Coach Ratten thrilled with win

Buln Buln’s Charlie Park was sensational, both at ground level and in the air, on Saturday against the SFL. 154485 Picture: ROB CAREW

By RUSSELL BENNETT

ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
AFL VICTORIA COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW – UNDER 18s

THE EDFL has re-established itself as a force to be reckoned with in Under 18 interleague footy after another commanding performance on the big stage – this time over the SFL.
The Ellinbank league won by 66 points – 18.16(124) to 8.10(58) – after taking a whopping 51-point advantage into the quarter-time break.
Impressive Buln Buln forward Charlie Park was outstanding inside forward 50, displaying his stellar marking ability and booting five goals; while Neerim Neerim South’s Tyler Pratt, Warragul Industrials midfielder Will Jolley, and the mature-beyond-his-years Daniel Helmore from Garfield also shone.
Saturday’s result marked three straight emphatic victories for EDFL Under 18 interleague sides after destroying Maryborough Castlemaine by 105 points last year, and Mid Gippsland by 11 goals in 2014.
After returning in the role to lead yet another successful interleague charge, EDFL coach and Neerim Neerim South senior player Darren Ratten said Saturday’s result spoke volumes of the Under 18 talent across the league.
“The boys gelled really well, and they all have pretty developed football brains already really,” he said.
“So many of our boys are already playing seniors and that was probably the difference in the end – whether they were that little bit smarter, or tougher.”
Ratten was thrilled with the ability of his boys to stick to their game-plan and not break away from it.
“It was basically just about quick ball movement, but maintaining possession,” he said.
“We had to avoid blazing away but get it into the forward line as quick as we could.
“Having Charlie Park, Jedd Serong and the resting ruckman down forward definitely helped. The quicker we got it down there, the better.”
At the other end of the ground, Ratten said it was all about clearing the SFL’s zone as quickly as possible.
“Once we cleared their zone, that’s when I found we were away with our quick ball movement,” he said.
“They call it the slingshot these days, but it’s just that fastbreak sort of style.
“Overall I couldn’t fault any of the boys’ performances – they all stuck to their oles and did the team thing.”
Ratten said Helmore’s senior experience shone through in his midfield role, while Dusties young gun Will Jolley displayed some impressive versatility in a range of roles.
“Like any game we knew it’d be hot in the first five minutes, and that could set up the rest of the game,” he said.
“Once the boys got their hands on it and realised it was just another game of footy, they were away.”
Ratten said if his own situation allowed, he’d love to do the job again next year.