Above:Members of the premiership-winning Cora Lynn under-11s are credited with inspiring the senior side to their win over Bunyip on Sunday. The young ‘uns were seen at the three-quarter time huddle of the league encounter waving their medals – and the flag – around. The big boys from the Cobras thank the little boys as they leave Garfield reserve.
A MAN and his nephew – both well-known and respected in football circles – set off on a mission last Thursday. They had to be in Sale for the last gallops race at 4.42pm. The man is part-owner of a horse called Reassemble and is known to trek near and far to be trackside to watch his steed. Off they set, in plenty of time. The nephew was the pilot, his uncle the navigator. Not only are the pair good mates, but they work together. We’re not sure who wears the pants in the family business, but uncle gave the orders on Thursday. “I know a shortcut to Sale,” he said to his nephew. After a while, when they went through areas which didn’t look familiar, it became obvious uncle’s geography was not as good he thought it was. By the time they realised, and rectified, their mistake and finally got to Sale races, everybody was leaving. The horse was being put in the float as the race was being replayed on the television screen. The part-owner had a few words with the trainer and took in the replay, watching his neddy run third of 13. The two left the track, reassembled themselves with a refresher at Rosedale and finally got home – to tell a good story. The names of the uncle and his nephew? Well, if you ask Brian and Matthew Shinners a question, there may be a protest or two, but you will have correct weight.
WARRAGUL has set in concrete its leadership group for the 2012 season. The Gulls have announced experienced ruck duo and co-captains Mark Bradley and Matt Gray – along with vice-captain Joel Morgan – have committed to the club next year. Despite only the one victory this season, coach George Morgan is upbeat about next season and says there is a huge upward scope. “Our core group this season comprised of 14 guys from the thirds that are only 19, or less, years old,” Morgan said. “Many learned to play their positions and evolved as the season went on and we will pick up next year.” Morgan was speaking confidently after Saturday’s bullish effort against WONTHAGGI, when the Gulls were valiant, despite being beaten. Rumours abound that the Gulls will be the first club to announce a big signing for the 2012 season. From all reports, it will be a power forward. Stay tuned to Footy Shorts.
It was all about the debutants for TOORADIN in its final game of the season – but one stood out. Brett Kendell, 44, made his first, and possibly last, start for the Gulls. Kendell, who retired after stints at different Gippsland clubs, made his debut alongside son, Sam, who was playing his second reserves match after being called up from the under-16s. Despite years of experience, it was Sam who was dishing out the advice. “I had to tell him to keep running,” Sam said. Judging by the state of Brett’s hamstrings post-game, we think he was trying.
It’s a funny old game … and sport is a great leveller. Less than 12 months ago, there was plenty of discontent – on two fronts – at NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH. Firstly, with the departure of 2010 coach Dean Hendrikse, which had many players contemplating to leave as a show of support for ‘Deano’ and, secondly, there was a strong feeling in the club that the ‘hill’ clubs were falling off the pace and had a chequered future in the league. Now after Saturday, the Cats have attained a grand final berth under new coach Leigh Sheehan, who is winning rave reviews and furthermore their thirds, which are the lifeblood of the future, play GARFIELD on Saturday, where the winner earns a grand final berth.
And speaking of Leigh Sheehan, the NEERIM NEERIMSOUTH mentor is building a formidable record of grand final appearances that very few could match. He played in three junior grand finals, one at YARRAGON and two with WARRAGUL, and while still in the under-age ranks, played in another with GIPPSLAND POWER, where he spent three seasons. While rookie listed at COLLINGWOOD, he played in five reserves grand finals at WILLIAMSTOWN and was twice selected as emergency for the Seagulls senior grand final teams. During a stint in Perth in the WAFL, he was named as an emergency for a SOUTH FREMANTLE grand final team. On Saturday week, he will guide NEERIM in his 10th grand final appearance and 13th grand final preparation against the winner of this week’s EDFL preliminary final clash.
NEERIM NEERIMSOUTH’s victory on Saturday was also a win for nurturing local talent. Apart from Sheehan, Dean McFarlane, Cam Hinkley, Brenton Cowell and Nick Humphrey, who formerly played at the Cattery, before a stint at WARRAGUL, all the other 16 players on Saturday came through the junior ranks of the club. And for the trivia-minded NEERIM supporters, only three current players, Jack Halligan, Danny Sheehan and Matt Cumming, will have the opportunity to be dual premiership players on Saturday week, being the only players left at the club to be part of their 1999 triumph.
CATANI captain Luke McFarlane recently took home the Blues’ best-and-fairest award. He was a clear winner with STONY CREEK recruit Nat Rodda the runner-up. Defender Shane McFarlane won the reserves best-and-fairest and Brent Williams picked up the under-18 award. At POOWONG, league-leading goalkicker Kael Bergles won the Magpies’ best-and-fairest, CRANBOURNE recruit Daniel Watson was runner-up, while his former Eagles team-mate Troy Aust and Matt Grant tied for third. Cole Attenborough won the Magpies reserves best-and-fairest from Mitch Cooper and mid-season recruit Teahu Davis, who only played a dozen games due to senior promotion, came third.
