THE MPNFL Sharks’ 49-point weekend win over the Hampden League confirmed the competition’s status as among the top four in the VCFL and also confirmed that CRANBOURNE pick-up Justin Berry is the recruit of the year.
Berry booted seven goals and was coach Paul Kennedy’s nomination as best afield, however he slipped under the guard of the Hampden boys at the start of the game thanks to a little number shuffling. Berry was listed as number 1 in the match-day record, but that was carried by PAKENHAM star Jared Goldsack, who was down as number 28 in the book. Berry wore the number 8 jumper which was not even allocated so only those in the know would have realised that it was the Sharks’ main striker at the start.
Wonder if that was luck or very, very smart management by the magnet movers?
PEARCEDALE ball magnet Ricky Morris was awarded the umpires’ medal for best on the ground ahead of Berry after the inter-league game, but not far behind was BERWICK ruckman Dale Robinson. Robinson was a late inclusion after BEACONSFIELD star Chris Kelf pulled out with an injured elbow prior to the game. Robinson can actually thank Kelf for his position because it was the big Eagle who told coach Paul Kennedy that he should look at the Wicker tall man for his replacement.
RUMOURS are rife that there is tension between at least one star player and coaching staff at BERWICK. After the Wickers capitulation to PAKENHAM there were a few home truths issued to the troops and, while most copped it on the chin, there was an exchange or two that was overheard by plenty. One Wicker insider confirmed the situation but said it was just part of the emotion that goes with a bad loss, however it will be interesting to see the make up of the senior side and how they play as a team in the coming weeks.
NILMA DARNUM intends to lodge a complaint about the surface of the LANG LANG ground on Saturday. President Brad Platscinda was critical of the surface after the match. “The ground was sub-par. There wouldn’t have been a game if I had checked it before the match,” he said. “It was soft in localised areas and far too easy to roll an ankle. There was also evidence of trucks having been on it.” Platscinda said the poor ground condition contributed to an injury to key defender Darren Scerri which he said will sideline him for four to six weeks. “It was like a sandpit and Darren said his injury was akin to getting his foot caught in a rabbit hole.”
TOORADIN president Derek Genoni has put the kibosh on any suggestion that the Seagulls’ under-18s will be amalgamating with any other club or play in any competition other than the Casey Cardinia league under-18 grade. While he acknowledged that FRANKSTON officials had recently contacted Tooradin with a plan to join forces and play in the MPNFL Colts, Genoni said that was never agreed to by the Seagulls and would not be happening. “We were approached but after our coach (Rohan Myers) spoke to our players and committee our decision was to try to get our under-18s up,” he said. “We are still trying desperately to do that and any under-18 players who are interested can call me on my mobile 0418 388 768 any time.”
“I’VE come to get a few more players,” said cheeky Football Geelong ST ALBANS coach Peter Davenport, who was an interested spectator at the CORA LYNN and WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS clash on Saturday. Davenport, who played with a number of teams in the district most recently DOVETON and BUNYIP, was referring to the fact he managed to secure a number of signatures last summer including former Bunyip players Adrian Carr and Darren Blaney, along with LONGWARRY best and fairest Tye Holland. Davenport showed more than a passing interest in Beau Runnalls, who has been on fire this season since crossing to the Cobras from LONGWARRY.
BULN BULN took GARFIELD by surprise with the appearance of former HAMPTON PARK ruckman Brendan Fredericks, who only signed with the club the previous day. The agile big man, who last played against the Stars when he was at KILCUNDA/BASS in his WGFL days, gave the visitors plenty of headaches early and looks like he will be a fine acquisition. Fredericks’ presence has won kudos from the Lyrebirds playing group after the club had been on the outlook for a ruckman to replace Craig Kennedy, who crossed to TOORADIN over summer but has been sidelined so far this season with a knee injury. Another player to bolster the Lyrebirds’ list is forward Mitch Nobelius, who was reported to have had a falling out with PAKENHAM and opted to return to the Lyrebirds two weeks ago.
INTERESTING to see that former BERWICK high flier Brad Miles has returned to football with EDFL club NYORA after retiring at the start of the season. Miles said his body, in particular his fragile shoulders, simply would not stand up to another season of Casey Cardinia league footy and he pulled on the fluoro and acted as the Wickers’ senior runner in the opening rounds. However the lure of the leather was obviously too great and the Saints have become the grateful beneficiary.
THE days of club volunteers manning finals positions might be numbered in the Casey Cardinia league if word from one leading club is correct. MPNFL officials can expect a submission that all finals timekeepers and interchange stewards be independently appointed by the league rather than the competing clubs. While there is no suggestion that cheating has taken place in the past, the clear message is that some clubs simply do not trust others and temptation in a close final must be removed.
UMPIRES do talk about football and do have opinions on players and clubs as everybody knows. Interesting to overhear a chat between several Casey Cardinia league umps rating sides in relation to their mouthing-off levels recently. Even more interesting to note the ones that umps think lack discipline and the ones that just shut up and get on with the game. Suffice to say that a couple of the league’s aspiring finalists might need to have a look at their respect levels. No names … yet!
ROC takes on BEACONSFIELD this weekend and while the task facing the Kangaroos looks vast, the old blokes will enjoy it anyway with the club holding its past players’ afternoon. The day starts at 12.30pm and is free for past players and officials. There will be a guest speaker, food and drinks on the house prior to the senior game.
IT appears CORA LYNN 2008 premiership players Ben and Luke Hughes may have parted company with the Cobras. Neither has played a senior game since round four nor shown up for training over the last month. Even if one or both do return to the fold, getting a game is going to be hard because Cobras like Luke Foreman, Nick Helsby and Chase Saunders have grabbed their opportunities and, with the possibility of playing in a premiership, these lads are not going to surrender their spots easily.
AND while on CORA LYNN, ticks to the club for their newsletter ‘the Cobra Chat’ which is handed out to all patrons at every home game. It always contains interesting news, history, amusing and topical items. Also plaudits to the club for taking the initiative to organise a visit last week from Tracy Montgomery from Partner Call. She talked to the club’s junior footballers and netballers about a program called Todd’s story, based around a case-study of a local boy who fell onto the wrong side of the tracks. The program is aimed at youngsters between 15 and 18 and warns them about the excessive use of drugs and alcohol. Good work Cobras.
HERE is one for the girls (and no doubt a number of the boys too). The Casey Cardinia Netball League is likely to snare the sponsorship of Brazilian Butterfly in Berwick. The business specialises in waxing and spray tans and is well known as one of the leading salon chains across Melbourne. Assuming a deal is struck it will be interesting to see who receives the ‘Brazilian award’ each week and even more interesting to learn if he/she uses it.
