Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

 

I’ve had some queries raised/comments made on recent posts regarding games being competitive, player numbers and money in country football. There are a couple of points around competitiveness and numbers touched on in this week’s wrap.

 

Hampden FNL – Round 11

The game of the round saw first on the ladder, North Warrnambool, take on second placed arch rival South Warrnambool. The top of the ladder Eagles were still without playing coach and big man Nathan Vardy, while the Roosters at home were buoyed by the return of players particularly captain Shannon Beks from injury. Beks hadn’t played since round 3 due to a hand injury. The Rantall brothers, ex Collingwood listed and now Geelong VFL listed Jay and younger brother Wil who has played with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates Talent League this season and more recently also with Geelong in the VFL were also in for the Roosters.

 

The Roosters led at every break and although held goalless in the third quarter they steadied and ran out 19 point winners, 7-12-54 to 4-11-35. Captain, Shannon Beks, showed just how important he is to the team booting three goals in his return match whilst young Max Irving who has been mentioned regularly in this column this season was once again South’s best player. He was joined by Beks and the experienced Jeremy Mugavin, in just his third game for the season. Best for North, who finished the game stretched for fit players after suffering injuries during the match, were Xavier Harris and Harry Keast.

 

Both teams have players to come back in, and so selection will be interesting during this second part of the season. As a side note to this match up, the South Reserves currently sit on top of the ladder with the North Reserves ninth, but in Saturday’s game the North Reserves were well beaten and held scoreless.

 

Elsewhere in a game to help shape the five, Terang-Mortlake at home defeated Portland by 13 points, 9-12-66 to 7-11-53. The home side were without ex-AFL listed players in Trent West and Colin O’Riordan who were both in their best players the previous week but were aided by the return of very good country footballer, Scott Carlin. Carlin playing his fourth Hampden FNL game for the season has shared his time between the Katherine Camels in the Big Rivers FL and Terang-Mortlake, after being a regular with Waratah in the Northern Territory FL Premier League in their season. Playing coach, Lewy Taylor kicked three goals following his five the week before and Carlin and Alexander Moloney were named best players. Portland, who’s hold on a spot in the five is all of a sudden starting to look precarious, was best served by young key position player, Charlie Piergrosse, and playing coach Lachie Huppatz who is having a very good season.

 

The Hamilton Kangaroos at home defeated Camperdown, 10-14-74 to 8-10-58. After letting a 37 point lead slip through their fingers in their round 2 match up the Kangaroos put four quarters together this time and were never headed winning by 16 points after Camperdown kicked the last three goals of the game. Young Hamilton key position forward Hamish Cook kicked three goals in his return from injury and was joined by his fellow key forward Darcy Russell who also kicked three goals, whilst captain Taine Morris and veteran ruckman, Levi Dare, were named best players. Best for Camperdown was young Aidan Conheady who also kicked two goals. He’s had a very good couple of weeks.

 

As a side note to this game, Camperdown have been beaten soundly each round this season in the Under 18 competition and had to forfeit its game against the Kangaroos on the weekend.

 

Port Fairy at home couldn’t get the job done against Warrnambool going down 10-18-78 to 8-7-55. With nearly double the scoring opportunities Warrnambool was again best served around goals by small forward, Luke Cody, who kicked five goals and maintains his lead in the league goal kicking. Best player for Warrnambool was Tyler Murnane who joined the club from Panmure in the Warrnambool & District FNL this season. Veteran, Jason Rowan, kicked three goals for Port Fairy against his old club and was named in the best players along with young Kelby Fleming. Port Fairy used all forty six of their allocated player points in this game.

 

In the final game Koroit at home proved far too strong for Cobden running out 69 point winners, 15-10-100 to 4-7-31. Joint coach and key forward Sam Dobson kicked six goals as did young small forward/on-baller Connor Byrne. As mentioned previously Byrne has played every game this season and kicked at lest one goal in every game. His six on the weekend see him continue his run at the league leading goal kicker. He’s now on 31 goals for the season, eight behind leader, Luke Cody of Warrnambool. Best players for Koroit were Thomas Baulch and Byrne, whilst Cobden were best served by the ever reliable Paul Pekin.

 

North and South sit one and two on the ladder and stating the obvious are clearly the teams to beat. There’s a battle between four clubs, Warrnambool, Portland, Koroit and Terang-Mortlake for the next three spots in the five. The senior games are mostly very competitive each week and the bottom four sides can certainly play a big part in helping shape the final five.

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 11

The highlight of the round was undoubtedly Heathmere recording its first win of the season, defeating Westerns 11-10-76 to 6-11-47. Assisted by the inclusion of ex Collingwood and Western Bulldogs player Travis Cloke as part of the ‘Carlton Draft’ the Mere’s ran all over Westerns in the final quarter kicking 6 goals to 1 goal with Cloke leading the charge kicking five goals for the day. Best players for Heathmere were Blake Schwarz and Cody Driscoll, whilst Westerns were best served by Daniel Lynch, who had the Cloke match up for most of the day.

 

If you’re on social media, particularly Facebook, have a look at highlights from the day shared by Andy Munro on his ‘Former Footy Grounds’ page. Andy is an avid football follower and gets around to local football matches each weekend.