The EDFL finals series has been blessed with good weather and the crowds have been super. All four games over the last two weekends have produced record gates (despite no price increase this season), culminating in a massive gate of $15,465 for Sunday’s clash between ex WEST GIPPSLAND league foes BUNYIP and CORA LYNN. One thinks the league executive would have been quietly barracking for BUNYIP to set up a GARFIELD-BUNYIP preliminary final blockbuster and a likely record crowd again, but it wasn’t to be. While BUNYIP were mighty unlucky to lose, both clubs are on the right path and look well placed for young talent, and it will not be too long before they meet in a final.
FOOTBALL historians would be bemoaning BUNYIP’S exit from the EDFL finals. Had the Bulldogs met neighbours GARFIELD in the last game of the season, it would have revived memories of the controversial 1939 clash – or non-clash – between the two clubs. The game has entered local sporting folklore. As the story goes, the Stars decided the Nar Nar Goon ground was unfit to play on (in a week where VFL fixtures were cancelled because of the weather) and didn’t front for the game, hoping it would be postponed. The Bulldogs didn’t agree and fronted for the game. The only player to front for GARFIELD was Jack Smith, a soldier stationed in Melbourne who made his regular train trip, unaware of the decision not to play. He duly took the field until BUNYIP kicked the only goal of the game to win the flag. The result has been disputed for years and created a lot of bad blood between the clubs.
BAIRNSDALE will be on the lookout for a new coach in 2012 after Brent Cowell announced he would step down. The good news for the Redlegs is Cowell, a midfielder who played at ST KILDA reserves and for a decade in the WAFL before joining the new GIPPSLAND league club over summer, intends to play on. While he had a few injuries over the season, he showed he was a class act with still plenty to offer.
Despite bowing out of the finals race after a shot on goal by assistant coach Adam Kennedy drifted wide of the big sticks on Saturday with only 20 seconds to play, MOE mover and shaker Brad Law said the recruitment of BEACONSFIELD trio, Ryan Donaldson, Ben Collins and Kain Airdrie was one of the success stories at the club this season. Law praised all three and singled out Aidrie for extra kudos, describing his efforts as “sensational”. Donaldson did not play against LEONGATHA on Saturday after he had three steel pins inserted in his thumb that is expected to take 12 weeks to heal.
With the first semi-final between CORA LYNN and BUNYIP in the balance at three quarter time on Sunday – and plenty of emotionally charged spectators surrounding the playing huddles – the Cobras pulled out a trick from left field that should not be forgotten should the club go on to triumph in 2011. Many of its under-11s team, who won the South East Division 3 junior premiership earlier in the day, brought along their winning flag, stood together and draped it in front of the players, while also proudly wearing their winning medallions. Words did not have to be spoken. Immediately the Cobra players were reminded what was on the line in the last quarter. Suffice to say, CORA LYNN went on to win, albeit by only five points, but their season remains alive.
Usually when you lose your strides, it is a sign that something is amiss and that is exactly what came to pass at Longwarry on Saturday for GARFIELD’s Matt Hobbs. There were no beg pardons early and the tackling was ferocious, which Hobbs can vouch for after he had his trunks ripped off in the first quarter. Whether it upset his concentration we are not sure, but less than 15 minutes later he left the field outside the interchange gates and his afternoon was over, due to this error. With coach Brent Eastwell sidelined with an ankle concern, the Stars midfield rotations were compromised and it fell away in the latter stages of the game.
The MPNFL administration briefly flirted with the idea of swapping venues for the start of the Casey Cardinia finals this week. Footy Shorts reported last week that BERWICK would have to play its elimination final against the home side PAKENHAM, despite finishing higher on the ladder. With Berwick advancing into second place, the Wickers will now play NARRE WARREN in its qualifying final at home. Pakenham, despite finishing fifth, will host fourth-placed HAMPTON PARK in the elimination final. Officials decided to keep the venues the same, an interesting move that has raised eyebrows around the league.
There were 415 senior Casey Cardinia players used during the season. BEACONSFIELD fielded the most (42), while PAKENHAM and KEYSBOROUGH (35) used the least. Sixty-seven players ran out in every home and away match their team played.
The 2011 Casey Cardinia season unearthed a swag of promising talent with 33 under-18s making their senior debuts. NARRE WARREN led the way with seven debutants, while BERWICK (six), HAMPTON PARK (five), and BEACONSFIELD (four) also gave youngsters opportunities. ROC’s Matthew Clarke (27 goals) had a brilliant year, as did DEVON MEADOWS midfielder Tom Cotton and courageous Narre Warren defender Ben King, while Jake Cameron (Beaconsfield), Chris McKay (Berwick) and Matthew Adair (Hampton Park) distinguished themselves.
