Hampden league wins gritty 2018 interleague battle against Bendigo

The Hampden league coach spoke of Hart – a footballer “Leigh Matthews said was the most unselfish player he’d ever been involved with” – as he implored his side to work as one and for one another against Bendigo in its interleague match.

“His whole approach to football was making his teammates better,” Brown said in Reid Oval changerooms.

“He was investing in his teammates, sacrificing his games to make his teammates better. 

“Grand final day he got the ultimate reward for investing in his teammates – Shaun Hart wins the Norm Smith Medal, arguably the biggest individual award you can get.”

Post game, a proud Brown reeled off names of Hampden league players who heeded his pre-game message.

There was James Hussey who played a shutdown role on influential Bendigo captain Jack Geary, the unheralded Brett Harrington who stuck to his assignments in defence and the versatile Alex Moloney who plugged holes where needed.

Their efforts, coupled with the performances of best-on-ground medallist Shannon Beks, strong midfielder Kaine Mercovich and creative forwards Jay Moody and Luke Crane, were crucial in the Bottle Greens’ 11.16 (82) to 10.13 (73) win. 

“It wasn’t a pretty game. There was a bit of a crosswind. I don’t think we moved the ball that well – our kicking let us down a bit – but it was a great scrappy victory,” Brown said. “We started to get a bit of composure with ball in hand, especially early in that last quarter, and we set up a match-winning lead.”

Hampden entered the final term two points down.

Bendigo squandered two early chances before Moody gave the Bottle Greens a two-point lead at the four-minute mark.

It kick-started a purple patch for Hampden with quick ball movement catching Bendigo on the hop and allowing Jackson Bell and Crane to extend its lead to 13 points.

Hamish Morcom pegged one back for the visitors but Koroit duo Jarrod Korewha and Tim McIntyre helped push the Bottle Greens’ buffer beyond four goals before Bendigo cut the margin late.

Both sides had goalkicking yips – Hampden kicked 2.9 in the second quarter and Bendigo 2.6 in the third term.

Brown said the Bottle Greens’ forwards were dangerous but inaccurate.

“We could have taken the game away from Bendigo in the second quarter,” he said.

Brown, who hopes to coach again in 2019, said he was hopeful the Bottle Greens’ efforts would culminate in a game at the MCG next year.