By Armin Richter
The Outer East Junior footballers have been back in action for several weeks to kick off the 2025 season. Auskickers have been honing their skills at weekly clinics amongst the clubs around the hills while the Under 9s and Under 10s have taken to the field in friendly clashes, where participation rather than scoring is encouraged to further their development.
There are 23 teams comprising the Under 9s, coming from 14 different clubs. Emerald and Mt. Evelyn are each fielding three teams while Belgrave, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Wandin and Healesville have 2 sides each. Upwey-Tecoma, Gembrook-Cockatoo, Olinda-Ferny Creek, Yarra Junction, Yarra Glen, Monbulk and Seville each have a single team.
The Under 10s have 16 teams from the same 14 clubs, with Mt. Evelyn and Monbulk fielding two teams and the rest one each.
This year’s Under 11s are starting out in their first competitive outings after graduating from Under 10s. There are 7 girls teams and 8 mixed (predominantly boys) teams, with Emerald having two sides in the mixed group. Under 11s Mixed are an additional grade, enabling extra teams to be fielded for clubs with strong numbers in Under 12s.
Ladders are worked out in the following order – 1 Ladder Points, 2 Head to Head, 3 Games Won, for competitions with even teams, and 1 Match Ratio, 2 Head to Head and 3 Games Won for competitions with odd numbers.
Under 11s Girls ladder: Olinda-Ferny Creek (2 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws), Mt. Evelyn (2-0-0), Yarra Junction (1-0-0), Monbulk (1-1-0), Healesville (0-1-0), Upwey-Tecoma (0-2-0), Belgrave (0-2-0). Billie James-Hodge of Olinda-Ferny Creek leads the goalkicking with 9.
Under 11s Mixed ladder: Healesville (2-0-0), Wesburn (2-0-0), Mt. Evelyn (1-1-0), Emerald Red (1-1-0), Upwey-Tecoma (1-1-0), Belgrave (1-1-0), Woori Yallock (0-2-0), Emerald Black (0-2-0). Harrison Broeker of Upwey-Tecoma leads the goalkicking with 7.
Eleven clubs are fielding sides in the Under 12s for 2025. Upwey-Tecoma were premiers in 2024, although many of those have now moved to Under 13s, while Olinda-Ferny Creek won last year’s Under 11s flag.
Under 12s Mixed ladder: Upwey-Tecoma (2-0-0), Emerald (2-0-0), Mt. Evelyn (1-0-0), Wandin (1-0-0), Yarra Glen (2-0-0), Olinda-Ferny Creek (1-1-0), Seville (1-1-0), Wesburn (0-2-0), Gembrook-Cockatoo (0-2-0), Healesville (0-2-0), Monbulk (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Wil Francis (Olinda-FC) 8, Kayden Enever (Seville) 7.
The growth in girls football is evident as an extra grade has been added this year. In 2024 it was Under 12, 14 and 16 while this year it is Under 11, 13, 15 and 17. The Under 13s girls are a continuation of last year’s Under 12s, where Monbulk defeated Wesburn in the Grand Final. There are 12 teams this year compared to 11 in 2024 as Seville has started up a side.
Under 13s Girls ladder: Monbulk (2-0-0), Wandin (2-0-0), Olinda-Ferny Creek (2-0-0), Wesburn (2-0-0), Healesville (1-1-0), Seville (1-1-0), Upwey-Tecoma (1-1-0), Woori Yallock (1-1-0), Belgrave (0-2-0), Gembrook-Cockatoo (0-2-0), Mt. Evelyn (0-2-0), Emerald (0-2-0). Leading goalkicker Violet Lappen (Wandin) 8
Under 13s Mixed is an additional grade for clubs with large numbers of Under 14s or predominantly bottom age Under 14s players. Five clubs will be appearing in the under 13s Mixed competition this year. Last year there were six, with Olinda-Ferny Creek and Emerald merging with their Under 14s and not fielding teams in 2025 but Belgrave have joined up. Healesville defeated Mt. Evelyn in the 2024 Grand Final.
Under 13s Mixed ladder: Upwey-Tecoma (2-0-0), Mt. Evelyn (1-1-0), Healesville (1-1-0), Belgrave (0-1-0), Woori Yallock (0-1-0). Leading goalkicker Judd Stevens (Upwey-Tecoma) 8
The Under 14s Mixed is also fielding one less team in 2025, with Belgrave and Yarra Glen dropping out but Emerald having joined up. Olinda-Ferny Creek defeated Woori Yallock in the 2024 Grand Final.
Under 14s Mixed ladder: Healesville (2-0-0), Mt. Evelyn (2-0-0), Emerald (2-0-0), Wesburn (1-0-0), Gembrook-Cockatoo (1-1-0), Woori Yallock (1-1-0), Olinda-Ferny Creek (1-1-0), Upwey-Tecoma (0-2-0), Monbulk (0-2-0), Wandin (0-1-0), Seville Jets (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Casey Symonds (Healesville) and Kobe Pitrelli (Mt. Evelyn) 9 goals each
The Under 15s Girls have eight competing teams in 2025, whereas the Under 14s of last year had nine, with Upwey-Tecoma not fielding a team this year. Healesville defeated Wesburn in the 2024 Under 14s Grand Final.
Under 15s Girls ladder: Mt. Evelyn (2-0-0), Olinda-Ferny Creek (2-0-0), Wesburn (2-0-0), Healesville (1-1-0), Belgrave (1-1-0), Emerald (0-2-0), Wandin (0-2-0), Seville (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Summer Caldicott (Healesville) 8 and Reagan Seamer (Olinda-FC) 7
The Under 16s Boys are again divided into two divisions. Healesville, Wandin and Woori Yallock have a team in both divisions. The Valley division consists of the same six clubs as last year, which were the stronger clubs in this age group. Wandin defeated Woori Yallock in the 2024 Grand Final.
Under 16s Boys Valley ladder: Wandin (2-0-0), Healesville (2-0-0), Mt. Evelyn (1-1-0), Upwey-Tecoma (1-1-0), Woori Yallock (0-2-0), Olinda-Ferny Creek (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Mitchell Upton (Wandin) 12, Jackson Foletta (Wandin) 10, Samual Anderson (Wandin) 8
The changes in the Under 16s Ranges group sees Woori Yallock, Belgrave and Seville join while Emerald and Yarra Glen drop out from last year. Monbulk defeated Healesville in the 2024 Grand Final.
Under 16s Boys Ranges ladder: Healesville (2-0-0), Upwey-Tecoma (1-0-0), Monbulk (1-0-0), Gembrook-Cockatoo (2-0-0), Wesburn (1-1-0), Wandin (1-1-0), Woori Yallock (0-2-0), Belgrave (0-2-0), Seville (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Max Litchfield (Healesville) 10, Reece Irvine (Wesburn) 9 and Joshua Jackson (Healesville) 9
In 2024 there were eight teams in the Under 16s Girls, where Mt. Evelyn beat Belgrave in the Grand Final. Mt. Evelyn, who had two teams, and Monbulk, are not taking to the field in 2025 as the Under 17s will be contested by five clubs.
Under 17s Girls ladder: Wesburn (2-0-0), Emerald (2-0-0), Upwey-Tecoma (0-1-0), Belgrave (0-1-0), Healesville (0-2-0). Leading goalkickers Jasmine Enever (Wesburn) 5 and Chrystal Norris (Wesburn) 5
