Hampden football league: Port Fairy back on track after horror 2022

Port Fairy had a season from hell last year with no wins and a forfeit at senior level. Find out about the local coach getting the Seagulls back on track.

Port Fairy has won only one premiership in the Hampden league, with a flag drought that has stretched to 65 years.

At the end of last season, the chances of an elusive second premiership never appeared more remote for the Seagulls, which was winless in 2022, had to forfeit a match at senior level and faced a weekly struggle to field a reserves team.

Watching a season from hell unfold was Dustin McCorkell, who was born in Port Fairy and returned to the town a decade ago to live and work.

He had previously coached rival club Warrnambool and the easy option for someone in his position would have been to turn his back and leave the massive task to someone else.

But instead, McCorkell accepted one of country footy’s biggest coaching challenges.

“When I was asked to coach it lit a fire in my belly,” he said.

“When you’re involved in a small community like Port Fairy, the footy club is such a major part of it.

“I was just keen to jump on board and help out anyway I could.”

Port Fairy coach Dustin McCorkell addresses his players in their most recent match against Koroit. Picture: Martina Murrihy

Importantly, he was given early clarity on the club’s direction. The Seagulls would sink or swim in the Hampden league.

The issues holding them back were more a lack of personnel – on and off field – than finances and the wheel began to turn with some early player retention and signings.

Dylan and Lochie Gunning and Isaac Martin were among the returnees before the Seagulls landed their biggest recruit, full-forward Jason Rowan from Warrnambool, as an assistant coach.

Behind the scenes there was still much to do.

Standards needed to lift and former Hampden league star turned leadership consultant Shane Garner was brought in to work with the players who were also put through a gruelling overnight training camp run by SAS fitness instructor James Kelly.

Garner, who has a holiday house at Port Fairy and was aware of the club’s plight, worked with the Collingwood leadership group in a successful era in the early 2010s.

“Maybe the number of wins and losses isn’t the most important thing to Port Fairy this year,” he said.

“It is more about creating a sustainable environment for the club not only for this year, but the years to come.

“I just went there and helped them formulate some things that are really important and relevant.”

Port Fairy was handed a brutal start to the season with games against three premiership contenders, South Warrnambool, Warrnambool and Koroit.

The Seagulls are 0-3, but their best chance of breaking a 29-match losing streak comes on Saturday against Hamilton Kangaroos.

Early flag favourite South Warrnambool is the only team to kick more than 100 points against Port Fairy this season when opposition teams were averaging 160 points against it in 2022.

Koroit was the team Port Fairy forfeited to at senior level last year and two weeks ago when they met the losing margin was 43 points.

Jason Rowan crossed from Warrnambool to Port Fairy this season. Picture: GEOFF ROUNDS

Rowan is also on the brink of bringing up his 1000th career goal in the Hampden league with the competition record of 1020 goals held by Tony Russell within reach.

McCorkell said despite still being in search of an elusive “we’re already playing some good football in patches”.

“As soon as we start bringing that consistency we will be a more than competitive team,” he said.

“Running out round one the team actually looked fit.

“It’s a pretty high standard of football and if you haven’t done the work in the pre-season you’re right behind the eight-ball.

“The boys really embraced some of the stuff we introduced over summer and just things like that have brought them together and set standards where they need to be.”

McCorkell also believes he will be a better coach second time around with the backing of his support crew including Rowan, Darcy Lewis, Alastair Templeton and Mike West.

“The game has just evolved and there is so much stuff behind the scenes through the week to get your team right for Saturday,” McCorkell said.

“We’ve been given everything we’ve asked for as a football department.

“It’s only early in the season, but we’ve had a huge amount of support behind the fence and a lot of numbers coming to watch the team play.

“The whole town is behind the team and everyone wants to see it do well.”

Originally published as Hampden football league: Port Fairy back on track after horror 2022