DOVETON is still sweating on whether coach Clint Wilson (pictured below right) will be officially at the helm against NARRE WARREN or not.
Despite the Doves having lodged an appeal against the decision not to accredit Wilson as the club’s senior coach due to his police record, AFL Victoria is yet to hear the case and nobody seems to know why.
That’s interesting given, when an appeal is lodged against a tribunal finding, the governing body can usually form a panel and hear the case within two or three days.
HERE’s an interesting one from the big end of town.
Politics is the only reason we can think of for the official supplier of footballs to the VCFL, Sherrin, not delivering footys to leagues and clubs at present.
A report from one local football administrator suggests that the company is simply not giving any reason for the delay, despite orders backing up and most football seasons starting this week.
And it’s nothing to do with lack of supply either, because they have a warehouse full of footballs ready to go.
The only response from the company is that there will be nothing out of the warehouse until 1 May.
Not good enough.
DROUIN has added further depth to its senior list with the recruitment of Tom Crameri, a Casey-Cardinia League under-18 best and fairest with DOVETON last season.
Rover John ‘Jocksy’ Perry has also returned to the Hawks after winning a best-and-fairest award at Southern Football League club MOORABIN KANGAROOS.
Former coach Ben Proctor, replaced by ex-GARFIELD mentor Ben Soumilas over summer, has pledged to stay with the Hawks and although he will not have an official role, the club reports he intends to play a significant part in assisting the reserves.
A decade back Proctor was a rising star that won the Hawks’ senior best-and-fairest award as a teenager and destined for a stellar career before it was curtailed by injuries sustained in a car accident.
ROC will be a new look side this season and it will certainly be a great deal bigger with the inclusion of man-mountain Paul Phillips, a former state league basketballer.
He played a couple of games with the Kangaroos last year, before missing a significant chunk of the season with injury.
Judging by his pre-season presence that is all behind him and he now looks set to dominate the centre bounces at Starling Road and thereby releasing David Main and Callum White to key positions.
CATANI officials and supporters were amazed at the non-appearance of the EDFL president or secretary at last weekend’s big round-one ‘Pink’ charity match against NYORA, despite both being issued with official invitations.
While the Cardinia mayor led a long list of dignitaries and special guests at the game, which raised more than $12,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation, the league chiefs were conspicuous by their absence.
Even with flag-raising duties to be performed, at least a brief cameo appearance could have been expected to demonstrate support, one would think.
NARRE WARREN is preparing for a huge season-opening crowd at Fox Road when the reigning three-time premiers take on would-be challengers DOVETON this weekend.
The game was easily the round-one match-of-the-day until the clash between KEYSBOROUGH and PAKENHAM was rescheduled from Anzac Day to the opening round.
Magpie officials are believed to be a little disappointed at that move which will no doubt affect their overall gate and income.
AS usual there have been a few late clearance applications before the start of the 2009 Casey Cardinia League competition, with the most interesting name being that of DANDENONG STINGRAY ruckman-forward Levi Casboult.
The BEACONSFIELD registered under-18 has applied and been granted a clearance to BERWICK, which will now be his home club if he is not playing with the TAC Cup side.
DEVON MEADOWS is awaiting clearances for SWAN HILL defender Anthony Foott and Brad Langley from CRANBOURNE, while Southern Football League pair Kenny Johnston (HAMPTON PARK) and Brett Reid (ROC) are also ready to play upon transfers being granted.
PAKENHAM fans at the Lions final practice match hit-out against TRARALGON were puzzled when one supporter yelled out, ‘Great effort Schwartz’ in acknowledgment of some solid work from star recruit Ryan Cassidy.
Cassidy was having his first run for his new club after shoulder surgery, but the reference to what was obviously an obscure nickname remained a mystery – until now that is.
A little delving has discovered that his ‘Schwartz’ moniker was given to him during his time with VERMONT in the Eastern Football League and refers to his physical attributes, which some likened to Arnold Schwarzenegger!
According to our EFL spy, the only difference is that Cassidy’s muscles are all natural.
WORD has it that tough POOWONG utility Adam Miller has applied for a clearance to Alberton League club KORUMBURRA-BENA.
Miller, a consistent performer for the Magpies last season and a star in the first-round game against KOOWEERUP, would be a significant loss if he goes.
And while touching on Korumburra, former NYORA sharpshooter Nathan Osler kicked four goals on debut for the Burra’s on Saturday.
Osler played alongside his former Saints’ premiership teammates Jeremy Hopkins, Dean Alger, Chris Langley and Tim Smith in their opening round, 10-point victory over INVERLOCH.
ALSO of interest to many local footy fans is the performance of Alberton League powerhouse WONTHAGGI that is expected to be elsewhere in 2010, most likely in the WGLFL.
The Power won their opening game on Easter Saturday by more than 10 goals against DALYSTON, a team that was well fancied this season after reportedly picking up some handy Eastern Football League recruits over summer.
THE issue of a player points cap in the EDFL continues to polarise opinion and will do so until the league settles on a decision.
While some clubs, NILMA-DARNUM and CORA LYNN in particular, are believed to be strongly against it, word has it that the majority of clubs would probably support it.
POOWONG defender Craig Rollinson showed he was no slouch with a respectable performance in the Stawell Gift over the weekend.
Rollinson, who was selected in the Pakenham Gazette 2008 EDFL Team of the Year, narrowly missed out on making the semi-finals of the time-honoured event after finishing third in his heat on Saturday.
Rollinson made himself unavailable in round-one to prepare for the Stawell carnival and will return to the senior line-up this week against CATANI.
