Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

We’re getting down to the business end of the season in all three Leagues covered in the Western District, with four rounds remaining in the Hampden FNL, three rounds in the Mininera & District FNL and two rounds in the South West District FNL. A benefit of this staggered end to the season across the competitions is that Grand Finals don’t clash across these leagues.

 

 

Hampden FNL – Round 14

 

Top of the ladder North Warrnambool away asserted their authority handing out a 59 point hammering to Portland, 18-9-117 to 8-10-58. Although being down by 5 points at half time, a 9 goal to 1 third quarter saw the Eagles set up a commanding three-quarter time lead and go on with it in the last quarter to run out comfortable winners. Zac Everall and Tom Batten kicked three goals each for the winners, with the Keasts, Harry and Baillie named best players. For Portland, the VFL listed Jamieson Ballantyne, Tanner Lovell and Jeff Garlett kicked two goals each and Ballantyne and Lovell were named best players. As a side note, after much back and forward, the Tigers will now have Jeff Garlett available for the remainder of this season. A season that started so promisingly for Portland sees it now in a real battle to hold a spot in the final five, but after not winning a game in 2024 they’ve still come a long way in a short time.

 

In the other big clash of the round South Warrnambool at home bounced back with a 43 point win over Terang-Mortlake, 15-11-101 to 9-4-58. VFL listed Archie Stevens, captain Shannon Beks and Flynn Wilkinson all kicked three goals for South, whilst Nick Thompson and Willem O’Sullivan were named best players, and for Terang-Mortlake captain Joe Arundell and Jarryd Hay were named best players. Whilst Trent West and Scott Carlin played on Saturday and were also named in the best players, Colin O’Riordan didn’t pull on the boots in this important game and so the Bloods, currently sitting sixth on the ladder and a game and percentage outside the five, are now in a real battle to make the five come finals time. Interesting times.

 

Camperdown pulled off the surprise of the round downing Warrnambool by 6 points after two last minute goals in the bog conditions at Leura Oval in Camperdown, winning 5-8-38 to 4-8-32. Hamish Sinnott kicked two goals for the home team and was named in the best players whilst Luke O’Neill was named best player, and for Warrnambool, ex AFL/VFL player Aaron Black playing his first game since round 1 this season kicked all four of his teams goals. Veterans, Sam Cowling and Jordan Walters, were named best players for Warrnambool.

 

Port Fairy away downed Cobden 5-7-37 to 2-10-22, with both Cobden goals coming in the last quarter. Jake Bartlett was named best player for Port Fairy.

 

And in the final game Koroit at home kept a hold of their spot in the five with a big win over the Hamilton Kangaroos, 19-11-125 to 5-2-32. Joint Coach, Sam Dobson and Connor Byrne kicked four goals each with Byrne continuing his run of playing every game this season and kicking at least one goal in every game. Clem Nagorcka and Byrne were named best for Koroit and veteran, Levi Dare, was again named best player for the Kangaroos.

 

North Warrnambool sit three games clear on top of the ladder, with arch rival South Warrnambool back into second spot on the ladder, and Warrnambool small forward Luke Cody although not adding to his tally on the weekend still leads the goal kicking with 46.

 

This week’s game of the round is no doubt Warrnambool at home to Portland, with both teams battling for position in the five, if not to hang onto a spot in the five.

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 14

 

Coleraine at home and celebrating 150 years in existence on Saturday along with a couple of premiership reunions, particularly its 2005 Senior Premiership, and club stalwart Josh Eats’ 300^th club game, downed top of the ladder Cavendish, 7-6-48 to 4-6-30. Zach Hartley and Sam Youngman kicked two goals each for the victors and Harry Armstrong was named best player, along with Rhyan Menzel. Whilst for Cavendish Hammish Shipcott was named best player.

 

With Cavendish’s defeat, Dartmoor away moved to top of the ladder with a thumping 170 point win over Heathmere, 30-10-190 to 3-2-20. Christian Howlett kicked ten goals for Dartmoor and Ethan Murdock and Jordan Murphy kicked five goals each. Murdock and Howlett were named best players and for Heathmere, Jordan Heinze was named best player.

