But the Portland footy team's bus didn't get home until midnight after their 5pm away game against Cobden that saw Tigers players sit through more than four hours of driving.

And while it didn't affect his team, Bombers coach Adam Courtney was not impressed.

"I just think it's got to be fairer," he told The Standard.

"We're playing Hampden league, not AFL, so this level of footy is not everyone's first commitment above family and work."

Courtney praised Portland players for sticking around after the game to share a meal and a drink.

But he said HFNL night games should be finished by round four.

"I'm grateful for them to cop it and to come play football, it shows the character of their club," he said.

"But if my club had to do that I would be up in arms."

Veteran Tigers player Rhys Egan, who skipped the post-game dinner to get home at 10.30pm, agreed.

"It was one our longest trips and I couldn't understand why we'd play a night game against them," he said.

"The lights at Cobden are unreal and it was a good night for footy, but I thought the scheduling was pretty strange. Having said that, it's only once a year and you get over it."

Other country coaches were divided on the issue.

Hamilton Kangaroos mentor Matt Dunn said night games were a boon for the club.

"We're all for night footy," he said.

"Our games under lights are a real benefit to us. We've invested in that facility and it certainly increases the income from games."

And Camperdown's Neville Swayn agreed.

"We've got no issues with it," he said. "Night games are part of footy now."

But Terang Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant said he wouldn't have wanted to be in Portland's position on Saturday.

"As soon as I heard about I thought it was a bit tough," he said.

"The thing with the night games is you want them at the start of the year.

"It's no good to have them in the middle of the year because it's too cold and wet.

"No spectators want to go and at the end of day, that's what it's all about - entertainment and something for the community to do together.

"But it's a hard thing to balance and I feel for the league."

Hampden league president Tim Mason said the Cobden-Portland clash was rescheduled from 7pm to 5pm at the two clubs' request.

"We do try to schedule them earlier in the year given how cold and dark it gets," he said.

"But there's a lot to consider across the board - it's not an easy task. We do actually ask the clubs for what they want and try to accommodate the special rounds and scheduling they request."

He said board member Bernie Harris planned to conduct a review into the league's scheduling of games.

There are three more 6pm night games scheduled for the HFNL's home and away season, with Hamilton Kangaroos hosting South Warrnambool on June 29 and Camperdown on August 3, before South Warrnambool hosts Warrnambool on August 17.

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