Big V Under 19’s vaporise interleague rivals in Bendigo blitz

Across four representative matches against the Perth Football League and Bendigo Football League, the VAFA’s Big V Under 19’s team delivered the greatest result against the latter in a superb Sunday showing at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

In a comprehensive four quarter display the Big V side’s only flaw was allowing the BFNL to draw first blood, before pummelling the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.

It was not all smooth sailing in the lead-up to the match however, with Under 19’s Big V coach Paul Carrigan reflecting on a tense Thursday night.

“Attending the Gala Dinner, we waited on three players (for a VFL call-up)” Carrigan said.

“We got a call on one, our original team now missing four with 30 hours to game time.”

The squad went through the motions on a Friday night captain’s run before making the journey early Saturday morning to Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.

With a gusty breeze heading towards the city end, the choice was a no-brainer for captain Charlie Opie.

As the opening siren rang out across the ground, both sides fuelled with energy and adrenaline could hardly make it out of the centre square for the first minute as the intensity around the ball ramped up.

However, the Big V quickly found momentum with the wind and began to swing their punches at the hosting side.

De La Salle’s Antonio Giampa delivered on the big stage with a standout set shot nearing centre square territory, kickstarting his incredible game in the navy blue and white.

“Giampa is still in Year 11 and a double bottom ager playing Senior Premier Division this season,” Carrigan said.

“He’s a serious player.

“He played wing and created plenty for us the longer the game went.”

Charlie Richardson then took an enormous pack mark deemed “mark of the day” by Carrigan, converting the set shot in the final seconds to hand the VAFA a 27-point quarter-time lead.

While the game was hot and contested early, the VAFA’s class through outside running began to expose Bendigo’s side.

Tactics changed in the second term however as the Big V kicked into what Carrigan deemed a “three to four goal breeze”, but it didn’t halt scoring momentum for the VAFA youngsters.

While Bendigo’s pressure ramped up, forcing skill errors and rushed play from both sides, Carrigan’s boys managed four goals against the wind.

All this despite applying a more defensive approach to the quarter too, according to Carrigan.

“We wanted to play 70 per cent of the contest to one side of the oval slowly, and 30 per cent to the grandstand fast,” Carrigan said.

“We executed perfectly, Zach Travers, Liam Edwards, Sam Linder, Mitch Davidson, and Mitch Kirkwood-Scott all moving the ball through the corridor time and time again.

“The back six all stood tall and showed plenty of courage at tight contests.”

At the half, the VAFA side were up by 41 points, but Carrigan ensured that the players didn’t lighten their pressure on the accelerator.

“We discussed our core values that we talked about on night one of training,” the Hampton Rovers Under 19’s coach said.

“Nothing had changed now. Respect for everyone on the ground was a mantra, the culture cry for how our group wished to be seen and remembered was important.

“I told them I was jealous of the way they were playing, I wanted to turn back the clock and be a part of their team.

“Strange for a coach to say but it was remarkable to see them come together and evolve in five weeks.”

St Kevin’s Johnathon Gambaro stood tall in the third term, while the midfielders and wings were praised by their coach for holding their structure, allowing an unselfish brand of play that let the lead balloon out even further in the VAFA’s favour.

As the contest drew on, Bendigo fell flatfooted towards the approach of the final siren.

A few late pings on goal saw the lead expand once more before the result was finalised, the Big V victorious in a landslide, 18.17 (125) to 5.6 (36).

Carrigan said he couldn’t be more proud of every player who pulled on the Big V guernsey steeped in VAFA history.

“Every lad had earned the right to pull on the jumper, they are a credit to their families, their community clubs, schools and of course the VAFA,” Carrigan said.

“Thanks to the Great Regional City of Bendigo, the Bendigo league lads and (BFNL interleague coach) Jason Stevens, we enjoyed every minute.”

The staggering 89-point margin was the VAFA’s greatest winning margin across all four interleague games for the weekend, as the Premier B – Division 3 Big V side clinched a thrilling victory in extra time.

While players united to represent their competition, the VAFA’s best Under 19’s players will go their separate ways to their community and school clubs for the remainder of the season to play in the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s, or continue to forge their path in their club’s Senior side.

Six rounds remain in the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s, before a mouthwatering finals campaign launches in September.

Secure your very own specially designed Big V Centenary Guernsey worn by all four 2025 Big V Teams. You can purchase a personalised replica guernsey for a limited time – find out more here.