Sport
5 March, 2026
Hampden announces interleague coaches
THE Hampden Football Netball League has this week announced its football and netball interleague coaches.
The coaches will lead the league’s sides for the upcoming interleague weekend against the Ballarat Football Netball League, to be played in Warrnambool.
The Hampden FNL and Ballarat FNL representative sides will meet at Reid Oval on May 23, marking the fourth consecutive interleague meeting between the two competitions.
The under 23 football clash will once again be played for the Clinton Baulch/John Northey Cup, continuing a proud tradition that honours two highly respected figures.
“It is the league’s great pleasure to appoint North Warrnambool premiership coach and AFL premiership player Nathan Vardy as the Hampden FNL under 23 football coach for the 2026 interleague fixture,” league president Shane Threlfall said.
Vardy, who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as an assistant coach in the HFNL interleague program, will step into the senior role, replacing legendary HFNL coach Adam Dowie, who will remain involved as part of the coaching panel.
Threlfall said Vardy’s passion for youth development, combined with his elite-level experience at the Geelong Cats and West Coast Eagles, would be invaluable.
“Nathan is extremely passionate about developing our promising younger players, and his experience at the highest level of the game will be a tremendous asset to our program,” Threlfall said.
Former Western Bulldogs NGA coach Ben Walsh has been appointed under 17 boys’ coach for this year’s interleague campaign.
An established senior coach, Walsh has recently worked within the Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy and recruitment programs.
Over the past two seasons, he has also served as a co-coach of the Hampden FNL Talent Academy.
“Ben is a terrific coach with an outstanding football brain,” Threlfall said.
“He will be a great leader and teacher for our under 17 players.”
HFNL life member and former St Kilda and North Melbourne player Joe McLaren will take charge of the under 18 girls’ team in 2026.
McLaren served as an assistant coach in 2025, currently coaches the Koroit female football teams, and over the pre-season has been involved with the GWV Rebels program, assisting the development of local players.
“Joe brings an enormous amount of experience and is extremely passionate about female football,” Threlfall said.
“He will be a fantastic mentor for our squad.”
A new inclusion to this year’s interleague weekend will be an under 23 netball match, showcasing two of Victoria’s strongest netball regions in the Hampden and Ballarat leagues.
Three-time South Warrnambool premiership coach Will Jamison has been appointed to guide the team in its inaugural season.
Jamison boasts an impressive coaching resumé and is currently working with Netball Victoria as the Western Talent Academy coach.
HFNL head of netball Dot Jenkins said Jamison’s appointment was a major win for representative netball in the region.
“Will is incredibly passionate about representative netball and showcasing our emerging talent. We’re excited to see this program launch under his guidance,” Jenkins said.