The Deni Rovers started the 2025 Picola League season with a bang in the local clash against the Mathoura Timbercutters, away at the Mathoura Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
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Looking to discard memories of last year’s costly round seven 28-point defeat to the Cutters, the Rovers returned to Mathoura with a combination of new and returning players helping the side quickly turn a new page.
Going into the match, Mathoura were still finalising their final 22 on Saturday morning due to a fitness test and an unavailability a couple of hours out from the seniors match.
Mathoura were able to sign Rex Taylor late during the week and he came up the highway with close mate Corey Wanganeen, so this gave the Mathoura supporters a bit more anticipation for the game.
There was a mild cross breeze favouring the northern end on a beautiful day for football and after winning the toss Mathoura were hopeful of a competitive quarter.
Deni jumped out of the blocks and were strong in their centre clearance work from the first bounce dominating for the quarter.
Deni controlled the quarter with accurate skills by hand and by foot and were able to go inside their forward 50 with precision.
Rovers’ recruit Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson made an immediate impact, turning back the clock with some old-fashioned lead up football from the forward line.
Lovegrove-Hudson’s teammates were keen to honour the cannonball-like leads from full forward, with the forward’s clean hands marking the ball and good kicking complementing his presence up forward.
The early play allowed him to begin the Rover’s scoring with three goals and three behinds seeing him take to the Mathoura field with ease.
Not to be outdone, fellow new recruit Rivah Karpany turned out an impressive performance getting the ball out of the midfield and even cutting through the forward line with multiple goal assists as well as kicking four goals himself in the match.
The Rovers midfield led by Cameron Wills, Logan Ives and Nick Hay did the hard work early, bringing a high level of defensive pressure around the contest and supplying the forward line with plenty of good service.
Taj Payne worked up and back off the wing, pushing forward and getting a set-shot goal at the end of the first quarter.
Mathoura's attack on the ball and intensity at the contest couldn’t be faulted which was one of their pre-match goals but they were outgunned early with Hudson and Karpany playing well.
The intensity by the away side saw the Rovers lead 6.5 (41) to no score at quarter time, with Mathoura managing only one shot at goal.
Jayden Pitts led the backline well in his first outing for the Rovers, commanding the defensive structure from fullback, not conceding any points in the first term, with multiple important intercepts and defensive efforts.
In the second quarter, Mathoura made some more attacks from the centre that looked likely to do damage, but the Cutters only scored one behind.
Despite this the Cutters were in the contest more and had at times some good passages of play only to turn the ball over consistently due to some skill errors by hand and by foot.
Mathoura’s pressure on the ball carrier continued and the game was a real physical contest.
The introduction of Lovegrove-Hudson saw space open for the Rovers’ other focal forward presence, Hayden Barker, who also added to the scoreboard with five majors of his own on the day.
Jai Ezard also added to the Rovers lead with a successful long set-shot midway through the second quarter.
At the half-time break, Rovers led by 84 points, 13.7 (85) to Mathoura’s 0.1 (1).
At half-time Mathoura adjusted their game plan going back with the wind and started the quarter well.
With several rotations, Mathoura were able to start winning some centre clearances which gave us first use and the Cutters started hitting the scoreboard.
They started the more urgent of the two teams with more attack and energy after the resumption of the game, scoring the first two goals.
Mathoura’s goals saw one each to Wade Austin and Corey Wanganeen.
Deni however overran the Cutters towards the second part of the quarter and a couple of missed opportunities by Mathoura saw Deni’s lead continue to increase.
It didn’t take long for the Rovers to snap back into gear in a competitive quarter, scoring five goals and nine behinds with shots from tight angles.
The Rovers finished the quarter 18.16 (124) to Mathoura’s 2.1 (13).
The Cutters were competitive again starting the last quarter, keeping the ball forward, with Wade Austin scoring another goal.
However, the ‘Huddo Show’ continued into the last quarter for the Rovers, with Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson reaching a double-digit bag of 10 goals for the day.
Harry Mcilwain provided another good target up forward, getting two goals.
Cameron Wills was devastating 30 metres out from goal throughout the match, with three goals to add to his midfield contribution.
Jackson Muldoon-Leetham also hit the scoreboard from the midfield with a goal also
Both teams fought to the end, despite a match-ball change delay with two minutes to go after a Rovers behind saw the ball go out off the ground.
The Mathoura players didn't give up in their endeavour at the contest in the last and whilst we were overrun by a much fitter, connected side our boys had some good passages of play that we will look to take into next week against Berrigan.
For the Cutters, Corey Wanganeen was impressive with his fitness and silky skills as was Wade Austin's ability to find space, Rex Taylor in his first hitout for the year was a handy contributor and Clint Atkinson coming into the game more in the second half. Clint Mcnabb and Beau Duggan-Hulands were also solid contributors in a tough day out.
The match was a winning start to the season for the Rovers, who will look to continue to build on their application, with coach Alex Hay referring to the performance as a baseline of effort expected for the season.
Final score: Mathoura 3.1 (19) def by Deni Rovers 27.18 (180).
Mathoura goalkickers: Wade Austin 2, Corey Wanganeen.
Deni Rovers goalkickers: Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson (10), Hayden Barker (5), Rivah Karpany (4), Cameron Wills (3), Harry McIlwain (2), Jackson Muldoon-Leetham, Taj Payne, Jai Ezard.
Mathoura best players: Corey Wanganeen, Rex Taylor, Beau Duggan-Hulands, James Eddy, Clint Mcnabb, Wade Austin.
