Sport
6 June, 2025
Grasshoppers enjoy massive road win
The Navarre under-17 footballers sit equal third on the ladder thanks to a strong 44- point road win over Avoca at the Avoca Recreation Reserve on Saturday in round eight of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League. The seniors also enjoyed a thrilling win, surviving a kick after the siren.
The Grasshoppers dominated the opening term led by strong passages of play from Will Moloney and Jacob Martin.
The Grasshoppers kicked four goals, and four behinds and shut out their opponents to take a 28-point lead into quarter time.
The Bulldogs upped their pressure in the second quarter, holding the Grasshoppers without a goal to trail by 27 at halftime.
The Grasshoppers kicked three goals to two in the third quarter to extend their margin to 34 at the final break before running out the game to win 9.14.68 to 4.0.24.
Will Moloney was best on the ground for the Grasshoppers with Jacob Dunn, Charlie Dunn, Ryder Sullivan, Patrick Nellthorp and Arley Perry also among the best.
Arley Perry kicked three goals, with Ryder Sullivan kicking two. Kenna Lorusso, Brady McMahon, Will Moloney and Kynan Torney also hit the scoreboard for the Grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers’ seniors win thriller.
A thriller was played at Avoca, with the Navarre Grasshoppers getting the victory by five points, 12.10. (82) to 12.5. (77) in round eight of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League.
A close opening term set the tone of the game with Riley Hamilton kicking a goal three minutes in, but Navarre’s Riley Bibby kicked three goals in the quarter to gain some ascendancy for the Grasshoppers.
After an equal second term, Avoca’s Jordan Thomas left the field early in the third term with a depressed cheekbone fracture from an accidental head clash, and Nathan Coghlan moved forward and kicked three goals for Avoca, but Sam Walker kicked his third and fourth for the game for Navarre to lead at the final change by six points.
Avoca forward, Zack Lubeek, kicked his fourth goal two minutes in to level the scores, however, Sam Rickard and Zak Varley both responded with goals to give the Grasshoppers a 12-point lead at the four-minute mark.
It was at this point in the game that a serious injury to Navarre’s star defender, Nick Birthisel, occurred from a heavy tackle that delayed the finish of the game by 25 minutes.
Birthisel could not be removed from the ground due to the severity of his injury, so professional assistance from an ambulance crew was required. The game recommenced at 5 pm with Navarre leading by 12 points.
Avoca’s Cam Antonio and Alex Riches kicked the first two goals from the restart to draw the game on the scoreboard, but Navarre’s Tom Hannett answered when he kicked truly to lead by six points.
Avoca’s Mitch Whelan had a shot from directly in front after the siren, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the ball went directly over the top of the goal post, resulting in a behind and giving Navarre a five-point victory.
Navarre and Avoca have now played 162 times since 1945, and this was Navarre’s 108th victory.
It was expected to be an easy victory for the Grasshoppers, but Avoca pulled out all the stops, and it resulted in a thrilling finish to the day.
Navarre’s Sam Walker kicked four goals, and Avoca’s Zac Lubeek also kicked four goals.
Brad Carter, Sam Rickard, and Jayden Fowkes shone for the Grasshoppers, and others to play well were Will Moloney, Zak Varley, and Nick Birthisel.
Grasshoppers’ coach Kyle Hendy spoke highly of Brad Carter, Jayden Fowkes and Sam Rickard.
“It’s Brad’s first full year in the senior side and we have played him off a halfback flank and he was very good on Saturday with his ball use and chopping the ball off when it was coming into their forward line,” Hendy said.
“He has significantly improved. We started him off on a wing, but we believed that wasn’t serving his full potential with his leg speed and skills, so we played him across halfback lately and he is starting to thrive.”
“Jayden is an ever-consistent fullback, and he can spoil the ball and run it to the middle of the ground and create drive for us.
“Sam provides a great target up forward and we put him through the middle a bit just to utilise his skills and he saw the footy playing around the ball a bit more.”
The Grasshoppers are currently sixth on the ladder and have a two-game buffer over seventh to tenth.
They now have two weeks off, with the King’s Birthday long weekend and their league bye, and Hendy said it’s come at the right time.
“It was very good for the confidence, and now we can reset while we have the next two weeks off and prepare for the last half of the season,” Hendy said.
“We had a bit of a break this week and next Thursday we will put in a solid training session and then it will be business as usual the following week leading into Carisbrook.
“We are where we expected to be and we have a tough month after the break with four of the top six sides, so we have done well for winning the games we have, and we also have a few niggles, so the break will be good.”
