The Fresha Fruit Juice Final Series is now with us, and what a four week stretch of Hampden League Football we have ahead of us.
South Warrnambool have maintained their strong performances of the 2023 season, with taking home the minor premiership, an outstanding performance by Matt Battistello’s chargers once again.
The Friendlies Societies Park and Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve will host the opening week of the finals series, with two outstanding fixtures to be played.
North Warrnambool have named their strongest side of the season with former AFL guns Steve Motlop and Michael Barlow to line up with the Eagles against Warrnambool. The Eagles have so much talent on each line and their biggest recruit this season has been Jordan Dillon returning. He has dominated the ruck, allowing Nathan Vardy to play key forward and provide another dimension to their midfield rotation.
Warrnambool have been one of the major improvers this season, the recruitment of Ben Cunnington has been a huge success story, along with the inclusion of Taylem Wason. The Blues over the past few weeks have injected youthful outside speed which has been significant in their second half season form.
Terang Mortlake, the question has been what does their best side look like on paper, and finally we will see it on Sunday albeit minus Ryley Hutchins, who is injured. The Bloods have a deep midfield and the inclusion of Will Kain strengthens their forward structure. Playing coach Lewis Taylor has been in serious strong form and will be important on Sunday. The emergence of Harvey Roberts in defence has been a real success story of the season.
Koroit, what a club. The past two seasons, they have lost significant star power, but this has not deflated the group, it has strengthened them significantly. The emergence of Whitehead, Petersen, Byrne x 2, Stephens, Neave was unbelievable but not surprising as they are all outstanding players. Coach McLaren has been at the top of his game, and continues to be one of the great coaches in the HFNL.
Junior Grand Final
A big crowd witnessed two outstanding games of junior football at the Reid Oval last weekend, with South Warrnambool and Koroit winning their respective grades. The skills and game method from all competing teams was first class and it is a credit to the players and coaches for helping display a great spectacle.Two thrilling Grand Finals was the culmination of a great junior season.
Fresha Fruit Juice Finals Matches
Qualifying Final (Friendlies Society Park)
Seniors – North Warrnambool vs Warrnambool
Reserves – Cobden vs North Warrnambool
U18s – Warrnambool vs South Warrnambool
Elimination Final (Cobden Community Ban Recreation Reserve)
Seniors – Terang Mortlake vs Koroit
Reserves – Warrnambool vs Terang Mortlake
U18s – Portland vs Camperdown
See you at the footy
Hilly
