THE clearance merry-go-round involving star local goalkicker Luke James took another twist late last week when he did an about-turn and decided to ditch his attempt to transfer to CRANBOURNE and remain a CATANI player. A Cranbourne source said that James had agreed to terms at Casey Fields but changed his mind after discussing his decision with hugely respected Blues coach Paul Alger. Alger and other Blues officials have been fighting hard to shore up the club’s list after several big name departures and losing James would have made that job very hard indeed. James’ name has been linked with several clubs including the Eagles, TOORADIN and CORA LYNN over recent weeks, but it now seems he will be going nowhere.
KOOWEERUP has regained PAKENHAM premiership defender Josh Winter along with another former Lion in Brett Hobson this year. Other recruits at Demonland include TOORADIN pair Jarrod Thompson and Lachlan Gillespie, with the latter signing on as an assistant coach to Paul Williams. Another newcomer expected to make an impact is BONNIE DOON midfielder, premiership captain and best and fairest Travis Scott. Kooweerup has practice matches lined up against KORUMBURRA on 20 March and CRIB POINT on 27 March, both at home.
DOVETON assistant coach Ryan “Spanna” Hendy finally had some luck in a vote count, sealing the Dandenong and District Cricket Association best player award for 2009-2010, the Wookey Medal. Hendy polled 33 votes to tie with Berwick star Brad Francis but won the gong on a countback. The award goes some way to make up for the champion forward’s one-vote loss to Dove teammate Russell Gabriel in the 2009 Casey Cardinia League best and fairest count. Hendy was seen to have been slightly ripped off by many, given he failed to poll a single vote despite a superb eight-goal best-on-ground blitz against ROC during the year.
CRANBOURNE will start a practice match tradition with LANGWARRIN on 10 April with the inaugural round of the Western Port Cup. The two clubs have decided to make it a regular pre-season game, alternating at each other’s grounds, similar to the Kangaroos’ other traditional neighbourhood clash against PEARCEDALE for the Bushman’s Cup.
PAKENHAM has confirmed the loss of premiership rover Jack O’Rourke who originally indicated that he would not play at all in 2010, but has since applied for a clearance to the Essendon District League. On the plus side of the ledger, Chris Kent has come across from VERMONT to join his former teammate Ryan Cassidy at the Lions and Darwin recruit Emmett Davidson has also signed up with the club. Another two or three “smokeys” are tipped to be running around the Toomuc Reserve before the season starts.
CORA LYNN has added former ROWVILLE youngster Matt Robinson to its impressive list of recruits as the Cobras seek their second EDFL flag in three years. Matt is the son of ex-DOVETON coach and star player Keith Robinson whose long career is littered with highlights. Matt, a talented midfielder, moved through ENDEAVOUR HILLS juniors and was briefly on the Doves’ list before heading to Rowville. Along with Lincoln Withers and Brad Horaczko, Robinson will make up possibly the classiest midfield in the league this year.
DROUIN is well placed to be a finals contender in 2010 after strengthening the depth of its roster. Justin Evans, a prolific ball winner in the EDFL in recent seasons, has rejoined the club from CATANI, along with defender Aaron Coyle from DROMANA and former CASEY SCORPION Bradley Dean, who played A-Grade amateur football with SCOTCH COLLEGE last season. In more good news for the Hawks 2004 best and fairest Brock Honeysett, who last played with GEMBROOK in 2008, and former LONGWARRY sharpshooter Glen Browney, who played with KORUMBURRA last season, have both been on the training track along with ex-BUNYIP assistant coach Brad Walker. Drouin is also pleased that talented utility Jordan Edwards is making good progress after a second knee reconstruction over summer.
He has been training well and, remarkably, seems set to play in the opening round of the season. Chris Wallace, who missed most of last season because of overseas travel and illness, has been a stand-out at training and is expected to be a prime mover this season. Drouin has scheduled a practice match against CORA LYNN at Cora Lynn this Saturday, 13 March.
BEACONSFIELD has had some good news with former Eagles juniors Sean Alexander and David Collins deciding to return to the Casey Cardinia League from the CASEY SCORPIONS. Both players have committed to the Eagles this year despite doing the bulk of their pre-season training at Casey Fields. One Scorpions spy admitted that there had been a slightly worrying trend of players departing the club for the less stressful local competitions over pre-season this year, and officials would likely be discussing this in the coming weeks.
PROMISING young DEVON MEADOWS ruckman Callum O’Hare has decamped to POOWONG under new coach and former Panther Brent Clinnick. Meadows officials are very disappointed with O’Hare’s decision, given that he was earmarked as a star of the future and they had bent over backwards to help him develop over the past three years. The Panthers are also believed to be less than impressed with the number of players who have been lured to the EDFL Magpies with Clinnick at the helm this year.
TRARALGON captain-coach Steve Hazelman has undergone the controversial new-age laparoscopy knee surgery that saw SYDNEY SWAN Nick Malceski return to football in super quick time last season. The initial signs are that he is making a rapid recovery and is on target for a return to the playing field early in the season. Hazelman injured his knee in the first quarter of the Maroons’ heartbreaking grand final loss to MAFFRA. Traralgon has regained mobile tall Dan McKenna, who was delisted by GEELONG over summer, and is chasing former GIPPSLAND POWER defender Jackson Hall, who has spent the past two seasons with VFL team NORTH BALLARAT. He is believed to be tossing up between rejoining the Maroons or making a move to LEONGATHA. Ruck-rover Matt Habel has retired and disappointingly the season is over for experienced rover Tom McQualter, who ruptured his Achilles tendon playing netball last week.
