The best young guns in the Hampden league revealed

There’s plenty of exciting young talent within the ranks of Hampden league clubs. Here’s a look at the best.

5 min read

September 14, 2023 - 3:39PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

In every competition there are always the next generation of stars who show glimpses of their potential, or take the game on and dominate.

The Hampden Football League is no different with multiple players taking centre stage this season to be among the best in the competition.

We’ve compiled a list of the best who have impressed this year in the competition.

VFL players are listed but they must had played more than six games for their local club in 2023.

Here are the best young guns this season.

Tom Baulch (middle) playing for Hampden this season. Picture: Koroit Football Netball Club.

Tom Baulch, Koroit

A young leader on the rise at Koroit. Baulch played 18 games this season in defence and was among the best in six games. He was in the team last year who won the Hampden premiership.

Liam Bidmade, Warrnambool

Played for Hampden in the interleague match against Ballarat. A leader at the club, Bidmade played 17 games and was among the best in four of them.

Warrnambool's Mitch Bidmade is a young gun at the club. Picture: Warrnambool Football Netball Club.

Mitch Bidmade, Warrnambool

The inside midfielder impressed for the Blues this year. He played 16 games and averaged a goal a game. Bidmade was also in the best players in 10 matches.

North Warrnambool's Jett Birmingham is one of the best players in the competition. Picture: North Warrnambool Football Club.

Jett Birmingham, North Warrnambool

Already a best and fairest winner in the competition after claiming the award in 2021. The midfielder played 18 games and been among the best in 15 matches for the Eagles.

Jack Block (left) has had a great season for Koroit. Picture: Koroit Football Netball Club.

Jack Block, Koroit

Block was involved in the interleague team for Hampden after his start to the season for Koroit. The creative defender played 19 games this season and was in the best in almost half of the matches he played.

Ethan Boyd, Warrnambool

A key lock down player for the Blues. Boyd played 16 games this season for Warrnambool and was among the best in two games.

Sidney Bradshaw, Camperdown

Played nine matches after taking time out of the game last year. Bradshaw was part of the interleague squad but didn’t make the final cut.

South Warrnambool's Ollie Bridgewater (right) is one of the best ruckman in the competition. Picture: South Warrnambool Football Club.

Ollie Bridgewater, South Warrnambool

Capable of playing in ruck or in the forward line, Bridgewater has impressed this season. He played 15 games and has been in the best in 10 of them. In one game he took 15 to 20 marks as a leading forward.

Terang Mortlake’s Rhys Buck tries to block the ball against Koroit. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Rhys Buck, Terang Mortlake

The Bloods recruit had a great year, culminating in selection for Hampden’s interleague match against Ballarat. He played 20 games and kicked 21 goals in multiple positions for the team.

Hamilton's Zach Burgess made his debut in seniors last year. Picture: Hamilton Kangaroos Football Club.

Zach Burgess, Hamilton

The young forward had a great year for the Kangaroos. He played 14 games and kicked 21 goals for the team.

Hamilton player Hamish Cook tackles Mitch Fino in the interleague match. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Hamish Cook, Hamilton

A young forward on the rise at the Kangaroos. He played 16 games and kicked 29 goals.

Cobden's Jordy Fowler has had a good first season at the club. Picture: Cobden Football Club.

Jordy Fowler, Cobden

One of the best defenders at the club. Fowler played 20 matches for the Bombers in his first season at the club. He was in the best in seven games.

Rory Gill, Hamilton

Only played a handful of matches for the Kangaroos this year but was good enough to be picked in the interleague team for Hampden.

Jackson Grundy has been one of the best for North Warrnambool for the past couple of years. Picture: North Warrnambool Football Club.

Jackson Grundy, North Warrnambool

A leader at the club despite his young age. Grundy played 19 games and was among the best in 14 of them. He also kicked 17 goals, including a match winner against South Warrnambool.

Sam Hampshire, Portland

The forward played 15 games and almost kicked a goal a game for the Tigers this season. He was also part of the initial interleague squad for Hampden.

South Warrnambool's Jed Henderson played his 50th senior game this season. Picture: South Warrnambool Football Club.

Jed Henderson, South Warrnambool

The versatile player was one of the main players for the Swans this season. He played 15 games and was among the best in three of them.

