SOME teams give coaches nightmares.
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The same can be said for individual opponents.
Hampden league football coaches are not immune.
The Standard asked the 10 clubs which rival caused them the most concern.
Deceptive forwards, midfielders with strong aerobic capacities and crafty defenders all made the list.
Camperdown
Sam Dobson (Koroit forward)
The Saint who recently captained Vic Country against VAFA in a representative match is considered Magpies co-coach Neville Swayn's most difficult match up.
He said Dobson's versatility made him hard to nullify.
"His work rate is elite and he can play anywhere. He is quality," he said.
Cobden
Darren Ewing (Warrnambool forward)
No coach likes a key forward dominating his defence - just ask Bombers mentor Adam Courtney who has watched the Blues recruit do just that twice in 2019.
"He has kicked 23 goals in two games (against us)," he said.
"He's an extremely crafty forward, good one on one and doesn't lose his feet.
"He's a high quality footy player who you struggle with either a small or tall on him."
Hamilton
Darren Ewing (Warrnambool forward)
The Blues spearhead has had the Roos' measure too, giving outgoing coach Matt Dunn headaches.
Dunn believes it takes a whole-defence approach to negate Ewing's influence and ability to hit the scoreboard.
"Darren kicked 10 against us. He is an elite forward and it's hard to find one player to lock down on him as he needs a lot of work," he said.
Koroit
Jye Turland (Warrnambool utility)
Saints coach Chris McLaren said the reliable Blue was small in stature, big in impact.
And he believes the vice captain, still in his early 20s, is only getting better and be a key playmaker for Warrnambool for seasons to come.
"Maybe he doesn't get recognition that other guns do," he said.
"There is 'Nico' (Dan Nicholson) and (Tom) Sullivan, (Darren) Ewing, (Sam) Cowling, (Liam) Youl, (Shannon) Beks and Billie Smedts are good players.
"But Jye has had a good year with time onball and is turning into one of the best players and will be someone to start putting more time into."
Port Fairy
Dallas Mooney (Koroit defender)
Seagulls assistant coach Winis Imbi knows a team is in trouble when the Saints premiership player finds space.
Mooney has made a career out of tormenting opposition forward lines.
"How he is able to free himself up and how Koroit free him up (is impressive)," Imbi said.
"Others include, in no particular order, Shannon Beks, Jarrod Korewha, Darren Ewing, Jye Turland and also Sam James."
Portland
Darren Ewing (Warrnambool forward)
Tigers coach Tom Sharp has seen too many goals off the key Blue's foot for his liking.
"He kicked 11 goals against us," he said.
"He is very hard to match up on. His ability to use his body and read drop of ball (is great) and he is strong through the lower body and through hips. It's hard to find a direct match up."
North W'Bool
Sam Dobson (Koroit forward)
Eagles coach Adam Dowie said the Saints spearhead's aerobic capacity was elite.
He also credited his skills as match-defining.
"He is a fantastic runner, works really hard and just the way he goes about his work at footy training he works harder than anyone," Dowie said.
"He can cover the ground, is a good contested mark.
"Usually if they have a good mark they can't run or some can't run and can mark but he is both."
Terang Mortlake
Daniel Nicholson (Port Fairy midfielder)
Bloods coach Michael Sargeant knows the Seagulls coach can be devastating in multiple positions.
Nicholson is known to kick bags of goals playing in the midfield.
"It's because of his ability to go forward and back," Sargeant said of why Nicholson is dangerous.
"(He's) arguably the best one-on-one forward in the competition when down there but a running machine in the midfield."
Warrnambool
Kaine Mercovich, Tom Sullivan and Paddy Anderson (Port Fairy and South Warrnambool midfielders)
If one is down, the other will get you, said Blues coach Matt O'Brien of Port Fairy's Mercovich and Sullivan.
"They are terrific ball winners who can turn a game," he said.
But O'Brien has nightmare match-ups to deal with throughout the strong Hampden league competition.
"All sides have good quality players at the top end," he said.
"Paddy Anderson is a terrific player and can turn a match in a couple of minutes as he can go into the midfield and press forward and is dangerous when he does.
"There is also the quality at koroit with the Dobsons (Ben and Sam), Tom Couch and Jarrod Korewha."
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