Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

 

My reports over the next few weeks may be shorter or even non-existent due to other commitments and me being on the road.

 

I’ll be back for most of finals in our two district leagues and certainly our major league – Hampden FNL finals.

 

I understand it’s only their opinion but journalists naming their Top 40 lists etc., particularly in country football, where let’s face it all games aren’t seen every week, are fraught with danger. I’m interested in people’s thoughts if they follow any of the leagues below and saw a Herald Sun list this week of ’40 of the best country footy players from western Victoria’. I understand its also 40 of the best, not necessarily the 40 best, but ….. see my thoughts below in the opening of the Mininera wrap.

 

 

Hampden FNL – Round 15 (Split Round)

Top team North Warrnambool at home and with key players back in the team went on its winning way defeating Cobden, 17-12-114 to 7-4-46. Veteran Tom Batten again led the way in front of goals with three and another veteran in Jarryd Lewis was named best along with Lachlan Wines. 16 year old Charlie Jellie was also named in the best players along with fly in fly out player, Sam McLachlan, who played his fourth game this season and has now qualified for finals. Ex-AFL player, and current head of development at North Melbourne, Michael Barlow, also played his fourth game this season on the weekend.

 

Best player for Cobden was Grady Rooke, for the second week running.

 

Koroit away defeated Port Fairy, 16-13-109 to 6-7-43, to keep its finals chances well and truly alive, but not guaranteed. Joint coach Sam Dobson kicked four goals for Koroit and Paddy O’Sullivan (an older brother of North Melbourne’s Finn) kicked three in his second game of the season after returning from injury. Smooth moving midfielder, Jack Block, was named best for the Saints, and Jake Bartlett was named best for the home team for the second week running.

 

Continuing my goal kicking watch on Koroit’s Connor Byrne, he again kicked one goal in this game to continue his run this season of having played every game and kicking at least one goal in every game.

 

In the final game of the split round the Hamilton Kangaroos at home to Terang-Mortlake went down 11-12-78 to 6-6-42. Coach Lewy Taylor kicked three goals for the victors, with William Moloney and Joe Arundell named best players, whilst for the Kangaroos, backman Cam Pither was named best player along with ruckman Levi Dare.

 

The final two games of this split round will be completed next Saturday.

 

North Warrnambool in top spot on the ladder is the only position in the final five that’s guaranteed and there is a real battle between five teams for positions two to five.

 

Warrnambool small forward Luke Cody who plays this coming weekend leads the goals kicking with 46, four ahead of Koroit’s Sam Dobson on 42 after his four goals on the weekend.

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 15

This weekend coming will see the last round of the home and away season in the SWDFNL and finals will come a week early with a couple of cracking games to finish the season and determine final five positions.

 

Dartmoor will host Cavendish this weekend to determine top spot on the ladder and a week off in the first week of finals, and Branxholme-Wallacedale will host Tyrendarra to determine fifth spot on the ladder. Tyrendarra currently hold it after a big win on the weekend gone, but if Branxholme-Wallacedale defeat them this weekend and pick up 1.5%, they will move into fifth spot.

 

The highlight of the weekend gone was another 16 goal haul for Tyrendarra sharp shooter, Jordie Withers, to lead his team to victory at home over Heathmere, 28-12-180 to 3-5-23. Withers’ 16 goals for the second time in four weeks saw him named best player along with Mitch Arnold. Best player for Heathmere was Patrick McGennisken.

 

In the game of the round Cavendish at home defeated Branxholme-Wallacedale by 2 points, 9-7-61 to 9-5-59. Jayden Hendry was again amongst the goals kicking three for the home team and Oli Dinges was named best player along with Harrison Rees, whilst for Branxholme-Wallacedale the goals were spread, and Jaydn Walter was named best player along with Sharnay Than.

 

In a surprising result to me, Coleraine away hammered Heywood, 13-10-88 to 2-5-17. Both teams will be playing finals and there are some in the league who think Coleraine is a real sleeper and will certainly challenge Dartmoor and Cavendish come finals time. Premiership player, Robert Mackinnon, kicked four goals for Coleraine and captain Marcus Rhook was named best player. For Heywood, Richard Bamblett was again named best player.

