Opinion

The new crew on the rise

FAST-TRACKED forward Jeremy "Jezza'' Cameron is helping Dartmoor become a more competitive outfit in the South West District Football Netball League this season. In his second season of competitive football, the 16-year-old forward is amazing teammates and opponents with the speed of his development. The 188cm half-forward has kicked 20 goals in five rounds, including six during a narrow loss to in-form Cavendish last Saturday. Dartmoor president Tony Woodall said Cameron followed some friends to the club last year and, after a couple of reserve games, was soon playing regular senior football. "He played a bit of school footy but he's an unbelievable golfer and cricketer,'' Woodall explained. "He's tall and fine but very aggressive to the ball and very uncanny,'' he said. Woodall likened Cameron's prodigious natural talent to that of former Dartmoor player Mick Oldfield, who completed a pre-season with Geelong. "This kid is probably just as good. I'd say there would have to be people looking at him now.'' Cameron's sister, Talitha, 14, is also showing above-average ability, in the Swans' under 15 netball team.

WARRNAMBOOL football fans could be excused for feeling nostalgic as they watched the TAC Cup contest between North Ballarat Rebels and Sandringham Dragons last Sunday. The player wearing number 27 for the Dragons bore more than a passing resemblance to a player who used to run around Reid Oval in the 1980s. Sandringham assistant coach Tim Lamb confirmed after the game the 19-year-old wingman, Tyson Thomas, was the son of former Warrnambool premiership coach Grant Thomas.

NORTH Ballarat Rebels onballer Liam Hoy is learning more than football lessons in the TAC Cup. After his team's 98-point victory against Sandringham Dragons in Warrnambool last Sunday, Hoy was responsible for penning the weekly Rebel Yell column. North Ballarat Rebels regional manager Phil Partington said the idea behind the Rebel Yell was to give a player's perspective of the week leading up to the game and a summary of the contest. "It has become a very popular section of our website and it's also featured in The Courier each week,'' Partington said. "Ballarat Football League also include it in their record each week.'' Hoy showed a good grasp of modern football lingo, including terms such as share and care. Spelling the coach's name correctly should also earn him good marks for the exercise.

A FORMER Deakin University footballer who returned to Warrnambool for the May Racing Carnival last week is recovering from an unforgettable experience. It didn't involve going home in the back of a divvy van but his mode of transport did have a siren and flashing lights. The intrepid punter was forced to consult first-aid officers on course after experiencing tightness in the chest. Before he knew it, the Melbourne visitor was being loaded into the back of an ambulance as his mate captured the moment on a mobile phone camera. After being hooked up to a variety of monitors in the hospital emergency unit, he borrowed a radio and plugged in earphones to hear a broadcast of the Warrnambool Cup. As the favourite Hissing Sid surged to the lead his increased heart rate triggered an alarm, which in turn drew the attention of a nurse. Our embarrassed but by then richer patient explained he was listening to a horse race. "Well you must have been on the winner,'' the nurse quipped. Well after the last race, he was released with a clean bill of health but without having watched the feature races he came to see.

THE lively start to Port Fairy's round-four encounter with South Warrnambool is explained, in part, by some of the personnel involved. Lining up for the Seagulls were former South Warrnambool players Adam Wolff, Nick Jones, Sam Burchell and Paul Butters. On the flip side, former Port midfielder Brendan Coffey suited up for South against some former teammates.

NORTH Warrnambool Eagles and Koroit embraced the philosophy of Pink Ribbon Day for their round-four encounter at Bushfield Recreation Reserve. The good will of players, supporters and officials helped raise about $1400 for Breast Cancer Network Australia. North president Peter Doherty said the Eagles and Saints shared the cost of the pink footballs and pink netballs. Auctioneer Anthony Mahony then offered the balls for sale after the game and spirited bidding raised $1000 paid for the four items. Doherty said tickets for a pink raffle were sold at the gate, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Network and pies were sold in pink bags, with 50 cents per pie going to the cause. "The co-operation between the two clubs in supporting such a great cause was excellent. The umpires, too, joined in the spirit of the day, wearing pink caps and waving pink flags,'' he said.

IT was good to see the rule of common sense applied in the HFNL round-four encounter between Warrnambool and Terang Mortlake. The pink ball used in the first two quarters, apparently responsible for a series of helicopter punts, was replaced at the long break.