Sport
14 May, 2026
Tigers hold on for the win
LOCAL rivals Woorndoo/Mortlake and Caramut played out an exciting game at the Woorndoo Recreation Reserve in round four of the Mininera and District senior football competition on Saturday.
The home team held on to win by seven points from a vastly improved Caramut outfit, 16.19.115 to 16.12.108.
“It was probably good that we had a bit of a challenge on our hands because the previous week we won so convincingly,” Woorndoo/Mortlake coach Tom Ludeman said.
“We were eight goals up coming into halftime, then they sort of jumped us and got their nose back into it and we just couldn’t get away from them after halftime, it was a bit of a shootout.”
While ruing plenty of missed chances, Ludeman was pleased with the way the Tigers ran out the game.
“Geez, we kicked a lot of points, even before halftime there was a lot of points on the board, in comparison to goals.
“But in the last five minutes when our boys had to really find another gear, they did.”
Caramut coach Scott Judd, while disappointed with the loss, was pleased with the effort of his team.
“Coming from a long way back, 50 odd points down, we got it back to four goals at halftime,” Judd said.
“We made a game of it from then on, which was a pretty good effort.”
Judd added that the Swans took plenty of positives out of the game.
“They’ve been in the finals and been around the finals for a number of years, they’re looking like a top three team.
“To be able to compete with them for three quarters of the day is quite a good achievement from where we’ve come from, but also it’s just another step in the right direction for both the team and the club as well.”
Caramut unveiled former Adelaide and Brisbane AFL footballer Cameron Ellis-Yolmen for his Swans debut, with the 33 year old kicking a goal and being named in the best.
Ellis-Yolmen joined his great mate Jeff Garlett, who he’d only played against and never with, in the Caramut team.
“It was nice to be able to bring one of Jeff’s mates in to play with him and for both the boys and the club to be able to have a couple of ex-AFL players to play with is quite an achievement.”
Judd added that the pair combined for the goal of the day.
“Cameron got it out of the ruck to Jeff who snapped it from the boundary.
“They had a nice little moment there that they shared, which was pretty cool, everything’s a lot about success in sporting clubs, but it’s also about the connection and the community that you bring together, and it’s nice to be able to have that as well.”
Best for Woorndoo/Mortlake in the win was Wil Fleming.
“Wil was unbelievable, to be honest every week he could be our best player, he was really good all over the ground, just putting up his hand to be involved” Ludeman said.
“He gets it done inside and outside, he was very handy for us.”
Jack Richie was also a standout for the Tigers.
“Jack’s just a Woorndoo kid through and through.
“He could go anywhere and play really good football wherever he wants, but he just loves farming with the boys out there and is happy doing his thing, he’s so strong and just a really good footballer.”
Jack Bone also drew praise from Ludeman for his game on his senior debut for Woorndoo/Mortlake.
Bone played for Hay Football Club in 2025 and previously played at Newlyn and Lexton, with most of his junior football at Anglesea.
“We started Jack at full-forward, and then we got him involved in the ruck contest, in which I don’t think many people are going to beat him after what we saw on the weekend.
“Our team’s pretty short, we don’t have much height across the board, so when you find someone like this, it’s going to be very exciting for us.”
Tiger trio James Coghlan West, Lochie Gunning and Damien McCorkell kicked four goals each in the win.
Hamish Pierson was best for Caramut.
“Hamish was outstanding, he was centre half forward in arguably a 50-50 battle in the first quarter, then after that he shone at the position and provided us a really good outlet coming forward,” Judd said.
“But not only from a target aspect, he clunked a fair few marks and set us up with a fair few opportunities, he kicked a couple of goals as well, he was outstanding in the air and he’s just getting better and better each week.”
Phil Chatfield was also in the Swans best.
“In the midfield, Phil’s playing his role really well in terms of setting us up and setting the tone for the day.
“He’s quite a physical player, it feels like Phil’s really adjusting and getting on song for us now.”
Ben Makepeace led the Swans goal kickers with four, with Damien Wynd kicking three.
This week’s games see Woorndoo/Mortlake play SMW Rovers at Mininera, while Caramut host Tatyoon at Caramut.
Caramut scored an 18 point win in the reserves, 13.5.83 to 9.11.65.
Best for the Swans reserves in their second consecutive win were Finn Dennis, Matthew Rook and Willem Douglas, with Joe Douglas kicking five goals and Rook three.
For Woorndoo/Mortlake, Brent Fedley, Nicholas Hausler and Jack Smith were best, with Tom Carmichael kicking two goals.
The under 17 game saw Caramut win by 62 points, 13.12.90 to 4.4.28.
Spurs Lynch, Samual O'Sullivan, Fergus Giles, Taj O’Brien, Drew Hassett and Bodie Jubb were best for the Swans, with Jubb kicking four goals, Hassett three and Lynch two.
Joshua Bunting, Mason Dale, Will Cameron, Nicholas Krepp, Bailey Fox and Elijah Bradbury were best for Woorndoo/Mortlake, with Cameron, Fox, Dale and Kai Crawley kicking a goal each.
The under 13 football saw Woorndoo/Mortlake have an impressive win, 7.10.52 to 0.0.0.
Best for the junior Tigers were Zachary Dolling, Sam McCorkell, Mason Crawley, Jack Allen, Oliver Harris and Tommy Fox, with single goals going to Dolling, McCorkell, Fox, Allen, Alexander Pilcher, Connor Wardlaw and Nicholi Bourchier.
Caramut’s best were William Pearse, Arlo McRae, Harry Diprose and Luca Hearne.
The A grade netball saw Woorndoo/Mortlake have an 11 goal win, 46-35.
Coaches Renae Reynolds and Ash Spokes were best for the Tigers in the win, with Spokes shooting 26 goals and Rachel Eldridge 19.
Maddie Calvert and Tahlee Dannatt were Caramut’s best, with Zoe Wagstaff shooting 23 goals and Calvert 11.
Woorndoo/Mortlake also got the points in the B grade netball, 21-17.
Sarah Muir and Holly Trajcevski were best for the Tigers, with Kristy Crawley shooting 14 goals.
Carmel Moloney was best for Caramut, with Charlotte Delaney scoring nine goals and April Edwards seven for the Swans.
Caramut had a big 43-9 win in the C grade netball.
Rachel Hassett scored 38 goals for the Swans, with Cloe Folkes and Edie Douglas best.
For Woorndoo/Mortlake, Amelia Barry and Kim Lubeek were best, with Alana Wickham shooting five goals.
Woorndoo/Mortlake scored a 33-25 win in the 17 and under netball.
Best for the Tigers were Ava Wardlaw and Layla Wardlaw, with Ava Wardlaw shooting 21 goals and Indi Wardlaw 12.
Naomi Lee and Daphne Myroniuk were best for Caramut, with Lee shooting 16 goals and Sarah Russell nine.
Caramut had a one goal win in the 15 and under game, 25-24.
Grace O’Sullivan and Alex Lehmann were the Swans best, with Lehamnn scoring 11 goals.
Natalie Krepp and Lexi Harris were best for Woorndoo/Mortlake, with Krepp shooting 18 goals.
Woorndoo/Mortlake scored a 17-7 win in the 13 and under netball.
Paige Maddock, who shot a match high 11 goals, and Charlotte Allen were best for the junior Tigers, while Daisy Pearse and Payson Walker were the junior Swans’ best.