Almanac Footy – Western Victoria Football Wrap: Round 2 and Round 1

 

Western Victoria Football Wrap – 12/4/25 and 13/4/25

 

Hampden FNL – Round 2

 

North Warrnambool won the 2024 Grand Final rematch by 5 points at home, downing South Warrnambool 8-11-59 to 7-12-54 and Portland made it two wins at home to start the season after going winless in 2024, defeating boom side Terang Mortlake by 34 points.

 

North Warrnambool overcome the match day withdrawal of coach and ruckman, Nathan Vardy, to lead all day and hold out the premiers of the last two years, South Warrnambool. Young Zac Everall kicked 3 goals for the Eagles to be the leading goal kicker on the day and be named amongst the best players. The availability of VFL listed players, Archie Stevens (Carlton) and Jay Rantall (Geelong) wasn’t enough for South and their best player for the second week running was Flynn Atchison.

 

Down at Portland the Tigers went on their winning way and after a tight first half they got right on top in the third quarter and ran the game out stronger to win by 34 points, after being down by 2 points at half time. Big forward, Jake Wilson, kicked 5 goals for the second week running for the Tigers, whilst the best players named were similar to the previous week with players returning home this season to play leading the way in Jay Moody, Daniel Jackson, Tanner Lovell, Jake Edwards and Jamieson Ballantyne. Portland Coach, Lochie Huppatz, who had 31 possessions and 20 tackles in round 1, also had plenty of the play again and has his team ticking over well. They’ll now prepare for a big Anzac Day clash against the neighbouring Hamilton Kangaroos who hope to play the game at their re-developed Melville Oval home ground after not having played a true home game since 2023. Best player for Terang Mortlake was Rhys Buck and a young Charlie Kenna on a wing impressed watchers. He’s a name to remember.

 

In other games, Port Fairy got onto the winning list defeating Warrnambool by 32 points, with Gary Rohan and James Edmonds kicking 3 goals each for the seagulls, whilst Koroit defeated Cobden by 25 points and Camperdown came from behind to down the Hamilton Kangaroos by 21 points.

 

Portland, North Warrnambool and Camperdown are all undefeated after two games.

 

Koroit and South Warrnambool will now square off in their annual Good Friday clash this coming Friday at Koroit, whilst the following Friday, Anzac Day, will see the Hamilton Kangaroos take on Portland in their annual Anzac Day clash and this year the League will host a second game on Anzac Day with Terang Mortlake hosting Cobden.

 

 

South West District FNL – Round 2

 

Cavendish, without coach Sam Gibson, defeated Dartmoor in the match of the round by 13 points, 12-5-77 to 9-10-64. Both sides have recruited well this season and brought youth into their teams but after a slow start Cavendish worked their away into the game and after being 15 points down at quarter time, scores were level at half time before Dartmoor held a slender 4-point lead at three quarter time. The final quarter saw Cavendish run the game out stronger kicking four goals to the home sides one in the last quarter to take the points. The result suggests there isn’t much between the two teams and both will be strengthened as the season goes on, Cavendish with the return of coach Sam Gibson from a hamstring injury and Dartmoor with the return of last year’s League Best and Fairest Runner-up, ruckman Cody Benson, who is serving a suspension from last years Grand Final which Dartmoor lost to Tyrendarra. The three Coghlan brothers, Peter, Jonathon and Lee were all amongst the best players for Cavendish.

 

Branxholme Wallacedale recorded a big victory over last year’s Premiers, Tyrendarra, at Branxholme. The Saints who had one win and a draw last season to finish 7^th on the ladder (of the 8 teams in the league) had by all reports played well the previous week going down by 34 points to Cavendish who most pundits have as the Premiership favorites this season and continued that form at home on the weekend off the back of a best on ground 7 goal performance from new recruit, Brandon Newton. Newton arrived at Branxholme Wallacedale this season from West Gambier in the Limestone Coast Football Netball League where he was a 2024 premiership player, also being awarded best on ground in the Grand Final.

 

The remaining games were highlighted by ex-Collingwood player and current Heywood coach, Leon Davis, kicking 7 goals and Coleraine recruit Kieran Barker kicking 8 goals for their teams to lead them to comfortable victories. Heywood defeated Heathmere by 110 points at Heathmere and Coleraine defeated Westerns by 94 points at Alexandra Park in Portland, Westerns home ground. Its been a disappointing start to the season for Westerns who played finals in 2024 and were seen to be a team on the rise.

 

Heywood and Cavendish remain undefeated after two rounds.

 

 

Mininera & District FNL – Round 1

 

The match of the round was the 2024 Grand Final rematch between premiers Penshurst and the team they defeated by 5 points in the Grand Final, Wickliffe Lake Bolac. Both clubs have lost players from 2024 and WLB have a new coach in Sam Rintoule, whilst Jayden Watson again leads Penshurst. The game was played at Penshurst with the home team taking out the match by 70 points off the back of a commanding second half where they outscored their opponents 15 goals to 6 goals, winning 20-18-138 to 10-8-68.

 

Penshurst Assistant Coach, Josh Rentsch, who was the joint winner of the 2021 Morrish Medal whilst playing with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, was named best player for the home team. He has started this season where he left off in 2024 when he won the League Best and Fairest and best on ground medal in the winning Grand Final. Adam Linke kicked 6 goals for Penshurst.

 

The highlight of the round was undoubtedly Caramut winning their first senior football game in 1050 days, defeating Moyston Willaura 14-10-94 to 8-14-62 at home with new recruit, Luke Tebble, kicking 6 goals to guide the home team to victory. Former Terang Mortlake player and Hampden FNL Inter League representative, Ryan O’Connor, was amongst the best players for Caramut. Caramut’s last win was also against Moyston Willaura, back in May 2022.

 

Tatyoon and Hawkesdale Macarthur played a draw with Tatyoon coming from 40 points down at three quarter time and kicking 15-11-101 to HM’s 16-5-101.

 

Ararat Eagles were too strong for Glenthompson Dunkeld winning 12-7-79 to 7-12-54. Jack Wilson kicked 5 goals for the Eagles and was named best player. Bad kicking is bad football.

 

The team tipped to be a big improver this season, Woorndoo Mortlake, who have recruited well out of Warrnambool ran the game out stronger than their opponents SMW Rovers kicking 7 goals 3 behinds in the last quarter to 3 behinds to win by 47 points. Ex coach, Tyson Hogan, kicked 5 goals for WM and was named best player.

 

In the final game of the first round Lismore Derrinallum kicked the sweep to beat Great Western by 125 points, 25-16-166 to 6-5-41. Austin Humphrey and Blake Scott, both who have previously played in the Geelong FNL, kicked 5 goals each and were named the two best players for the Demons in their big win.

 

 

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