HIGHLY regarded coach Peter ‘Bushy’ Bastinac will return to the scene of his greatest triumphs as coach of PEARCEDALE in 2007.
The dual Panthers premiership coach left KOOWEERUP after three years at the helm and was snapped up by his old club in the hope that he can emulate his efforts of 199596 and lead the club up the MPNFL Nepean League ladder again.
The appointment means that former Pearcedale stars including Peter Doll and Rod Hoober might also make the move back from the EDFL with him.
AND while on possible recruits, former Panther and now FRANKSTON DOLPHIN Chris Fortnam is also believed to be looking elsewhere next season.
While a return to PEARCEDALE would seem an obvious choice, several other MPNFL clubs including EDITHVALEASPENDALE and SEAFORD are said to be interested, while one or two cashedup CaseyCardinia League clubs are also in the market for the talented playmaker.
The competition for his services will likely be fierce.
MICHAEL Derrick has stepped down as DROUIN president to fulfil business interests, but said he was confident that he had left the Hawks in good shape.
Derrick cited the progression of many thirds players into senior ranks as one of the most pleasing aspects of his fouryear tenure.
Drouin is yet to announce its 2007 coach, but was keen to make it known that, despite many offers from rival clubs, emerging youngsters Jordan Edwards and Bob McCallum have both pledged their loyalty to the Hawks next year.
Several handy recruits are also rumoured to be coming Drouin’s way in 2007.
BEACONSFIELD is on the hunt for a key forward and will apparently leave no stone unturned in the search for the right man.
Former DEVON MEADOWS strongman Adam Jago has already been linked with the Eagles next year, however exBeaconsfield junior Ryan Donaldson is not on the club’s shopping list.
LONGWARRY spies say that Donaldson is signed, sealed and delivered and will leave BERWICK for the Crows next year, to play under his former RED HILL teammate Grant Close.
NORM Forster will replace John Fitzpatrick as president of CATANI in 2007.
Forster, a former player and thirds coach, was a popular appointment at the Blues recent annual general meeting.
Paul Alger has been reappointed as the Blues captaincoach for his sixth season, however on the downside, plucky rover Paul Wiffin has left the club to pursue a business opportunity in Queensland.
While Blues officials are keeping their fingers crossed, they don’t expect to see veterans Chris Maclean and John Entwisle at preseason training, which starts on 30 November, as both have hinted they may retire, however defender Shane Fitzpatrick is expected to return.
TOORADIN and PEARCEDALE recruiters will be disappointed that CASEY SCORPION Michael Hobbs now looks certain to pursue his football interstate rather than return to the MPNFL in 2007.
The word is that the former Panther premiership player has been made an offer too good to refuse by a SANFL club and is on the verge of accepting the deal.
BUNYIP’s Shane Mumford was rewarded for his improvement, consistency and a big preseason by winning the Bulldogs 2006 bestandfairest award.
DROUIN recruit and talented utility Clint Meyer was runnerup, while EDFL reserves best and fairest Josh Taylor, added the Bulldogs reserves gong to his year’s silverware.
FURTHER to last week’s suggestion that DOVETON might be about to lose players to bigspending SFL club ST KILDA CITY now under the control of former PARKMORE financier and coach Richard Houston.
Dove premiership players Ryan Hendy and Matthew Miller confirmed to footy shorts this week that they were considering a move to the ‘Peanut Farm’ in 2007.
Will there be more to follow?
