BAD news for BEACONSFIELD fans if word from SALE is true that gun ruckman Chris Kelf will play for the WGLFL Magpies in 2007.
Sale has struggled for good ruck options in recent years and the Magpie rovers will be more than excited when Kelf, an MPNFL interleague representative, starts hitting them on the chest with the regularity he has over several top seasons at the Eagles.
NAR NAR GOON has appointed Michael ‘Gazelle’ Monckton as its under18 coach for 2007, completing a perfect swap, after former Goon under17s coach Peter Dorning accepted Monckton’s old job as mentor of PAKENHAM under18s before Christmas.
Dorning joins the Lions with good credentials, having won consecutive premierships at Nar Nar Goon.
Both coaches will enjoy the new challenges and it will be interesting to see if the ‘loyalty factor’ kicks in and players decide to follow their old mentors to their new club or not.
GARFIELD has announced its junior coaches for 2007 with 2006 senior captain Ben Marsh, former junior coach and mentor Brett O’Brien and current senior player Dean O’Brien taking charge of the under16 and under18 teams.
Training for both grades starts at 5.30pm on 14 February at Garfield football ground with runners required.
Junior WDJFL teams will be guided by 2006 grandfinal coaches, Tim Collis (under14.5) and John Barnes (under12), while the under10s will be under the control of Rod Murphy.
The start of training will be notified.
IN other news at GARFIELD, former MELBOURNE and DANDENONG legend Ray Biffin will take on a developmental role with the Stars younger players and also sit on the selection and match committees this year, while the reserves will be coached by former Latrobe Valley ruckman Warren James.
Training is on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6.30pm and practice matches have been scheduled against BUNYIP on 24 March (at home) and BERWICK on 31 March (at home).
COOPERATION between Casey Cardinia clubs and local councils has been praised by MPNFL officials with the result being that grounds throughout the district are on schedule to be ready for the kickoff of season 2007 without delay.
However, word around the traps suggests that the same cannot be said for the other two MPNFL divisions with many clubs waiting for somebody else to fix the problem.
Casey Cardinia’s neighbouring leagues, the EDFL and the WGLFL are also reported to be on track for their scheduled start.
BERWICK players undertook a boot camp run by Georgia Dawson from Fit Happens in Berwick yesterday and a late report suggested that some players needed a long rest after the gruelling session.
It was the first training session of its kind run by Ms Dawson who is a personal trainer.
With the current state of the grounds, those types of alternative training services may come in very handy over the next few months.
ENIGMATIC forward Robbie Lancaster has left HAMPTON PARK after only one season and transferred to SFL club CHELSEA HEIGHTS.
Together with the retirement of Scott Gilder, Lancaster’s departure will mean a rejig of the Redbacks’ forward line in 2007, but the word is that CASEY SCORPION recruit Sheldon Fredericks loves a goal and may spend part of his time in attack this season.
TOORADIN coach Tom Hallinan could have a new assistant if rumours from the Western Port oval are true.
Recently retired HAMPTON PARK legend Mick O’Brien has been linked with the Seagulls and could be about to join the club in an offfield capacity, reigniting a coaching career he started in difficult circumstances at his old club six years ago.
WARRAGUL has lost the services of talented, but injury plagued, tall Xavier Gargan.
The Gulls hoped to retain Gargan, a teacher at St Frances Xavier College in Beaconsfield, rather than lose him to the newly formed St Francis Xavier Football Club to play in the VAFA this season.
However both clubs’ plans have been derailed with Gargan deciding to travel overseas in 2007.
MEANWHILE, former ESSENDON premiership player and GIPPSLAND POWER assistant coach Steve Carey has replaced Ash Green as WARRAGUL’S coach.
Green is an assistant coach at Gippsland Power under former CARLTON and GEELONG utility Adrian Hickmott.
TRARALGON has picked up a top recruit with the arrival of WOODVILLEWEST TORRENS halfback flanker Ryan Potters.
The 25yearold has played more than 50 senior SANFL games and was among the best in its 2006 SANFL premiership side.
Potters has moved to Traralgon to pursue his career as a physiotherapist.
The Maroons have reappointed 2005 premiership coach Tony Lane to the top job and David Tripp as reserves coach.
On the downside, key onballer Tom McQualter has decided to take the season off to recover from injuries that saw him miss a large part of 2006.
Offfield Traralgon was delighted with last week’s announcement of a $20,000 State Government grant that will enable a new netball court to be built and an upgrade to lights and changing facilities.
CORA LYNN has two big events coming up.
Firstly it will field a marquee at the Pakenham races on 4 March with everything included.
Secondly, on 31 March, the Cobras will host a fourteam lightening premiership roundrobin with PAKENHAM, DOVETON and ROWVILLE challenging for a $2000 winnertakeall prize.
Interestingly GARFIELD knocked the Cobras back when invited to play in the tournament, with several district football followers suggesting the Stars were nervous that the other entrants may have towelled up the WGLFL side and shattered the new found, but as yet unproven, confidence at Beswick Street.
Inquiries on either event should be directed to club president Andrew Bergmeier on 0407 093 657.
IN other news from CORA LYNN, last year’s assistant coach Kane Airdrie is trying his luck with Eastern Football League powerhouse NOBLE PARK.
However rumours that several more district players including DOVETON youngster James Arundale along with BERWICK trio Brad Miles, Chris Mizzi and Jason Kelly are on their way to the Cobras were sweeping the district on the weekend.
PAKENHAM has suffered a major loss with word that captain Justin ‘Slinky’ Sutherland has permanently relocated to Darwin.
The lanky ruckman, who played interleague football for the MPNFL last year, has apparently found a job and been made an attractive offer to play in the northern capital, joining GARFIELD duo Lincoln Withers and Matt Cunningham at the WARRATAHS.
It is a major blow to the Lions with Sutherland rated by most rivals as a major thorn in their sides and one of the main reasons Pakenham finished 2006 as minor premiers.
