WHILE many were spruiking that the weekend match between ESSENDON and CARLTON was for the Bryce Gibbs Cup in reference to the potential numberone AFL draft pick, another name familiar to the district was also mentioned in the same vein. GIPPSLAND POWER and former NAR NAR GOON youngster Lachlan Hansen was tipped by several commentators as a rival to Gibbs for the coveted numberone selection, one radio man asserting that Hansen was rated higher than any other of this year’s crop by most recruiting experts.
DEVON MEADOWS has reappointed coach Wayne Briggs for 2007. Briggs crossed to the Panthers after a successful stint at MORDIALLOC in the Southern League and has endured a tough year after several key players walked out before the season. Briggs decided to blood the clubs junior prospects and on Saturday went one step further and pulled on the Panthers’ guernsey for his first game in three years.
“I just needed to try to generate some enthusiasm. Just try and get a feel for how they’re going out there and just push them a little bit more out on the ground,” he said.
Briggs did not embarrass himself but said he was not sure if he would continue for the rest of year.
However, given captain Jesse DeHey is out for the rest of the year with a lateral ligament injury, he might have little choice.
BERWICK will be without star recruit Gavin McLean and goal maestro George Gorozidis for the rest of the season. Gorozidis had surgery on his troublesome knee on Tuesday while McLean has a serious foot injury. A club source said that a repair job on a previous break in the foot had come apart and it would likely have to be operated on again in the near future.
GIPPSLAND umpires’ advisor and former AFL umpire Gavin Dore has no intention making a comeback despite a few fleeting appearances this season.
“There will be no more runs for me,” declared Dore at last weekend’s clash between CORA LYNN and NYORA. Dore said the reason for umpiring a few matches was purely to support upandcoming youngsters like field umpires Chris Kelly and Jamie Warden, together with boundary umpires Aiden Nooy and Jarrod Dyson. Despite what many supporters may think, Dore, in his first season in the advisory role, said everything had gone along smoothly and he had only received one call objecting to the performance of the men in white this year.
CERTAIN DOVETON and NARRE WARREN followers have made a tradition of placing friendly wagers on the outcome of clashes between the senior teams since their rise to the top in recent years and Saturday’s meeting at Fox Road was no exception. Confident Doveton hard man Stuart Batten led the way and apparently had a good crack at his side with Magpie chairman of selectors Travis Marsham. While Batten’s smile in the clubrooms afterwards was through gritted teeth, Marsham was dancing to the bar after the Pies’ 30point result and keen to shout all comers a ‘beer on Batten’. While the amount he won was not made public, Marsham smiled when asked about his windfall and said: “Put it this way, my kids will be eating well this week!”
WHILE on DOVETON, one senior club stalwart was keen to comment on the speculation about the future of star GARFIELD player Andy Soumilas mentioned last week. “Don’t worry about PAKENHAM or HAMPTON bloody PARK,” he said. “If Andy goes anywhere it will be to us. He is Tibbs’ (Doves president Brian Tibballs) nephew and he’ll be playing in a Doveton jumper, don’t worry about that.”
That said, a Garfield follower also made contact this week and said he had it on good authority that Soumilas would remain with the Stars when he returns from a threemonth overseas holiday next year, regardless of which league they are playing in.
EXCITING WARRAGUL youngster Kael Bergles has parted company with the Gulls. The enigmatic Bergles was conspicuous by his absence from the senior side again at the weekend and inquiries revealed that he had been sacked.
The Gulls finally lost patience will the flamboyant goal sneak, who had chalked up a series of misdemeanours and, according to club officials, showed little sign of mending his ways. Bergles broke into the Warragul side last season as a 16yearold and made an immediate impact with his ball sense and speed. Bergles starred in all three matches in the under18 VCFL championships earlier this season, but also fell foul of GIPPSLAND POWER selectors early in the season. Bergles is a prodigious talent and will be missed on the field after scoring 27 goals from a handful of games.
CASEY SCORPION Sheldon Fredericks was selected to play in the seniors side that played in Tasmania at the weekend but, after ST KILDA suddenly dropped a player back, he was left out and did not play at all last weekend. He could have played with HAMPTON PARK but his late inclusion was not deemed fair on those already selected. Fredericks’ three brothers Linden, Hayden and Brendan are an integral part of the Redbacks’ lineup heading towards the finals and, after his treatment by the Scorpions, it would not be surprising to see Sheldon commit himself to Booth Reserve for the rest of the year.
“IT’S sixzip,” chortled BUNYIP’s Don Henwood, boasting the winloss ratio in his favour against his brother, NAR NAR GOON coach Pat, at the aftermatch convivial at the Goon last Saturday. Don, who formerly coached at DOVETON, MULGRAVE, SCOTTSDALE and EMERALD, said that since he joined Bunyip as chairman of selectors the Bulldogs had beaten his brother’s Goon three times and had knocked over LONGWARRY three times when Pat was involved as chairman of selectors with the Crows.
THE curtain may have fallen on great career by LEONGATHA and 2005 Pakenham Gazette player of the year Al Fixter. Fixter, who has played 230 senior games, has endured a frustrating season, tearing his hamstring three times and succumbing to a lateral ligament knee injury. Last weekend, Fixter, the Parrots’ reserves coach, said he would discuss his career with both the club and family at the end of the season but hinted that he has most likely played his last match.
TALL MORWELL ruckman Ben Webb has announced his retirement. Webb spent five years in two stints at Morwell and also played with WARRAGUL, DROUIN and HASTINGS. With a chronic back injury and after suffering four bouts of concussion this season, Webb’s decision was based on medical advice. Webb, a biological chemist, will now put his time into completing a PhD.
