Two years ago the Hampton Rovers were beaten by 188 points in their final game of the home-and-away season. This Saturday, the club plays off in the Premier C Grand Final against Parkdale Vultures.
In 2012, the Rovers did not win a single game in Premier C yet this Saturday the club goes into the same section’s grand final as favourites at Trevor Barker Oval. The two teams have played twice this season with the home team getting up on each occasion.
The Rovers have already secured a place in Premier B in 2015 and are pushing for their first back-to-back flags since 1946-47 when they won the C and B flags.
It’s been a rollicking six years since the Rovers lost the 2008 Premier C Grand Final to Ormond.
After remaining in Premier B section for three seasons, the club fell to D1 but are now back to B for 2015 and the club wants to continue with the momentum.
There’s a chasm in the recruiting opportunities from a premier-section compared to a D-section club but the players have come home to Boss James Reserve.
At the start of the 2012 season, the club saw the return of Daniel Corp, playing-coach Guy Martin, Mark Deveraux, Kyle Pinto, Josh Schmitz, Jay Ting, Adam McNeil and Josh Verlin.
Deveraux, Pinto and Verlin were not part of the Rovers’ 34-point win over Marcellin in the second semi final but Rovers president Matt Gray said a full list trained on Saturday and Tuesday at Trevor Barker Oval. All will be revealed at selection night Thursday at Boss James Reserve.
There’s also Brighton Grammar APS premiership players Christain Carnovale, Jack Toouli and Harry Hill. They have been part of the Rovers’ energetic resurgence in 2014 and are set to play on Saturday.
The club is going strong and playing numbers are at an all-time high. In 2014 there were 169 registered players across the four senior teams with 159 of them playing (with 66 inward clearances – including players from the juniors). While a strengthening of the relationship with the juniors and Auskick, establishment of an official partnership with Sandringham Zebras and upgraded facilities were amongst other positives.
The Seniors will be joined by the Under 19s who have also made it to the season decider – their game kicks off at 9:30am with the main game at 2:30pm – both games at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Oval.
A full Grand Final preview will be posted on the Rovers website on Friday.
VIEW ALL THE GRAND FINAL DETAILS
