Hampden footy league: Portland undefeated after five rounds

Portland has run out tight winners against North Warrnambool to continue their strong bid for a first finals berth, almost a decade after switching leagues.

Portland is perfectly positioned to play finals for the first time in the Hampden league after claiming its biggest scalp of the season with a thrilling win against North Warrnambool on Saturday.

The Tigers were on track to break their finals drought last year with seven wins from 12 rounds until Covid stopped the season in its tracks.

Portland switched from the Western Border leader in 2013 – the same year Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials put aside a 50-year fierce rivalry to become the Hamilton Kangaroos and also make the move to the Hampden league.

Portland sits second on the ladder on percentage after coming from behind to win by five points.

Undefeated South Warrnambool is leading the competition.

Former Portland coach Tom Sharp’s sixth goal for the match was the sealer.

Jarrod Holt was playing coach of Portland in 2013 when it moved leagues and has returned for another stint in charge as a non-playing coach.

He said a group of locals hungry for success was behind the strong start. On Saturday the Tigers used just 24 of 40 allowable player points.

“We’ve always been lucky to have some good young players,” he said.

“But where we’re located halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide we tend to lose some of them to uni and other things.

“Four hundred kilometres from Melbourne is a long way to travel back.

“But right now we’ve been able to hang onto a few and they are all in their early 20s.”

Portland captain Daniel Jackson leads his team onto the ground for the match against North Warrnambool on Saturday.

The Portland midfield is firing with assistant coach Lochie Huppatz in top form in his return from Geelong West along with captain Daniel Jackson and teenager Toby Jennings.

Nathan Haylock, a former Hampden Hampden league representative key position player, is also playing well for the Tigers.

Portland doesn’t play South Warrnambool and perennial powerhouse Koroit until rounds nine and eight respectively.

“We’re probably a bit lighter bodied than some of the top few sides,” Holt said.

“Most people generally think in the wet you need stronger bodies.

“But I tend to think if you can run and carry the ball with some good leg speed that is a big advantage as well.”

North Warrnambool played off in the 2019 grand final and was tipped to be a flag contender this year with the addition of Nathan Vardy, who booted two goals against Portland.

But the Eagles are battling to hold onto a spot in the top five with a 2-3 win-loss record.

St Kilda star Rowan Marshall played at under-18 level for Portland before being drafted. Picture: Michael Klein

Roger Hampshire was Portland president when the decision to leave the Western Border league was made and said history had shown the move was the right one.

“We were going to be playing in a seven team competition back then and now the Western Border is a six team competition,” he said.

“It’s given our younger players better exposure being in the Hampden league.

“The standard of football is better.

“We’ve made a good start, but we are yet to play a couple of the real hot sides.”

St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall played for Portland’s under-18 team in the club’s debut year in the Hampden league and West Coast small forward Jamaine Jones was first spotted as an AFL prospect when he played for Portland in 2016.