One of the most recognisable faces at Nar Nar Goon and more recently Longwarry is that of Malcolm McQualter.
Mal has been following local football in the West Gippsland area for most of his life and is hoping the Crows, coached by his son Scott, can push for premiership glory in 2005.
Name: Malcolm McQualter.
Club: Longwarry.
Best local player seen: Ray Christie.
Local football highlight: Seeing my son (Scott) coach Longwarry and his brother Brent play in the side.
Lowlight: When I was involved with Nar Nar Goon, the fact that they did not have success for so many years.
Favourite ground: Nar Nar Goon.
Worst ground: Lang Lang.
What’s good about footy today: In the Ellinbank League, the evenness of the competition and interest in every game.
What’s not: The Gippsland Power, which plays in a competition that only interests players, parents and grandparents. It comes and takes local clubs’ best young players, rather than allowing them to develop at their clubs like so many champions managed to do in the past.
The system has no regard at all for grassroots football. They’re only interested in getting two or three players drafted and patting themselves on the back.