North Central: Jordy Humphreys and Koby Hommelhoff out for Calder United
Calder United begins life as a merged club with two on field leaders watching from the sidelines. See who.
Calder United is starting life as a merged club in the same Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil ended their time as standalone teams with injuries to key players.
Lions’ captain Koby Hommelhoff has suffered another serious knee injury and co-coach Jordy Humphreys could be sidelined for the first half of the season due to a foot injury that he carried for most of last year.
Calder United is on the road in round 1 of the North Central league on Saturday to play a depleted Donald before the first home game next week at Nullawil.
The Lions will unveil recruits Koby Lloyd, Oscar Madden, Zane Keighran and Darcy Munro, but the injuries to Hommelhoff and Humphreys are a dampener for the club that has its sights on playing finals.
Calder United co-coach Darryl Wilson said Humpheys had recently undergone surgery on his foot.
“Instead of trying to play with it he’s gone and had an operation,” he said.
“He’s tracking really well and could be back earlier than originally thought.
“He missed a chunk of the year with it last year and came good.
“But he then ripped some scar tissue away.”
Hommelhoff, who has had multiple serious knee injuries in his career, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a recent practice match against Bridgewater.
“He’s a really tough cookie and looking at alternative methods to get himself right,” Wilson said.
Hommelhoff’s brother Gedd, who has joined Sebastopol in the Ballarat league, also seriously hurt his knee in a practice match last year and didn’t play a match in 2024.
Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil were both knocked about by injury last year and missed finals.
Donald played finals last season, but has suffered an exodus of players over summer.
Those departing include 2024 coach Josh Potter, Andrew Browne, Todd Stevenson, Ryley Barrack, Ryan Hards, Jesse Wallin and Blake Grant.
Barrack played against Calder United in a recent practice match for new club Daylesford, which is the reigning Central Highlands league premiers and Grant has joined another 2024 flag winner, Torquay, in the Bellarine league.
Meanwhile, Calder United star player Matthew Wade will coach the club’s under-17 team and Dave Harrison will coach the under-14s with a shortage of juniors the catalyst for the merger.