CASEY Cardinia league players have been selected in the both the senior and under-19 WorkSafe VCFL State training squads after the completion of the recent VCFL Country Championship rivalry matches last weekend. PAKENHAM captain Jared Goldsack and his teammate Luke “Tex” Walker were named in the 35-man senior training squad under coach and Hawthorn legend Peter Knights. NARRE WARREN pair Daniel Uzeravic and Nathan Brewster have been nominated among the under-19 players to win an invitation to train for the state representative side under coach Damian Sexton. The WorkSafe VCFL teams will take on the best of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) on Sunday 19 July at the Junction Oval in St Kilda. The squads will train at the Harry Trott Oval in Albert Park on Sunday 21 June, Sunday 28 June and Sunday 5 July.
SUDANESE-born Keysborough youngster Duol Yoy was a popular choice for the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation’s Spirit of Football Award for round seven. The Burra under-18 ruckman was beaming after the presentation ceremony at Rowley Allen Reserve on Saturday, saying that playing Aussie Rules was the last thing on his mind when he arrived in Australia two years ago. The enthusiastic 17-year-old has been a revelation for the undermanned Burras. Coach Nick Costello said everyone at the club had been ‘blown away’ by his rapid improvement since coming across from Noble Park’s junior program. For his part, Yoy said he was happy to act as an ambassador for the sport within the local Sudanese community. And to the MPNFL’s credit, Yoy’s 19-year-old cousin, Matt Kier, has also been given permission to play in the under-18 competition.
FORMER ESSENDON premiership star Mark Johnson is the latest name on the NILMA-DARNUM shopping list. We hear the 31-year-old is good friends with ex-teammate and marquee recruit Mal Michael, who is believed to have been in his ear to come out of retirement. We understand the Bombers’ 2002 best and fairest winner, who played nearly 200 games, may be getting itchy feet and easing his way back into footy alongside his mate at the EDFL Bombers is the ideal fit. Nilma-Darnum officials are confident that Johnson is a better than 50 per cent chance to sign up before the end of this week.
AND while we are on former AFL players, KEYSBOROUGH debuted ex-CARLTON small man Darren Hulme against HAMPTON PARK on Saturday. Hulme, who is the assistant coach of the BENDIGO BOMBERS VFL side, is good mates with Burra assistant Ryan Goodes and was granted a permit to play for Keysborough last Saturday and again this weekend, while the VFL side has a break. However, his presence in the midfield on the weekend was not enough to see the Burra over the line.
WORD from PAKENHAM is that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will send two egg timers to the club by special delivery from Canberra, addressed to Nathan Brown and Jared Goldsack. The two Lions are apparently first in to the Toomuc Reserve showers and last to get out every training night and match day and that has raised concerns of severe water wastage. It also has several others around the club a little worried about what they are doing in there all that time.
CATANI teenager Luke Fialla, who made a good senior debut against ELLINBANK on Saturday, finds himself with a difficult decision to make. The 17-year-old is still tossing up between football and soccer. So far this season he has managed to juggle both, dividing his time between Catani thirds and State League team Morwell. While he has won plenty of accolades in both sports, the money available in the round ball game might just win him over. Fialla is well known in soccer circles and has represented Australia at the World Youth Cup in India. The previous week Fialla played football with GEMBROOK-COCKATOO on a one-match permit and the YVMFL team is also seeking his services.
GARFIELD was pleased that star ruckman Tom Marsh came through his first game of the season on Saturday against MAFFRA unscathed. Marsh broke his leg over summer and the Stars have been eagerly awaiting his return. He was eased back into the action across the forward line leaving the ruckwork to Brett Reid, who has stepped up and filled the void created by Marsh’s absence. On the downside for Garfield, Nick Rodgers, who returned to the club from CRANBOURNE this year, tore his hamstring on the weekend and is likely to miss several weeks, while courageous coach Brent Eastwell badly corked a thigh and is doubtful for this week’s clash against TRARALGON.
FURTHER news from GARFIELD suggests that club officials were less than impressed with last week’s Gazette front page suggesting the town was dieing. The Stars are in dire straights as a club and are desperately trying to exit the WGLFL, but have no place to go after EDFL clubs voted not to accept any new clubs next season. One long-time clubman (who did not dispute the story) told Footy Shorts that the club and town needed positive publicity or there might not be a football club there next year.
CRANBOURNE is cruising along nicely at present and the Eagles are about to get a boost with the return of senior ruckman Matt Linke. Linke seriously injured his ankle over the pre-season and has been a frustrated spectator for the first eight rounds as his teammates produced some excellent football to be sitting third on the Casey Cardinia ladder. It will be softly, softly for starters but the big bloke’s inclusion in the second half of the season will be a big plus.
LANG LANG’s David Williams can vouch for the ferocity of a Mal Michael tackle after he was assigned a tagging role on the NILMA-DARNUM star. The burly ex-BRISBANE LION triple premiership player completely ripped Williams’ shorts off, much to the amusement of the crowd and many female supporters who suddenly started to pay more attention to the on-field action. Play went on and Williams did a promotion for Bonds underwear for about a minute before club officials found another pair of nicks. Perhaps the shredded shorts could be auctioned off at the Tigers next shin dig.
PAKENHAM did not have much to cheer about on Saturday but at least one of their favourite sons, Tom O’Loughlin, went home with more in his kick than he came to the ground with. While he did not get to sing the song, TO won the award for best Lion afield, added the $100 sponsor’s award for his game and topped it off by also winning the ground raffle. While Tommy was looking forward to the prize being a cool drink or two, apparently his (much) better half Emily was more interested in it consisting of a meat tray and some vegetables.
LAST week’s Inside Word in the Gazette certainly stirred up some EDFL club officials. DOVETON runner Stuey Batten’s comment inferring some EDFL recruits were “prostitutes” incurred the wrath of more than one club and prompted one high-profile league identity to ask: “What, don’t they pay their players in the Casey Cardinia league?”
RUMOURS suggest that KORUMBURRA coach and former dual NYORA premiership mentor Dean Alger is being courted by ELLINBANK for next season. Alger left Nyora after 2007 and enticed more than half a dozen of his Saints premiership teammates to join him in what became an acrimonious split. His experience and ability to draw good players that would have the Bankers keen on his services.
BULN BULN youngster Dean Black made a handy debut against BUNYIP on Saturday before an accidental clash of heads saw him knocked out. Fearing the 18-year-old might have suffered a severe neck injury, he was taken to Casey Hospital during the match but cleared of any serious damage. Buln Buln president Brian “Barney” Sell said he was indebted to Bunyip counterpart Allan Wright and committeeman Glen Mumford for their assistance in tending to the stricken youngster.
