By Year 10 work experience student, Trent Cartmel
AFTER the first 10 rounds in the West Gippsland league, Kilcunda Bass under 18s side has had their fair share of ups and downs throughout the season.
From players leaving and key players performing well in the seniors, the club would have hoped the young team could have had a bit of an easier run so far.
The start of the season went pretty well for the Panthers, winning two of their first four.
Losses to strong teams like Tooradin and Inverloch meant that they were two and two after their dominant victory over Dalyston’s thirds, winning by 108 points, and their victory over Koo Wee Rup’s under 18s in round four.
Though not everyone was happy with the team’s performance.
Four key players decided to leave the team just four games in and move across to nearby clubs Phillip Island and Inverloch.
This left the young panthers vulnerable and in round six, they suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Garfield stars.
Tensions were high when Killy-Bass came up against Phillip Island in round seven, and the Panthers looked up for the fight.
But after key player Lleyton Cartmel got a late call up to the seniors, the Panthers lacked leadership and experience through the backline and midfield.
This showed and the Panthers ended up losing by 67 points.
Round eight they finally caught a break, with a big win over Korumburra.
Winning by 123 points and showed clean ball movement through the middle, and an unselfishness in the forward line which enabled them to have nine goal kickers, with crafty forward Matthew Dakin and full forward George Blum both booting four goals.
However, after a loss to Nar-Nar Goon and Warragul industrials, the Panthers now sit just a game out of the top six, in eighth.
It has not all been doom and gloom for the under 18s though, with five young stars playing in the seniors with the likes of Trent Cartmel, Lleyton Cartmel, Ashden Grenness, Will Campbell, and just recently, Owen Thomas.
And there has also been a lot of support shown by the 18s for the Reserves which have been struggling for players every week.
The 18s have shown a lot of heart the last couple weeks against Nar-Nar Goon and Warragul Industrials.
With eight rounds left, games against Cora Lynn, Korumburra, Koo Wee Rup, and Nar Nar Goon will be important ones if they want to make a finals run.