The Standard | Hampden coach Joe McLaren is confident in the next generation of interleague representatives after his under 18½ side scored a four-goal win over Murray.
“It was a great standard of footy,” McLaren said.
“The way they went about it, I’m so impressed with all the team. They are the next crew of Hampden senior interleague players.
“Some of those kids will go into the Hampden senior team next year. The way they came together was a real credit to them.” McLaren, a passionate interleague advocate, said the under 18½concept needed to become a permanent fixture with Saturday’s match the first one for the league since 2011 against Murray at Shepparton.
“It’s great to see under 18 footy back at interleague level,” he said.
McLaren heaped praise on his side, which led at every change.
“I’m just rapt,” McLaren said. “We didn’t have a poor player, we asked them to do a role and everyone played their role.”
Hamilton Kangaroos teenager Jayden Watson was named best on ground after a key role in the midfield, particularly at the stoppages.
McLaren said the youngster had a bright future.
Watson, who’s father Ronnie played two seasons at Koroit, joined the Kangaroos last season after crossing from Penshurst.
He has been playing centre half-forward with the Kangaroos senior side this season but he said he loved playing on-ball.
“It was good,” he said. “I just fed it out to my teammates.”
He capped his efforts at the stoppages with a strong overhead mark and goal from a set shot seven minutes into the final term that sealed the result.
Watson’s Kangaroos teammate Corey Jarrad was impressive in defence while South Warrnambool’s Paddy Anderson was a prolific ball winner in the midfield alongside vice-captain James Wilsher from Warrnambool and captain, Koroit’s Blair McCutcheon.
The Hampden side had a significant edge up forward with North Warrnambool Eagles’ Jack Clifford kicking 5.1. Koroit’s Matthew Speed and Warrnambool’s Jack Primmer were also dangerous targets.
Hampden led by five points at quarter-time, 10 points at half-time and 17 points at three-quarter-time.
When Clifford kicked his fifth 92 seconds into the final term, the margin looked too big for Murray. But the visitors replied through Matthew MacDonald at the four-minute mark. But goals to Watson and Cobden’s Louis Robertson then put the result beyond doubt for Hampden.
Murray coach Greg Shannon was pleased with his side’s effort, showing plenty of dash and skill.
“You were a bit bigger and stronger and took your opportunities,” he said at the presentations.
“That’s what this style of footy is about.
“It was a really good effort (from my boys) and finished the game well.”