Our U18 Division 1 boys saw their season end in the Semi-Finals on Tamborine Mountain after finishing second in a stacked South Coast competition. The boys showed incredible heart, courage, and dedication across a long campaign, pushing eventual Premiers Murwillumbah all the way in a tight title race.
Ben Canavan and his team secured 11 wins across the course of the season, showcasing brilliant quality in front of goal. Our U18s scored 75 goals in just 19 games and were the highest-scoring team in the division.
The boys started their season with a composed 3-0 victory over Mudgeeraba. A compelling 6-1 win over Burleigh Heads, a 5-3 win against Pacific Pines, and a 7-1 victory over Ormeau affirmed their scintillating attacking football. Several gritty draws and a few slender defeats demonstrated the competitive nature of the competition, but our U18s pushed through the difficult games and continued to challenge for the top spot.
A 4-2 victory over Premiers Murwillumbah was a season highlight, with the boys putting on a stunning display at Long Road Sports Centre to avenge their defeat earlier in the season. We ended our regular campaign with our strongest performance of the year, decimating Surfers Paradise 8-1 to cement our place in second and to earn a Semi-Final at home on Tamborine Mountain. In front of a lively home crowd on a freezing Friday night, our U18s were unable to progress to the Grand Final, but they did the Eagles proud with their outstanding effort and conviction across the season.
While our U18s weren’t able to secure any silverware this season, we can look back with pride on a hard-fought effort and a memorable season in the highest division. We look forward to re-grouping and fighting for the title in 2025!
Story by Chandler Milligan Photographs by Chandler Milligan
