THE headline, more correctly, should read ‘Goldsack in Dubai’ after confirmation that PAKENHAM captain Jared Goldsack will be jetting off to the Middle East after the first week of finals.
Apparently Goldsack, who played his 150th game for the club on Saturday, made up his mind to accompany his girlfriend and star Lions netballer MicheLle Webster on the trip a couple of weeks ago and the flight has already been booked.
That will be unwelcome news to supporters, assuming the Lions make the finals and have a chance to defend their premiership, however if current form is any indication September action will not be an issue at the Toomuc Reserve this year and Goldy will be able to head off with a clear conscience.
AND speaking of Goldsacks, when Jared’s younger brother Tyson became the first over-aged player to be drafted from the TAC Cup system in 2006, it started a trend that AFL recruiting officers have continued since.
COLLINGWOOD took the GIPPSLAND POWER tall at pick 63 that year and last season BERWICK based DANDENONG STINGRAY Levi Casboult was added to the rookie list at CARLTON in the same way.
After several good games with the NORTHERN BULLANTS recently, the whisper is that big Levi could very well be added to the main list sooner than expected.
Another former Wicker, and current Stingray, Riley Heddles has also put his hand up this season as an over-age performer, with word that several AFL clubs are already looking at him with a view to a career at the top level.
TREMENDOUS effort by CATANI’S Shane McFarlane who played his 300th club game against POOWONG on the weekend.
McFarlane was elevated to the senior side on Saturday after a late withdrawal.
The milestone sees Shane awarded life membership at the club and he joins his father Tony as the first father and son life members at Catani.
McFarlane, whose senior game tally is 186, won the thirds best-and-fairest award in 1991, was an EDFL representative and also spent two seasons with DROUIN.
McFarlane’s brother Dan, whose career was cut short by a knee injury, played more than 200 senior games while another brother, Luke, a mainstay of the current senior line up, will chalk up his 200th senior game later this year.
Between all three, their combined service to the Blues is more than 700 senior games.
CREATIVE members of local football crowds will be frantically searching for a derogatory term that rhymes with ‘yellow’ after Southern Umpires Association members debuted their new uniform on the weekend.
The SUA has secured a sponsorship from top sportsgoods company Reebok who have supplied all senior field, boundary and goal umpires with a new strip.
The mentor system that sees all trainee umpires wear a green shirt will stay in place and officials are very happy that the umpires now look the part as grassroots football becomes more professional.
POOWONG has retained the Irwin Stockfeeds Cup played between the Magpies and CATANI for the fourth year in a row.
One point is awarded for a victory across all grades of football and netball and the visitors won handsomely, nine points to two.
Catani’s only points came with victories in the seniors and thirds football.
And in another annual rivalry on Saturday, WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS retained the Dennis Bishop Shield in honour of the life member of both clubs.
It was the third time in a row the Dusties have knocked over the Lyrebirds.
BERWICK and, in fact the league, will be worse off with news that star Wicker forward and 2009 Team of the Year member Jason Heath will be missing from action for up to the next eight weeks with a knee injury.
The official word from the Edwin Flack Reserve is that Heath has played the first four games with a crack in his knee joint together with tears in two ligaments and he has had to pull the pin to allow the injuries to heal.
Just getting out and playing at all this year has been a huge effort for Heath and nobody could doubt his dedication to the side or the game.
THERE is still a smattering of movement within the Casey Cardinia League clearance list on both sides of the ledger.
Last week PAKENHAM recruit Emmett Davidson quietly departed back to the Essendon and District Football League after a short stay at the Toomuc Reserve.
On the returnees side, talented youngster Keith Dobson slipped back from the Southern League to DOVETON and solid performer Keith Moon gave EDFL club POOWONG away and went home to DEVON MEADOWS.
WHILE the EDFL goes into recess over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, keen footy buffs who want their fix can always venture to NYORA on Saturday to watch the Saints play KOOWEERUP in one of four ‘catch up’ games this season.
KOOWEERUP’S season is at a critical juncture and it simply cannot afford to lose if they are to play finals this year.
STAR recruit laden CORA LYNN is expected to unveil yet another top-class import in its round-10 away clash against POOWONG on 19 June.
The newcomer, whose name has not been announced, is a former PEEL THUNDER midfielder and friend of another big-name Cobra recruit Balraj Singh.
He contacted coach Chris Toner last week to express his interest in playing with the club and, after the weekend loss to NAR NAR GOON, is expected to be rushed straight into the senior team after the Queen’s Birthday break.
THE weekend game between CORA LYNN and NAR NAR GOON was billed as a family affair for the Cunningham family in last week’s column (the Cunningham Cup was the prize).
However, it has been brought to our attention that the tribute omitted to mention that, together with thirds player Tom Cunningham, another member of the clan in Jake Wright also played in the reserves on the day.
Jake is the son of Maree Wright (nee Cunningham) the eldest daughter of Dan Cunningham. Jake played his third game back after four years travelling the world.
Interestingly the Cunningham name is also front and centre in the EDFL outside the Cobras and Goon, with Gerry Cunningham currently the president of GARFIELD.
CRANBOURNE coach Doug Koop described star forward Justin Berry as a ‘crafty little rat’ in an on-air interview during the 3SER Casey Cardinia League Footy Show on Saturday morning and that didn’t please at least one long-time DOVETON follower.
“We’ve got the original rat and that’s Matty Miller,” sniffed our man.
“Matty’s always been known as the rat at Doveton and you can ask anyone in the league and they’ll tell you who the rat is – it’s Matt Miller and only Matt Miller. You tell bloody Cranbourne to think of a new nickname for Berry.”
We’ve heard of being protective, but this seems a little extreme.
IN an unusual occurrence, EDFL umpire Jason Walters was suspended from duty for two weeks after pleading guilty over an altercation with a star local player and coach in round four.
Imagine the suspension if the boot had been on the other foot?
Might hear more about this one.
WARRAGUL midfielder Mark Johnson has left the Gulls and returned to ELLINBANK.
Johnson left the Bankers over summer to play alongside his brother Tommy, a former GIPPSLAND POWER best-and-fairest winner at Warragul last season.
However, after Tom’s season was ended after he was seriously injured in a recent car accident, Mark opted to return to his former club.
Ellinbank now has the personnel to cause a few upsets and with games to come in the second half of the season against GARFIELD, NAR NAR GOON, CATANI, CORA LYNN and NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH.
SIX-time NAR NAR GOON best and fairest player Nick Collins had to make a difficult call when umpiring the fifths game at Cora Lynn on Sunday. It came down to a choice between blisters or frostbite on the cold, dewey surface. The big fella was getting a bit of grief from his new boots, so at half-time he decided to put them back in the bag and umpire the second half in his socks!
TRARALGON has a huge day planned for this weekend’s home clash against DROUIN.
To coincide with a reunion of its 1960, 1980, 1990 and 2000 premiership teams, the Maroons have also organised to honour all their players who have gone on to play VFL/AFL football.
Invitations have been extended to more than 35 former players including Brownlow medallists, Bernie Quinlan and Kelvin Templeton.
Other former stars the club hopes will attend include former FOOTSCRAY stars Graeme, Neil and Brian Cordy, Geoff Jennings and rugged full-back Rick Kennedy.
One player who won’t be there will be former Bulldogs and MELBOURNE star Adrian Campbell, who will be occupied coaching LEONGATHA against MOE on the day.
Traralgon currently has four players at the elite level being ESSENDON’S Jay Neagle, ST KILDA pair Brendan Goddard and Andrew McQualter and FREMANTLE play-maker Ryan Murphy.
