Hamley Bridge sustains 301-point loss to Two Wells in Adelaide Plains Football League, stretching losing streak to 40 games

Five years ago, Hamley Bridge won an A-grade premiership. Now the club is on a 40-game losing streak and has just suffered a 301-point loss — the biggest in SA footy this year — but it is trying to remain positive.

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Hamley Bridge Football Club is trying to remain positive after sustaining the biggest defeat in any SA A-grade competition this year — by 301 points to Two Wells.

The Bombers went down 47.25 (307) to 1.0 (6) to the Adelaide Plains Football League’s reigning premier at Two Wells Oval Saturday, extending their losing streak to 40 matches.

It has been a remarkable decline for the club, which won the league’s A-grade premiership in 2014 before experiencing a mass player exodus at the end of that season and going winless the next year.

Since its last victory on July 16, 2016, Hamley Bridge’s average losing margin has been 153 points.

Bombers president Bradley Lowe said the club had long struggled to attract players because of the town’s small population (about 700) and thrashings were compounding the problem.

He said most of the Bombers’ 2014 premiership players left the club after that season due to factors including retirement, work and changing teams, and none remained.

“It’s very hard to attract players to the club when you’re getting beaten so significantly in both grades and it’s hard to maintain players,” said Lowe, the Bombers’ A-grade ruckman at age 38.

Ex-Norwood player Caleb Edmead booted 24 goals for Two Wells against Hamley Bridge on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Nobody likes being beaten by 50-odd goals.

“We don’t have a lot of players nearby, so it’s always a matter of how many players are willing to come to us and travel.

“The only success that’s come with the club has come when they’ve maintained players for a few years.

“There’s always concerns about the future prospects of the club when you’re getting beaten and struggling for numbers but it’s not a new concern.

“You have to stay positive. We’ve been in this position before and come through, there’s no reason to think we can’t come through again.”

Saturday’s result was the first loss by more than 300 points in SA footy this year.

It was Hamley Bridge’s biggest defeat since a 415-point hiding against Mallala in August 2015.

The Bombers’ other losses in 2019 have been by 85, 137 and 198 points.

Hamley Bridge was scoreless until the third term on Saturday as Two Wells kicked 10, 12, 12 and 13 goals over the quarters.

Hamley Bridge logo, circa 2007.

Bradley Sellars-Reimann kicked the Bombers’ only goal, while ex-Central District and Norwood player Caleb Edmead booted 24 majors for Two Wells.

Lowe said his club had lots of absences due to injuries and Mework commitments, leading to several players lining up in both the A and B grades.

Hamley Bridge’s reserves lost 27.22 (184) to 1.1 (7) against Two Wells.

“Two Wells are a well-oiled machine … and we had a lot of players unavailable,” Lowe said.

Lowe said the club was listening to its members for ideas on ways to turn things around and was optimistic about its juniors coming through the ranks.

He said the Bombers did not have a large sponsorship base and could not offer the sums of money other clubs could to potential recruits.

“We’ll keep giving players the opportunity to play for as long as they’re around,” he said.

“In the under-11s we’ve got quite good numbers and handy players, and that’s the reason we keep the club going — for the juniors.”

Lowe said the league had been supportive “but there’s only so much they can do”.

The Adelaide Plains Football League has been contacted for comment.