Sport
22 April, 2026
First win under new coach
SIMPSON won its first game of the Colac and District senior football competition for the season with a 17 point win over the Western Eagles on Saturday.
The Tigers led all day to record a 14.9.93 to 11.10.76 win, the first under new coach Grady Rooke.
“It got that first win monkey off the back, which was good,” Rooke said.
“We got out of the blocks really early and kicked the first four goals straight, we probably just let them back in a little bit with our own mistakes.
“But yeah, we led the whole day, which was pleasing.”
Key forward Jarrod Garth stood up for the Tigers, bagging six goals in the win.
“Jarrod started like a house on fire, marking and sending them through which got everyone else up and about.
“You always need that, your big man firing early, that gets everyone else kicking into gear; he’s a pretty hard match up and a very clever footballer.”
Jayden and Lachlan Gass both continued their strong starts to the season.
“Jayden’s our main ruckman at the moment, he’s been killing it, has really stepped up and is getting more confident and just jumping all over everyone.
“Lachie is just a bull, he’s a big body mid now and just does everything right.”
Rooke was also pleased with the work of veterans Brenton De Jong and Brad Salmon.
“They’ve both been thrown into different roles, different ends of the ground now.
“Brad’s gone back to the back flank, he just sort of controls the footy pretty well back there, and I’ve thrown Brenton, who’s always been a backman or a wingman, into the forward line where he’s a bit of a match-up nightmare with his ability to run and jump.”
The Eagles were too strong in the reserves fixture, winning 7.7.49 to 3.5.23.
Darcy Thorburn, Patrick Armstrong and Bradey Fratantaro were best for Simpson in the loss, with Jono Jennings kicking two goals.
The under 15s game saw the Eagles score a 17.5.107 to 2.2.14 win.
Olinto Ferrari, Ben Vogels and Fin Mahoney were best for the Tigers in the loss, with Thomas Vines and Cooper Beecher kicking a goal each.
In the under 12 football, the Western Eagles won by seven points, 6.7.43 to 5.6.36.
Levi Harris kicked two goals for the junior Tigers, with one each to Gabriel Capizzi, Miles Capizzi and Thomas Vines.
COLAC & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
SENIOR FOOTBALL
SIMPSON v WESTERN EAGLES
Simpson 14.9 (93) defeated Western Eagles 11.10 (76)
Best players:
Simpson: Jarrod Garth, Lachlan Gass, Jayden Gass, Brenton De Jong, Brad Salmon, Ryleigh McVilly
Western Eagles: Levi Duynhoven, Thomas Spokes, Mitchell Helmore, Thomas Marshall, Connor Carson, Toby Kent.
Goal scorers:
Simpson: Jarrod Gath 6, Brenton De Jong 2, Noah Ackerley 1, Thomas Leighman 1, Cody Mason 1, Brodie Neale 1, Grady Rooke 1.
Western Eagles: Levi Duynhoven 3, James Carter 2, Tyler George 2, Thomas Spokes 2, Toby Kent 1, Elijah Reid 1.
Simpson’s A grade netballers made it two wins from two games with a 41-38 win.
“It was very good just to get over the line in the end, it was very stressful,” Simpson co-coach Eliza Duynhoven said.
“We had some really good passages of play, it definitely wasn’t an easy game, the Eagles put up a good fight.”
Duynhoven and Shelby Cameron combined strongly for Simpson, with Duynhoven shooting 23 goals and Cameron 18, both named in the Tigers best.
“Shelbs has been great, she’s a bit of a floater on the court, you can put her anywhere, which is very handy.
“She has stepped up from defence last year, she come to us through pre-season and said she really wanted to have a crack at attack, so we’re slowly just navigating a different combination.”
Amy Pemberton was also named in Simpson’s best after another strong performance in the centre.
“I felt like Amy just ran all day, she’s super fit, which is really good.
“With her strength and knowledge through that mid-court, you feel her presence on the court so much, and just her knowledge and her experience of just being able to adapt to the game circumstances, which is awesome.”
The B grade game went the way of the Eagles, who scored a 37-30 win.
Georgia Arndell, Tahlia Daniels and Kara Tyrer were best for Simpson, with Arndell shooting 17 goals and Jessie Harding 13.
Simpson’s C grade team had a 43-32 loss.
Chloe Cameron, Rachel Perrett and Sharni Mason were best for the Tigers, with Kayla Hallyburton scoring 19 goals and Rachael Duynhoven 13.
Simpson scored a 35-27 win in the D grade netball match.
Brianna Ferrari, Kaylee Jansen and Kellie Meade were best for the Tigers in the win, with Rebecca Foster shooting a match high 20 goals and Brianna Ferrari 15.
The 17 and under game saw the Eagles record a 49-20 victory.
Best for the Tigers were Esha Crole, Halle Barake and Kustom Robertson, with Robertson scoring 12 goals and Crole eight.
The 15 and under game saw the Eagles win 51-35.
Keisha McVilly, Halle Barake and Imogen McVilly were best for Simpson, with McVilly shooting 20 goals.
The 13 and under game saw Simpson have a 27-25 win.
Mia Arndell, Ayla Crole and Alexis Barake were Simpson's best, with Mia Arndell scoring 16 goals and Peyton Robertson eight.
This week sees Simpson’s teams travel to Irrewarra on Sunday to take on Irrewarra-Beeac.
COLAC & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
A GRADE NETBALL
SIMPSON v WESTERN EAGLES
Simpson 41 defeated Western Eagles 38
Best players:
Simpson: Shelby Cameron, Amy Pemberton, Eliza Duynhoven
Western Eagles: Remy Duynhoven, Briea McLachlan, Zara Walker
Goal scorers:
Simpson: Eliza Duynhoven 23, Shelby Cameron 18
Western Eagles: Remy Duynhoven 22, Georgia Oates 16
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