Country footy: Hampden Football League clubs unveil new recruits

Some Hampden Football League clubs have left no stone unturned to improve their lists for 2023 with a number of ex-AFL and VFL players signing across the competition. Here’s the latest.

Hampden clubs have been busy in the off-season, making moves to help them rise up the ladder.

From current VFL players to former AFL rising stars, there has been a swagger of recruits across south west Victoria.

Here is the latest from each club and to read the recruits from earlier this off-season, head here.

Camperdown

No signings have been announced publically by the club so far this off-season.

Jack Hammond is back at Cobden after playing in the Northern Territory. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Cobden

The club has been busy in the off-season, making more than half a dozen signings. Headlining the signings is Jordan Fowler who joins from the Timboon in the Warrnambool and District Football League. He was the club’s best and fairest last year. The Bombers have also announced the moves of Noah Mounsey, Ash Rosolin, Daniel Watson and Jack Hammond. Mounsey returns after playing in Darwin last year with Rosolin coming to the club after playing for Nirranda in the Warrnambool and District league. Watson and Hammond both return to the club after last playing for the Bombers together in 2018.

Former St Joseph’s player James Gow returns to Koroit this season. Picture: Mark Wilson

Koroit

The defending premiers have added James Gow, a former Saint, to their team for this year. The 25-year-old returns after playing in Geelong for the VFL team and for St Joseph’s in the Geelong Football League. Last year, the midfielder was one of the best for St Joseph’s, being in the best players in 13 out of 18 games. The Saints have also signed Levi and Clem Nagorcka and Tim McIntyre to the club. All three joined last year.

Hamilton

No signings have been announced by the club so far this off-season.

Ballarat Football Netball League’s leading goalkicker from last season, Nick Rodda, has joined North Warrnambool. Picture: Andy Brownbill

North Warrnambool

The club has added one of the best forwards in country football with Nick Rodda joining the club. Rodda, who played for Darley last season, was the leading goalkicker in the Ballarat Football Netball League, kicking 57 goals. The Eagles, last year’s grand finalists, have also added Angus Noske and Sam McKinnon to their team. Noske joins after playing for the Hamilton Kangaroos in 2022 with McKinnon coming back to the club after playing for Chelsea in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.

Former Warrnambool full forward Jason Rowan has joined Port Fairy. Picture: Geoff Rounds

Port Fairy

The club has signed Hampden Football League stalwart Jason Rowan who has kicked more than a 1000 goals in the competition for Warrnambool. Last year he kicked 85 goals for the team. Port Fairy have been recruiting well in the off-season, in the hope of climbing up the ladder. They’ve also added Lochie Gunning, Joe Forrest, Riley Riordan, Theo Opperman and Tyson Macilwain. Gunning comes back to play for the Seagulls after playing in Queensland with Forrest coming back after being in Darwin. Riordan, Opperman and Macilwain will play for Port Fairy after playing for Koroit, Warrnambool and Barwon Heads respectively last year. You can read more about the clubs plans for the year here.

Portland

No signings have been announced by the club so far this off-season.

South Warrnambool

The club have not announced any new signings since adding Dan Nicholson last year. Nicholson joins the club from Russells Creek and kicked 47 goals last season. He is a former VFL player as well.

Former VFL player Scott Carlin, pictured playing for Waratah in the NTFL, will play for Terang Mortlake this season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Terang Mortlake

The Bloods have made one of the biggest signings so far this off-season with former Brisbane and Sydney midfielder Lewis Taylor joining the club. Taylor, who was a Terang Mortlake junior, joins after being delisted by the Swans in the off-season. The club has announced a few other signings with Geelong VFL player Scott Carlin also signing. He is joined by Wade Rosas, Luke McConnell and Ben Reid in the team. Rosas comes from the Northern Territory while McConnell and Reid sign on from Kolora-Noorat in the Warrnambool and District Football League. You can read more about the club here.

Warrnambool

The Blues have added ruckman Rhys Jansen van Beek to the team for next season. He comes from Simpson in the Colac District Football Netball League and joins Will Lord who was announced as a signing last year. Lord joins from Geelong Football League side Newtown and Chilwell with the midfielder a former player at Camperdown in the competition.