PAKENHAM officials have confirmed the retirement of three-time premiership ruckman Glen “Sunny” Wouters and the likelihood of fellow big man Clint Walker joining him on the ex-players list in 2010. Wouters was a key player in the Lions finals campaign and was deliberately held back throughout the year for a big assault at the business end with great success. At this stage there have been no other confirmed departures from the Toomuc Reserve, although strong-marking forward Jake Matthews and burly swingman Adam Cook will also miss a portion of the season when they head overseas to attend the 2010 World Cup.
TESTY reaction from some at BEACONSFIELD to last week’s suggestion that Scott Mather was sacked as reserves coach. Officials reported that Mather’s work commitments made it impossible for him to commit the required time the position demanded. That situation resulted in the appointment of former mentor Rick Crook to the job after a stint as coach of SOUTH BELGRAVE last year. The word from inside the Eagles nest is that new coach Aussie Jones and his assistants will be initiating some big cultural changes around the club in a bid to return success to the Perc Allison Oval. The message is quite clear – those who are not prepared to embrace the change and do the work will not be part of the move.
NYORA was quietly confident that many key players who left the club last season would return in 2010 and it appears the 2006-07 premiers have started putting the building blocks in place with the appointment of elusive forward Corrie Wilson as coach after a season at DOVETON. Wilson was chosen for the job ahead of Doveton teammate Peter Greenstreet, and his talented brother Nathan is a strong likelihood to come across with him. We’ve also heard that rugged half-back Fiatupu Too Too, who played with CATANI this season, will return while 2003 EDFL best and fairest winner Dean Hislop will also come back after playing with the WAVERLEY BLUES last season. Nyora has not yet appointed a coach but has interviewed three candidates from outside the league and an announcement is expected next week.
DOVETON president Mark Woolgar has had a change of heart and decided to take on the top job for another year despite indicating he would resign after the Doves’ grand final loss. Woolgar’s first task will be to secure the services of Casey Cardinia League best and fairest winner Russell Gabriel who has fielded offers from a number of clubs inside and outside the league, and was rumoured to be seriously considering a return to a higher level next year. The Doves have also thrown open their under-18, reserves and senior coaching positions for next year. Anyone interested in applying can contact Trevor O’Donnell on 0437 941 176.
WE DON’T usually have too much to say about footy trips but this one was too good to pass up. The word is that those wild young tear-away boys from CORA LYNN were all set to light up their trip but couldn’t do it without their girls. While the Cobra boys went to Ballarat, the club’s netballers decided to go to Bendigo for their end-of-season get-away on the same weekend. Apparently the lads’ luck and ability to party alone was not what it should have been, and the story goes that a group of the boys ended up in Bendigo chasing their own girls!
JUST to put the record straight, the 2010 assistant coach at NAR NAR GOON will be ex-junior star Brett Dore, not Luke McConnell as suggested last week. While McConnell’s swap across from BEACONSFIELD has been confirmed, it is Dore’s appointment after three injury-plagued seasons with FRANKSTON DOLPHINS that has the Goon faithful excited.
THE MPNFL informed member clubs of changes to the Player Points System late last week with one in particular causing plenty of comment. From next season on each club can register one “marquee player” who will not attract any points (other than one), regardless of the level he has played at. That will mean that each club can slot in a top-line playing coach or one ex-AFL/VFL player without penalty. This move has been a long time coming and was first proposed by former BERWICK president Peter Jensen after the Wickers recruited Ronnie Burns more than four years ago.
BEST and fairest counts from 2009 are mostly complete and HAMPTON PARK’s poll was taken out by star defender Ryan Simpson from emerging playmaker Luke Nunan. There was also a fair degree of interest in the Redbacks reserves award, which was won by Michael Jackson in his first season of football. Good effort that. Meanwhile the winner of the NARRE WARREN gong provided no big surprises with Michael Collins winning from classy defender Jarrod Anderson, making it back-to-back trophies after another cracking season.
BUNYIP hopes to recruit DOVETON’s Davies brothers, midfielder Trevor and half-back Michael. Both have struggled to get a regular senior game in the Doves team in recent seasons but would add valuable experience and depth to the young Bulldogs list. Trevor was best on ground in Doveton’s 2005 senior grand final victory while Michael was best afield in this year’s reserves premiership win.
THE Bulldogs were also keen to snare the services of DOVETON star Daniel Charles but the veteran midfielder is believed to have accepted the coaching job at EDFL rival BULN BULN. Charles was also courted by his former club BEACONSFIELD and its Casey Cardinia League neighbour ROC, but apparently decided that it was time for a return to the coaching ranks.
FORMER AFL players have flocked to the MPNFL and that is set to continue next year according to rumours. One name that has already been bandied around as a potential recruit is ex SYDNEY and COLLINGWOOD forward Nick Davis. A source suggested that Davis was setting up home on the Mornington Peninsula and might be keen to find a local club to have a kick with in 2010.
DESPITE suggestions that he was about to head back to Melbourne, word from the Murray River suggests that ex-KEYSBOROUGH gun Shaun Daly has decided to stay with Ovens and Murray League premiers ALBURY for 2010. Daly had a stellar season in the Albury midfield, making the competition’s interleague team, and will spend another year in the north of the state. However, Keysborough officials may yet be celebrating given that COLLINGWOOD recruited SYDNEY ruckman Darren Jolly, thereby placing doubt on the AFL future of uncontracted former Burra junior Chris Bryan. Wouldn’t that be a handy pick-up for new coach Brad Canavan?
