Compare the pair | This weekend sees another interleague match taking place for the 2023 season.

Unlike the Goulburn Valley FNL games against the Ovens and Murray FNL that took place earlier this season, this weekend's match between the Ballarat FNL and the Hampden FNL is for players under the age of 23.  The last time these two leagues met in an interleague clash was back in 2019 when it was the Hampden FNL victorious by 74 points 20.15-135 to 8.13-61

Whilst it’s not a full blown senior matchup this weekend, it does give us another chance to line up the two leagues up side by side to see how they compare. So take a moment to look at our breakdown below before this weekend's clash to see how each league stacks up against one another over time. 

Quick league history

• The Ballarat FNL is one of the oldest Victorian country football leagues, established way back in 1893 and currently has 11 clubs.
• The Hampden FNL was established in 1930 and formed as four clubs moved away from the Western District FNL due to the issues that the distance traveling to Hamilton caused for those players who were farmers. Ironically Hamilton is now one of the 1o clubs that make up the league.
  
  

VFL / AFL Recruits: 

A measure of a leagues strength can come down to how they prepare players for the next level, in this case the VFL or AFL. Since the inception of the VFL back in 1897, the Ballarat FNL has the edge, producing 265 players to the Hampden FNL’s 158.  However, the Hampden FNL players who have taken the next step to the big time have had fractionally longer careers averaging 62 games to 51 for players originating from the Ballarat FNL. 

The initial VFL 1897 season included 14 players who began their football careers at Ballarat FNL clubs, while it took until the 1932 VFL season before a debut from the newly formed league which occurred when Camperdown FNC’s Harold Maskell lined up for Geelong FC. 

The table below shows the breakdown of which clubs these players originated from.  These figures have been taken from every player who has played at a current or past club in each of the leagues in focus. This is why you may notice some clubs in the lists that no longer exist in any entity or some that are now present but are currently active in other leagues so don’t make the list. For example, arguably Colac FNC’s  most successful alumni to the AFL, Luke Hodge, is not included in the count for the Hampden FNL as the year he was drafted, Colac FNC had moved to the Geelong FNL.

The Ballarat FNC leads all clubs with 57 players, followed by the now defunct Golden Point FC with 36. 

Premiership success:

Of the combined 423 VFL/AFL players produced by both leagues, 53 of them have tasted the ultimate success as premiership players being part of a combined 75 premiership teams.  

Given that the Ballarat FNL had been in existence prior to the very first VFL season there was every chance it might have players originally from Ballarat FNL clubs. Tod Collins (Ballarat FNC) and Harry Wright (Ballarat Imperials FC) both had a place in the first ever VFL premiership team. Interesting Ned Officer (Warrnambool FNC) was also a member of this side, but whilst his former club is now part of the Hampden FNL, they weren’t at that point of time.

The most recent former Ballarat FNL country footballers to climb onto an AFL premiership dais was last year when Mark Blicavs (Sunbury FNC), Cam Guthrie (Sunbury FNC), Zach Guthrie (Sunbury FNC) and Isaac Smith (Redan FNC) were all part of the Geelong FC premiership in 2022. From an Hampden FNL perspective it was their premiership teammate in Gary Rohan (Cobden FNC) as their most recent recipient of an AFL premiership medallion.

The best of the best:

It goes without saying that historically players from Victorian country clubs have long been some of the greatest players to have graced VFL/AFL playing fields with names such as Haydn Bunton, Leigh Matthews, Gary Ablett Snr and Jnr regularly appearing whenever Top 20 player lists are created.  The two leagues in focus are similar as well, producing some of the greats of the games and specifically as highlighted by the list below, those who have been recognised as the greatest players for a season at the top level of the game. 

An interesting look at the data is that despite having produced more VFL/AFL players, the Ballarat FNL  collectively have less combined Brownlow votes than their peers from the Hampden FNL.

In front of the big sticks:

Forwards in full flight have always been a highlight of the great game of Australian Rules football. In the league comparison below, it’s the Ballarat FNL leading the way in terms of goal kicking. This is no surprise given they are the original home of the greatest full forward in VFL/AFL history in Tony Lockett. Originally from North Ballarat FNC, Lockett holds no peer when it comes to goal kicking. Leading all comers with a league record 1360 goals, he is also a Brownlow medalist, St Kilda and Sydney best and fairest winner as well as being in both clubs Team of the Century.  In 2015 he was also elevated into legend status in the ALF Hall of Fame 

From the Hampden FNL perspective it’s former Brisbane FC captain Jonathon Brown (South Warrnambool FNC) topping their career goal kicking list with 594 career majors. Brown is also an AFL legend, being a 3 time Brisbane FC premiership player, club captain and is also a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 202. Brown is also the current Hampden FNL interleague coach.

* In September 2001, the AFL decided to recognise all leading goalkickers from with all those who lead the league goal kicking total from 1955 the year after Coleman's last match to 1980 when the first Coleman was awarded. These winners were named retrospective Coleman Medallists, while any VFL goal kicking winners prior to 1955 were named Leading Goalkicker Medallists.

** Please note that the player data used to compile this article is based on players' VFL/AFL career tallies up to and including the 2022 AFL season.