CRANBOURNE will make only its second appearance in a Casey Cardinia grand final since it crossed from the South West Gippsland Football League in 1995. The Andrew Dalgleish-coached Eagles beat Karingal 13.7 (85) to 11.11 (77) at Shepley Oval to win the premiership that year. They were runners-up to Dingley in 1994, the last year of the SWGFL but won flags in 1966, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993.
THE cut-throat nature of finals can bring out a level of nastiness between clubs, players and supporters, but it was pleasing to see co-operation at the weekend. Late in the second term, BERWICK youngster Chris McKay landed awkwardly after a marking contest. The seriousness of the injury was quickly realised by the medical staff and the match was halted. Berwick’s training staff received plenty of help from their CRANBOURNE counterparts to ensure the youngster was safely taken off the field. “He’s fine. He actually came on to the bench in the second half,” Berwick coach Dean Rice said. “He’s got a bit of muscle soreness, but nothing major.” McKay played five matches with the DANDENONG STINGRAYS this year.
THERE were plenty of fencejumpers at Edwin Flack Reserve again over the weekend. It seems that the most popular place for a mid-morning vault is the school end of the venue. With the final at PAKENHAM this week, patrons have plenty of time to practise before the grand final on 24 September.
AFTER watching CRANBOURNE dismantle his team, BERWICK coach Dean Rice speculated about the Eagles’ finances. “I’m wondering how Cranbourne pay all these players,” he said. “How can they pay these mature-age players? They’d all be getting something to play. They’d be one of the best teams going around in country footy. You’ve got the Holt boys, (Justin) Berry, (ex-Carlton and Adelaide) Laurence Angwin (ex-Carlton), who they had there for a while, Caleb Tiller, Curtis Barker. They didn’t have a weak link on the ground; every one of their players played their part. They’ve got a pretty strong squad and you have to give credit to the club for being able to get that type of squad together.”
A JOINT letter from Gerry Kelly and Kim McGill, the presidents of Cranbourne and Narre Warren, didn’t convince the MPNFL to change its mind. However, the plan to stay with Berwick and Pakenham as the venues for finals on the weekend didn’t clip the wings of the players from the Eagles and Magpies. In a co-signed letter dated 5 September, Kelly and McGill termed it “patently unfair” for their opponents, Berwick and Pakenham, to be hosting the finals. “The current trend in fixturing home finals to Berwick and Pakenham certainly creates, in the neutral observer, a perception of bias towards those clubs,” the letter said. “Whether perceived or otherwise, perception in these matters is everything. Fairness must not only be done – it must be seen to be done.”
IT WAS a big occasion on Saturday for two Gippsland Umpires Association field umpires, Bruce Pratt and James Stuckey, who officiated in their first senior grand final. Their appointment to blow the whistle in the GARFIELD-NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH clash was a victory for their long-standing perseverance. Pratt, who jokingly said after the match that it “cost him 500 bucks in physio expenses” to get his ageing body right in preparation for the big day, has umpired more than 200 games in 13 years. Stuckey, in his 20th senior season and with more than 300 senior games behind him, was delighted and surprised with his appointment. Both umpired with self-assurance and provided able support for their more heralded but younger comrade Jamie Warden, who officiated in his fourth senior EDFL grand final and is becoming one of the more highly recognised and respected men-in-white in Gippsland. Congratulations also to boundary umpires Geoff Galbraith, Rob Young and Scott Morrison and goal umpires Norm Dorling and Paul Mosely, who also took part in the EDFL grand final. Mighty fine effort to get the gig, fellas.
IT WAS a case of high risk and high reward. “I thought I would take a risk,” GARFIELD utility Ned Marsh said after his best-on-ground performance in the Stars’ grand final victory over NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH. Marsh confessed post-match that he should not have played, having entered the game with a torn lateral and medial knee ligament and meniscus damage, that saw him seek advice from a top AFL surgeon when he suffered the injury at the end of the home and away season. Marsh opted not to have an operation and let the knee heal naturally and history now shows he made the right call, after winning the VCFL medal for best on ground on Saturday. Marsh, who made his debut as a 16-year-old and has now played more than 100 games, has the ability to play at least VFL level, but one thinks with his strong family ties at the club he is more likely to stay at Beswick Street.
THE choice of NAR NAR GOON to host the EDFL grand final generated a fair bit of comment among rival clubs, many thinking their club might have been better placed to host the big one. But, in the end, the Goon carried out its role with aplomb and from all reports there was hardly a word of discontent with their efforts. While the large Goon ground does not provide the atmosphere of many other grounds, the now covered area in front of the pavilion and social club, when populated as it was on Saturday, now projects plenty of noise on to the field proper and has gone a long way towards adding the much-needed character. The club thanked Adrian Scott for his organisation – along with the Goon grand final sub-committee and the “Goon army”, with many from the local community, that made the day a big success. The only mishap involved club stalwart and “odd job man” Paddy Noonan, who took a blow for the team and incurred a war wound on his forehead after coming off second best after an altercation with an Esky lid.
