The 2023 YJFL Season will come to a close for all competitions this Sunday 3 August with Grand Finals set to take place across multiple venues in an action packed day.
Ahead of the Grand Finals, the YJFL is previewing all the competitions to show which teams have made the Grand Final, where and when they'll be playing, previous matchups between the teams and how they got to the Grand Final.
Friday – Youth Boys
The YJFL encourages all players, family, friends, supporters and more to attend Grand Finals on Sunday for what will be a fantastic day of football and celebration.
For those unable to attend, all matches will be filmed and will be available to watch via our Match Vision Portal in the days following the Grand Finals.
Youth Boys Division 1 – Kew Comets vs Fitzroy – Ford Park – 3:15pm
Ladder Position
Position | Team | Won | Lost | Draw | Byes | Pts |
1st | Fitzroy | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 42 |
2nd | Kew Comets | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 32 |
Previous matchups:
Round 10 - Fitzroy 55 def. Kew Comets 26 – Victoria Park (Abbotsford)
Round 14 – Kew Comets 53 draw Fitzroy 53 – Victoria Park (Kew)
Finals
Qualifying Final - Fitzroy 32 def by. Kew Comets 80 - Ford Park
Preliminary Final - Fitzroy 77 def. Park Orchards 43 - Ford Park
Players to watch
Fitzroy
We do not like to single out individuals as we pride ourselves on being a committed and balanced team with strong bonds and a shared team goal of togetherness that is driven strongly by our leaders Seb Suarez, Lachie Hamilton and Iggy Gorman-Andrews. Each player knows their role in our team and this closeness has provided a great foundation to the success of our group to this point of the season.
Kew Comets
There are a number of players to watch however the strength of the Kew Comets team has been its evenness all across the ground. The team is very much role orientated and every player ensures that balance and structure is maintained throughout the game.
Fitzroy - Season Summary
Darren Oliver (Youth Boys Co-Coordinator and Youth Boys Assistant Coach)
Season 2023 has been a very enjoyable and successful one for the Fitzroy Youth Boys program, we have large group of players and have fielded two teams with both finishing as minor premiers in their respective divisions, a testament to the commitment and effort from all our players, coaches and support families.
While our Youth Boys 2 fell agonisingly close to a Grand Final appearance as well with a nail-biting loss after the siren in the preliminary final we are proud that Youth Boys 1 will be representing the club this weekend in the premier grade in the YJFL.
We are looking forward to the challenge of playing Kew Comets again this weekend after they were too strong for us in the Qualifying Final. The Grand Final will be the fourth time the two teams have played each other this season with the record standing at 1 win each plus a draw, a clear indication of how competitive both teams have been. It should be another great contest come Sunday.
We look forward to a big crowd on Sunday supporting both teams as they strive to be the premier team in Youth Boys in 2023, the game will be a great exhibition of junior football. Best of luck to both teams on Sunday. Go Roys!
Kew Comets - Season Summary
Emanuele Di Parsia (Youth Boys 1 - Coach)
The Kew Comets Youth Boys 1 have finished the season one step further then they did last year when they were beaten in a nail biting Preliminary Final. Spurred by the disappointment of that loss the boys have shown great camaraderie and spirit and with the inclusion of a few new players have proven to be a very competitive team all year. As it currently stands the ledger against Fitzroy is tied with one win apiece and a draw so this game is all set up to be a hard fought even contest.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all teams that we competed against in the division. All games were played in good spirit and at a very high standard where all players should feel satisfied with their contribution to the game.
Good luck to all players from both teams today. Go Comets!!
Youth Boys Division 2 – Preston Bullants vs Richmond – W.T. Peterson – 3:15pm
Ladder Position
Position | Team | Won | Lost | Draw | Byes | Pts |
1st | Preston Bullants | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 36 |
2nd | Richmond | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 36 |
Previous matchups:
Round 9 - Richmond 36 def by. Preston Bullants 66 - Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Finals
Qualifying Final - Preston Bullants 65 def. Richmond 62 - Zwar Reserve
Preliminary Final - Richmond 43 def. Heidelberg 32 - W.T. Peterson Oval
Players to watch
Preston Bullants
The Preston Bullants YouthBoys team is all about teamwork, and every player adds their own unique touch to the mix! Good luck to both teams!