Deni Rovers best players: Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson, Cameron Wills, Rivah Karpany, Logan Ives, Jayden Pitts.
Deni Rovers awards: Cameron Wills, Nick Hay, Jayden Pitts, Hayden Barker.
Reserves
Matt Horne and Ben McCalman are back at the helm of the Rovers’ seconds and kicked off their 2025 campaign in style.
Newly appointed captains Jordyn McCulloch and Aden Bermingham led from the front all day, constantly around the ball and generating plenty of run.
It was great to see some familiar faces return to the club, with Max Caruso and Harry Turner running riot, while Andrew Simpson was dominant across the ground.
The match was also a milestone match for Nick Stubbings in his 150th match for the club which featured his trademark defence.
The first quarter was tightly contested, with both sides working hard to gain the upper hand.
In the second term, the Rovers began to find space, and their link-up play started to click.
Mathoura rallied in the third quarter, but the Rovers finished strong, piling on goals in the final term and running away with a big win.
Harry Turner, Damien Hope, and Matt Horne all kicked multiple goals, with plenty of others also hitting the scoreboard.
Final score: Mathoura 0.0 (0) def by Deni Rovers 20.21 (141).
Deni Rovers goalkickers: Harry Turner (6), Damien Hope (4), Matt Horne (3), Bailey Caruso, Andrew Simpson, Andrew Croker, Jordyn McCulloch, Aden Bermingham, Cooper King, Bobby Hall.
Deni Rovers best players: Harry Turner, Jordyn McCulloch, Bobby Hall, Max Caruso, Damien Hope, Andrew Simpson.
Deni Rovers awards: Harry Turner, Jordyn McCulloch, Bobby Hall, Max Caruso.
Thirds
With the first round of the season underway, both sides were eager to impress.
The footy was hot early, but it was first-gamer Stuart Benger who got the scoreboard ticking for the Rovers.
In an even first quarter, it was hard to split the two teams.
But Spencer Cowley showed some magic, selling some candy and slotting a long goal to cap off a strong start for the thirds.
In the second quarter, the Rovers began to find their groove and moved the footy quickly.
Henry Learmonth snapped a great crumbing goal, followed by a running goal from Jesse Jervis, putting the Rovers on top.
Jacob Holton added another crumbing goal, and Lincoln Meharry followed up with a long snap, sending the Rovers into half-time up by six goals.
The third quarter continued the momentum.
Jett Lynch kicked his first goal for the thirds with a clever finish, and co-captain Brody Wills led by example with his second and third efforts, eventually kicking his first goal of the year.
Isaac Behsman was on fire, kicking a long running goal.
Soon after, Nash Barnett took a strong contested mark and calmly slotted his first goal for the thirds.
The Rovers kept the energy high in the fourth quarter.
Nick Fanning pushed forward to take a strong mark and goal, and Callan Glenn capped off a solid game with a classy snap from the pocket.
Isaac threaded the needle from the pocket for his second of the day, and Dannon Leetham rounded out a great team performance with his first goal in the thirds as well.
Final score: Mathoura 0.0 (0) def by Deni Rovers 14.24 (108).
Deni Rovers goalkickers: Isaac Behsman (2), Callan Glenn, Brody Wills, Jett Lynch, Jesse Jervis, Nash Barnett, Stuart Benger, Lincoln Meharry, Nick Fanning, Jacob Holton, Henry Learmonth, Dannon Leetham, Spencer Cowley.
Deni Rovers best players: Jessie Jervis, Isaac Behsman, Ben Hayes, Brody Wills, Lincoln Meharry, Dannon Leetham.
Fourths
Footy is back for season 2025, and the young Roos were eager to put their pre-season training into action.
Starting with the breeze, they made the most of it, slotting seven majors for the term. Ged O’Donnell and Jobe Unwin led the charge with two goals each.
Even against the wind, the Roos kept pushing forward, driving the ball into their attacking half.
Michael Benger was on fire, bagging three goals for the quarter.
Haydn Sampson was dominant in the ruck, with strong support from on-ballers Taj McCully, Ryan Bulmer, and Carter Sartore, helping the Roos maintain control around the contest.
The momentum carried on after the main break, with most of the play locked inside the Rovers’ forward line.
Powerhouse Angus Knuckey proved too strong up forward, not only kicking a goal himself but also setting up speedy on-baller Cormick Hardman for his first of the game.
After three dominant quarters, it was the final term that truly highlighted the camaraderie of this young side.
First-gamers Braxton Leetham and his brother Lennix Leetham both kicked their first goals in quick succession, guided by the support of their experienced teammates.
Callan Leiper was outstanding on the wing, consistently outplaying his opponents and playing a key role in driving the ball inside fifty.
A fantastic all-round effort from the Roos in their first game together.
Final score: Mathoura 1.0 (6) def by Deni Rovers 21.19 (145).
Deni Rovers goalkickers: Michael Benger (4), Jobe Unwin (4), Ged O’Donnell (3), Cormick Hardman (2), Callan Leiper, Connor Sampson, Reece King, Braxton Leetham, Sam Strong, Angus Knuckey, Taj McCully, Lennix Leetham.
Deni Rovers best players: Taj McCully, Ryan Bulmer, Jobe Unwin, Haydn Sampson, Michael Benger, Cormick Hardman.
Deni Rovers Awards: Taj McCully, Reece King, Cormick Hardman, Ged O’Donnell, Haydn Sampson, Jobe Unwin and Michael Benger.
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