EDFL president Roger Gwynne announced at the league grand final luncheon that his counterpart and league secretary Peter Gallasch would step aside after 22 years in the role. He thanked Gallasch for his resilience and said that the league had gone from strength to strength under his guidance and he could say confidently that the league stood as one of the premier competitions in country Victoria – something vindicated by the many fine venues and stunning attendances.
IN OTHER news from the president’s desk, Gwynne also confirmed TOORADIN had officially applied to join the league. He said no decision had been made to admit the Casey Cardinia club and it would be up to a vote across all clubs, but he did express his personal opinion, saying “ideally we would like another side in the competition”. This would eliminate the need for a club to have a bye. Gwynne also announced the league would host a seminar in October to map out plans and said among many issues, a two-tiered league proposal would be tabled. Word around the traps suggests, should there be a two-tiered competition, one division, most likely called Western, may comprise GARFIELD, CORA LYNN, BUNYIP, NAR NAR GOON, LONGWARRY, CATANI, KOOWEERUP and LONGWARRY. With their close geographical proximity, many folk think it will just be a matter of time before PHILLIP ISLAND and KILCUNDA-BASS also express an interest to join.
WHILE on KILCUNDA-BASS, the former West Gippsland league club won the ALBERTON premiership on Saturday when it beat FOSTER by 24 points. Many players at the Panthers are familiar to local football supporters, with former POOWONG players Brett Anthony, Luke James, Ryan Fitzgerald, Jess and Jared Attenborough, ex-NYORA forward Tim Smith and LONGWARRY pair, Danny and Jason Wells, part of the victorious Kilcunda team. The Panthers were coached by 24-year-old Steven O’Bryan, a former GIPPSLAND POWER captain.
AND in the MID-GIPPSLAND grand final on Saturday, underdogs BOOLARRA upset TRAFALGAR by 29 points. Former LONGWARRY star Ken Towt and former MORWELL coach Jason MacFarlane, who shocked Tiger officials when he applied for a transfer on the eve of the transfer deadline this season, represented BOOLARRA. It was TRAFALGAR’S first loss after 29 successive wins. Gippsland football statistician Paul Carter reports that the last four teams in the Mid-Gippsland competition that entered the grand final undefeated over the season – YALLOURN NORTH (1994), TRAFALGAR (2003), YINNAR (2005) and TRAFALGAR (Saturday) have lost. The message? Never rest on your laurels.
THE league didn’t have enough medals for the NAR NAR GOON under-18 lads, who won the flag after brushing aside NEERIM by 90 points in an awesome display. The Goon used a staggering 32 players over the course of the game and the club intends to foot the bill and organise extra medals for the boys, who could not don a medallion immediately after the victory. Mind you, many in the team already have at least one premiership medal, because 18 of the team played together in the Goon’s under-13 premiership team in 2006 – which was also coached by Saturday’s successful coach, Mick Payroli.
THE curtain may have fallen on a wonderful career after GARFIELD opted to go into the grand final without its loyal veteran sharpshooter Mal McKenna. From all reports, McKenna cut a sad figure when the team was announced – but did muster enough morale fibre to attend the game. He also penned a letter of encouragement to his teammates before the clash. Garfield remained tight-lipped about its selection process but, from what we heard, youngsters Dylan Collis and Saxon Watson and McKenna were in contention for the 21st spot and were asked to state their case to play. While Garfield would not reveal the back room discussions, the youthful legs of Watson and Collis won the prized spot.
WORD is former Cora Lynn goalkicking sensation Darren Sheen “single-handedly” steered Heathmont to a premiership against red-hot favourites Glen Waverley Hawks on Sunday in the Eastern District Football League (fourth division). Heathmont played four successive weeks. At full-time on Sunday the scores were level but thanks to Sheen’s amazing talent, Heathmont defeated GWH by seven points in extra time. Sheen kicked an amazing 32 goals for the four weeks of the finals, starting with six in the qualifying final (a loss), nine in the first semi, 10 in the preliminary and seven in very difficult wet and windy conditions at Boronia on Sunday. Sheen had kicked seven straight until midway through the last quarter when he had a few “Peter Hudson” moments late in the tense last quarter. He also missed three gettable shots – that would have taken him to 150 goals for the season – in extra time. He finished on 149 for the season and was awarded the best-on-ground medal.