Richmond
Preston Bullants - Season Summary
Tom Hill (Coach)
Season 2023 has been a great journey for all who have been associated with our youth boys team. From the beginning of preseason through to where we find ourselves positioned currently in grand final week, the commitment and buy in from the players to train together with consistently high numbers matched by even higher player driven standards has been evident.
This collective mindset has lead to the boys growing in confidence game by game through their experiences out on the ground together and has ultimately produced a team of even contributors who are focused on playing their role and executing the game plan and structures.
A feature of the group that has made this year really special has been the way the players have displayed great care and connection with one another as mates. This has lead to a team first mantra where celebrating each others success at every opportunity has been evident, along with rallying around those who have experienced disappointment through circumstances such as injuries.
The qualifying final against Richmond a fortnight ago went down to the wire and both teams were terrific on the day and gave everything they had. If the Grand Final produces a similar contest between these two quality sides then it will be a cracking game to watch and enjoy.
Richmond - Season Summary
YJFL
The Richmond Youth Boys Division 2 side has been a contender all season and will after a heartbreaking 3-point loss in the Qualifying Final against Preston, they will be hoping they can get one back in the Grand Final.
The Richmond side showed great resolve after going down early in the Preliminary Final coming back to win another close encounter with Heidelberg.
This could be one of the most tightly contested games of the day and will produce some high quality football.
Youth Boys Division 3 – Surrey Park vs Banyule – Surrey Park – 12:30pm
Ladder Position
Position | Team | Won | Lost | Draw | Byes | Pts |
1st | Surrey Park | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 |
3rd | Banyule | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 30 |
Previous matchups:
Round 9 - Banyule 55 def. Surrey Park 33 - Beverley Rd Reserve
Finals
Elimination Final - Banyule 62 def. Macleod 41 - Beverley Rd Reserve
Qualifying Final - Fitzroy 54 def by. Surrey Park 81 - W.T. Peterson
Preliminary Final - Fitzroy 53 def by. Banyule 58 - W.T. Peterson
Players to watch
Banyule
Complimenting the different skillsets and strengths each player brings to the Youth Boys M group, is the team’s culture of inclusiveness and friendship that provides a strong platform from which they can adapt and effectively respond to the different scenarios and challenges faced throughout each game. Whilst cliched, there is no ‘I’ in team, and working hard for each other, is what has seen the boys be successful in progressing through the season to play in this Sunday’s Grand Final.
Surrey Park - Season Summary
Joy Rowe (Team Manager)
Our Surrey Park Youth Boys this season is a mixed cohort of two teams and new players.
All have encouraged, supported, laughed, agonised and cheered each other to progress from a motley crew to a strong supportive group who have grown, matured and bonded becoming a wonderful team I am proud of and who under the expert coaching of Mark, Jason and Jon have grown into a team full of Panther Spirit.
Well done boys, the season has had it all and you deserve to be proud of yourselves, and celebrate."
Banyule - Season Summary
Michelle Wilson (Team Manager)
As a new team playing together, Youth Boys M had a disillusioning start to the season, losing 3 of the 4 grading games. It wasn’t until Round 5, that their training and game strategy developed into a robust and dynamic approach that the boys used to progress successfully through the rounds, not however without a few challenges that resulted in some losses during the last rounds of the season.
Finishing 3rd on the ladder, the team dug their heels in and chipped away against some strong quality teams to successfully place them in the Grand Final this Sunday.
The team would like to thank both Macleod and Fitzroy for the hard-fought games during the semi and prelim finals, and congratulate both teams on their season’s achievements.
The team and coaching staff would like to extend our best wishes to Surrey Park for Sunday, and we are looking forward to what will be a quality game to finish off the season.
