THE name Garth Pickford appeared in the NARRE WARREN reserves goalkickers’ list on Saturday, confirming the suggestion first raised in Footy Shorts (14 June) that the Magpies’ big man might make a comeback at the pointy end of the season.
Pickford capitulated due to a back injury during last year’s finals, much to the disappointment of several teammates, however if he is fit and ready to play, the former AFL ruckman could provide Aussie Jones with the finals trump he is after.
BUNYIP youngster Brad Walker is making a slow, but steady, recovery after snapping two vertebrae in his neck earlier this season.
The 19yearold had four screws and a plate inserted in his neck and while his neck brace is about to be removed, the hardware will remain for another eight months.
Walker said he was looking forward to starting running in a few weeks time.
After being told he would never play football again, the news now seems a little brighter and Walker said he hopes to resume playing in two years.
GREAT to see and hear that the banter between players at AFL level is exactly the same as it is locally.
This was demonstrated by an exchange between two former league stars on the weekend.
Injured NARRE WARREN coach Aussie Jones started the joust when he gave his BERWICK counterpart Ronnie Burns a mouthful after Burns skidded over the boundary line next to the Magpies’ coaches box in the first term on Saturday.
After Burns replied in kind, the game went on and everyone within earshot had a chuckle and was content that the passion in the game is alive and well.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS is expected to announce the reappointment of Steve Pursell as senior captaincoach for the 2007 season this week.
It has been a frustrating season for the former ROC premiership mentor who has been plagued with a dodgy hamstring that has seen him sidelined for more than two months.
Departures and injuries to key players have seen the Dusties record only four victories this season, but one encouraging sign for Pursell has been the recent good form of his former Kangaroo teammates Nathan Vanderplight and Chris Jones who joined him at the club this season.
SUNDAY was the occasion of BEACONSFIELD coach Haydn Robins’ longsuffering wife Tina’s birthday.
As you would expect, his lordship had a special day organised however it was not exactly the sort of day Tina had hoped for.
Haydn left her with their kids for the afternoon and headed off to the Docklands to watch Carlton versus the Western Bulldogs in the comfort of the medallion club area with a few mates from the club.
Not only that, before he left, the Eagles’ mentor started a nowin war with his choice of present according to his slightly peeved better half.
“He got me just what he wanted, a DVD player,” she said with more than a touch of disdain.
“So when he gets a nice, Country Road, cashmere size 12 jumper for his birthday, he will know why won’t he?!”
BATTEN down the hatches for this one, because it involves GARFIELD.
Overheard in close proximity on Saturday at the Robert Booth Reserve were two very senior club members, one from PAKENHAM and the other from HAMPTON PARK, arguing about which one of their clubs Garfield champion Andy Soumilas would be at when he returns from a trip overseas next year.
The Lions’ man said the talented rover would join his former teammates Lincoln Withers and Joe and Jack Allen at the Toomuc Reserve and it was as good as a done deal.
However, the Redback gent chuckled and said Soumilas’ dad (WGLFL general manager Chris) would never allow Andy to play with bitter rivals Pakenham and that Hampton Park had already spoken to the dual WGLFL best and fairest about his future in a blackandred jumper.
The one thing that both fellows agreed on was that Soumilas, who has been sidelined with injury for most of the season, would not be with the Stars in 2007.
Interesting …
FOLLOWING a solid performance in the MPNFL representative side in its win against the Hampden League in late May, NARRE WARREN under18 captain Nick Scanlon was one of five MPNFL players nominated to train with the Vic Country squad that played on the weekend.
Unfortunately, Scanlon’s invitation to train with the squad was mailed to the wrong address and did not get to him until after the team was picked.
One might have thought the VCFL would contact players via their club (as they have apparently done in the past), rather than rely on outofdate league contact details when delivering this type of invitation.
MORWELL’s Brett Sherriff played his 100th game against SALE on Saturday after being enticed back to the Tigers this year by his brother Jason, who took over as coach from Anthony Magnusson.
The milestone was a long time coming with Sherriff playing his first senior game way back in 1990, before leaving to play football in Tasmania and then returning and spending eight years at YINNAR before coming home.
WHISPERED at the bar after one rugged Casey Cardinia League game recently was the fact that one coach apparently has a shoe fetish.
The story goes that whenever he goes on holidays or ventures to the shops, he comes back with a new pair.
His lovely girlfriend is said to be quite worried that he is unable to walk past a shop and see a different pair without buying them.
She reckons the lad has more shoes than Imelda Marcos!
BEAUTIFUL one day atrocious the next.
The heavens opened on Saturday and the only thing that dried up was the goal scoring.
EDFL round 14 yielded only 136 goals, which was 66 less than the average over the first 13 rounds and a massive 119 goals less than the season high 255 goals booted on a perfect day the previous week.
The weather forecast for this week is predicted to be pretty much the same partly wet, partly dry and partly accurate!
THE writing was on the wall that HAMPTON PARK was in trouble early last week.
Coach Jason Chapple called a pregame players’ meeting in the centre of the Robert Booth Reserve at halftime in the seconds match, despite persistent rain.
Supporters under the shelter of the clubrooms wondered what was going on when all they could see was a tightknit group of Redback players huddled under a big, PAKENHAM LIONS umbrella!
A STRONG rumour has persisted over recent weeks that former WGLFL clubs PHILLIP ISLAND and KILCUNDABASS are not happy campers in the Alberton League and may be again considering their alternatives.
CATANI looks to have a star in the making.
Under15 forward Russell Lehman booted 15 goals for the Blues in their 133point demolition of NYORA on Saturday, taking his season’s tally to 67 27 ahead of his nearest rival.
Russell is the son of wellknown footballer and cricketer Jamie Lehman, so the bloodlines for success are excellent.
BEACONSFIELD will hold a past players and officials reunion luncheon on Saturday before the home game against KEYSBOROUGH.
The day will feature a reunion of the 1996 reserves and under15s premiership sides and the guest speaker will be club legend Troy Cashman who played more than 300 games and retired at the end of last season.
THE facilities at Casey Fields are certainly making the right impression on players and officials of all clubs.
On Saturday, home club CRANBOURNE made the most of its swish new rooms and held a breakfast for its players with legendary former coach Daryl Nisbet and umpires’ development officer John Russo as guest speakers.
The playing surface also got the thumbs up that afternoon, despite the rain and water lying around and TOORADIN coach Dan O’Loughlin was effusive.
“I’ve played on some decent grounds, but that’s up there with the best of them,” he declared.
AND while talking of meetings, the turnout for last Monday night’s coaches get together and address by former AFL great David Parkin at FRANKSTON YCW was very poor.
The only representatives from the Casey Cardinia League were DOVETON coaches Steve Henwood and Mick McIver.
The gathering was organised in response to clubs and coaches requesting more interaction, but it is doubtful, with that type of response, that organisers will bother next year.
Former BEACONSFIELD player and coach Scott Sutherland has starred in the club’s Superules side this year and is the leading goalkicker in first division with 37 goals from nine rounds.
He is now on target to take out the leading goalkicker award for the competition.
