THE Mansfield Junior Football Club came together a fortnight ago to celebrate the achievements of our junior football teams.

It was a tremendous year with record numbers and nine teams across all age groups.

All teams and players should be extremely proud of their efforts throughout the season and the progression they showed from start to finish.

Under 10s and 12s

THE under 10s and 12s were fortunate to play the entire season under lights on Friday nights.

Each and every player developed considerably across the season and on many occasions displayed skills beyond their years.

Under 14s

WITH high numbers again this year, the Mansfield Junior Football Club fielded two sides in the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League, Mansfield Yellow and Blue. Round one saw both sides play off against each other and while Mansfield Blue took victory on the day, it was clear that Mansfield Yellow had plenty of potential and room for development throughout the season.

Unfortunately Mansfield Yellow were hit hard by injuries through the year, however the entire team stepped up and were more than competitive each and every week, testament to coaches Fraser Stevenson and Matt Storer's tutelage and guidance and the players determination and resilience.

Mansfield Blue had a terrific year, finishing fourth on the ladder and making it to the finals, winning emphatically in the first elimination final by 66 points.

Unfortunately after a gallant effort in the second elimination final they were beaten by College Junior Football Club in a game where Mansfield were still well in the hunt, only down by one point at half time.

Nick Dunn and Jason Robinson, again did a terrific job with the team, extracting the most from each player throughout the year and having plenty of fun along the journey.

In a true team performance throughout the season, two players received individual league honours with Archie Dunn coming third in the league best and fairest and Taj Kynnersley coming running up in the league goal kicking.

Mansfield also had great representation from both sides in the interleague carnival this year with Toby Gerrans, Jack Clydesdale, James Wellbourne, Will Benton Taj Kynnersley, Archie Dunn, Gus Robinson and Reeve Purday all playing for the leagues representative side.

The under 14s season was also rounded out with Zac Hotton and Archie Dunn selected in the Murray Bushrangers under 14 squads and Phoebe Guppy playing in the under 15s V-line Cup girls team.

Under 17s

WITH large numbers again, the under 17s hit the season running with a rotational policy and had many convincing wins throughout the year and also seven games decided in under 15 points keeping the coaching crews hearts racing.

After a terrific season upstaging many favourites, the Under 17s made it all the way to the grand final and took it right up to overwhelming favourite, the Imperials Junior Football Club.

In a game that went right down to the wire, the siren unfortunately came to soon and the eagles lost by 5 points in a tremendous effort and a 75 point turn around from two weeks earlier when they were beaten by the Imperials in the qualifying final.

An amazing year by Chris Taylor and Wayne Desmond, achieving more than many thought possible and developing the skills and game sense of each and every player in the entire team.

And while as a team the achievement was outstanding, several individuals also gained individual honours.

Hayden Desmond had a fantastic season and was awarded runner up in the league best and fairest and he, James Benton, Liam Smith and Eddy Morphett also represented the league in the inter-league carnival.

Andy Friday, Liam Smith, and Sam Kain were also chosen to play in the Under 15s V-line Cup teams with Andy also being selected in the bushrangers under 15 squad.

THE Bo Christopher Club Person of the Year trophy was also awarded this year and could not have gone to a better recipient than Danny Brown.

Danny is first at the ground each week putting up the goal pads and last to leave post packing up and analysing his stats for the day.

Much loved by the junior and senior players alike, Danny is an integral member of all the Mansfield Eagles teams.

The MJFC would like to thank all of our coaches for all the hard work they do for the club, selflessly giving of their time and always putting the kids and their development first.

As coaches the impact you have had on the players reaches far beyond the playing field, the true role of a coach…

To all of the parent volunteers that put up their hand every week and to the committee that sits behind the machine, thank you, the club could not function without you.

To our sponsors, thank you for getting behind the club each year, your ongoing support and commitment to junior sport is tremendously appreciated.

To the players, we as a club and a community, are so proud of you and what you have achieved throughout the year.

And it wasn’t necessarily what you did, but how you went about it.

To be humble in victory and gracious in defeat is one of the prized characters of any sportsperson and while sometimes hard to do so, you displayed these characteristics throughout the year and should be proud of yourselves.

And while success is great, if we can look back and be proud of how we went about it, we should consider ourselves winners no matter the result.

Bring on 2025, GO EAGLES!!!

- Michael Bretherton, Mansfield Junior Football Club