Football Netball Club Juniors

This plaque is located at 45 Parrott Street. (Back of Recreation Reserve scoreboard)

Cobden’s junior footballers and netballers have always enjoyed great support – that’s why they have produced very competitive teams and many stand-out players over the years.

The football section was established in 1958 as part of the Camperdown & District League which also involved Camperdown, Purrumbete, Bookaar and Noorat. Terang and Colac joined the next year.

At some stage, Cobden also played in the Mt Noorat League. In about 2008, a designated Hampden Junior League was established with teams playing on a Sunday.

Foundation club members included president Ted ‘Porky’ Howard and Jim Hammond. The best and fairest trophy was named after the next president Clarrie Whiteside before it became the Jim Hammond Memorial. In later years, life member Alby Mounsey is remembered on the trophy.

Cobden’s first under 16s coach was Brian Brown. Coached by Frank Walsh, the team won a premiership in 1969 and, again, in 1972, under Clive ‘Wiggy’ Smith. Rob Howarth coached the club to the 1985 premiership and another followed in 1988 when led by Rob and Greg ‘Herbie’ Merrett.

Hampden junior netball began in 2009. This provided a wonderful opportunity for many girls not involved in Saturday competition to play the sport.

Although junior football matches are played in under 12, under 14 and under 16 age-groups, Cobden’s Brett Taylor won the football best and fairest the one year they played an under 17 competition. Netball is now played in under 15 reserve and under 13 reserve grades.

Cobden was very successful when the under 14 footballers played in four successive grand finals from 2010 to 2013 and were back- to-back premiers in 2012 and 2013. The under 16 football team played in four successive grand finals from 2012 to 2015 but its last premiership was won in 1999 when the team was coached by Ian Turner and included Ash Couch, Ash Stephenson and Josh Horan.

All netball and football teams reached the finals in 2015 with the under 14 netballers taking out the premiership.