COLLINGWOOD is guaranteed of a big boost in vocal support after Tyson Goldsack was drafted by the Magpies with selection 63 on Saturday.
PAKENHAM and GIPPSLAND POWER followers will vouch for that with Tyson’s numberone supporter and mother Wendy ready to lead the cheering as her boy and his teammates embark on what they hope will be a successful 2007 season.
Wendy is a passionate supporter of all her children’s sporting pursuits and, with husband Peter, has travelled many kilometres and hours to watch footballers Tyson (Power) and Jared (FRANKSTON and Pakenham) and her netballer daughter Alana (Pakenham) during the past two seasons.
That time on the road is set to increase big time if Tyson makes the grade and the Goldsack clan decides to fly in and give the interstate clubs a taste of their loyalty.
ROC youngster Dean Blake is tipped to move one suburb west and sign with BEACONSFIELD this season and that will be a welcome change of fortune for the Eagles’ after several confirmed departures.
The exodus of senior players started when 2005 league bestandfairest winner Daniel Charles was appointed assistant coach of BERWICK under Ronnie Burns.
Next to go was new LANG LANG coach Clint Evans, followed by elusive forward Luke McConnell (NOBLE PARK) and onballer Kris Fletcher, who has joined his brother Cameron at MULGRAVE, despite saying he was keen to have a big year with the Eagles a week earlier.
However, despite rumours to the contrary, a Beaconsfield source said that star ruckrover combination Chris Kelf and Robbie Taylor had committed to the club for 2007.
HERE’S one from left field, but a rumour doing the rounds suggests that delisted HAWTHORN utility Nick Ries is a big chance to join PAKENHAM if he does not get picked up in the preseason draft.
That would more than compensate for the loss of Lincoln Withers to GARFIELD, but the Lions would likely have to come up with a significant weekly inducement to win what would no doubt be a keen battle for his services.
DROUIN has announced former NORTH BALLARAT and WILLIAMSTOWN midfielder Todd Cook will take on an assistant coach’s role at Hawkland in 2007.
Cook is the second assistant coach to be named at Drouin, the other being former LONGWARRY spearhead Glen Browney.
New coach Ben Proctor is pleased that Cook’s Williamstown teammate and willofthewisp forward Malcolm Dow has also returned to the club, however probably a little disappointed that the talented utility Adam Cook will stay with the Seagulls in the hope of gaining a regular senior spot this year.
Drouin also expects a number of Hawks that followed Proctor to BUNYIP last season to return to the club with him.
DOVETON has been quietly going about its preseason business and the word is that other than Ryan Hendy, few others will depart the nest next year, putting paid to rumours that some players were unhappy.
Not only that, former BEACONSFIELD keyposition player Matt Kenny, who had last year off, is being tipped to join the Doves next year, further strengthening the goaltogoal line at the Robinson Reserve.
GARFIELD has already had a win in 2007 with MAFFRA president John Vardy confirming that the Eagles have agreed to a request that they play the Stars’ home game at Beswick Street on a Sunday to boost the gate.
After Garfield’s near departure from the WGLFL this year, the new Stars regime is obviously intent on shoring up support and cementing itself in the league next year and beyond.
NOT surprisingly, 2006 WGLFL premiers MAFFRA, has reappointed classy midfielder Hayden Burgiel as senior coach for 2007.
Burgiel will be supported by a newcomer in Nick Hyder.
Hyder, a utility, is said to be a pretty handy player who has won three consecutive bestandfairest awards for WARRNAMBOOL in the Hampden League.
The Eagles, who have won four flags in five seasons, are expecting to retain the majority, if not all, of last season’s premiership side.
THE price of watching a game of EDFL football will rise from $7 to $8 in 2007 after a vote taken at last week’s annual general meeting.
It is the first price rise for five years and reflects the growth and popularity of the country league.
Another key motion passed at the meeting will see the league change from under17s to under18s next year, with under15s also rising to under 15 and a halfs.
In a move that had several attendees more than a little bemused, the standard rule of presenting no more than two league life memberships per year was waived after a hasty vote, to allow EDFL president Roger Gwynne and secretary Peter Gallasch to join BULN BULN’s Michael Barker in accepting the honour.
The league’s constitution had to be suspended to allow the move and one club official suggested that now the precedent had been set, the floodgates may open with many nominations next year.
BUNYIP cast a wide net to get players last season and has continued its active recruiting this year.
The Bulldogs have already snared talented POOWONG and former DEVON MEADOWS ruckrover Luke James, ex GARFIELD and PAKENHAM brothers Jack and Joe Allen and expect to sign rugged defender Robbie Hughes after a super successful twoseason stint with DOVETON.
HAMPTON PARK will look a little different next year after voting to change its jumper last week.
The new strip is yet to be unveiled, but is tipped to be an updated version of the current redandblack jumper with a redback spider moniker on the front.
