THE region will be awash with the colour pink this weekend as all leagues are embracing the Victorian Country Football League’s breast cancer awareness round. Pink footballs, shoe laces and T-shirts are just some ways local clubs are jumping on board the cause.
WESTERN Border Football League will use pink footballs in senior matches and umpires will don pink socks. Game-day raffles and fund-raising drives will also be held at the home
grounds. League president David Heard said he hoped the WBFL community would get behind special day. “It’s something the league has really embraced and I would hope everyone involved with the clubs will support the cause,” he said. Heard also wished all mothers a ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ for Sunday. “Everybody knows the league wouldn’t be here without the help of mothers,” he said.
MININERA and District league will also be painting itself pink. Pink footballs will be bounced on the five home grounds and raffles will be held with proceeds going toward the Breast Cancer Network Australia. League vice president David Wade said there was talk of some footballers wearing “pink items of clothing” on game day.
INTERLEAGUE fever is spreading across the region as leagues finalise squads and start weekly training sessions before the big matches later this month. Western Border Football League started training last Sunday at South
Gambier. Reigning premiership coach Jon Copping is guiding the team which takes on Sunraysia on Saturday, May 22. League president David Heard said he hoped some of Heywood’s high-profile recruits would pull on the Western Border guernsey. “Hopefully we get some former AFL guys out there for us,” he said. The league is currently ranked 13th in Victoria, which Heard described as “embarrassing”. This Sunday’s training is in Portland. It will be followed by Tuesday and Thursday night sessions in Casterton.
YOUNG Hampden footballers are set to dominate the Hamilton Junior Interleague Carnival on May 29. The Bottle Greens have entered a total of four teams in the lighting premiership competition, with two teams in the under 14 and under 16 categories. Hampden Juniors president Danny O’Leary said the teams were looking to back-up last year’s performance when they snared both age group trophies. He said having two Hampden teams play off in the final was not unlikely. This year’s under 16 squad includes:
Colac’s James Menzies, Mark Morrow, Anthony Bolitho and Josh Murfitt;
North Warrnambool Eagle’s Nick Butters, Lachie Barling, Declan Lynch and Will Doran;
Terang Mortlake’s Thomas Moloney, Gus Bourke, Jordan Payne and Matt Hayden;
Camperdown’s Eddie Lucas, Jeremy Lucas, Jake Dowell, Jake Rowbottom;
South Warrnambool’s Josh Walsh, Jordan Brown, Nick O’Connor and Tait Niddrie;
Warrnambool’s Dylan Cross, Jake Boyle, Jake O’Donnell and James Chittick;
Emmanuel Hawks’ Louis Herbert, Oliver Lee, Tully Allwood and Joe Blackburn;
Cobden’s Brendan Richardson, Daniel Unwin, Josh Fagan and Tom Fallon;
Port Fairy’s Izaak Dwyer, Isaac Martin, Brad Wright and Ben Brady; and
Koroit’s Drew O’Grady Martin Gleeson, Billy Keane and Levi Nagorcka.
The under 14 squad includes:
Colac’s Dylan Hodge, Josh Sutherland, Aaron Walters and Josh Woods;
North Warrnambool Eagles’ Dylan McCutcheon,Toby Timms, Sam McKinnon and Tyran Richard;
Terang Mortlake’s Dylan Payne, Jake Crawley, Aiden Payne and Toby Taylor;
Camperdown’s Coby Dudman, Hugh Gordon, Brad Rees and Richard Couch;
South Warrnambool’s Shaun Lucas, Jack Lee, Keenan Hotker and Alex Moncreiff;
Warrnambool’s Liam Hoy, Tom Schneering, Tom Ludeman, Ben Threlfall;
Emmanuel Hawks’ Jayden Brennan, Josh Corbett, Harrison Lee and Jai Perry;
Cobden’s Luke Pekin, Leigh Finlayson, Billy McGlade and Ricky Nelson;
Port Fairy’s Jake Hetherington, Colin Harwood, Jack Evans and Nathan McLaren; and
Koroit’s Matthew Speed, Will Templeton, Nathan Waterson and Blair McCutcheon.
Kurt Lenehan is increasing his fan club at Reid Oval and not just for his courage, work ethic and skills. Lenehan added a razzle dazzle category to his growing on field repertoire last Saturday at Gardens Oval — marking the ball between his knees. His attempt to catch the ball started in the traditional manner in front of the eyes, broke through his hands, off his chest and was eventually trapped with a pincer movement by his pins. To the umpire’s credit, the mark was paid at the 25-minute mark of the third quarter.
ANOTHER Warrnambool youngster Joel Cornelissen is close to a return this weekend after injuring his knee in a pre-season practice game. Ruckman Rhys Raymond is also expected to be available for selection after knee troubles.
KEEPING the Blues flavour bubbling, Warrnambool football export Daniel O’Keefe suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of last Sunday’s VFL game for Geelong. The injury occurred in the opening minutes of the game, with O’Keefe in doubt for this weekend’s match against Collingwood at Victoria Park. The Cats are coming off a loss to Bendigo.
NORTH Warrnambool Eagle Michael Darmody will play his 100th senior Hampden league game tomorrow. The match against ladder leader Warrnambool will also mark Darmody’s 102nd club game. Darmody is continuing a family tradition at the Eagles as father James also had a lengthy career
at Northern Districts. The Eagles will be hoping for an upset to celebrate the utility’s milestone as they are sitting winless in seventh position on the league table.
Email a friend