Ballarat and Hampden keen to play more U23 after Ballarat claim win

Ballarat claimed the first under-23 interleague match against Hampden on Saturday but what are the plans for the game in the future? We found out.

Talks are already underway for the Ballarat and Hampden football league to face each other next year in interleague after a successful return of the format on Saturday.

And for Ballarat, there was plenty of redemption, as the team made amends for the horrors of 2019.

Ballarat won the interleague under-23s match at Mars Stadium by 16 points, overrunning a Hampden team who stormed out of the blocks to lead at quarter-time by 11 points.

The home team, coached by former Carlton player Anthony Koutoufides, got on top in the second quarter, kicking five goals to one to lead by 15 points at the main break.

Ballarat coach Anthony Koutoufides talks to the team at one of the breaks. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ballarat held firm in the second half to run out winners with Melton player Kyle Borg kicking three goals and Sebastopol’s Riley O’Keefe being named as the best on field.

For Hampden, Jett Birmingham, Hamish Cook and Ryley Hutchins kicked two goals each.

“Ballarat were pretty chuffed to get the win this time round after copping a hiding last time,” Ballarat league competition manager Matt Newton said.

“(Our slow start) I think it was the connection with the boys.

“It just took a little bit longer than we’d like to click and hit the handballs and get the movement forward as we needed to. It was the players all of a sudden got more comfortable with each other.

“It was like they were playing every other Saturday with each other.”

Newton said Fraser Ampulski did well to try to nullify Hampden ruckman Mark Marriott during the game, with the Cobden and Geelong VFL player one of the best for the Bottle Greens in the loss.

Ballarat celebrate their win in the interleague against Hampden. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The manager said once the team got on top in the midfield, the contest came towards them.

Adding the intercept marking of O’Keefe, Hampden had no answer to Ballarat.

“Riley, his nickname is the Rock, and he showed why he’s so good at club land for Sebastopol,” Newton said.

“He took six to 10 intercept marks. It seemed at stages they were kicking to him and he was marking everything.

“He held us in that game for large periods with the work he done in the backline.

“His individual performance was strong.”

Newton said Koutoufides was full of praise for his team after the contest.

GALLERY: Ballarat’s interleague win over Hampden

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“He was high proud of the boys after the game because of the way they went about it,” he said.

“It was about taking the day on and showcasing what they can do.

“He was just rapt to be a part of it.”

Now the focus is on both teams doing the same concept next year.

Hampden’s Riley Hutchins and Ballarat’s Conrad Farrugia battle for the ball. Both teams could face each other again next year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

It’s unlikely AFL Victoria will be bringing back the old format, which opens the door for Hampden and Ballarat to make this a yearly tradition.

“Both leagues spoke about it after the match and we want to come across to (play at) Hampden next season,” Newton said.

“They can host next season and we can play for the Clint Baulch Memorial Cup (the trophy on offer).

“It is a very strong league down there in Hampden and we believe we are a strong team in Victoria.

“What those guys (Hampden) have done to set up with the concept, we want to continue it.

“All the boys loved it, they brought in really well.

“The 23s is here to stay.”

Newton said all players committed from start to finish with only one player from each team pulling out due to injury.

Both teams were forced to make tough decisions to leave people out, which Newton said boded well for the future of the concept.