Footy Shorts logo (with Kenny and Tangles)
(Maybe with a picture of Aussie Jones?)
THE momentum surrounding the potential rise of GEMBROOK-COCKATOO hit a sudden hurdle last week when star recruit and former ST KILDA playmaker Austinn Jones suddenly decided to ditch his much-anticipated comeback to the football field after a year off.
Aussie had wanted to play with the Brookers and assist good mate Travis Marsham with the task of coaching the division-one Yarra Valley and Mountain District League team, but his ever-increasing work commitments outside football have become a priority.
Marsham said that Jones had been an integral part of the club’s pre-season campaign, but he was aware that he was only going to be available to play about half the club’s home-and-away games during the season.
However Jones made the call to pull the pin completely and the news of the former All Australian’s re-retirement, delivered before training last Tuesday, was still a shock to the club.
DOVETON made its 2009 intentions known with an easy practice match victory over Peninsula League club PINES on Saturday.
The Doves unveiled star recruit Russell Gabriel who did as he pleased as a key forward and ruckman against the Pythons, while Clint Wilson overcame the ongoing (AFL Victoria) dramas surrounding his coaching accreditation to lead by example in the ominous hitout.
One point of interest was the ordinary performance of former CORA LYNN spearhead and Pines marquee recruit Darren Sheen.
Despite poor delivery of the ball from his new teammates, the burly full-forward was clearly short of a run and completely outplayed by former FRANKSTON DOLPHIN Peter Greenstreet.
Sheen also copped his share of unkind comments from the crowd and hopefully he can answer the knockers by working on his fitness and becoming the dominant forward he has always threatened to be in a top-class competition.
RACKED with off-season departures, NYORA was dealt a further blow last Thursday night when promising youngsters Nick Fairbank and Taylor Myer both walked out of the club to join TOORADIN.
With over a dozen newcomers in the side, the Saints team that ran out against CATANI on Saturday was barely recognisable.
Five 2008 thirds players, Daniel and James Barton, Drew Breen, Mark Fletcher and Josh Toms, all made their debut and it appears that the Saints will be concentrating on nurturing their youngsters this season.
To add to the Saints misery, its number-one defender Andrew Collis broke his collarbone after getting a massive bump from burly Catani utility Paul Youle and will almost certainly miss at least half the season.
However, on the positive side, CLAYTON recruits Damian Armansin, Justin Isaac and defender Fabian Pataud and all acquitted themselves well on Saturday.
WHILE on injuries, LANG LANG was on the receiving end when Luke Muirhead, recruited over summer from MOOROOLBARK, left the field midway through the third quarter against CORA LYNN after three of his teeth became embedded in his upper lip.
Bleeding profusely he went straight to hospital and took no further part in the game.
Muirhead, a well-built forward, led well and took some strong grabs, suggesting he will be a handy acquisition to the Tigers.
INTERESTING to see former DOVETON and MPNFL small man Warrick Hanks looking super fit and in form back at KEYSBOROUGH in Saturday’s four-goal win over Peninsula League premiers SEAFORD.
Hanks joined the new-look Burra squad in the spirited match which, while impressive, proved costly after young gun defender Michael Downie broke his hand and will likely miss the opening game against PAKENHAM.
That match has been transferred from ANZAC Day, a week forward, to round one on Saturday, 18 April at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
“IF it was a hot dog you wouldn’t drop it,” yelled a wag in the crowd when CORA LYNN’s Dan O’Hara fumbled a mark in the last quarter against LANG LANG.
The match was O’Hara’s first since he suffered serious facial injuries in a car accident midway through last year and, while the robust defender looked to be carrying a few extra kilos, the club was just happy for him to get through the game unscathed.
Cora Lynn holds O’Hara in high regard and has appointed him co-captain this season with ex-NARRE WARREN defender James Bradshaw.
RECRUITS have been sparse at HAMPTON PARK this year, but the Redbacks are smiling a little more after the signing of talented ROWVILLE forward-midfielder Justin Davis.
Davis flirted with the club last year and played in a reserves game, but returned to the EFL club.
This year, however, he is believed to have committed to the Booth Reserve and will add significant dash to the Redbacks’ attack.
DROUIN looked in control of its practice match against BONBEACH, entering the three-quarter-time break three goals up, before being overrun in the last quarter and losing.
