Almanac Footy – Western District Football Wrap: Round 4 and Round 3

Western District Football Wrap

 

Hampden FNL – Round 4

Round 4 of Hampden football was highlighted by the young Hamilton Kangaroos chalking up their first win of the season and the two remaining unbeaten teams in Portland and North Warrnambool conducting demolition jobs on their opposition.

 

The Hamilton Kangaroos coming off a defeat by Portland in their Anzac Day clash at the redeveloped Melville Oval in Hamilton, their first game at ‘home’ since 2023, travelled to Cobden and defeated the home side by 29 points after being six points down at three quarter time. The Kangaroos with two debutants in Alexander Prentice and Brodie Phillips from the club’s U18s joined Bailey Clarke up from the U16s into the team, were led on the day by ruck and Cobden old boy, Levi Dare. Dare who is in the twilight of his career – but isn’t getting any smaller – is also a triple Maskell Medallist (Hampden FNL League Best and Fairest). Bailey Clarke played two senior games late in 2024 and is the club’s U16 captain this year and also part of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels U16 program. Angus Uwland kicked two goals for Cobden and was named best on.

 

Alexander Prentice was named amongst the club’s best players in his first senior game whilst the Kangaroos were also well served by key forwards Hamish Cook who kicked four goals and Darcy Russell (three).

 

In the clash of the undefeated Camperdown and North Warrnambool at the Leura Oval in Camperdown, the Eagles proved too strong and downed the home side by 50 points, 13.14.92 to 6.6.42. North Melbourne’s Head of Development, Michael Barlow, was an interesting inclusion for the Eagles after he’d played five games for the club in 2024 including the grand final when they were defeated by South Warrnambool. Whilst statistics for the game haven’t been made publicly available as yet, Barlow is a known ball-magnet wherever he’s played dating back to his days at Fremantle and the Gold Coast Suns. Big Charlie McKinnon kicked four goals for the winners.

 

The battle of seaside neighbours saw Portland continue on their merry way kicking the biggest tally of the round 14.14.98 to demolish Port Fairy 4.10.34. Big Jake Wilson kicked seven goals for the Tigers to take his season tally to 19 from four games which also sees him leading the league goal kicking for the season and they were again led by midfielders Tanner Lovell, Jay Moody and Daniel Jackson, with young winger Jack Walsh also being amongst the best players again.

 

After a strong recruiting off season headlined by the signing of ex-Geelong and Sydney Swans player Gary Rohan, the Seagulls haven’t been able to put it all together yet; they’ve won one game and sit ninth on the ladder with a percentage of a touch over 63.

 

In the remaining games Terang Mortlake defeated Koroit by two points, 7.8.50 to 7.6.48 with a late Darcy Hutchins goal sealing victory for the visitors and South Warrnambool at home defeated Warrnambool by 12 points, 10.13.73 to 9.7.61.

 

After four rounds Portland sit on top of the ladder with North Warrnambool second, both teams having won their four games to start the season and looking ahead towards a fifth round match up – which will obviously be the game of the round – at Bushfield next Saturday. Cobden is the only team in the league yet to open its account following the weekend’s loss to the Hamilton Kangaroos.

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 4

Cavendish went on its winning way and defeated last year’s premiers, Tyrendarra, by 66 points. The score of 12.7.79 to 2.1.13 reflected a very tough day for the visitors with this game being significantly delayed after an unfortunate injury in the reserves game requiring the air ambulance. I don’t have any further information regarding that matter. James Huf kicked four goals for Cavensidsh and was named best player whilst coach Sam Gibson again stayed on the sidelines with a soft tissue injury.

 

Dartmoor at home kicked the score of the round on their way to defeat Heywood by 48 points, 18.5.113 to 10.5.65. Christian Howlett kicked four goals for Dartmoor and Alex O’Connell was named best player. Whilst Heywood were without their coach, Leon Davis, the winning margin here was more than I expected and shows they still have plenty of work to do to match the power of Cavendish and Dartmoor.

 

The remaining games saw Coleraine end the two-game winning streak of Branxholme Wallacedale, 12.17.89 to 5.5.35 and Westerns opened their account with a 45 point defeat of Heathmere, 12.11.83 to 6.2.38.

 

Cavendish are the only team left undefeated in the league, whilst Heathmere are the only team yet to win a game. As a side note, Heathmere will be part of this years ‘Carlton Draft’ and will have ex-Collingwood and Western Bulldogs forward Travis Cloke playing with them later this season.

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 3

The Ararat Eagles followed last weeks drubbing of Penshurst with a 26 point defeat of neighbouring Tatyoon to remain the only undefeated team in the league. With ten players sharing their twelve goals the Eagles ran out winners at home, 12.9.81 to 8.7.55. Jackson Taurau was named best for Ararat whilst Josh Bibby was named best for Tatyoon.

 

Great Western, with ex-Richmond player Marlion Pickett playing defeated Moyston Willaura by 69 points, 21.7.133 to 9.10.64. Great Western utilising all of its allotted 45 player points were led by Damien Dunn with five goals and William Munkarra with four. Both players have come to Great Western following playing with the Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL. Pickett also played with the Tiwi Bombers last season but was announced as a signing by Melton South in the Riddell District FNL, so whether this game was a one off remains to be seen.

 

In somewhat of a surprise, last season’s premiers, Penshurst, dropped their second game in succession going down at home to Lismore Derrinallum 12.11.83 to 8.14.62 after being soundly beaten the previous week by the Ararat Eagles. Coach Jayden Watson kicked three goals for Penshurst and was named in their best, whilst youngster William Bester was named best player. Austin Humphrey and Henry Walsh (brother of Carlton’s, Sam) were named best players for Lismore Derinallum, whilst Lachie Constable was the game’s leading goal kicker with four and is also the leading goal kicker in the league so far this season with 12.

 

In the remaining games Glenthompson Dunkeld defeated Wickliffe Lake Bolac at Lake Bolac, 13.11.89 to 9.6.60 with Scott Selwood not backing up with Wickliffe Lake Bolac after playing the previous week; Hawkesdale Macarthur at home defeated SMW Rovers 17.15.117 to 6.12.48 and Woorndoo Mortlake at home defeated neighbour Caramut, 18.18.126 to 4.5.29 with former Mallee Eagles player Jai Middleton kicking four goals and ex-Warrnambool Darcy Graham named best player.

 

Ararat Eagles remain the only undefeated team after three rounds and SMW Rovers the only team yet to win a game.

 

 

 

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