The Rovers Seniors remain unbeaten after three round, downing Monash Blues away from home by 67 points on Saturday, while the Reserves, U19s and Senior Women also won big.
In sunny conditions at Clayton, the Rovers had plenty of the ball early but it looked like the inaccurate kicking would continue, with the first three behinds of the game, before Monash kicked the opening goal.
The opposition threw everything at Hampton in the first quarter and they in fact had three goals on the board before Hampton had their first. There were many highlights. Joel Melnjak had at least a dozen one on one contests in the first quarter with their full forward and won them all, debutante Jamie Delaney showed speed and skill and when he ran down a Monash backman to earn the free, he showed he could kick accurately, it seemed at one stage that Lachy Costello had lost his mantle as the quickest Rover to Aussie Parker when Aussie took the ball at half back, sprinted through the centre leaving a number of Monash players in his wake to then hit Will Crawford lace out for an easy shot on goal.
The second quarter opened with Jamie Delaney roving the pack at full forward and popping through his second. The Rovers mids were getting on top, Liam O’Driscoll effective in the centre and now taking more marks around the ground was looking good, the skipper was his busy self but seemed to enjoy having the support of Chris Perkins, Lachy Cairns and Max Coughlin in the centre who were all earning clearances. Oscar Roberts after a big job last week was finding it easy going against his opponent, great to see former forward Jacob Gray slotting into the half back role with ease and taking a number of telling marks. James Keys and Ryan Leslie were effective up forward and Corey Jones showed great determination and skill in taking a number of strong marks against a close checking opponent.
Only four goals up at half time, but it felt like a comfortable lead for the Rovers. The second half was an onslaught – 1.5 for Monash to Hampton’s 8.8 for a big win. The boys just didn’t let up and their continual pressure on the opposition led to many turnovers.
Lucas Sharp, in for his first game for 2024, looked calm and collected. The older brigade in James Prosser, Speedy McPherson, Harry Crisp and Dillon Melnjak all had control of their opponents. Clinton Young continued his good form with great delivery out of the Rovers backline. The coach’s match award went to Joel Melnjak in the rooms afterwards.
Hampton Rovers 3.4.22 8.7.55 13.12.90 16.15.111
Monash Blues 3.2.20 5.3.33 6.5.41 6.8.44
Best: Liam O’Driscoll, Christian Carnovale, Ryan Leslie, Chris Perkins, Jamie Delaney, William Crawford
Goals: Crawford 3, Jamie Delaney 3 (on debut), Coughlin 2, Perkins 2, Leslie 2, Garrow 1, Sharp 1, Keys 1, Jones 1
SENIOR WOMEN
A comprehensive win by the Rovers Senior Women’s team who are in great form at the minute. Maegan Miller, Tayla Jones and Amber Price currently lead the goalkicking in the Women’s Division 2 competition.
St Marys Salesian 1.3.9
Hampton Rovers 21.7.133
Best: Isabella Cameron, Casey Politarhis, Amber Price, Tayla Jones, Lizzie Dingeldei, Maegan Miller
Goals: Price 7, Miller 4, Jones 4, Dingeldei 2, Raywood 1, Collins 1, Smith 1, Naylor 1
RESERVES
The Ressies were buoyant after their biggest win for a number of years. A very even performance by the whole team, even had 10 goalkickers. A highlight occurred in the last quarter in front of the coach’s box when Joel Bowditch, realising he wasn’t going to be able to take the mark gave the ball a deft backhand flick which hit a running Peter Somogyi lace out who hit the afterburners, had a couple of bounces and then unfortunately missed the shot on goal or was it a pass to Ben Allen? In any event a great passage of play. Great to see Jack Garrow in the best and Ben Allen back on the track and playing well. Charlie Miles in the ruck played a solid game.
Monash Blues 2.5.17
Hampton Rovers 16.13.109
Best: Jack Garrow, Hugo Lay, Ben Allan, Cameron Carmeni, Peter Somogyi, Darcy Lyon
Goals: Twigg 3, McMaster 2, Allen 2, Bowditch 2, Jackson 2, Deighton 1, Goldsmith 1, Donald 1, Miles 1, Osbourne 1
UNDER 19s
The Under 19s fixture at Crawford Oval in Carlton began in interesting circumstances with a hot air balloon landing on the ground some 25 minutes before the start of the game. In the end, it was the players from both teams who collectively moved the basket and balloon off the ground allowing the match to begin! Check out the video on the Rovers Instagram here, which at the time of posting this report, has racked up 116,000 views! Or see the Herald Sun article here. Once the match got underway, it was all the Rovers, running out 62 point winners over Uni Blacks.
University Blacks 6.10.46
Hampton Rovers 16.12.108
Best: Kai Carrigan, Lachlan Celantano, Benjo Wells, Dan Hall, Ben Seddon
Goals: Wells 4, Antonis 2, Celantano 1, Barnes 1, Carroll 1, Grima 1, Carrigan M 1, Ziesing 1, Kilburn 1, Taranto 1, Rogacki 1
THIRDS/DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
The Rovers Thirds again gave it their all but went down to Glen Eira by 21 points in an early game at Boss James Reserve.
Hampton Rovers 5.4.34
Glen Eira 7.13.55
Best: Patrick Proper, Oliver Anderson, Darcy Merlo, Thomas Folino, Samuel Horigan, Liam Jarvis
Goals: Michael Flaive 3, Nick Anderson 1, Patrick Proper 1
ROVERS WOMEN’S LUNCH
Saturday-week (May 11) at Sandy by the Bay is our annual Women’s Luncheon. Traditionally one of our biggest Luncheon’s of the year. We had 100 at round 1 lunch at Sandringham, 90 at round 2, and we expect 120+ for this one as we raise funds for BCNA the day before Mother’s Day. Start time is 12 noon and cost is only $40 for the best lunch in the Ammos! Book your spot online now!
