Positive signs from Magpies

SOUTH Warrnambool was made to work hard for its 24 point win over Camperdown in the round six Hampden League senior football match last Saturday.

A high scoring first quarter saw South Warrnambool kick eight goals to Camperdown’s six, with the Roosters kicking eight to the Magpies six over the last three quarters to win 16.10.106 to 12.10.82 at the Leura Oval.

“Again, we were in with a sniff for all intents and purposes, I think we were about 10 points up at one stage there in the final quarter,” Camperdown coach Clinton Thomas said.

“But South are a good team, they played their moments really well.

“It was disappointing because we had chances to win and I think fair to say the boys were much more competitive than what I think they were expecting to be, which is good, but nonetheless it was still a winnable game.”

Tom Baker was best for Camperdown, bagging five goals in his best game since returning to the club in 2026.

“Tommy was great, he’s just got that x-factor about how he plays footy, he’s a bit of an excitement machine.

“He was our main target up forward for the day and certainly created a few headaches, he made the South defenders look pretty nervous quite a few times.”

Charlie Lucas gathered 22 disposals and was named second best for the Magpies.

“Charlie’s back to his best, he’s a bullock in there and between him and Josh Place they’ve certainly done very well in filling the gap that’s there without Harry Sumner, Cam Spence and Zach Sinnott that’s for sure.”

Wilba Cheeseman led Camperdown’s possession getters with 23 disposals, with Darcy Vick accumulating 20.

Thomas was impressed with teenager Ned Molan, who kicked two goals.

“Ned kicked two goals five, it could’ve been a big breakout game, he missed a few opportunities, they weren’t easy kicks but it could very easily have been a five-goal game.

“We’re trialling Ned out in a little bit of a different role to what he’s probably used to in his under 18s footy, we really see something in him and he certainly started to bring that out on the weekend.”

Camperdown’s next game is on May 30 against Portland at Portland.

The reserves match saw South Warrnambool score a 12.13.85 to 6.3.39 win.

Solly Mahony, Luke Bone, Alex Martin and Aidan Conheady were Camperdown’s best in the loss, with Mahony and Conheady kicking two goals each.

South Warrnambool had a 101 point win in the under 18s, 17.13.115 to 2.2.14.

George Sadler, Cooper Doolan, Jordan Kempton and Sam McConachy were best for the under 18 Magpies, with Josh Finlayson and Ethan Shadforth kicking a goal each.

There was no under 16, under 14 and under 12 football on the weekend, with those matches against South Warrnambool to be played this Sunday at Friendlies Society Park.

In the Open netball, South Warrnambool was too strong, winning 78-31.

Nell Mitchell led Camperdown’s scorers with 22 goals.

Eliza Fleming, Nell Mitchell and Sophie Conheady were best in the loss for Camperdown.

The division one netball went the way of South Warrnambool who had a 61-26 win.

Kiara Love, Kaitlyn Fowler and Isla Fleming were best for Camperdown, with Love shooting 19 goals.

The division two game saw South Warrnambool score a 46-22 win.

Grace Dawson shot 13 goals in the loss, with Kirby Stonehouse, Grace Dawson and Alice Dawson best.

South Warrnambool scored a 42-29 victory in division three.

Best for the Magpies were Amy Boland, Lily Baker and Audrey Ringe, with Lauren Groen shooting 24 goals.

South Warrnambool had a 64-27 win in the 17 and under netball.

Kiara Love shot 21 goals, with Elle Mahony, Tatum Courtney and Charlotte Hinds best for Camperdown.

The 17 and under reserves saw a 43-10 win to South Warrnambool.