Sport
13 August, 2026
Tigers bounce back from heavy loss
THE penultimate round of the Mininera and District senior football competition on Saturday saw Woorndoo/Mortlake defeat Caramut by 56 points.
The Tigers dominated the game from early on, running out 18.12.120 to 9.10.64 winners at the Caramut Recreation Reserve.
“It was good to bounce back because we got stitched up pretty heavily the week before (a 64-point loss to Glenthompson/Dunkeld),” Woorndoo/Mortlake coach Tom Ludeman said.
“It was just good to have that kind of win against a finals contender and get back to how we should be playing.”
Caramut coach Scott Judd lamented the skill errors of his team.
“Our turnovers hurt us on the weekend, and they came in pretty dangerous spots,” Judd said.
“I don’t think the scoreboard actually showed the intent and how the game was played, we were happy enough with how it ended considering how we played the week before (an 84-point loss to Penshurst).”
Woorndoo/Mortlake key forward Zack Lubeek bagged six goals in the win.
“Zack was back in form, when he’s in form we tend to win games,” Ludeman said.
“He’s a beautiful kick of the footy on a set shot and a powerful mark, he gives us a great target.”
Hugh Fleming, Wil Fleming and Ed Gubbins were best for the Tigers in the win.
“The two Fleming boys have been in great form all year, just playing consistent football.
“Ed is vital for our team for sure, just strong down back but can go forward if I need him, he’s very important for us.”
Young defender Simon Atkinson was also singled out by Ludeman for his performance.
“I gave Simon the job on Hamish Pierson, who’s quite the player, a big athletic forward.
“Simon did a great job on him, he’s like a little whippet who goes kamikaze at it but he’s good for any role we give him.”
For Caramut, forwards Ben Makepeace and Luke Tebble kicked three goals each.
“It was good to get Ben back in, although he’s small he squares us up a fair bit, gets on the end of it at the right time and is a straight shooter,” Judd said.
“Luke kicked one while playing half-back and then we swung him forward and kicked a couple late which gave us a different look which could be good going into this week.”
Best for the Swans in the loss was Sebastian Alvarez de Toledo.
“Seb was terrific, he matched it with them in the middle and used the ball really well around the ground.
“His hunt and fight for the ball across all four quarters was there, he utterly deserved best on the weekend.”
Aubrey Watson and Caleb Arthur were also in the best for Caramut.
“Aubrey is our tall wingman and provides a bit of a spark off there, we threw him into the middle and he gave us a bit of a spark with a few clearances in the second quarter and really got us going.
“Caleb’s a back pocket, back flank who’s just consistent and reliable and uses the ball well, he rarely gets beaten and is one of those honest characters that you love to have on your team.”
With a round to play, Woorndoo/Mortlake is in second place, a game ahead of Hawkesdale/Macarthur, with Caramut in fifth spot, a game ahead of Penshurst.
In this week’s final round, Woorndoo/Mortlake host Great Western at Woorndoo, with Caramut playing SMW Rovers at Caramut.
“We want to finish on good habits and carry that to the first week of the finals,” Ludeman said.
For Caramut, a win means a finals appearance and a loss could potentially see the Swans drop out of the five with Penshurst finishing the season strongly.
“Win we’re in, lose we’re out, it’s as simple as that,” Judd said.
“SMW Rovers gave us a scare in round nine (Caramut won by eight points), the boys are aware they are no easy beat, they play a really good brand of footy, it’s basically an elimination final.”
In the reserves, Caramut had a 9.8.62 to 6.5.41 win.
Riley Fox, Finn Dennis, Teba Lott, Kayne Marshall, Willem Douglas and Nick Mullen were best for Caramut, with Lott kicking three goals and Joe Douglas two.
For Woorndoo/Mortlake, Brent Fedley, Tyne Anderson, Jack Gaut, Chris Crawley, Shannon Turland-Rhook and Jack Smith were best, with Crawley kicking two goals.
The under 17 football saw Caramut have a 6.9.45 to 1.3.9 win.
Archie Hocking, Andrew Gapes, Samual O’Sullivan, Spurs Lynch, Nathan Mann and Mitchell Lumsden were the Swans best, with Gapes kicking two goals.
For the under 17 Tigers, Matthew Pilcher, Blake O’Leary, Kai Crawley, Elijah Bradbury, Mason Dale and Jaron Shepherd were best, with Crawley kicking the only goal.
In the under 13 game, Woorndoo/Mortlake had a strong 13.5.83 to 0.0.0 win.
Mason Crawley, Nicholi Bourchier, Oliver Harris, Sam McCorkell, Alexander Pilcher and Tommy Fox were best for the junior Tigers, with Fox kicking four goals, Oliver Harris and Jack Harris three each and Pilcher two.
Best for Caramut were William Pearse, Oliver Russell, Arlo McRae, Charlie Young, Darcy Wisewould and Ruby Russell.
In the A grade netball, Woorndoo/Mortlake scored a comfortable 55-26 win.
Abbey Burford and Elise Killen were best for the Tigers, with Sarah Cameron shooting 36 goals and Ash Spokes 18.
Maddi Calvert and Kimberley Tebble were best for Caramut, with Brooke Trotter shooting 16 goals and Calvert 10.
In the B grade game, Woorndoo/Mortlake scored a 45-30 win.
Sarah Muir and Brooke O’Brien were best for the Tigers, with Chloe Goldsworthy scoring 25 goals and O’Brien 20.
For Caramut, Charlotte Delaney shot 24 goals.
The C grade game went the way of Caramut who had a 43-4 win.
For the Swans Rachel Hassett shot 21 goals and Julia Mann 16.
Gemma Loomans was best for Woorndoo/Mortlake.
The 17 and under netball saw Woorndoo/Mortlake record a 31-25 win.
Indi Wardlaw was best for the Tigers and led the scoring with 16 goals, with Ava Wardlaw shooting 14.
Fionnuala Bailey and Marli McRae were best for Caramut, with McRae shooting 20 goals.
The 15 and under game was a tight contest, Woorndoo/Mortlake getting the points with a 24-23 win.
Wynter Bradbury and Ashlee Killen were the Tigers best, with Ivy Wardlaw shooting 12 goals and Natalie Krepp and Paige Maddock six each.
For Caramut, Alex Lehmann shot 16 goals and Payson Walker seven.
In the 13 and under netball, Woorndoo/Mortlake had a 20-17 win.
For the winners, Paige Maddock and Charlotte Allen were best, with Maddock shooting 11 goals and Sadie Wardlaw nine.
Charlie Young and Isla Barber were best for Caramut, with Tessa Young scoring 11 goals.
