THE penultimate round of the home and away season saw two Hampden league ruckmen produce monster games, while a number of midfielders were also productive as the cut-throat race to the finals continues to provide plenty of drama, entertainment and misfortune for a number of clubs.
Sam Walsh
Home Club: Cobden Bombers
AFL Club: Carlton Blues
Stats: 9 kicks, 18 handballs, 3 marks
Finished as one of the Blues better performers with 27 disposals and six clearances in a heart-breaking defeat to Brisbane.
Zach Merrett
Home Club: Cobden Bombers
AFL Club: Essendon Bombers
Stats: 14 kicks, 12 handballs, 2 marks
Was serviceable with 26 touches, four clearances and four inside 50s in the Bombers loss to Port Adelaide.
Rowan Marshall
Home Club: Portland Tigers
AFL Club: St Kilda Saints
Stats: 15 kicks, 5 handballs, 3 marks
Also had 42 hit-outs and seven clearances alongside his 20 possession haul in the Saints defeat to Brisbane.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Home Club: South Warrnambool Roosters
AFL Club: Western Bulldogs
Stats: 8 kicks, 4 handballs, 6 marks
Kicked 1.2 from 12 touches in the Bulldogs narrow victory over the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Jamaine Jones
Home Club: Portland Tigers
AFL Club: West Coast Eagles
Stats: 5 kicks, 3 handballs, 2 marks
Was a bit quieter than last week with just eight touches but made an impression with four tackles in the Eagles loss to Fremantle.
Hugh McCluggage
Home Club: South Warrnambool Roosters
AFL Club: Brisbane Lions
Stats: 8 kicks, 16 handballs, 2 marks
A goal, five clearances and five inside 50s from 24 touches was another strong display from the South product in the Lions win over St Kilda.
Sean Darcy
Home Club: Cobden Bombers
AFL Club: Fremantle Dockers
Stats: 15 kicks, 1 handballs, 5 marks
Produced a massive game in the Dockers win over West Coast, finishing with a stat line of one goal, 16 touches, six tackles, 56 hit-outs, four clearances and four inside 50s.
Willem Drew
Home Club: Koroit Saints
AFL Club: Port Adelaide Power
Stats: 6 kicks, 12 handballs, 3 marks
Kicked a goal and had three clearances alongside his 18 possession haul in the Power’s win over Essendon..
Ben Cunnington
Home Club: Cobden Bombers
AFL Club: North Melbourne Kangaroos
Stats: 9 kicks, 8 handballs, 5 marks
Made his long-awaited and emotional return to AFL football, which was a great sight to see for not only himself and his family but also local Hampden league followers and his home club Cobden.
Gary Rohan
Home Club: Cobden Bombers
AFL Club: Geelong Cats
Stats: 6 kicks, 2 handballs, 1 mark
Contributed eight touches and a tackle upon his return from a concussion lay-off in the Cats win over Gold Coast Suns.
DID NOT PLAY
Lewis Taylor
Home Club: Terang Mortlake Bloods
AFL Club: Sydney Swans
Finished with 29 touches and a goal in the Swans VFL triumph over Collingwood.
Josh Corbett
Home Club: North Warrnambool Eagles
AFL Club: Gold Coast Suns
Collected 11 touches in the Suns VFL win against Southport.
