It only felt like yesterday when we started the 2024 Hampden Football Netball League season. The early hype was the Good Friday clash, followed by the Friday Night fixture where Ben Cunnington was unveiled as a Warrnambool Blue. Fast forward, we are now at the end of the season, and unfortunately, we will have to farewell five teams and a finals campaign is upon us. The improvement over the season has been significant for our sides that won’t feature in the finals series. Of course injury has hurt some of those sides, but it has enabled some exciting new talent to get opportunities. It has been a hell of a season, with so much great football played, with some outstanding individual performances as well as some classy team efforts as well. Thank you to all ten clubs for giving local Hampden fans a great home and away season, and let’s hope the teams finishing up their campaigns today, will bounce back harder in 2025.
Goal Kicking Showdown
The 2024 Hampden FNL Goal Kicking Award is still open with the final round of the season to come. Warrnambool star recruit Ben Cunnington has overtaken South Warrnambool key forward Shannon Beks by one goal after a five-goal haul last round against Terang Mortlake. Both forwards, along with Port Fairy’s Jason Rowan and Portland’s Jake Wilson have had great seasons and will be important pieces during their clubs premiership tilt in September. So, who wins the title this season? I think both deserve the award but the former North Melbourne star is in super form at the moment, having kicked 11 goals in the past fortnight. If Cunners get the forward 50 by himself, he’s a very hard man to shut down. I think the number 23 will get the job done, but only just.
South West Tafe Junior Grand Finals
Who will hold the premiership cup aloft in the HFNL Junior Grand Finals this weekend. The U14 fixture should be an entertaining contest, with South Warrnambool undefeated and pre-match favourites, against a Warrnambool Blues outfit that were impressive in the Preliminary Final. Both sides are well coached – with names such as Marris, Maddern, Dowie and Walters guiding these youngsters. The U16 contest was an outstanding match, with both Koroit and Terang Mortlake boasting very talented sides.The Saints have been the yardstick all season and will be hard to beat, but the Bloods have great momentum and are playing some seriously great football. The pace and movement of the game will be outstanding, and I believe it will be another thrilling contest, perhaps one that could mirror the 2023 decider. If you’re wanting to experience some great senior football, head to the Reid Oval on Sunday.
Swayn Farewell
As we are excited to see a new senior coach in the Hampden FNL in 2025 with Clinton Thomas taking the reins at Camperdown, we will farewell a ripping HFNL person in Neville Swayn at the conclusion of this weekend. Nev, he’s a bloody ripper. A passionate football coach who purely loves the game, the analysis and the development of young players. Despite not having the season he would have loved with a talented list, injuries have hurt his clubs endeavours but it hasn’t deterred Swayny making the team better. The HFNL community appreciates your contribution to Camperdown FNC and the entire league, let’s hope we see you back in the competition in some shape or form in the next 12-24 months.
Round 18
Camperdown vs North Warrnambool (Leura Oval)
Hamilton vs Warrnambool (Dunkeld)
South Warrnambool vs Portland (Friendlies)
Terang Mortlake vs Cobden (Ridley Reserve)
Koroit vs Port Fairy (Victoria Park)
See you at the Footy
