The women’s division did not play over the weekend with a bye, whilst the men’s division began their Volunteer Appreciation Round.
Spitfires and Elliott got the men’s season started at Purkiss Reserve and it was the Spitfires who showed that they have been working hard in the preseason, with a six goal to nothing first term.
It was then in the second that things start to click for Elliott kicking three goals straight to the Spitfire’s two goals, one behind.
Despite Elliot beginning to make their way into the game, the Spitfires continue to make healthy contributions to the scoreboard as the Spitfires just continued to find themselves with the ball more often recording a 37-point win.
Nick Horwood was named best on ground for the Spitfires with his all-round performance including two goals, with Troy Gillet, Albert Waqaicelua, and Kane Sevallos also securing two of their own each.
Lane Jackson was given best on ground for Elliot with two goals, as Anthony Raymond racked up the possessions, alongside Damon Anderson. Ernest Bush also had two goals with contributions from Warren Jones and Lazarus Jones.
Epenarra Saints returned to the BAFL competition after a nine-year absence in the best way possible with a 16-point win.
It was a tough contested battle as both sides struggled to score freely as both scored managed just 16 scoring shots in total for the match.
But it was one way traffic for one Saints forward in Lindsay Turner, who kicked five goals earning the best on ground, with most of his goals coming from in the first half.
The low scoring affair meant that the margin never got past the 15-point mark, keeping the Eagles in touch throughout the match. However, a scoreless third quarter held the Eagles back from taking the win in the fourth.
Melvin Peterson, Jeremiah Corbett, Xavien Lewis all played massive roles in the win for Epenarra working hard in the scrappy clash.
Terrance Campbell and Michael Driver combined well in the midfield for the Eagles with Jerome Haines kicking three goals.
For BWC and YDU, scoring did flow but not accurately as both suffered the consequences of inaccuracy on goal.
BWC seemed to have all the momentum in first with YDU just finding a few chances to go forward, but BWC could not convert from their opportunities with a score line of one goal, five behinds at quarter time.
The missed opportunties from BWC in the first proved costly in the second as YDU brought the margin to two points at the big break.
But it appeared that after halftime, the roles were reversed, as YDU went to kick two goals, seven behinds to BWC’s five goals, three behinds.
BWC Vice-captain Alvin Williams was nominated as best on ground for his three goals, with Clayton Palmer collecting possessions, and Kieran Kingston kicking two goals.
Tyrell Mick, Richard Dixon, and Rico Billy-Joe were among those named as standouts for YDU.
The opportunities to secure the first win of the season for YDU slipping away for 16-point victory to BWC to conclude round one of the Men’s 2024 SunCable BAFL season.