 

Top team Caevendish away to Tyrendarra scraped home by 4 points, 6-7-43 to 6-3-39, after trailing most of the day. Jayden Hendry kicked two goals for Cavendsish who were best served by Tom McGinley and Harry Austin whilst Jordi Withers continued his good run for the Darra’s kicking four of the teams six goals and they were best served by Mark Pitt.

 

Second on the ladder, Dartmoor, away, took on fourth placed Heywood and ran out comfortable 47 point winners, 12-9-81 to 5-4-34. Christian Howlett continued his good run of form booting another four goals for the winners and coach Jayden Polaski who was last week re-appointed as coach for 2026 was named best player along with Ethan Murdock who is having a very good season. Polaski, who’s twin brother Lachlan, also plays in the Dartmoor seniors, will lead Dartmoor for a 10^th season in 2026. He has one premiership as coach, but the team have gone down in the Grand Final in two of the last three seasons and have been a regular finals contender in his time as coach. Some record as a hard-nosed on field leader of a club from a town with a population of approximately 300 and best known for being the home town of AFL star Jeremy Cameron.

 

Best players for Heywood were Peter Monaro and regular best player, Jarod Donovan.

 

In the final game of the round Coleraine at home defeated Branxholme-Wallacedale, 12-7-79 to 7-7-49. After a mid-season goal kicking lull, Kieran Barker has bounced back strongly, kicking another five goals on the weekend and with Jack Wright and Harry Armstrong was named in the best players. Whilst at the other end of the ground Brandon Newton kicked five goals for Branxholme-Wallacedale and Sam Lambevski continued his good form being named best player.

 

Cavendish sit on top of the ladder four points clear of Dartmoor with real interest in the battle for fifth spot between Branxholme-Wallacedale and Tyrendarra.

 

Coleraine’s Kieran Barker leads the goal kicking with 42 goals for the season, but the table shows the real strength of Dartmoor this season with three of the top six players on the table from that club – Christian Howlett with 34, Ethan Murdock with 33 and Dale Bachmann with 27.

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 10

The game of the round saw top team Ararat Eagles at home remain undefeated, downing second placed Lismore-Derrinallum by 10 points, 11-6-72 to 9-8-62. Both teams having seventeen scoring opportunities with Ararat having seven goal kickers and Lismore-Derrinallum five goal kickers. Leading goal kickers in the game were Zach Louder with three for the Eagles and Austin Humphrey with three for the Demons. Interestingly league leading goal kicker, the Demons Lachie Constable, had his quietest game of the season from a goal kicking point of view with one goal. He’s played every game this season and managed to kick at least one goal in each game but until Saturday his three goals in round one this season was his quietest game.

 

Best players for Ararat were captain Jackson Taurau and the ever reliable Ben Robertson, who has been a regular in the club’s best players this season, whilst for the Demons their best were Blake Scott and Max McIntosh. Austin Humphrey who has also played every game this season for the Demons and kicked at least one goal in each of them was again in their best players on Saturday and he’s been a regular there this season. Both teams used forty three of their allocated forty five player points.

 

Hawkesdale-Macarthur at home defeated Wickliffe-Lake Bolac by 19 points, 15-9-99 to 12-8-80. Pat Sinnott kicked five goals, and captain Aaron Seabrook was named best player for the home team, whilst Wickliffe Lake Bolac were best served by ex-Ballan player Trent Laurie and Liam Zavaglia, who kicked seven of his teams twelve goals.

 

Reigning premiers, Penshurst, away, were far too good for Woorndoo-Mortlake running out winners by 59 points, 17-12-114 to 8-7-55. Assistant coach and key forward, Josh Rentsch, continued his good run of recent form kicking seven goals and was named amongst the better players with Daniel Rentsch and Jock Nicholls. For Woorndoo-Mortlake Jack Spokes kicked three goals in his first game for the season and captain Thomas Gough was named best player along with the much travelled Jai Middleton.

 

Glenthompson-Dunkeld away hammered Moyston-Willaura by 122 points, 21-13-139 to 2-5-17. Key forward Jacob Hill kicked eight goals for the victors and was named in the best players with DJ Woods and Tyler Staude. Adan Wisby and Bailee Turner were the goal kickers for Moyston Willaura and Brad Uwland, who has been a mainstay in the team’s best players this season was named best player along with captain Liam Kaine.

 

Tatyoon headed to Great Western and were far too good for the Lions leading at every change to run out winners by 86 points, 25-9-159 to 11-7-73. It was certainly an accurate day in front of goal for Tatyoon led by Joshua Lee with six goals. Best player for Tatyoon was ex North Shore player, Cameron Anderson, and for Great Western, Nathaniel Cooper kicked four goals and was named best player.

 

In the final game of the round SMW Rovers away led all day to record their second win of the season downing Caramut, 10-15-75 to 7-13-55. Thomas Liston and captain Sam Fisher were named best players for Rovers whilst Nathan Murphy and Ryan O’Connor were named best players for the home team. Damien Wynd kicked three goals for Caramut. Caramut used all fifty of their allocated player points.

 

Ararat Eagles remain on top of the ladder undefeated; two games clear of Lismore Derrinallum and Penshurst with four teams battling it out for the next two spots in the five. Lachie Constable of Lismore Derrinallum leads the league goal kicking with 51 but last year’s leading goal kicker, Josh Rentsch from Penshurst, is closing in quickly and sits on 36. He’s kicked 33 goals in his last five games.

 

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