Falcons soar at 2024 V/Line Cup

The 2024 V/Line Cup was contested this week in Ballarat, with the Geelong Falcons earning the mantle as the carnival's overall winning program. 

The annual under 15 country footy representative carnival featured around 600 players and umpires involved in 21 matches played at three venues, with the City of Ballarat throwing its support behind the event and hosting for the first time.

Matches were played at three magnificent venues - Mars Stadium, Learmonth Reserve and Marty Busch Reserve – a clear sign of the region’s status as one of the premier regional locations for football and sport.

Seven regions competed in three divisions – Boys Division One, Boys Division Two and Girls – with each team playing two matches across the three days.

Check out results, best players and goal kickers on PlayHQ: CLICK HERE

WATCH match replays on the AFL Victoria Facebook page: CLICK HERE

A snapshot of each division:

BOYS DIVISION ONE

The Geelong Falcons were the only team in Boys Division One to win both their matches, with hard-fought triumphs over fellow country footy powerhouse regions South East Stingrays and GWV Rebels.

For the Falcons, Nate Mensch, Kyan Walters, Charlie Montebello and Will Pryor were among those to excel, as was Jarvis Burley who booted six goals across the two matches to be the division’s top goal scorer.

Standouts for the Rebels included Riot Lual, Samuel Wareham and Charlie Mahony-Gilchrist and for the Stingrays, players to shine included Ethan Wood, Jayden Gourlay and Cooper Tisdale, with Tisdale the kicking the division’s second-most goals with five.

Others to impress across the carnival included Bendigo’s Sachin Tyrrell and Chase Bartlett, North East Border’s Connor McCarty, Blake Morgan, Emmett Northey and Joel Comensoli (five goals) and Goulburn Murray players Dashiell Smith and Tanner Miller.

Boys Division One results, goal kickers, best players

GIRLS

Two teams won both their matches in the Girls division, with North East Border Bushrangers defeating Bendigo Pioneers and Goulburn Murray, while the Geelong Falcons went undefeated with victories over South East Stingrays and GWV Rebels.

For North East Border, Bella Bowles, Charlie Gibson, Evie Henley and Clare Hyland were standouts across the two matches while their teammates Nikkita Nixon and Ruby Newton were equal leading gaol-kickers in the division with four apiece. For the Falcons, Evie McKenzie, Ella Condon and Claudia Collins put in eye-catching performances with Eleanor Walsh and Evie Albones each kicking four goals also.

Two other teams to perform well were the South East Stingrays and GWV Rebels. Lily Brittain, Ella Bologa and Indiana Busutilli were excellent for Stingrays while Rebels players Macy Irvin, Lara Purchase and Tayla Bell led the way for their side.

The Bendigo Pioneers were well served by Sage Dennis, Emmerson Lihou, Mia Clark and Leisi Kirirua-Gill, while other players to play well included Jessica Grimsted, Brooke Kelly and Shelby Williams (Gippsland Power) and Charlie Martin and Ashanti Walker (Goulburn Murray).

Girls results, best players, goal kickers

BOYS DIVISION TWO

South East Stingrays won both their matches to be the only unbeaten side in Boys Division Two, with wins against Gippsland Power and Geelong Falcons. The win against the Falcons was a fantastic contest, with the Stingrays prevailing by just five points after trailing by 10 points at three-quarter time.

The Stingrays got great performances from Patrick Hose, James Cassar, Brodie Oost and Lenny Mepstead, while for the for the Falcons, Samuel Knights was excellent and also led the division with six goals, while Jordan Penrice, Jed Hay and Charlie Peake also impressed.

For the Rebels, standout players included Mackai Steel, Bailey Clarke and Luke Miller and for Gippsland, Cohen Dent, Jett Proctor and Cooper Leighton were among the best.

Others to perform well included Tyce Griffin, Cooper Gooding and Colby Marr (Pioneers), Josh Hart, Archie Jackson and Noah Mair (North East Border) and Liam Sofra and Jimmy Blekic (Goulburn Murray).

Boys Division Two results, best players, goal kickers