WAS that football journeyman and former BEACONSFIELD premiership player Dean Burnell training at the Perc Allison Oval last week? It sure was, say a couple of our more reliable Eagle spies, and the question is whether Burnell was just having a run or is intending to attempt a comeback to the game? Our sources suggest that he was pretty impressed with his own form on the track, too, but then again, the VCFL medallist from 2004 was never one to underestimate his own efforts.
LONGWARRY appears to have finally parted company with the Abletts – Royce, Ray and Alfie. The trio have been notorious for their non-appearances on a number of occasions this season, but after events this week they are no longer expected back at the club. The three unexpectedly turned up at training last Thursday but were snubbed by the coaching staff and left to train by themselves. After being selected in the reserves on Saturday they pulled another no-show and club officials did not hear from them – again.
OLD footballers would be shaking their collective heads when they read the weekly tribunal report in the footy record. There is now an offence called “wearing jewellery” and the set penalty for that heinous crime is a one-match suspension. There have been at least three incidents of it this year including one in the Casey Cardinia league when BEACONSFIELD under-18 Dan Gee was booked in the Eagles’ round five clash with CRANBOURNE. Wonder if that offence includes umpires?
WHEN Brett Reid gets the ball, all you hear from the ROC crowd is “Go Goat.” Great nickname that, but of course it begs the question, how did he get it? Did he eat an old handbag or butt heads with a teammate, or maybe it has something to do with a farm yard incident that we don’t really want to know about? No, we are told by a reliable club insider that he earned the unique brand because he was the first kid at school to grow a “goatee” beard. Nothing too strange in that except our man suggested that he was only in Year 5 at the time.
BUNYIP coach Steve Henwood was not too pleased with having only six days to prepare for his side’s clash against NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH. “The draw has to be looked at. The six-day break is unfair, not only do you get one less day to come up but the opposition gets the opportunity to watch us. We copped the a… end of the Sunday fixture,” he said on Saturday night, still seething after his side’s unexpected loss to the Cats. Henwood’s issue stems from the fact that WARRAGUL played MORWELL at Western Park on the Saturday, which forced WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS to play on the Sunday, disadvantaging their opponents who happened to be the Bulldogs. Henwood may have a point because the Dusties also suffered an unexpected loss on Saturday to LONGWARRY.
BY NOW all football clubs in the district should be aware of the plainclothes police “hit squads” that are patrolling grounds handing out fines on most weekends. The main target is under-age drinkers who often bring their own alcohol into grounds inside cars and consume it in the outer during the game. Several Casey Cardinia league clubs have received visits recently and the cops are employing a zero tolerance approach if they catch patrons out. Be warned.
FORMER MPNFL spearhead and DOVETON coach Keith Robinson played his second game in a row for the Doves reserves on Saturday at the age of 46. “Robbo” was contacted by Doveton coach Mark Mott and asked to fill in against KEYSBOROUGH last week and the same thing happened again this weekend when the reserves were short against CRANBOURNE. The still fit and active ex-goalkicking star said he would help out providing he was not on the ground ahead of a kid, which in his case could be a 35-year-old.
THERE has been some mixed news for DROUIN’s Jordan Edwards. The former best-and-fairest winner ran out in the reserves against TRARALGON on Saturday for the first time since he sustained two broken vertebrae in his neck last season. Disappointingly for Hawks fans, the 24-year-old utility and former interleague representative, injured his knee inside the first five minutes and did not reappear. Club officials do not think it is a serious injury and expect Edwards to press for senior selection in a bid to add to his 90-game tally before the season is finished.
NARRE WARREN Football Netball Club will hold a special luncheon on 11 July to celebrate the inaugural Chris Thompson Cup, which will become an annual event when Narre Warren plays TOORADIN. The event will sponsor the Beyond Blue charity. Chris Thompson played for Narre Warren as a 17-year-old in 1984 and was recruited by FOOTSCRAY the following year. After a serious ankle injury Chris returned to football at Tooradin, playing and coaching over a 10-year period. He battled depression and unfortunately lost his battle in November 2005 and the afternoon is being organised to raise the awareness of mental health issues. Guest speakers at the luncheon will include ESP player manager Dan Richardson, clinical psychologist Dr Candice Boyd and Alex Palozzolo from Sellen Partnerships. The Chris Thompson Cup will be awarded to the club that finishes in front after tallying the results of all netball and football games played on the day.
MIGHT hear a bit more about an alleged racial remark directed at a DOVETON reserves player by a CRANBOURNE opponent on Sunday. The lad was said to be more than a little upset by the slur and did not accept an apology offered by the offender after the game.
NYORA had double reason to celebrate on Saturday. The Saints went into their bottom-of-the-table clash with ELLINBANK as massive underdogs but produced a huge form reversal to thrash the Bankers and move off the bottom of the ladder. We’ve also heard Nyora had a bit more motivation to win this week after the entire senior squad pooled together some money and had a bet. They apparently backed themselves to beat Ellinbank, CATANI to beat KOOWEERUP and NILMA-DARNUM to beat POOWONG and collected a very handy return when all came in.
CLEARANCES closed at midnight last night and it will be interesting to see if any late names bob up in the next day of so. One notable recent transfer benefited HAMPTON PARK, which regained Sean Winsall who returned after a brief flirtation with Eastern Football League club ROWVILLE. It turned into a straight swap because ex-Rowville player Justin Davis went back at the same time after finding the Casey Cardinia League a bit too sharp for him.
BULN BULN big lad Doug Black would have had a good night’s sleep on Saturday. After lining up in the thirds and shouldering the bulk of the ruck work, he was required to double up in the reserves where he played the entire game at centre-half-back. Then, six late withdrawals from the senior side saw his on-field afternoon continue when he played half a game in a back pocket for the ones and even managed to sneak up field to score a goal. It was the second time this season that Black had fronted up for all three teams, having also performed the feat in round two against ELLINBANK.
THERE was no shortage of milestones at LONGWARRY on Saturday with Mark Light and Tye Holland both playing their 100th game, Ken Towt his 150th game and Daniel A. Brown his 200th game in the Crows’ victory over WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS.
LANG LANG has organised a function at the Lang Lang hall after its round 14 clash against CORA LYNN on 18 July to raise money to take the under-13 side to the AFL football later in the season. Many local businesses have donated prizes that will be auctioned on the “chicken and prawn” night. For details contact David on 0458 036 142.
