THE Hampden league has well and truly earned its chance to play in a marquee game, according to coach Jonathan Brown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I'm very excited about what the league can produce," Brown said after the Bottle Greens secured a thumping 20.15 (135) to 7.13 (55) victory over Ballarat on Saturday.
"There is a lot of talent in our league and we did miss a couple of blokes with injuries, who were keen, but the players want to play and there is great ownership from the clubs.
"We are in the conversation now as one of the better leagues in the state so make no bones about that and hopefully we can put that on display as a curtain raiser next year."
It has been a goal of the Brisbane legend's during his three years at the helm to get the Bottle Greens to the become the best in the state once again.
And Saturday's performance was a step in the right direction with a 80-point victory ensuring the HFNL jumps into the top five football leagues in Victoria.
The Bottle Greens led from start to finish with the side's small forwards proving too much of a handful for Ballarat's defenders.
Twelve of the 20 goals came from the Hampden league's smaller players. Tom Sullivan (three goals), Jye Turland, best on ground winner Kaine Merkovich (two), Jackson Bell, Tom Couch, Riley Arnold and Dan Nicholson (one) all hit the scoreboard in the win.
In the key forward posts Jarrod Korewha and captain Sam Cowling kicked four and two goals respectively, while Adam Wines added two.
Brown, who was unsure whether he would be coaching again next season, credited speed as the key factor in the number of goals scored by his fleet-footed soldiers.
"We had good leg speed across the ground and a well-balanced line up with strong aerial presence and big bulls on the inside," he said.
"We spread well and the kids on the outside - in (Alex) Pulling, (Riley) Arnold, (Jesse) Williamson and also Harris Jennings, who rotated through the wing - didn't look out of place at all and they were magnificent.
"They were also well led by the veterans who have been at this level before."
The three-time Brisbane Lions premiership forward said it was tough to pick his best players in an even team performance.
"(Jeremy) Hausler was good in the ruck, (Ben) Dobson was terrific, clearly Tom Sullivan was dynamic in the first half and was courageous after he copped a heavy whack early to just continue on," he said.
"The backline was rock solid. Tom Couch and Sam McLachlan were very underdone, which shows the quality of players they are to have an impact when they're a fair way off full fitness."
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.