BEN Cousins called his sleeping pill incident a wake-up call but it appears the AFL is still asleep at the wheel. The culture of artificial "uppers" and "downers" for players on match days says much about what the big league sees as an acceptable part of its game and one it is happy to allow to trickle down to grassroots and junior competitions. The apparently widespread use of caffeine by players, encouraged by support staff and sanctioned by the AFL, to enhance game performance is mystifying. While it may be legal, caffeine is still an artificial stimulant and it sullies the pureness of the contest. Given that AFL players train full-time, endurance and strength should be a natural by-product.
ST Kilda defender Steven Baker's hefty suspension has had far-reaching implications in the football world. The fallout has stretched all the way down the Princes Highway to Colac. Baker's home club South Colac has been forced to abandon plans for a bus trip to coincide with his 200th AFL game which, with Baker on 191 games, was due in the last home-and-away round. The CDFNL club will now have to cool its heels until the 2011 season to help one of its most talented football exports celebrate a significant milestone.
YOUNG North Melbourne recruit Ben Cunnington, who featured in this column last week, is apparently being recognised at rival AFL clubs for his fearless attack on the ball. Our sources tell us at least one other AFL club used the example of Cunnington's nose-breaking dive into a contest during the round 13 encounter with Port Adelaide as the level of physical commitment required to play in the big league.
COBDEN will unusually celebrate four milestones this weekend. It's 750-game day for the Bombers when they host Koroit tomorrow. Veteran Dale "Daisy" Robertson will reach his 300th club match but he will be sharing the spotlight with two of his reserves teammates. Greg "Woody" Darcy will rack up his 200th match in the twos while Simon "Humper" Murfett is celebrating his 150th match. The senior side also has a milestone man, with Matthew Harkin running out for his 100th club game in the crucial round 12 clash against the Saints.
MININERA and District Football League is preparing to mark its half-century of junior football. The 50-year anniversary will be celebrated with a West versus East match, which is how the junior league began. The West side will include representatives from Caramut, