Articles by: Cooper Hayes
Eagles unearth young X-factor
The Western Eagles have a habit of producing exciting young talent, and second-year player Levi Duynhoven is another who has taken his game to a new level.
Imps rally for cause bigger than football
The footy world rallies behind the late AFL legend Neale Daniher’s FightMND campaign every year, and tomorrow the Colac Imperials will show their support through their now-annual Ice Bucket Challenge.
Still Smartt, and even wiser too
By the end of 2024, Kane Smartt’s football career was at a crossroads. He was 31 and a chronic spinal disease had restricted him to just 15 games in two seasons, but a change in medication, off-field preparation and the support of wife Brooke has helped him rediscover some of his best football in years.
New Simpson coaches leaning on each other
First-year Simpson co-coaches Eliza Duynhoven and Sophie Taylor have lent on each other with the hopes of overcoming a rough patch which has seen the Tigers lose three on the bounce.
Roos ready for must-win clash
South Colac coach Brad Surkitt has nothing but a must-win mindset for his side’s potentially season-defining clash with Simpson tomorrow.
Colac coach awaits scans after another injury blow
Colac co-coach Seb Ross can only wait and hope for the best when he gets a scan on his Achilles tomorrow, with the former AFL star confident it isn’t a complete rupture.
Academy to help development
Passionate young cricketers in the Colac district have been enjoying the fruits of a newly launched Winter Academy ran by the CDCA junior subcommittee.
Braves searching for answers
The Colac Braves will go back to the drawing board over the bye in search of different pitching combinations after an eighth straight loss in Division One.
Falcons select talented Tate
Colac junior Izaac Tate has ticked another box in his footy journey making his Geelong Falcons debut.
Star Bombers midfielder staying put overseas
Irrewarra-Beeac won’t see star midfielder Mitch Thornton for the rest of the season as he continues travelling overseas, while his plans for 2027 and into the future are also undetermined.
Mindset coach faces his own test
Despite having a master’s degree in psychology and his own program that teaches the study of the mind, Birregurra’s Will Hutchison is still learning how to tackle the mental side of the game.
Talented teenagers headed for national stage
Two Colac and district under-14 footballers have been selected to represent Victoria at the School Sport National Championships in July.
Missed opportunities cost Braves first win
A game of missed opportunities has Colac Braves president Jamie Harris feeling that his side let their first Division One win this season slip through their fingers.
Golfers dream run falls short
It wasn’t the fairytale finish the Colac Golf Club were after in the Division One pennant grand final but captain Nick Welsh says his side had already exceeded all expectations.
Relentless Swans run away with win over Dolphins
Alvie president Peter Delahunty says a relentless spirit was the difference in the side’s 19-point win over Lorne, reminding the competition that the Swans have still got it.
VAMOS RAMOS: Juan special journey to football
Juanito Ramos may have the most exotic name in CDFNL football. And he’s almost certainly the competition’s only star forward who works part-time in an ice cream truck.
Golfers surge into decider
Colac’s pennant golfers will continue their history-making Division One campaign this weekend after securing a grand final berth against reigning premier Barwon Heads.
Ladies claim undefeated pennant flag
Bernadette Smith says she didn’t celebrate the Colac Golf Club’s ladies pennant Division Four flag until the final ball hit the bottom of the cup in their 4-1 win over Clifton Springs.
Togni’s the new club champion at The Sands
A dominant 5-and-3 win in The Sands’ club championship final has only further validated Hunter Togni’s ambition to play high-level competitive golf.
Darroch relishing Falcons call
It’s been a whirlwind start for Hamish Darroch’s 2026 football season, but the 17-year-old says he is making the most of every opportunity for Colac and the Geelong Falcons.
Recruit boost Braves’ hopes
Braves president Jamie Harris remains confident his side can put it together after leaking late-game runs again, making for an ugly scorecard in the 14-5 loss against the Bellarine Bears.
Inglis ready to make Geelong league step up
Birregurra opening batsman Alex Inglis will join his brother Luke at Geelong-league club East Belmont next cricket season to test himself at a higher level.
Colac claims minor premiership in thrilling win
In their inaugural South West Division One pennant season the Colac Golf Club has secured the minor premiership and home semi-final with a nail-biting win.
Recruit pays tribute in debut
When star Colac Tigers recruit Ethan Liddle made his debut on Saturday, there was more than just football on his mind.
