Country footy: Ex-AFL players Jed Lamb and Josh Mellington fire

A pair of ex-AFL players kicked 14 goals apiece, while one pair combined for 23 goals between. Here’s a wrap of the biggest footy stories from across the state.

Former Fremantle forward Josh Mellington has been shining for Violet Town. Photo: Daniel Wilkins.

It was a win against the odds, and one coach Adam Dowie was quick to point out nobody tipped, but North Warrnambool is keeping a lid on its upset of Koroit in the Hampden league on Saturday.

The Eagles overcame injuries to three players but was able to prevail over the previously undefeated Koroit 8.19 (67) to 4.12 (36).

“I’ve been at North Warrnambool for three years now and that’s just about as good a win as we’ve had,” Dowie said.

“We went in as underdogs and probably enjoyed that tag.

“We’ve had 11 or 12 debutants this year already so for us (the win) gives us confidence that we can compete and beat anyone.”

North Warrnambool will need to replace Tom Batten and Dylan Parish, both with hamstring injuries, for the next few games but Dowie is hopeful Bailey Jenkinson (shoulder) was not seriously hurt.

After five rounds, four teams top the ladder with 4-1 records.

Koroit maintains top spot with its huge percentage of 298.95 followed by South Warrnambool, Portland and North Warrnambool.

“Koroit have been the gun side for a long time now and have been in good form. They’re not just beating sides but beating them well,” Dowie said.

“When you come into a game (against Koroit) you know it’s going to be a great challenge. I thought we showed a lot of character.”

Dowie said Jett Bermingham, who is likely to be called up to the Greater Western Victoria Rebels next week, continued his strong form on Saturday while Adam Wines was switched from the forward line to defence.

“He’s played a lot of footy (in defence) up until a few years ago when he became a forward, and he went back and did a great job on Sam Dobson,” Dowie said.

In other Hampden league results, Shannon Beks kicked six goals as South Warrnambool easily overcame Port Fairy 18.12 (120) to 6.5 (41).

Camperdown held on in a thriller against Warrnambool 11.12 (78) to 11.5 (71), Hamilton Kangaroos kicked eight goals to four in the second half to prolong Cobden’s winless streak 13.9 (87) to 6.12 (48).

And in the final game of round five, Portland erased a 24-point three quarter-time deficit to run over the top of Terang Mortlake 10.18 (78) to 10.7 (67).

Ex-Fremantle forward has another day out

Former Fremantle forward Josh Mellington has made a habit of kicking goals wherever he has played in local competitions.

And his return to Violet Town in the Kyabram District League has been no different.

In his first four games of the season, Mellington has kicked 28 goals including 14 against Undera at the weekend as his side ran away 110-point winners.

Mellington would have been desperate to fill his boots again after kicking just one in the loss to Merrigum a week earlier.

He wasn’t the only player in the competition to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal either.

In the 2019 grand final rematch, Nagambie’s Daniel Haysom kicked eight majors as his side were far too good for Tallygaroopna, winning by 159 points.

Country league breaks hoodoo

Sunraysia have broken a nine-year interleague drought.

The Mildura-based league has had a horrid run in clashes with other Victorian competitions since it last registered an interleague win in 2012.

But a trip down the Calder Highway to play near-neighbours North Central at Sea Lake has reacquainted them with winning.

Sunraysia prevailed 15.14 (104) to 12.6 (78), with Imperials big man Jarrod McNally named best on ground.

The visitors also scooped up wins in the Under 18s football and both junior and senior netball.

Harcourt pair combine for 23 goals

Harcourt were always going to be strong favourites against Maryborough Rovers, but it probably didn’t expect the day to go as well as it did.

The Lions secured a thumping 302-point win as Zac Denahy (13 goals) and Benjamin Leech (10) kicked 23 majors between them.

Denahy has a knack for big bags having previously kicked 23 in one game.

Despite their efforts, Carisbrook’s Anthony Zelencich still has the most goals in the Maryborough Castlemaine District League with 33 from five games.

Murray on fire for Lexton

While the aforementioned pair might have stolen the headlines with 23 goals between them, Lexton’s Lachlan Murray enjoyed a day out of his own on Saturday.

He booted 10 goals as the Tigers ran out 165-point winners against Dunolly.

His teammate Dean Kelly also managed to get more than a handful as he finished the afternoon with six goals.

Jed Lamb in a class of his own

Former AFL footballer Jed Lamb has done it again.

Two weeks after booting 13 goals for White Hills, he has gone and bettered his single game best for the season with 14 against Mount Pleasant on Saturday.

Lamb marked just about everything which came his way as the Demons came away with a monster 94-point win.

The clash saw the Heathcote District League’s goal kicking leaders meet with Ben Weightman, who fell five goals short of a ton in 2019, booting four goals in a losing effort.

Lamb now sits well and truly clear at the top of the charts with 42 majors from six games.

Jed Lamb has been on fire for White Hills. Photo: Michael Klein.

Eleven of the best

Woorndoo Mortlake ran out 221-point winners in the Mininera and District League at the weekend with Grant Cameron having a day out.

Cameron booted 11 majors to take his season tally to 31, while teammate Jordan Buckley kicked eight of his own.

Woodside’s never die attitude shines through

An upset appeared to be on the cards when Rosedale led Woodside by 16 points at the final change in the North Gippsland Football League.

In a low scoring contest, Woodside had only kicked four goals for the day in the first three quarters and their backs were against the wall.

But they rallied in the final term to secure a thrilling one-point win off the back of a five-goal to two final term.

In his return to the side, David Waddell made a major difference with three goals as Brett Waddell was named the best player on the ground.

A Wimmera League thriller

Stawell has kept its perfect record to start the season alive, just.

The Warriors held on to record a thrilling one-point win against Dimboola on Saturday in a contest which had it all.

Tom Eckel ensured his mark was left on the contest as he booted five in a best on ground display for Stawell.

Meanwhile, Jack Landt kicked three for the visitors with Darcy Dubois named the best player on the field.

Three bags of six

Harrow Balmoral kicked 18 goals in its 73-point win over Natimuk United in the Horsham District League with three players kicking a bag of six each.

Simon Close, Mitchell Grant and James Staude all had a day out as the Roos ran away big winners.

Despite their goals it was Tom Conheady who was named the best player on the ground.