With beautiful weather prevailing the Under 11's kicked the day off with some pool games in their Lightning Premiership. The format of this competition was each of the five clubs playing each other in 2 five minute halves of footy and the best two performing teams going through to the Grand Final to be played between the older kids finals.
The Bellingen Bulldogs, Coffs Swans and Sawtell/Toormina Saints all one three games but lost one in the round robin stage of the competition meaning the Grand Finalists had to be decided by percentage. Bellingen and Sawtell/Toormina progressed to play in anexciting but low scoring Grand Final that was eventually won by the Saints.
The Under 13 Grand Final between the Lower Clarence Eagles (who'd only lost won game all season) and the Sawtell/Toormina Saints (the only team to beat the Eagles) was set up to be a great game. The big ground was always going to even the scores up a bit as scoring in general proves difficult for the younger kids at the stadium.
The Saints had really turned up to play and in some regards the Eagles looked like they had were just looking at each other waiting for someone to get on top. At three quarter time the Saints held a three point lead and most of the spectators were wondering if a boilover was imminent.
I'm not sure what Eagles coach Lee Jones said at the last break but his entire team lifted to dominate the last quarter kicking 2.3 to no score. Congratulations to the Eagles who were the best team all year.
The Under 15's Grand Final also had a heavy favourite in the Coffs Swans who were undefeated all season. Having said that their challengers the Sawtell/Toormina Saints had continued to improve all year and were confident of being very competitive.
The Swans started well kicking five goals to two in the 1st quarter and then 3 goals to none in the 2nd quarter to give them a 43 point lead at the main break. The Saints battled on well though in the second half and the final score of 12.12.84 to 5.1.31 was testiment to the determination of the Saints.
The AFLNC Juniors held a short Presentation at the stadium after the completition of the Grand Finals with the following people winning awards for their efforts this year:
Under 13s Best & Fairest 2012 - Jack Hardman (Lower Clarence Eagles)
Under 13s R/U Best & Fairest 2012 - Liam Foster (Lower Clarence Eagles)
Under 13s R/U Best & Fairest 2012 - Hamish Ellem (Grafton Tigers)
Equal Under 15s Best & Fairest 2012 - Jack Mapleson (Coffs Swans)
Equal Under 15s Best & Fairest 2012 - Jake Brown (Coffs Swans)
Under 15s R/U Best & Fairest 2012 - Lachlan Jacobs (North Coffs Kangaroos)
Under 15s Rising Star 2012 - Jonty Neaves (Sawtell/Toormina Saints)
Rookie Coach of the Year - Mark Henderson (Sawtell/Toormina Saints)
Coach of the Year - John Kennedy (Grafton Tigers)
Best Players in Grand Final as decided by opposition Coach:
Under 13's - Liam Foster (Lower Clarence Eagles) - Tyke Kemp
Under 15's - Harry Phillips (Coffs Swans) - Oscar Anderson (Sawtell/Toormina Saints)
Last Modified on 06/09/2012 15:59