Sport
19 June, 2026
Local junior footballers impress at interleague
The next generation of MCDFNL football superstars showcased their talents last Sunday in two high-quality interleague matches against the North Central Football League.
The under 15s opened proceedings at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park, with a frantic first quarter. North Central threatened to burst away early during the end-to-end opening term, but the MCDFNL kept themselves within 19 points at the initial interval.
North Central began to overrun the MCDFNL in the second quarter, booting four unanswered goals to take a comfortable 43-point lead into half time.
Cody Jamieson provided a major highlight for the MCDFNL midway through the third quarter with a well-taken goal, but that didn’t stop North Central from running away to a 12.13.(85) to 1.6.(12) win.
Carisbrook rising star Billy Rumpff was named the MCDFNL’s best player by coach Trent Mortlock, while Chad Matthews, Hugo Leong, Mason Sheldon, Oliver and Judd Ross also produced standout perfor-mances.
Similar to their under 15 compatriots, the MCDFNL under 18s found themselves on the back foot in the early stages.
Thanks to the defensive efforts of Carisbrook’s Chardy Bond and Maldon’s Tully Rowbottom, the MCDFNL survived North Central’s opening flourish before kicking the only two goals of the first quarter.
The MCDFNL carried that momentum into the second quarter, recording a whopping 10 scoring shots to North Central’s three.
Despite their domination, the MCDFNL were unable to fully convey it on the scoreboard, kicking 1.9 to 3.0 to have their lead cut down to 12 points at half time.
The MCDFNL quickly rectified their second quarter miscues after the main break with a much more clinical third quarter before sealing a 10.16.(76) to 4.6.(30) victory with four unanswered goals in the final term.
MCDFNL coach Michael Pratt named Talbot’s Zac Cicchini as the team’s best player alongside noticeable displays from Harvey Rumpff, Elliot Cullinan, Nash Fraser, Danny Sutton and Bond.
Carisbrook’s Harrison Malone led the MCDFNL with three goals while Maldon’s Tadgh Cananzi added two.