It's time for our own team

CHANGES to recruiting zones for the TAC Cup under 18 competition have not only enabled more south-west footballers to play at a higher level. The number of teenagers from this region involved in the state's elite under 18 program now begs the question: could we support our own team? This season the answer is an unequivocal yes. There are 16 on the North Ballarat Rebels playing list and nine on the Geelong Falcons roster. That's not counting five players from Colac. Instead of propping up clubs which claim to represent our best young football talent yet are glad to carry the names Geelong and North Ballarat, now seems a good time to explore the formation of a new club which truly reflects its region: South West Wind? A scan of Geelong Falcons players drafted by AFL clubs confirms We have the talent. Forming a local club would enable players to live, train and play - every second week - at home. Family and friends would be able to watch TAC Cup games without travelling at least two hours and the benefits to junior development, promotion and coaching would be far-reaching. NORTH BALLARAT REBELSRICHARD Bamblett, Heywood; Kevin Bourke, Warrnambool; Simon Close, Harrow-Balmoral; Sam Cowling, Warrnambool; Callum Currie, CastertonMarcus Darmody, North Warrnambool Eagles; Jordan Dillon, South Warrnambool; Sam Dwyer, Port Fairy; Dean Gavin, Koroit; Liam Hoy, Warrnambool; James Kirby, Harrow-Balmoral; Jeremy McDonald, South Warrnambool; Tom McDonald, Edenhope-Apsley; Jamie Mugavin, South Warrnambool; Jandre Slabbert, Hamilton and Matthew Sully, Emmanuel HawksGEELONG FALCONSCHRIS Baxter, Terang Mortlake; Daniel Semmens, Cobden; James Hussey, South Warrnambool; Ben Moloney, Kolora-Noorat; Luke Mahony, Kolora-Noorat; Ben Cunnington, Cobden; Zach Ledin, North Warrnambool Eagles; Luke Thompson, Timboon Demons and Gary Rohan, Cobden*Colac players James Linton, Callum Buchanan, Joe Dare, William Veale and Tim Scott are also on the Geelong Falcons list.IT'S taken three weeks to get everyone on the same page so it's finally fair to proclaim the football-netball season is now in full swing. Hampden and Colac and District leagues will join the merry-go-round tomorrow after the WDFNL, MDFL and SWDFNL kicked off on April 4. The WDFNL was the only league in action during the Easter weekend, to lock in a mid-season break for the Queen's Birthday weekend in June. The HFNL season opener has been steered a little off course by league president Alan Rourke's claims the VCFL brokered merger discussions between the SWDFNL, MDFL and LPFL. Despite strong denials by the VCFL and officials from some of the rural leagues he named, Rourke isn't backing down. The fallout is an unseemly spat in which the credibility of the key parties now hangs. It has distilled to a simple question: who is telling the truth?TERANG Mortlake is on notice for its HFNL round one encounter with North Warrnambool Eagles tomorrow. Premiership reputations counted for little in the opening round of three neighbouring leagues. Timboon Demons was soundly beaten by Dennington in the WDFNL and Coleraine lost to Heathmere in the SWDFNL. In the Mininera and District competition 2008 premier Tatyoon and runner-up Hawkesdale-Macarthur were toppled in round one. Few league observers are reading too much into the Tatyoon result, other than the likelihood that Glenthompson-Dunkeld will be a more competitive outfit this season. The Hawks were missing a swag of players for the Friday night game at Tatyoon and are still expected to be in the mix.FORMER Koroit footballer Dominic Gleeson received a special honour on his 26th birthday - captaincy of VFL club Werribee. In his sixth season with the Tigers, Gleeson replaces club champion James Podsiadly. The leadership role comes with strong backing from coach Simon Atkins, who highlighted the new skipper's honesty, work ethic and team focus. Gleeson found his way into the VFL via the Geelong Falcons and Carlton's supplementary list. He won Werribee's best and fairest in 2007 and is rated one of its best midfielders.IS Collingwood on the way to spawning a new reality television show, Carringbush Ink? The amount of body art on show this season suggests there would be no shortage of starring roles for Magpies' players, especially those of the tattoo sleeve variety.THE religious significance of Easter Sunday didn't appear to be lost on one Fox Sports commentator calling the Fremantle-Adelaide Crows contest. Apparently frustrated by a particular passage of play he covered his microphone - not completely - and uttered the Lord's name.