CORA LYNN is set to pick up yet another recruit as it forges ahead in a bid to snare an EDFL premiership next year.
The Cobras are rumoured to have offered BERWICK keyposition player Dan O’Hara the captaincy if he signs on the dotted line.
While that will no doubt rankle many triedandtrue Cobras, second year coach Chris Toner has embarked on a campaign to fill the gaps and the 2007 Cobras will rely heavily on recruits for its success.
O’Hara’s addition is seen to be the icing on the cake.
GIPPSLAND POWER players Ben Hughes and Ben Ross are on the verge of being picked up by AFL clubs as rookies.
Hughes, whose home club is NILMADARNUM, has been invited to train with the NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS pending selection, while BUNYIP’s Ross is going through his paces with ST KILDA.
Both were highly rated by the Power’s coaching staff and could join Lachlan Hansen and Tyson Goldsack in the big time if they impress.
WHILE on local players making a mark in the AFL, CATANI netballer and wellknown scribe Angela Banbury did just that with ST KILDA in 2006 and looks set to fill the same role again this year.
Her employer, Champion Data, is contracted to supply all manner of information to the Saints (both off season and on match day) and Ange will likely be among new coach Ross Lyon’s main helpers this season, continuing her association with the club.
However, on the down side, her commitment means that the star Blues netballer will only be available for eight or so games next season.
MUCH hooha was made of former BRISBANE LION Mal Michael signing on with NILMADARNUM as an assistant coach, but as is now evident, the whole thing was nothing more than a Kevin Sheedy smokescreen.
As has been well publicised, Michael will become a Bomber, but of the ESSENDON variety, not the EDFL brand.
Bet star forwards like NYORA’s Nathan Osler and BUNYIP’s Ryan Ablett are breathing a little easier now!
ACCORDING to a PAKENHAM source there is nothing in the rumour that delisted HAWTHORN player Nick Ries may join the Lions.
Apparently the suggestion boosted Telstra’s profits in the district for a day or two.
THE Casey Cardinia League fixture for 2007 will not be extended to 20 weeks with a grand final the day after the AFL’s season finale.
An MPNFL source said all but two of the member clubs were against the idea and preferred a reduced season with byes.
One proponent of the plan lamented the decision, saying that a golden opportunity for the league to progress was wasted.
NARRE WARREN is back on the track and the good news is that the majority of its triumphant 2006 players will go around again.
That includes Brett ‘Birdman’ Evans who was tipped to call it a day after last year’s victory.
Evans has carried injuries over the past few seasons that would have finished lesser men, but he said last week that his body was rested and he was keen to play on.
CRANBOURNE is rumoured to be about to announce the signing of two bigname players, both of whom have significant experience at a higher level. No identities as yet, but our source is excellent.
CATANI has picked up two big names with DROUIN pair Danny Murphy and Brent Mounsey agreeing to play with the Blues in 2007.
Murphy coached the Hawks last season but was replaced by BUNYIP’s 2006 mentor Ben Proctor.
He is a lightly built and competitive ruckrover who finds plenty of the ball, while Mounsey, a clever forward, was Murphy’s assistant at the Hawks and is no stranger to the Blues having played in Catani’s 2004 and 2005 premiership teams.
Murphy started his career with WARRAGUL where he played over 70 senior games.
Catani also hopes to gain dual PAKENHAM premiership defender Steven ‘Mumma’ Cass who has been training with Blues after being sidelined with a knee injury in recent seasons.
ELLINBANK has reappointed Mick Hamilton as its coach for 2007.
Hamilton intended to step down next year to pursue other interests, but after the Eagles struggled to find a suitable candidate to replace the former DROUIN stalwart, Hamilton was asked to reconsider.
Once again, former WARRAGUL speedster David Quirk is expected to support Hamilton in an assistant coach’s role.
On the downside for the Bankers, it has lost two key forwards in Bill Harvey and Jason Harwood.
Harvey has accepted a twoyear contract playing for the SOUTHPORT SHARKS in the QAFL and Harwood is expected to move to BELGRAVE next season.
ENIGMATIC PAKENHAM and former NAR NAR GOON forward Simon Ponter has been appointed as an assistant coach at KOOWEERUP.
The talented goalkicker is the second Demon assistant coach announced and joins last year’s LANG LANG coach Troy Datsun as support for 2007 cocoaches Rhys Morgan and Dan Crowley.
With the move of 2006 coach Peter Bastinac to PEARCDALE in 2007, the Demons are now resigned to the fact that experienced trio Peter Doll, Rod Hoober and Scott Morrison will follow.
IN OTHER good news for the Hamilton family, Mick’s son, Scott, is making a stunning recovery from a preseason, swimrelated diving accident that saw him break his neck.
The now 20yearold broke his C1 vertebrae in two places together with his C2 vertebrae, plunging his footballing future into extreme doubt.
Hamilton, a strong bodied, emerging defender, was cleared from DROUIN to LONGWARRY in preseason last year and is reported to be both very fit and keen to play football with the Crows in 2007, subject to a medical clearance.
NEWS from DOVETON suggests that premiership forward Aaron McIver will have a season off in 2007 while star midfielder Justin Hill is being seriously wooed by rival sides.
McIver, whose father Mick has been an assistant to coach Steve Henwood for the past three years, is believed to want a rest after an injuryplagued 2006.
Hill is being courted by several clubs including SFL seconddivision club ST KILDA CITY, where his former Doveton teammate Ryan Hendy will saddle up next year.
BUNYIP held its meetthecoaches night last Friday with 45 players attending and a general air of expectation evident.
New senior coach Ryan Ablett was happy with the attendance and informed all players that training will start this week and continue every Monday and Wednesday night at 6.30pm until Christmas.
For further details phone Alan Wright on 0417 505 188.
