Both the Rovers Seniors and Reserves recorded strong victories over Mazenod on Saturday, while the Thirds notched their first win of the season.
It was a beautiful day at Central Reserve, but chaos at the 10 minute mark of the first quarter as Mazenod had run the Rovers off their feet, posting 2.2 as well as a couple of missed opportunities, while the Rovers hadn’t entered the forward 50! Hampton then got into the contest but accuracy was again an issue, banging on 6 behinds for the term while the opposition popped through a couple more goals to have a handy lead at the first break.
It was a disappointing opening quarter by the boys, caught off guard by the quickness of movement from the opposition midfield coupled with some pinpoint kicking. After a stern word from Rovers coach Marty Pask at the break, the boys lifted when play resumed.
It was the Hampton Rovers team we’ve come to know this season who started the second quarter. Goals to Perko and Keysy in a couple of minutes and Hampton were back in the game. In fact, the Rovers had 8 scoring shots (5 goals) before Mazenod opened their account for the quarter. Their resistance was failing, and the Rovers barrelled on, 7.6 for the quarter to their solitary goal in what was a great comeback. Will Crawford and Hugo Garrow up front were looking dangerous and the mids were dominant out of the centre. The game should have been over by the main break given the scoreline. The highlight of the quarter was no doubt Max Coughlin who pounced on the loose ball at half forward, bolted towards goal and kicked accurately to put Hampton 20 points up.
Strangely it appeared that the southern end of the ground was the scoring end with only one goal scored at the northern end by half time. It was the same story in the Ressies where the overwhelming number of goals were kicked at the south end and there wasn’t even a breeze! It didn’t change in the third term as Mazenod continually attacked for the quarter, the Rovers back six of Oscar Roberts, Joel Melnjak, Jacob Gray, Harry Crisp, Aussie Parker and Josh McPherson were holding firm.
Hampton kept on peppering the goals but only Will Crawford with a mark on the goal line, the skipper from the 45m line and Max Coughlin grabbing the pass from Perko who registered majors. Great to see first gamer in from Sandringham VFL Josh Docking being very effective around the ground with his slick ball movement a highlight. Mazenod’s only score came from a 50m penalty. It was great to see the Rovers using their pace with Lachy Costello, Speedy, Lucas Sharpe and Aussie Parker all being prominent.
By three quarter time, the sting was out of the game. When Lucas Sharp, at the end of a stream of Rovers handballs kicked to the square for Perko to mark for an easy goal, it was clearly game over. Will Crawford added to his goal kicking tally kicking his fourth late in the quarter in a day when with the right boots on he could have had eight. A strange game, to be so far down at quarter time then to hold the opposition to 3.3 for the rest of the game to Hampton’s 12.14 shows the level of dominance.
Mazenod 4.4 5.4 6.5 7.7 (49)
Hampton Rovers 0.6 7.12 10.17 12.20 (92)
Best: Max Coughlin, Chris Perkins, Christian Carnovale, Joshua Docking, James Prosser, Hugo Garrow
Goals: Will Crawford 4, Max Coughlin 2, Chris Perkins 2, Christian Carnovale 1, Hugo Garrow 1, James Keys 1, Corey Jones 1
RESERVES
The Rovers started well and held a six goal lead at the main break. The stand outs in the second half seemed to be big Charlie Miles and Ben Allen in the ruck who were dominating centre and boundary throw ins and Jack Garrow who on many occasions used his strength and fine delivery effectively. Great to see that the Ressies had 9 goal kickers, Nick Jackson the only player to kick 2. Scotty Ebbott was running hard and Ben Deighton and Joel Bowditch were always in the play. A great win by the Ressies particularly when you consider that they only allowed the opposition 1 point in the first and last quarters and very little in between.
Mazenod 0.1 1.2 3.4 3.5 (23)
Hampton Rovers 6.1 7.2 9.8 11.15 (81)
Best: Hugo Lay, Ben Allan, Benjamin Deighton, Joel Bowditch, Cameron Carmeni, Jarrod Dartnell
Goals: Nick Jackson 2, Charlie Miles 2, Cam Carmeni 1, Hugo Lay 1, Ben Deighton 1, Finn McMaster 1, Joel Bowditch 1, Darcy Lyon 1, Andrew Woolston 1
SENIOR WOMEN
The Rovers Senior Women lost their first game of the season, going down to Oakleigh at Castlefield Reserve, thanks to some key players being unavailable and playing with 17 all day. The girls will be keen to rebound next week!
Hampton Rovers 1.2 2.4 2.8 6.11 (47)
Oakleigh 1.3 4.6 8.9 9.10 (64)
Best: Bryanna Arnold, Lizzie Dingeldei, Greta Robertson, Poppy Ward, Maegan Miller, Holly Lance
Goals: Greta Robertson 3, Maegen Miller 1, Alana Graham 1, Millie Smith 1
UNDER 19s
The under 19 game against Old Xavs under lights at Toorak Park was a cracker, three goals down after kicking 5 points in the first quarter to 3.2, Old Xavs were very physical, larger in height and frame. The Rovers needed a spark and Zach Zeising in the ruck set up three perfect opportunities for Ben Antonis to run out of the centre square and get the scoreboard ticking over.
Jake Grima got going and with Oli Horrigan, Kai Carrigan and Ben Seddon settling into the midfield the game slowly saw the Rovers pegging back the lead.
Will Rogacki moved to the wing, marking plenty, Ben Celantano and older brother Lachlan had the back half locked down. Ben a did a hammy and forced Benjo Wells into the centre and he had two great clearances early in the third.
The Captain, Charles Kilburn took several hits but kept trying to get his team going forward. Billy Barnes was real physical and got the boys going forward many times. Max Carrol and Mason C needed to take solid marks and didn’t let the team down, out tackle count needed to lift in the last quarter.
The last quarter was a great arm wrestle, the Rovers hit the lead for the first time in the game with 6 minutes to go, but with 4 players cramping and several needed to go forward with Lachlan C kicking a set shot to put us two points down with two minutes left.
Unfortunately, the siren sounded and the Rovers had come up short this time round.
Old Xaverians 3.1 5.2 6.6 8.6 (54)
Hampton Rovers 0.5 3.6 4.9 7.10 (52)
Best: Lachlan Celantano, Zachary Ziesing, Jake Grima, Ben Seddon, Kai Carrigan
Goals: Jake Grima 2, Ben Antonis 1, Lachy Celentano, 1, Billy Barnes 1, Max Carroll 1, Will Rogacki 1
THIRDS/DEVELOPMENT
The regrading of the VAFA Thirds Division 3 South (now Division 2 South due to the restructure) saw the Rovers scheduled to play Glen Eira for the second week in a row, this time away from home in an early game at Packer Park. The Rovers reversed the result of last week and recorded their first victory of 2024!
Glen Eira / Old McKinnon 3.2 3.3 4.5 5.7 (37)
Hampton Rovers 6.1 7.2 9.5 11.8 (74)
Best: Zachariah Raghdo, Jack Cookesley, William Jackson, Matt Dixon, Daniel McCoy, Thomas Folino
Goals: Darcy Merlo 4, Tom Folino 2, Koby Upton 2, Nick Anderson 1, MJ Green 1, Liam Jarvis 1
This Saturday coming up is our traditional Hampton Rovers Women’s Luncheon, this year at Sandy by the Bay Trevor Barker Oval. Bookings are strong and a sellout crowd of 150 is a possibility! A great chance to come down and watch the game from the comfort of the excellent facilities at Sandringham. The day is being run by our Women’s team in support of the BCNA. It starts at 12 and tickets can be booked online here or by contacting Gary Nash.
