On a magnificent day at Sandringham, the Seniors returned to the winners list with a strong victory over PEGS, while it was another big Luncheon and four wins for the Rovers.
A late surge in bookings saw us have another Home Game Luncheon with 100 in attendance, including plenty of past players as part of Past Players & Supporters Day, a couple of tables of U10 parents who’s little ones joined the inner-sactum experience with the Seniors, while it was another day with perfect conditions at the Beach Oval.
Football is often described as a game of two halves. This was certainly the case on Saturday when the Rovers left the blocks flying and by quarter time had a 3 goal lead over the opposition. While there was no great improvement in the boys kicking, Hampton appeared to be on top of PEGS all over the ground.
The backs did a great job in keeping the opposition to 2 scoring shots for the quarter. Oscar Roberts and Max van der Straaten were well in control and with Harry Crisp back in the last line of defence, the Rovers looked more assured in dealing with the opposition’s forward moves.
In the second, Hampton started strongly but when Will Crawford, who was taking the centre bounces in the absence of 2023 B&F winner Liam O’Driscoll, went down with a dislocated finger, the opposition lifted and for the rest of the quarter PEGS were on top. Hugo Lay had to carry the ruck and the skipper, Christian Carnovale, like a man possessed appeared to try and get the team up and running with little assistance. A couple of goals towards the end of the quarter kept the Rovers in the lead but the boys weren’t playing at their best. Ryan Leslie was getting back into the groove after a week out, both Aussie Parker and Lachy Costello were showing their speed and with James Keys kicking accurately, the boys were still in the game.
At the main break, the coach must have been concerned. Changes were made and in what must be one of the coaching moves of the season so far, Josh Docking went to full forward, Oscar Roberts went to centre half forward and the Rovers were on fire. Josh kicked 3 goals for the quarter (and missed another 3 others) and showed why he is in the Saints Academy and on the Sandringham VFL list. Oscar, returning to the forward line after a couple of very successful years at CHB pulled down a number of telling marks and as he remarked after the game “one set shot for goal and one goal – 100% accuracy, easy!”
The team switched on, Max Coughlin began to hold his marks and using his speed to advantage and Dillon Melnjak was braking the lines with his mesmerising moves. Jacob Gray, Joel Melnjak, Chris Perkins and James Prosser all started to get first use of the ball and the machine started to fire. 8 scoring shots to 1 in the third quarter and the Rovers were dominating and at the three quarter time break the big crowd inside the match day function agreed that we were home.
The last quarter was an arm wrestle and while the opposition outscored the home side by a couple of points, the result was never in doubt. Hugo Lay got the BOG award but he was closely followed by Josh Docking and the skipper. The record set by the Rovers on the weekend was to have named more Hugos in our senior and reserve teams than any other club in VAFA history – well done to the Garrow, Lay and Twigg families!
Next up, the Rovers return to Trevor Barker Oval – the second of three consecutive home games at Sandringham, this time hosting Marcellin.
HR 3.5 5.7 9.12 11.15 81
PEGS 1.1 4.3 5.3 8.5 53
Best Lay, Docking, Crisp, Leslie, Carnovale, Coughlin
Goals Docking 3, Keys 2, Leslie 1, Perkins 1, Melnjak D 1, Roberts 1, Coughlin 1, Gray 1
SENIOR WOMEN
A tight contest for the Rovers Senior Women against Richmond Central at Castlefield Reserve on Saturday morning, running out 16-point winners. The girls are equal top on the ladder with Glen Eira.
HR 1.1 2.1 4.1 5.6 34
Rich 0.4 1.4 2.5 2.6 18
Best Miller, Arnold, Morris, Brown, Cameron, Tucker
Goals Robertson 1, Miller 1, Dingeldei 1, Smith 1, Morris 1
Senior Reserves
The boys are getting to know Trevor Barker Oval and with a scoreline of 21 goals 9 behinds they certainly had their kicking boots on. Not often that the full forward kicks 6 and doesn’t appear in the best? Still with Andrew Woolston kicking 5 and Hugo Twigg and Peter Somogyi both kicking 3 the boys must have done some goal kicking practice during the week to notch up the score that they did. Ben Allen is getting better with each week in the ruck, tScotty Ebbot is finally getting fit after a late start to the season and Huggy is doing some damage up forward. The Ressies are currently 4th on the ladder with Marcellin and Oakleigh in 5th and 6th place 4 points behind.
HR 3.4 11.6 14.8 21.9 135
PEGS 0.2 0.2 2.4 3.4 22
Best Somogyi, Woolston, Hug, Ebbot, Allen, Proper
Goals Jackson 6, Woolston 5, Twigg 3, Somogyi 3, Hug 1, Carmeni 1, Field 1, Lyon 1
Under 19s
A big victory by the Rovers U19s under lights over rivals Glen Eira on their home deck Saturday night, defeating them by 10 goals. Their good form continues in division 1.
Glen E 1.2 3.4 4.8 5.12 42
HR 4.4 7.7 12.10 15.15 105
Best Somogyi, Carrigan K, Antonis , Carrigan M, Taranto
Goals Kilburn 4, Taranto 3, Antonis 2, Celentano L 1, Celentano B 1, Illias 1, Horigan 1, Somogyi 1, Rogacki 1
Thirds/Development Squad
Good to see plenty of numbers for the Rovers after having to forfeit last week. The boys played well but struggled in front of goal, with proved to be the difference.
HR 2.4 2.5 2.8 2.12 24
OS 3.1 4.5 4.7 4.10 34
Best Jackson, Bull, Folino, Anderson N, Cookesly, Dixon
Goals Folino 1, Upton 1
LUNCH NEXT SATURDAY
Next Saturday we are home again, this time to Marcellin, who sit 12 points behind us on the ladder with 2 wins – very much in the relegation zone so it will be another tough game.
The club is lucky next week to have guest speaker Mark Brayshaw – former North Melbourne player, Richmond CEO, current Board member of North Melbourne and most importantly former chair of the Hampton Rovers Board. He has three sons who all played footy at the Rovers, Andrew currently captain of Fremantle, Hamish currently captain at East Perth and Angus who was recently forced to retire from AFL footy following a number of concussions. Bookings are now open for lunch through the website or direct through Nashy on 0407 313 054. Come along and be a part of a great match day function followed by an entertaining game at Trevor Barker Oval.
