curtis, Tom McKimmie, Harry Haley, Luke Slattery, Ben Coghill, Oliver Rae.

Waaia: Jesse Trower, Charlie Burrows, Lachlan Wright, Brayden Coates, Dylan Cornick.

Rennie hosted Waaia on a perfect day for footy at the magnificently manicured Rennie Recreation Reserve.

The Hoppers were able to match Waaia in the first quarter, converting their opportunities up forward, but it was largely one way traffic after quarter time.

Hamish Curtis and Tom McKimmie were able to provide some drive and contest through the midfield, and Jack Kennedy presented well all day.

On a day when the Hoppers were severely undermanned, there were shining lights through the younger players in Luke Slattery, Harry Hogan and Ben Kennedy.

Congratulations to Jacob Palmer and Hugh Fisher on their first seniors’ games. Coach Harry Haley can take some positives away from the weekend with the young talent emerging out at Bull Plain road. Ben Coghill was the only multiple goalkicker with 2.

Reserves

Rennie 5.3.33 defeated by Waaia 15.11.101.

The reserves tried hard but failed against a cleaner side at this stage of the year. Bolstered by the return of Marc “Sauce” Lonergan and premiership superstar Dean Bigger they jumped out to an early lead mainly due to the outstanding ruck work of Hugh Fisher and the trusty forward craft of peacock Phibbs.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next few quarters with Rennie enjoying some quality periods due to some shrewd positional changes from the sidelines.

Wolfe had hands full at full back and Westwood needed some air after his newly found extraction skills.

But after a good 3 quarters the 2’s were overrun in the last quarter with Waaia kicking 6 unanswered goals. Not a great result but there was plenty of positives from the day.

Goals: Lachlan Elliott 2, Cooper Jones 2, Benjamin James 1.

Best: Dean Bigger, Will Taylor, Benjamin James, Alexander Donovan, Cooper Jones, Oliver Cope.

Awards: Cellarbrations - Dean Bigger, Yarrawonga Hotel - Will Taylor, ClubMulwala - Ben James, Bi Rite Electrical - Alex Donovan, Lake Mulwala Bakery - Cooper Jones.

Under 17s

Rennie 12.14.86 defeated Waaia 7.2.44.

After a rough loss to Katamatite, the young Hoppers headed back to Rennie to compete against Waaia.

The sun was shining early, and so were the Hoppers, getting a couple of goals early in the first until the good ball users of Waaia took control, slowing the game down completely and playing contently at their own pace until a couple of injuries made the quarter come to a quick end.

In the second term, Kennedy took control immediately, kicking set shots from all over the field and dishing the ball out to his teammates for better options.

The tough ruckwork of Van Maanen knocking it forward to the crumbers in Slattery and Hogan led to a 38 point lead at halftime.

Waaia was straight off the mark in the third, kicking several goals with the movement of the ball too agile for the Hoppers, as they kicked 6 straight and brought the game within 3 goals.

In the last quarter, the Hoppers defence bounced back and took control of the game, only conceding a single point for the quarter.

The movement of the ball through Brogan, Lovel and Cope led the Hoppers to break away, winning the game by 42. Kennedy kicked 6 and Hogan 3.

Best: Ben Kennedy, Marcus vanMaanen, Harry Hogan, Luke Slattery, Oliver Cope, Tom Lovel.

Awards: Murray Valley Rural Services - Ben Kennedy, Paternoster Farms - Marcus Van Maanen, Wingates - Harry Hogan, Bull Plain Farms - Ollie Cope, C & T Rhodes - Daniel Herrod.

Under 14s

Rennie 5.3.33 defeated Waaia 10.8.68

On a beautiful morning for football the team had to adjust to cover a few players that were missing. It was evident in the first quarter and as the game played out that the message was well received as Jy Langford and Eliot Bye got plenty of the ball in strong defensive efforts.

Jy got so much of the ball that he had to come to the bench for a rest at the end of the second quarter feeling ill. It was diagnosed on the bench as a case of leather poisoning.

A few goals were being kicked by the Waaia forwards and the change was made to put Blair Strawhorn into the backline where he played a strong generals role defending strongly and organising the defenders. The midfielders worked hard without any rest for the day.

Tyler Clarkson battled hard in the ruck and left nothing in the tank at the end of the game. Aiden Lawless played a strong 4 quarter game and his efforts grew stronger as the game played out, a big tackle in the last quarter highlighting the continued effort over the 4 quarters.

Michelle Coulter played a strong running game on the wing and managed to push forward and get on the end of a pass from Aiden to take a strong mark and kick her first goal, which was reward for effort.

Chase Oliver played his strongest game for the fourths and got himself into the play. Chase Payne was able to celebrate the birth of his new sister with a goal.

The game didn’t end with the scoreboard the way that the Hoppers wanted but their effort on the ground couldn’t be questioned and the spread across the team was even.

Goal kickers for the day were Michelle Coulter 1, Fraser Nagle 1, Aiden Lawless 1, Chase Payne 1 and Jasper Rhodes 1.

Best: Blair Strawhorn, Aiden Lawless, Jye Langford, Eliot Bye, Chase Oliver, Michelle Coulter.

Awards: I&P Ferguson - Blair Stawhorn, Kennedy Builders - Aiden Lawless, STF Engineering - Jye Langford, Jarobee farms - Elliot Bye, Lake Mulwala Bakery - Chase Oliver, Border Concrete Plumbing - Michelle Coulter.

Under 11s

The Under 11s had a great run around early and were able to help Waaia out with a few extra players. The focus is on sharing the ball, looking for teammates and linking up together in chains of play.

Awards: RedAg - Harry Giblett, Bigger Floorworld - Nixon Nunn, Eternal Paws - Charlie Bourke.

Off to Katandra this week then looking forward to seeing many at the Mulwala Water Ski Club for the awards.