Hampden and Warrnambool and District teams prepare for round one

North Warrnambool Eagles, Portland, Hamilton Kangaroos and Port Fairy all got one last practice match in before round one of the Hampden league season starts on April 10.

Warrnambool and District league perennial finalists Old Collegians squeezed in one last test run against Portland at Davidson Oval before it plays Merrivale on Good Friday.

North Warrnambool Eagles faced Ballarat Football League side Lake Wendouree at Bushfield while Port Fairy hosted Wimmera Football League's Ararat at Gardens Oval.

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At Melville Oval, Hamilton Kangaroos took on Ballarat Swans while Allansford travelled to Portland to play South West District Football Netball League side Westerns.

Nirranda got their last practice match in before their opening round on April 10 against Colac District Football League side Simpson at Simpson.

Seagulls mentor Winis Imbi was pleased with how his undermanned side adjusted to having a host of players watching from the sidelines.

"We had about 11 out today and that is probably good as the boys are realising we can't be talent-based," he said.

"We can't rely on the Shane Savages and co to perform and get us over the line.

"We will grow as a club when all players realise they are just as important as the number one player on our list.

"That is what we are really trying to grow in our group and again we had a lot out today but they all showed positive signs which is what we are after.

"It was a mixture of senior, reserves, new recruits and mixture of under 18s down as low as under 16.

"We had to draw on a lot but in saying that we are hopefully going to be a club that plays boys on merit.

"I hope there will be a couple people presented a jumper on round one that would have earned their spot in the side regardless of what they have been in past."

Imbi said they played "three and a bit" of its four 20-minute quarters at Port Fairy on Saturday.

He said the Seagulls agreed to call time out of respect to Ararat's injuries and the fact the Rats play round one next weekend.

The second-year mentor was pleased to see his side rebound after its last practice match.

"It was an improvement on last weekend. We played Portland and there was some areas we needed to be better at especially how we defend and how we want to move the ball, they were two real focuses," he said.

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"We did that which was really pleasing from a coaching staff point of view that the boys want to apply themselves in that manner because they could have got into some bad habits and that was our last hit out before we play Hamilton Kangaroos in round one."

Imbi said his new-look side took a step forward in their development ahead of the opening round.

"Even when we do play other teams, and every coach would have their philosophy, we are thinking long term about where we want to be at," he said.

"A lot of our focus is on us and no disrespect to any opposition because obviously there is some quality sides out there but we have to focus on our individuals and also how we want to play the game as a cohort.

"We are looking forward to season ahead. We have lost a lot of players. That is the given and we are not going to pretend where we are at as a footy club.

"We have got a lot of work to do but we are trying really hard internally and the boys are turning up and having a real crack.

"We are all conscious that we need to grow together and time will be the validation of what we are trying to put into place."

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