Given half a dozen players were missing due to a cricket trip and several others were rested including David Olsen, Dean McFarlane, Sam Proctor and Brenton Lockhart, the Hawks will take comfort that they have plenty of room for improvement.
But after fading badly in a few games last season, new coach Ben Soumilas must have some lingering doubts about his team as it approaches its first round clash against TRARALGON.
PAKENHAM had a good win over WGLFL power TRARALGON on the weekend with the most interest in the performance of star Lions recruit Ryan Cassidy.
And apparently the strongly built midfielder did not disappoint either.
One club source was ecstatic about Cassidy’s first hitout, saying that providing he stays fit he would be the recruit of the year in the Casey Cardinia League.
Big call given names like Tivendale, Liddell, Rigg, Gabriel, Oakley and Granger have also been added to club lists for this season.
WARRAGUL warmed up for its opening round night clash at LEONGATHA with a convincing victory over Southern League division-one team CHELSEA HEIGHTS.
Former 2003 premiership utility Tim Keily, back from TRAFALGAR, did well, as did star centreman Ryan Davey, David-Scott Smith and youngster Brett Davis, who showed plenty and looms as a big improver this season.
THE bubble of confidence at ROC burst with a bang when the MOE crushed the Kangaroos by close to 20 goals on Saturday.
It is hard to determine what to make of the result, but Kangaroos’ coach Kris Fletcher will be looking for much more in the round-one clash with HAMPTON PARK.
Moe officials were pleased with the performance of Matt Forys, who has returned from the GVFL and starred at centre half-forward, dual NEWBOROUGH best-and-fairest Daniel Risol, MORWELL recruit Andrew Petrou and classy forward Stuart Robertson.
WHILE the off-field battle for power between two rival administrations has raged at BERWICK, things have progressed well on the field with the Wickers set to make an impression.
However, one long-time club stalwart, who will not be part of the push forward, is former captain Brad Mollineux.
‘Molly’ has not been sighted at the Edwin Flack Reserve this year and according to a club insider, could be a late recruit for EDFL club LANG LANG, under former Wicker assistant coach Clint Evans.
On the upside for Berwick, young gun Nathan Page, who was a late delisting by GIPPSLAND POWER, looks the perfect replacement after impressive pre-season form.
NEW KOOWEERUP president Sean Dolan was both happy and relieved after his Demons shocked POOWONG in round one.
“We had seven new players and to win at home was a massive start to the season for us. Taking a chance on a new coach was always a risk, but to get someone of the calibre of Paul has been great,” Dolan said referring to coach Paul Williams.
The former VFA star with FRANKSTON is rising 40, but has not discounted pulling on the boots and occupying a forward pocket before the season is out, according to club insiders.
BUNYIP and KOOWEERUP players will form a guard of honour as mark of respect for former Bulldogs captain-coach Ryan Ablett, who passed away tragically at the age of 27 on 28 March.
Ablett, the son of HAWTHORN premiership player and Casey mayor, Geoff Ablett, was one of the most exciting players to pull on a boot in the EDFL and topped the ‘ton’ in successive seasons in 2006 and 2007 with Bunyip.
“THE rooms were full and the club song was sung loud,” said former WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS secretary Geoff Kimmitt after the Dusties beat NEERIM SOUTH on Saturday.
It was the 2007-08 cellar dwellers’ first victory since round eight in 2007 when they beat KOOWEERUP and ended a 28-game losing streak.
NARRE WARREN recruits Danny and Shane Brewster, Manny Peresso, Josh Lafranchi, Brett Wadleton, Ariki and Jacob Matwijkiw and Chris LaRosa all played a big role in the Dusties success.
NILMA-DARNUM had a good win on and off field in round one.
While ex-BRISBANE premiership star Mal Michael led the Bombers to a huge result over BULN BULN, the club’s Bushfire Fundraising effort off-field saw gate takings of $4032.
This translated into $1344 each to the Nilma North Fire Brigade, Darnum-Ellinbank Fire Brigade and the Warragul State Emergency Service.
Club president Andrew Patterson personally pledged $100 for each goal kicked in the senior match to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, a total of $3500, while the day’s Pick The Margin competition was won by Phil Fennell from Warragul and Peter Nicholson from Drouin.
They were the closest of 360 entries with their prediction of 144 points (actual margin 146 points).
Each will receive $500.
