Almanac Footy: Western District Football Wrap

 

Hampden FNL – Round 5

 

The game of the round saw the two unbeaten teams in North Warrnambool and Portland meet at the Bushfield Recreation Reserve and a home team victory by 6 points, North Warrnambool 10-13-73 to Portland 10-7-67.

 

Portland led by 21 points late in the third quarter and after 3 lead changes in the last quarter which went for near 32 minutes the Eagles held sway at home by 6 points in the end.

 

After his 46 possessions the previous week, Michael Barlow was unavailable with North Melbourne duties this week and Charlie McKinnon was playing with the GWV Rebels in the Coates Talent League, but Will Brennan and Tom Keast stepped up for the victors and were well supported by Sam McLachlan on his return to the Club from Queensland where he has spent the last few seasons playing with Maroochydore in the QAFL.

 

Best players for Portland were ruckman, Ben Malcolm, and midfielder Daniel Jackson.

 

North Warrnambool have been strong for a few season now, playing off in the last two Grand Finals where they have been defeated by South Warrnambool, whilst Portland are the big improvers in the league after not winning a game last season. Saturday showed they will be there at the business end of the season.

 

South Warrnambool defeated Terang Mortlake, 14-14-98 to 9-13-67 at the Terang Recreation Reserve. The Roosters got on top early with a five goal to one first quarter and extended that lead over the next two quarters to lead by 45 points at three quarter time before extending that to 57 points early in the last quarter before Terang Mortlake kicked the last four goals of the game.

 

Max Irving, Daniel Nicholson (with three goals) and Archie Stevens (home from VFL duties with Carlton) were best for the Roosters, whilst Sam Crawley in his second game of the season was best for the home team.

 

In other games Warrnambool at home were too good for Camperdown, 14-8-92 to 7-12-54 with small forward Luke Cody returning after missing the week before and being the standout player kicking eight goals and being named best player for Warrnambool. His eight goals on Saturday takes him to 17 goals for the season. Aidan Conheady kicked three goals for Camperdown. Port Fairy, led by Strahan Robinson with five goals, recorded their second win of the season, defeating Cobden 13-12-90 to 8-15-63. Jordan Fowler was named best for Cobden who are yet to register a win this season, and Koroit proved too good for the Hamilton Kangaroos at Hamilton getting the jump on the home team early with a five goal to one point first quarter and leading all day. Jack Block, a smooth left footer, was named best for Koroit and watchers at this game were also impressed by his game. Joint Coach, Sam Dobson, got amongst the goals for the first time this season kicking five for Koroit, whilst Jack English was named best player for the Hamilton Kangaroos and Hamish Cook kicked three goals and was also named in their best players.

 

At the conclusion of round five there is now one undefeated team in North Warrnambool, one game clear of Portland and South Warrnambool, and whilst there is a lot of football yet to be played that might be your premiership race. Big Jake Wilson of Portland leads the goal kicking with 21 goals.

 

Game of the round this weekend will be Portland at home taking on Warrnambool. After dropping their first game of the year last week to North Warrnambool can Portland bounce back?

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 5

 

The game of the round saw Cavendish go on their winning way at Heywood, defeating the home team 13-12-90 to 6-6-42. Coach, Sam Gibson, returned from injury for Cavendish but it was South Australian recruit Jayden Hendry in his second game for the Club who led the way on Saturday kicking five goals and being named best player. Coach, Leon Davis, and Jarod Donovan kicked two goals each for Heywood and Billy Bell was named best player.

 

Coleraine at home recorded their best win of the season downing Dartmoor in a nail biter, 12-11-83 to 12-9-81. Charlie Youngman kicked three goals for Coleraine and Harry Armstrong was named best player, whilst Coach Jayden Polaski was named best player for Dartmoor.

 

Branxholme Wallacedale recorded their third win of the season at Heathmere with recruit Brandon Newton again dominating with eight goals and being named best player. The visitors ran out winners 21-16-142 to 5-4-34. Newton has now kicked 18 goals for the season. Joel Le Roy and Sam Rintoule were also named in the best players for Branxholme Wallacedale, with Harri Black named best player for Heathmere. Callum McNabb kicked four of the teams five goals for the day.

 

In the final game of the round Tyrendarra at home defeated Westerns 6-9-45 to 3-10-28. Mitch Arnold was named best player for Tyrendarra and Mitch Riddell named best player for Westerns.

 

Again, there is a lot of footy still to be played but Cavendish who were clear premiership favourites at the start of the season have only become a clearer favourite after five rounds. If anything, Coleraine are playing better than expected and are currently sitting second on the ladder with Kieran Barker being the leading goal kicker in the competition with 25 goals.

 

Game of the round this week will be Branxholme Wallacedale at home taking on Dartmoor. Can Branxholme Wallacedale claim a big scalp?

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 4

 

Ararat Eagles remain undefeated after downing SMW Rovers 18-13-121 to 9-13-67.  Ben Robertson was named best player for the victors along with Jack Wilson, whilst James Liston with two goals was named best player for Rovers.

 

Lismore Derrinallum kicked the sweep at Derrinallum downing Moyston Willaura 24-24-168 to 3-6-24. New recruit this season, Austin Humphrey was again amongst the goals with seven and league leading goal kicker Lachie Constable chimed in with five, whilst Will Langley was named best player. Kaiden Cooper was named best player for Moyston Willaura.

 

Woorndoo Mortlake visited Great Western and ran out comfortable winners 20-13-133 to 6-6-42. Damien McCorkell who came to the Club this season from Warrnambool kicked seven goals for the victors and was named best player whilst James Coghlan West booted four goals. Another recruit from Warrnambool, Darcy Graham, was also named in the best players. Marlion Pickett’s game for Great Western the week before was a one off and best player for the home team was Tom Parsons, whilst recruit William Munkara kicked four goals. Both these teams have recruited heavily with the game involving a number of four point players and even one five point player.

 

In other games Penshurst defeated Glenthompson Dunkeld at Dunkeld, 12-12-84 to 10-4-64 with Jacob Mibus (one of the best stories in country football) kicking six goals for Penshurst and being named in the best players, with Assistant Coach Josh Rentsch being named best player. Jezza Woods was named best player for the home team.

 

Wickliffe Lake Bolac visited Tatyoon and ran out winners 13-15-93 to 11-4-70. Liam Zavaglia kicked six goals for the victors whilst new recruit, Andrew Baker, was named best player. James Shanhun kicked three goals for Tatyoon and was named best player. This game also involved a number of recruits with Tatyoon using their full 45 allocated player points.

 

The final game of the round at Caramut saw the tightest result of the round with Hawkesdale Macarthur defeating Caramut 10-73 to 10-9-69. Jack Wortley was named best player for Hawkesdale Macarthur, whilst Harry Kelp was named best player for Caramut. After a number of lean years Caramut are certainly more competitive this season and have been able to recruit a number of players to the Club using 48 of their allocated 50 player points on the weekend.

 

After 4 rounds Ararat Eagles sit on top of the ladder undefeated, with Lismore Derrinallum and Woorndoo Mortlake one game behind. The premiership race appears wide open this season, with last year’s Grand Finalists Penshurst and Wickliffe Lake Bolac currently sitting sixth and seventh on the ladder. League leading goal kicker is Lachie Constable of Lismore Derrinallum with 17 goals.

 

Game of the round this Saturday will be Lismore Derrinallum at home to Woorndoo Mortlake. Two teams on the move this season. Who steps up as the number one challenger to top team, Ararat Eagles?

 

 

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