JACK Williams and Sam McLachlan won their club best and fairest awards in 2016. Brothers Ben and Sam Dobson played in a premiership together. Jay Moody was his side’s leading goal kicker.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now, six months after those feats, the Hampden league quartet is preparing for the VFL season.
They are among 10 players from the Western District’s major league to sign at state league level in a busy off-season.
Six of the 10 – Williams, McLachlan, Moody, the Dobsons and Josh Corbett – will jump straight from country level to the nation’s second strongest football competition.
Tom Templeton and Tom Schnerring have graduated from the TAC Cup program, while Louis Herbert and Sam Dwyer join after stints in the AFL.
They’ll join Ben Moloney, Sandy Robinson and Liam Youl and up-and-comer Rowan Marshall in VFL ranks in 2016.
Has there been a shift at state level focusing on attracting regional and country-based players?
Hampden interleague coach Chris McLaren thinks so, pointing to the impact mature-age players are making at AFL level with more and more regularity and the importance of testing them in the second tier first.
Geelong VFL football manager Troy Selwood is also a believer in unearthing players outside the traditional pathways.
Sam Dobson, Moody and McLachlan will play for Selwood at the Cats this season.
Selwood said Geelong was making a concerted effort to tap into the south-west’s talent pool.
He said sowing the seeds early, such as speaking to potential recruits, who might have to relocate and find new employment, up to a year before they committed allowed them to “come to the VFL when they’re ready”.
“Jay Moody is going well as a young 18-year-old, he’s moved to Geelong and is settling in well, whereas Sam Dobson has taken a bit longer (to make the jump) for different reasons,” Selwood said.
“The best thing about Sam is he is ready to give it a real crack.”
Selwood said Geelong wanted to make the most of the Western District’s rich footballing background.
“We’ve had a number of Hampden league players in the program over the last few years, namely Dom Gleeson, who was obviously away from Warrnambool for a long time, and Matt Sully was on the list as well,” he said.
“We know there is talent in the Hampden league and opportunities are scarce due to the location.
“We’ll be constantly looking throughout the league and district over the coming years and looking at the next wave of players willing to give the VFL a go.
“We understand we are in competition with North Ballarat Roosters and even Werribee and Williamstown.
“There are a number of options for the boys to think about, but we think each club has for and againsts.
“We feel we can provide an AFL environment.”
Selwood said the Cats, who have a 24-strong VFL list and 11-deep development roster, would be interested onlookers when Hampden plays Ovens and Murray at interleague level.
North Warrnambool Eagles midfielder McLachlan, Camperdown defender Williams (Werribee) and Koroit play-maker Ben Dobson (Essendon) starred for the Bottle Greens 12 months ago.
“We are aware that is a really quality match so we will watch the game closely and have one or two guys with recruiting home work down there,” he said.
“It’s like interleague here at AFL Barwon level, we feel it’s a strong form guide for players who can take that step to the next level.”
McLaren, who is in contact with Selwood, said opportunities opened up at VFL, SANFL and WAFL levels following the AFL’s expansion.
He said in turn state league clubs were becoming more professional and diligent in their recruitment.
“(Geelong premiership player James) Podsiadly, how many years ago, was a massive story because it was the first time (a player had really jumped from VFL to AFL),” he said.
“Now blokes are playing AFL straight out of the VFL or SANFL (all the time).
“I think clubs are looking outside the TAC Cup and state competitions because they’re not getting the picks.
“Now clubs are looking, thinking ‘gee, there are players out there that can do it’. Geelong (VFL) has touched based with a few – Thomas Ludeman and Jackson Bell at Warrnambool, they intend to get them down for a session or two to get a taste.
“Anyone aged 19 to 23 could be looked at, for sure.”
McLaren believes the Hampden league’s new VFL crop is a perfect example of hard work and persistence.
McLachlan missed out at TAC Cup level, committed himself at the Eagles and became a match-winner.
“Sam didn’t make the (North Ballarat) Rebels as a top-age player and then he was in the top five or six players in the Hampden league last year and now is a Geelong VFL player,” McLaren said.
Williams, 20, grappled with taking the next step when Werribee came calling but is content with his decision.
“They randomly called one night. They saw a game against Warrnambool I think,” Williams said.
“My first thought was ‘let’s do it’ and as it got closer towards it (training), I thought ‘do I want do do this? It’s a lot of hard work and travel’.
“But I am glad I made the decision because I am as fit as I have ever been and I am enjoying my footy.”
Williams, who is living in Point Cook and working as a plumber, said Hampden was littered with quality players.