Welcome to the 2026 season, with the Hampton Rovers opening their campaign with strong pre-season wins over Crib Point at Mordialloc on Sunday.
The victory marked the seniors first on-field success since the 2024 preliminary final, which secured promotion to Premier B. After a challenging 2025 season, it was a positive way to begin the new year against a Crib Point side that fell just short of MPFNL Div 2 finals last season and features a few ex-Rovers players including Max Coughlin and Chris Perkins.
There have been a number of changes across the club over the off-season. The senior coaching panel is now led by former VAFA U19 coach Paul Carrigan, supported by assistant coach Michael Brown. Nick Jewel takes on the role of Reserves coach in 2026, with assistant Nick Murnane stepping in on Sunday while also playing a role on the field, and even umpiring earlier in the day in a remarkable all-round contribution.
The playing group has also seen a mix of returning faces and new additions. Among those back at the club are Charles Kilburn following an extended period overseas, Ben Klingwort returning from the U19 program, Josh Hughton after a season in Bright, and Lui Coughlin after an injury-interrupted run. Key players James Keys and 2025 U19 captain Lucas Rankin also return from injury setbacks. New recruits include Tommy Keyte from Old Brighton, along with Leo Carman and Liam Menhennit from East Brighton.
Despite a lengthy injury and unavailability list on Sunday, the senior side produced a strong performance in the hot conditions. The Rovers controlled the game throughout, building a 30-point lead by three quarter time before easing slightly late in the match as conditions took their toll. Hugo Garrow was influential in the ruck, while Josh Hughton provided class in the forward line with multiple goals. The midfield, led by the skipper and Lui Coughlin, was dominant, and the defence, anchored by Jake Dermott, was resolute all day. Fast ball movement and strong tackling were key features in an impressive team display.
The Reserves also enjoyed a productive outing, playing five periods against Crib Point’s Reserves and Thirds to record a comfortable win. Jacob Gray was prominent up forward, while Damon O’Shea and Dan Field impressed in defence. The Under 19s, coached by Nick Jackson, recorded a convincing 120-point win, with a number of new players making their debut for the club.
In total, the Rovers fielded three full men’s teams on the day despite having more than 45 players unavailable, highlighting the club’s depth heading into the season, which will also feature a senior men’s thirds team.
The Senior Women’s side also made a positive start to 2026, overcoming a disrupted pre-season and player unavailability to record a strong win over Crib Point, with several new players making an impact. The club is on the hunt for more women’s players to join our program for the 2026 season.
The Rovers now turn their attention to upcoming practice matches, with fixtures scheduled against Ormond (Wed night Apr 1 at EE Gunn Reserve) and St Bedes/Mentone (Thu night Apr 9 at Boss James Reserve), along with an Under 19s clash against De La Salle (Sat Apr 11 at Boss James Reserve). The 2026 season gets underway for all five teams on Saturday April 18.
