2023 Hampden league football teams round 15: Warrnambool names three debutants

Vic Country under 16 representative Sam Niklaus, Matt Sell and Jiah Cawthorn will play their first Hampden league senior games alongside captain Sam Cowling in what will be his 200^th match for the club.

The experienced Otto Opperman and recruit Steve Lampton also come into the Dan O'Keefe-coached side for the eighth-versus-ninth battle at Reid Oval.

Reggie Mast (GWV Rebels), Liam Bidmade (hamstring), Lochie Worden (omitted), Hugh Morgan (omitted) and Ryan Warfe (unavailable) will miss the round 15 clash.

Hamilton Kangaroos welcome back Lachlan Urquhart and Harry McGinley as well as veteran forward Hugh Douglas who will "play a full game in the reserves and then sit on the bench".

Roos coach Hamish Waldron said Douglas would be back up "in case of injury".

Deacon White, Noah Herrmann and Marcus Matuschka return to their under 18.5 side.

Camperdown is confident co-captain Charlie Lucas will be available for selection following the split round bye after avoiding a serious shoulder injury.

The midfielder was hurt in the Magpies' loss to Cobden in round 14 after a collision with Cobden's Patty Smith.

He will miss the sixth-placed Pies' crucial clash against second-placed Koroit at Victoria Park.

But coach Neville Swayn expects Lucas will be fit to play in two weeks' time after the Magpies' split round break.

"There's no breaks. He had x-rays on it on Sunday so it's more ligaments," he said.

"We'll just have to wait and see how he's going after the bye but it's probably better than we initially thought so we are hoping we can get him back for the last two or three.

"He's pretty tough, Charlie, so if there's a chance he'll give himself every opportunity to play later in the year."

Camperdown, which will play three instead of four on the bench against Koroit, is also without co-captain Luke O'Neil who is recovering from finger surgery following an incident at work.

Swayn said there was no time-frame on O'Neil's return.

"We're not sure if he'll get back (this season). It just depends on the wound and how it recovers," he said.

"If we get him it will be really late in the year or if we play finals."

Koroit loses key forward Mitch Lloyd and small forward Connor Byrne to GWV Rebels' commitments while Jayden Whitehead has a hip complaint.

There are two ins, accounting for one less player on the bench, with Talor Byrne and Kyle Moloney recalled to the senior team.

Six teams - Portland, Port Fairy, Terang Mortlake, Cobden, North Warrnambool Eagles and South Warrnambool - have byes this weekend.

Warrnambool Blues v Hamilton Kangaroos - Reid Oval, 2pm

Warrnambool

B: J.Turland, J.Foott, E.Boyd

HB: N.Hooker, O.Opperman, S.Cowling

C: W.Lord, D.Graham, S.Lampton

HF: A.Sztynda, J.Cawthorn, F.Radley

F: J.Wells, J.Bell, J.Chittick

R: R.Jansen van beek, D.McCorkell, M.Bidmade

Int: M.Sell, J.Turland, S.Niklaus, C.Moncrieff

Hamilton Kangaroos

B: J.Jennings, W.Povey, M.McMeel

HB: L.Barnes, T.Morris, B.Thomas

C: E.Knight, C.Pither, B.Hicks

HF: C.Alexander, J.Hickey, J.hawker

F: D.Russell, H.Cook, L.Uebergang

R: C.Whyte, N.Herrmann, D.White

Int: A.Kissel, B.Baker, R.Sigley, M.Matuschka

Koroit Saints v Camperdown - Victoria Park, 2pm

Koroit Saints

B: T.Martin, W.Petersen, F.Robb

HB: J.Block, D.Mooney, T.Baulch

C: L.Hoy, J.Lloyd, M.Petersen

HF: P.O'Sullivan, C.Nagorcka, M.Bradley

F: J.Neave, W.Couch, D.McCutcheon

R: T.Couch, C.O'Donnell, J.McCosh

Int: J.Whitehead, T.Waterson, T.Mckenry

Emg: H.Noonan, T.Byrne, K.Moloney