Sport
4 June, 2026
Tigers strong start continues
WOORNDOO/Mortlake scored a sixth win of the season in Saturday’s round seven Mininera and District senior football match against Wickliffe/Lake Bolac.
After an even first quarter at the Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve, the Tigers kicked nine goals to five in the last three quarters to run out 12.12.84 to 8.6.54 winners.
“It actually felt relatively even the whole game, I didn’t realise we had won by 30 points,” Woorndoo/Mortlake coach Tom Ludeman said.
“It just felt like there wasn’t that much in it, I was a bit worried actually coming towards the last quarter, but we got it done, which was good considering we had 13 players out.”
The Tigers’ 12 goals came from nine different goalkickers, with James Coghlan West kicking three and Zac Lubeek two.
“It was a bit frustrating, in one quarter we had 17 inside 50s to three, and we just couldn’t capitalise.
“Most of our goals came from all the midfielders and a couple of halfbacks; the forwards didn’t really hit the scoreboard.”
Damien McCorkell was best for Woorndoo/Mortlake in the win.
“Damien hasn’t missed a beat this year, we put him on the ball after half-time and he was probably the difference.
“He’s a good player, he just hasn’t really been playing midfield.”
Jack Richie and Simon Atkinson were also in the best for the Tigers.
“Jack has been so consistent, he’s just a good footballer.
“Simon is a bit of a weapon all over the ground for us.”
Veteran Wayne Loader was also named in the best for Woorndoo/Mortlake.
“It’s just a bit of a statement there, Wayne’s a 54 year-old, he’s a good leader out in the field, I’m mind-blown how someone like him can still play footy and be in such good nick.
“He’s a fantastic weapon for us as well, a good mentor on the field and he gets the boys to know what they’re doing wrong and brings them in.”
The Mininera League has this week off, with Woorndoo/Mortlake’s next game on June 13 against Hawkesdale/Macarthur at Woorndoo.
“We’re going really, really well, we’ve started the season right on, the footy we’ve been playing, we’ve just got to maintain it.
“It’s going to be a really big game after the bye, we want to make sure we win just to put that gap between us and Hawksdale/Macarthur, we’re level pegging there so it’ll be an exciting game to come back to.”
The reserves match saw Woorndoo/Mortlake score a 9.8.62 to 2.10.22 win.
Jack Spong, Hugo Stockman and Jack Smith were the Tigers best, with Spong kicking three goals and Andrew Anderson and Mark Jones two each.
The under 13 football saw Woorndoo/Mortlake score a strong 8.12.60 to 0.0.0 win.
Best for the junior Tigers were Oliver Harris, Jack Liston, Sidney Smith and Tommy Fox, with Harris and Zach Dolling kicking two goals each.
There was no A grade netball with Wickliffe/Lake Bolac not fielding a team in that grade in 2026.
In B grade, Woorndoo/Mortlake scored a 47-12 win.
Sarah Muir was the Tigers best, with Kristy Crawley shooting 20 goals and Chloe Goldsworthy 11.
The C grade game saw Wickliffe/Lake Bolac register a 23-21 win.
Alana Wickham was best for Woorndoo/Mortlake, with Chelsea McCosh scoring 13 goals.
Wickliffe/Lake Bolac won the 17 and under netball 43-30.
Indi Wardlaw and Talia Smith were the Tigers best, with Indi Wardlaw shooting 11 goals and Ava Wardlaw 10.
The 13 and under game saw Woorndoo/Mortlake score a 26-15 win.
Paige Maddock and Charlotte Allen were best for the junior Tigers, with Maddock shooting 14 goals, Allen six and Sadie Wardlaw six.