 

In the final game Dartmoor who currently sit on top of the ladder by percentage ahead of Cavendish hammered Westerns 35-13-223 to 0-4-4. The end of the season won’t come quick enough for Westerns, who after building to play finals last year will likely end this season with one win. Christian Howlett kicked ten goals again for Dartmoor, Dale Bachmann eight and midfield recruit this season from South Australia, Ethan Murdock, who has starred for them all year kicked seven goals. These three players unsurprisingly were named the three best players. Mitch Riddell was named best player for Westerns.

 

As mentioned in my opening top spot on the ladder will come down to the winner of this weekend’s game between Dartmoor and Cavendish and the final spot in the five will also come down to this weekend’s game between Branxholme-Wallacedale and last year’s premiers, Tyrendarra.

 

The league leading goal kicker is Tyrendarra’s Jordi Withers, courtesy of two 16 goal hauls in the last four weeks, taking his season tally to 68, ten ahead of Brandon Newton from Branxholme-Wallacedale and Christian Howlett from Dartmoor, both on 58.

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 14

In a somewhat surprising result second on the ladder Lismore-Derrinallum at home defeated third on the ladder Penshurst, 20-9-129 to 7-2-44. Word from the game was that Penshurst could have ended the game with as many as six players injured after already going into the game without midfielder, Aaron Glare. This could make it interesting heading into finals but take nothing away from Lismore-Derrinallum though as they continued their good form along with their key forward and league leading goal kicker, Lachie Constable, who kicked seven goals to take his season tally to 85. With two home and away games remaining he is a real chance to bag 100 before the end of the home and away season. Constable has had a terrific season, leading the goal kicking now by 32 over Penhurst’s Josh Rentsch.

 

I was surprised to this week read a Herald Sun list of 40 of the best footballers in western Victoria and see Lachie Constable wasn’t in it! But in saying that there were also no players from the Hampden League, but players from district league clubs around the Hampden League and players from the Wimmera League so it can’t be said it was district league players only or the clubs in the Hampden League weren’t in the catchment zone! I couldn’t believe a list of any kind would be put together, whether the best 40 or 40 of the best in western Victoria and there would be no Hampden FNL players in it. What was the point of the list, really?

 

Best players for Lismore-Derrinallum were Blake Scott and Austen Humphrey, two players who have also had exceptionally good seasons for their club. Constable was also in his team’s best players. Best players for Penshurst were Jock Nicholls and coach, Jayden Watson.

 

Glenthompson-Dunkeld at home reinforced its finals position with a 19 point win over Wickliffe Lake Bolac, 12-13-85 to 10-6-66. Big Sam McDonald kicked three goals for the home team and DJ Woods was named best player for the second week running, along with coach Tom Waters. Best player for the visitors was Harley Hunter.

 

Top of the ladder Ararat Eagles away defeated neighbour Tatyoon, 14-18-102 to 14-7-91. Sam Summers kicked four goals for the winners and Jake Peters was named best player along with Chevy Elliott and Ben Robertson. Captain Josh Bibby kicked seven goals for Tatyoon and was named best player.

 

SMW Rovers at home continued its strong second half of the season with a 47 point win over Hawkesdale-Macarthur, 18-15-123 to 11-10-76. Jamie Norton kicked six goals and was named best player for Rovers and Ben Reid continued his good form for Hawkesdale Macarthur and was named best player.

 

Woorndoo-Mortlake away defeated Caramut, 25-15-165 to 4-2-26. Eleven players got amongst the goals for the winners and Jack Richie was named best player. Best player for Caramut was Devon Coates for the second week running.

 

In the final game of the round Moyston-Willaura away made it back to back wins for the first time in a long time, defeating Great Western, 15-10-100 to 13-11-89. Rhys Cronin kicked five goals for Moyston-Willaura and Kaiden Cooper was named best player. Samuel Cocks kicked five goals for Great Western and Alexander Bonner was named best player.

 

With two rounds remaining in the home and away season the top three spots are settled although Glenthompson-Dunkeld could make the finals a little more interesting again if they can roll Penshurst this week. The battle for fifth spot on the ladder is on with any of five teams still in the hunt to clinch it and play finals.

 

As mentioned earlier, Lachie Constable of Lismore-Derrinallum has the goal kicking won and with two rounds remaining the only question is whether he gets his 100^th goal before finals. I’m tipping he will.

 

 

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