HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
HFNL juniors.
WARRNAMBOOL coach Mark Ludeman says his young charges have new-found belief they can win the Hampden league under 16 football flag.
Ludeman watched as the teenage Blues booked their spot in the decider with a 13.8 (86) to 10.2 (62) win over Emmanuel Hawks in the preliminary final on Sunday.
Warrnambool trailed by a goal at three-quarter-time but kicked a wind-assisted 5.6 to 1.0 to run over its opponent at Koroit's Victoria Park.
It will meet Cobden in the grand final at Victoria Park on Sunday.
Ludeman said his players were confident they could turn the tables on the Bombers, despite three defeats this season.
"We had a chance to win the first final against them. We had a shot after the siren," he said.
"We were two points down and the young bloke missed it and we finished up losing by a point.
"We've played them three times and they've beaten us each time, so they've got the wood on us.
"But the last final gave us confidence if we play really well we may be able to keep up with them."
Warrnambool key position players Will Primmer and Liam Killey spearheaded the preliminary final win.
The young Blues each kicked four goals and had good support from Ben Threlfall and Liam Bishop.
Warrnambool led by 12 points at quarter-time, despite kicking against the breeze, and were 13 points up at the long break.
Emmanuel Hawks stormed back into the contest with a five-goal third term, before Warrnambool surged again.
Ludeman said the match was a high-quality contest played in the right spirit.
He said the Blues' first-term effort to the non-scoring end was important.
"It didn't set up the win but it gave us belief we could do it," he said.
"In junior football, you can't get ahead of yourself. You lose track quickly if you do."
Hampden junior footballers and netballers will take centre stage this weekend for their grand finals after seasons of hard work.
Cobden will also feature in the under 14 football decider, taking on unbeaten South Warrnambool.
The young Bombers beat North Warrnambool Eagles by a point in the preliminary final to book their grand final berth.
They finished the home-and-away season in fifth spot and will hope their good form can continue against the Roosters.
Emmanual Hawks will attempt to upstage Warrnambool in the under 14 netball grand final.
The Hawks defeated South Warrnambool 36-17 in the preliminary final to keep their flag hopes alive.
The grand final is a rematch of the qualifying final, which Warrnambool won by a goal.
afawkes@standard.fairfax.com.au
