The Rovers U19s completed their remarkable turnaround in season 2014, defeating Ormond by 60 points in the Grand Final at Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday. At the mid-point of the season, even a finals berth seemed impossible.
After nine rounds, the Rovers sat lowly on the U19 South ladder with just three wins and six losses – that last loss was against Ormond by 83 points. From then on it would be an incredible change of fortunes for the young Rovers. Yes the availability of school players helped the side, but others lifted also and the team was playing great footy. The Rovers would win the next nine and finish the season in fourth, before big wins against De La Salle and Oakleigh earned them another shot at Ormond in the season decider.
Ormond went into the game as favourites in sunny conditions on a perfect deck at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Oval. A big crowd was in attendance in what was a big day for the club with the seniors also in the Grand Final later in the day.
Football’s a funny game. Three goals to the Rovers in the first eight minutes of the quarter was all the scoring that was done in that first stanza. Hampton kept the Ormond boys to a lonely 3 behinds and you could tell that they were trying to get some momentum against the unrelenting Rovers’ tide.
Big Jandre in the ruck was dominant around the ground and Harry Hill, unlucky not to be playing in the main game was showing the skill and speed he showed so well in past weeks. When Cam Jones kicked a trademark goal, running parallel to goal and snapping truly, the Rovers spirits were high.
The second quarter started with a run of Ormond goals, sure the wind was favouring that end but you couldn’t justify three goals. The big Ormond bodies were making their presence felt. The Rovers settled mid-way through the quarter and Tom Fisher and Ryan Fogarty were both in control of their opponents at half back and Jack Campion was making a contest of it with Ormond’s leading goalkicker. When Josh Elston picked up the loose ball at half back and hit Lachy Cairns lace out for goal, the confidence grew amongst the Rovers. When a minute later Harry Hill charged through the centre, took a bounce, eluded a couple of defenders and calmly kicked accurately, Hampton had again sneaked away.
At half time, coach John Cesario was an anxious man. Ormond were big, strong in the air and in the second had started to gain more centre clearances. Changes had to be made. He moved Fish onto the ball, Cam Jones to CHF and Connor Clarke forward. John urged the mids in Mackie Robertson, Zac Donald, Jack Stewart and Jim Benjamin to make more of the opportunities given to them by Jandre and Dave Broadstock in the ruck.
As the quarter started, the changes seemed to have immediate effect, Harry Hodges goaled from the square, CJ kicked his second for the day – the result of a great smother from Josh Elston. CJ, enjoying freedom up the ground, popped one through from 50m and followed up a minute later with a raking pass to Connor Clarke who popped it through. Sam Care, along with Cam Jones were always looking dangerous up forward and when Sam took a fine grab from a CJ pass it was a letdown when the resultant shot from 50 just drifted right.
It then became the Hodgy show with a goal from a free followed by a neat pass by him to CJ who kicked accurately from 50m. As happened last week against Oakleigh, the Ormond boys patience was wearing thin and realising their season had slipped through their fingers, were getting a little bit frustrated. When Joel Balleggi marked right on the siren, the Oakleigh control had disappeared and the resultant penalty made the goal a certainty. 50 points up at the last break and while not favoured by the wind, the Rovers were confident that the lead could not be bridged.
U19s leading by 49pts at 3qtr time #gorovers pic.twitter.com/sYumruNd2L
— Hampton Rovers FC (@HRAFC) September 13, 2014
The final quarter opened with goals to Mackie Robertson and then to Connor Clarke on the run, his third for the morning. Ormond briefly rallied but the wheels had fallen off and Hampton finished off a great game with goals to Harry Hill and when Connor Clarke slotted his fourth and last for the day it was game over. A 10 goal victory was a pretty fair indication of the way the team had played.
The Rovers backs had held firm all day with Luke Morcom, Matty Oswald and Cam Cullis on the last line miserly all day. Testament to that is that the number one forward line all year only managed six goals for the day – a great stopping performance. Harry Hodges picked up the BOG umpires award but it could have gone to any one of Hodgy, Fisher, Connor or Cam Jones.
The premiership was the Rovers first U19 flag since 2009 and got the day off to the perfect start, with the Seniors claiming the VAFA Premier C flag later in the day (view report) and going back-to-back for the first time in 70 years. Both wins paint a bright future for the club which has flourished in the past couple of seasons.
HAMPTON ROVERS 3.2 5.3 12.8 16.12 (108)
ORMOND 0.3 3.7 4.7 6.12 (48)
Goal Kickers: C. Jones 4, C. Clarke 4, H. Hodges 3, H. Hill, J. Elston, L. Cairns, M. Robertson, T. Fisher Best Players: T. Fisher, H. Hodges, C. Clarke, H. Hill, R. Fogarty, J. Campion
Watch the match highlights on HRTV >
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