Hampden: Portland resists return to Western Border league

After agreeing to stay in the Hampden league, Portland is pushing to host more finals matches and find a new coach.

The Hampden league has committed to considering Portland for a finals match this season after the struggling club rejected overtures to return to the Western Border league.

Portland is staying put in the Hampden league after joining its ranks a decade ago.

The offer of staging a grand final was put on the table as part of talks about returning to the Western Border league, after the club raised the raw deal of only hosting two senior finals matches since making the move to the Hampden league.

Portland president Tony Bannam said the clincher in where the club wanted to be was the present playing group’s desire to be in a stronger league.

Portland has been part of the Hampden league since 2013. Picture: Supplied

But the club won’t give up on a push for a better slice of the financial benefits from hosting finals.

“Portland is only an hour from Warrnambool,” he said.

“It’s not like we are three hours away.

“There is a real financial benefit from hosting finals and it all helps in these tough times.

“We don’t want any special treatment, but just to be put in the mix.”

Hampden league president Shane Threlfall said Portland’s concerns about finals allocations had been taken on board.

“We’ve certainly made a conscious effort at board level to review what has happened in the past and over time make it more equitable,” he said.

“Anyone who missed a final last year and, depending on conditions, will get one this year.

“We understand we need to be a bit more equitable in the future.”

The Hampden league top-five this season is far from settled with sixth-placed Camperdown only two points behind fifth-placed Cobden and seventh-placed Port Fairy only four points out.

Portland coach Jarrod Holt is stepping down at the end of the season. Picture: Supplied

Portland has only one win this season against Hamilton Kangaroos, who have two wins.

An eight-team Western Border league with the addition of Portland and Penola had been proposed in a restructure of southeast South Australian leagues.

“The perception was the Hampden league was a higher level than potentially what the new league would have been,” Mr Bannam said.

“There was no one in the room really for the move.”

Portland will turn its attention to finding a coach for next year with incumbent Jarrod Holt stepping down at the end of the season.