Hampton Rovers have enjoyed a big day on and off the field in their first home game of the 2026 season, highlighted by a dominant victory over arch-rivals Ormond in front of a large ANZAC Day crowd at Boss James Reserve.
In a fitting performance on a special occasion, the seniors ran out 22.14 (146) to 14.7 (91) winners to retain the Buxton Cup, with Zach Ziesing awarded the Barnes Medal for best on ground. William Crawford led the way up forward with six goals, while Charles Kilburn and Tommy Keyte each added three in a strong team performance.
The day began with a moving on-ground ANZAC Day ceremony in conjunction with the Hampton RSL, setting the tone for what was a fantastic atmosphere across the club. Off the field, the first Home Game Luncheon of the season was a sell-out, with 126 guests in attendance inside the Wright-Scarlett Pavilion.
Earlier in the day, the Reserves also recorded a strong win over Ormond, kicking clear after half time to secure a 10.9 (69) to 6.4 (40) victory. The Under 19s were dominant in their clash with South Melbourne Districts, running out convincing winners to get the triple-header underway.
The Senior Women were competitive in their match against MCC FC at Castlefield Reserve, but went down 4.4 (28) to 4.9 (33) in a close contest. The Thirds continued the strong results across the club, overcoming Parkdale Vultures with a big second half to record a 25.15 (165) to 7.6 (48) win at Parkdale.
Full match reports to follow. View full results here.