Darcy Hobbs, Terang Mortlake

The ruckman has helped Terang Mortlake to be one of the leading contenders this season in the Hampden league. He played 15 games for the club and was among the best in three of them.

Jett Hopper tries to spoil a mark for Hampden earlier this year in the interleague. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Jett Hopper, Port Fairy

A versatile player who impressed in his first season at Port Fairy. Hopper played 16 games, kicked 13 goals and was among the best in five games.

Ryley Hutchins (left) played for Hampden this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ryley Hutchins, Terang Mortlake

The Geelong VFL player has had a great season with the Bloods in the midfield. The Terang Mortlake player played 20 games and kicked 29 goals.

Will Hunter, Portland

Hunter has stepped up this season for the Tigers after winning the premiership last year in the under-18.5s with Hamilton. He’s played 19 games, in the midfield and forward line, and kicked 23 goals.

Bailey Jenkinson played for Hampden this year in the interleague. Picture: North Warrnambool Football Club.

Bailey Jenkinson, North Warrnambool

Played for Hampden earlier this year in the interleague match against Ballarat. Jenkinson played 20 games this season for the Eagles, being among the best in 14 games. A leader at the club.

Hampden’s Toby Jennings puts in a high tackle in the interleague match against Ballarat. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Toby Jennings, Portland

Jennings took his game to a new level this season at the Tigers in the midfield. He played 17 games and was among the best in all of them.

Kane Johnstone, Terang Mortlake

The forward has had his most successful year at the club, on and off the field. He played 17 games and was among the best in five, also kicking six goals for the team.

Mark Marriott won the 2021 best and fairest at Cobden. Picture: Cobden Football Club.

Mark Marriott, Cobden

A former best and fairest winner for Cobden, sharing the award in 2021 with Patrick Smith (below). The ruckman played 10 games this season, being among the best in seven matches. He also played for Geelong in the VFL.

Clem Nagorcka kicked the winning goal after the siren earlier this year for Koroit in the Hampden league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Clem Nagorcka, Koroit

Nagorka provided one of the highlights of the Hampden league this season, kicking the winning goal for the Saints against Terang Mortlake. Nagorcka played 19 games and kicked 12 goals this season in his return to the Saints after playing in Geelong.

Paddy O’Sullivan, Koroit

Already a premiership player with Koroit and this year he captained the Hampden interleague team against Ballarat. O’Sullivan played 19 games and kicked 27 goals this season. He is now one of the leading midfielders in the competition.

Mac Petersen (left) is among a few young guns playing well for Koroit. Picture: Koroit Football Netball Club.

Mac Petersen, Koroit

The wingman played 18 games this year and was in the best in 10 of them. He was part of Koroit’s premiership win last year.

Oscar Pollock, Port Fairy

The talented Seagulls player impressed during the season in the midfield. He played 18 games and kicked 20 goals and was among the best in eight games.

Harry Ryan, Warrnambool

A talented defender and forward who played for Hampden in the interleague this year. Ryan played 12 games and kicked 20 goals before a suspension ended his season.

Hamish Sinnott, Camperdown

A teenager who is one of the leading players at the Magpies. He played for Carlton in the VFL this season while also making 16 appearances for Camperdown. Sinnott averaged a goal a game and was among the best in 12 matches. A sneaky chance of winning the Hampden best and fairest.

Zach and Hamish Sinnott are two key players for Camperdown. Picture: Camperdown Football Club.

Zach Sinnott, Camperdown

Has helped Camperdown to become a rising force in the competition. The wingman played 15 games and kicked more than a goal a game.

Mark Marriott and Patrick Smith won the 2021 best and fairest at the club. Picture: Cobden Football Club.

Patrick Smith, Cobden

A midfielder who was one of the best this season for Cobden. He played 19 games and was among the best in 10 of them. Smith is a former best and fairest at the club, winning the award in 2021.

South Warrnambool's Isaac Thomas is a rising young gun for the Swans. Picture: South Warrnambool Football Club.

Isaac Thomas, South Warrnambool

The key defender has played a major role in helping the Swans to make a grand final. He has played 16 games and been among the best in a quarter of them.