Beau Griffiths kicked his 100th goal for Picola United's under-14s this season. Photo: Picola United FNC.
Roll out the red carpet, we have our first A-listers in the region’s race to crack the ton.
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It may have flown under the radar, but at the weekend, two young guns in the Picola District Football League crossed the 100-goal threshold and raised the bat in style.
In the 9:30am time slot, Picola United under-14 player Beau Griffiths didn’t just kick dew off the grass - he near-on booted leather off the ball on the way to 15 goals during a massive 129-0 win over Katunga.
And in doing so, Griffiths reached triple digits and took his tally to 104 for the season.
His claim to the league’s goal kicking throne is not exactly safe, however.
That’s because Berrigan’s Jordan Swann also had himself a day out during the Saints’ 12.11 (83) to 3.5 (23) triumph.
Berrigan’s Jordan Swann brought up the 100-goal milestone with a bag of eight against Rennie. Photo: Berrigan FNC.
Like Griffiths, Swann laced up in the early time slot and put his boots to good use with an eight-goal haul to seal his spot inside the centurion’s club and elevate his total to 102.
It’ll be a two-horse race between Griffiths and Swann for the goal kicking gong, as the next closest challenger in Strathmerton’s Ashtyn Speechly is perched on 37 with one round to go.
Looking around the rest of the local leagues, who’s likeliest to break the 100 barrier next?
In the Kyabram District League, Murchison-Toolamba spearhead James Lloyd is poised on 90 goals with two rounds to go - but as the Hoppers assume the bye this week, the key forward will only have one game to do it.
Given he kicked 11 in his last outing, a betting man would back Lloyd to get it done.
Back in the PDFL - this time in the senior ranks - Tungamah’s Ned McKeown could be the next cab off the rank to reach the ton.
McKeown, a defender turned forward and son of Collingwood’s Ronnie McKeown, has 88 goals to his name and, like Lloyd, has one game left to reach the milestone in the home and away season.
Glancing at the Murray Football League, Congupna’s Kyle Mueller leads the charge with 72 while Nathalia gun Liam Evans follows closely behind on 70.
Lastly, Goulburn Valley League leaderboards show Shepparton livewire Luke Smith on top with 47 majors, one ahead of Mansfield’s Billy Hogan and Benalla’s Nathan Wright.
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