Sport
21 June, 2024
Teams perform well in Mildura
SOUTH West Victorian Football Association (SWVFA) has sent its largest contingent ever to this year’s Country Championships.
More than 90 players from the association competed in the tournament, held in Mildura over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Playing across seven divisions, the players performed remarkably well against strong opposition.
The players were selected from all eight clubs within the SWVFA including the Warrnambool Wolves and Rangers, Hamilton Raiders, Stawell Pioneers, Corangamite Lions, Port Fairy Plovers, Horsham Falcons and Portland Panthers.
SWVFA entered its first ever under 11 boys’ team (coached by B. Hawkins with A. Francis as assistant coach).
The side scored three goals for the tournament courtesy of dynamic mid-fielder Braxton Young.
Strong defensive pressure from the team saw it finish with a draw against Geelong Regional Football Club and sixth in its category ahead of Albury Wodonga’s development squad and Ballarat District Soccer Association.
The under 12 boys side (coached by J. Anderson with R. Levett as assistant) displayed some strong offence in its first two matches which resulted in 13 goals.
They then lost 0-1 and drew against Latrobe Valley and Albury Wodonga (the two sides that finished ahead of them) and drew the final match against Ballarat to finish third overall across the two divisions.
South West’s under 14 boys’ team (coached by E. Macchia with N. Albien as assistant) also came away with third place in its division.
The team drew 1-1 against the overall tournament winners, Sunraysia, and narrowly missed a grand final berth by one goal.
The under 16 boys (coached by R. Perry) had a tough tournament, plagued with multiple broken bones both just before and during the tournament, however they persevered and performed well.
South West also fielded a girls’ team, coached by T. Spencer (assistant coach N. Amartey) who battled away in the under 16 division.
The team played with eight girls aged from 11-13 years and showed great improvement from game to game.
The association looks forward to watching them compete at the Western United Cup in Ballarat where they will play in their correct under 13 division.
The under 18s side (coached by C. Pyke with P. Lim as assistant) missed out on third place by just one goal, performing cohesively despite five last minute changes to their roster.