 

Branxholme-Wallacedale at home defeated Westerns 25-19-169 to 8-1-49. Recruit, Sharnay Than, kicked four goals for the Saints and was named best player, whilst another recruit this season Brandon Newton kicked nine goals and was also in the Saints best players.

 

Heywood at home got over the line by 13 points against the in form Tyrendarra, 13-6-84 to 11-5-71. Mark Troeth kicked three goals for the Lions and Richard Bamblett was named best player. Jordi Withers kicked six of his teams eleven goals and was named best player for Tyrendarra.

 

The battle for top spot on the ladder and the first weekend of finals off will likely come down to the last round clash between Dartmoor and Cavendish, with only percentage separating the two teams at the moment. The battle for the final spot in the five will also be hotly contested over the final two weeks with only percentage also separating Branxholme-Wallacedale currently in fifth spot on the ladder and Tyrendarra in sixth. These two teams also play in the final round in two week’s time.

 

Brandon Newton of Branxholme-Wallacedale leads the goal kicking on 56 with Tyrendarra’s Jordi Withers on 52 and Dartmoor’s Christian Howlett on 48.

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 13

 

Top team Ararat Eagles returned to the winners list after their first loss of the season the previous week to Penshurst. Third placed Penshurst hammered fifth placed Wickliffe Lake Bolac, and second placed Lismore-Derrinallum held Great Western scoreless.

 

With three rounds remaining its set up for a great finish to the season with any of five teams still in the hunt for fifth spot on the ladder, and it seems a great finals series is coming.

 

Top team Ararat Eagles at home defeated fourth placed Glenthompson-Dunkeld, 8-8-56 to 3-11-29. Tom Taurau went out of the team injured for this game, but captain Jackson Taurau returned, and the Eagles were led by Zach Louder with four goals and he was named best player, along with Jake Peters. Whilst for the Rams, DJ Woods and coach Tom Waters were named best players.

 

In a clash of last year’s Grand Finalists, Penshurst away again came out on top, downing Wickliffe-Lake Bolac 23-14-152 to 5-7-37. Josh Rentsch continued his red hot run of form for Penshurst and again kicked six goals and was named best player. Rentsch has now kicked 53 goals from his 12 games played this season, with 50 of those coming in the last 8 rounds. For the second week in a row, ruckman, Kieran Neeson, was named best player with Rentsch. Zachary Lord was named best player for Wickliffe-Lake Bolac.

 

The other highlight, or lowlight, depending on how you look at it was the win of Lismore-Derrinallum away over Great Western, with the home team not scoring. Lismore-Derrinallum ran out winners 22-17-149 to 0-0-0. League leading goal kicker Lachie Constable kicked six goals for the Demons to take his season tally to 78, whilst Jack McCallum kicked five goals and was named best player. Best player for Great Western was Jayden McCartney.

 

Tatyoon away defeated Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the close game of the round, 11-7-73 to 10-9-69. Best players were Thomas Quick for the winners and coach Xavier McCartney for the home team.

 

SMW Rovers away continued their improved form and downed Woorndoo-Mortlake, 11-5-71 to 8-16-64. Joel Moriarty kicked four goals for the Rovers and was named best player. Best player for the home team was Kane Killen.

 

In the final game of the round bottom of the ladder Moyston-Willaura at home got their second win of the season, downing Caramut 11-8-74 to 9-13-67. Rhys Cronin kicked four goals for the victors and Ned Bohner was named best player, whilst Devon Coates was named best player for Caramut. Moyston-Willaura’s win wasn’t enough to get them off the bottom of the ladder however, and they still sit there behind Caramut on percentage.

 

With three rounds remaining Ararat Eagles sit one game clear on top of the ladder from Lismore-Derrinallum and Penshurst. Glenthompson-Dunkeld are in fourth spot and will stay there with any of five teams still capable of finishing fifth, but Tatyoon is currently in that position.

 

It will be a great round of football this weekend with the top six teams playing another team in that top six, but the biggest game of the round will be second placed Lismore-Derrinallum at home to third placed Penshurst. The two in-form teams of the competition with the two key forwards, in league leading goal kicker Lachie Constable and second placed, Josh Rentsch. Both players have been in red hot form over recent weeks.

 

 

 

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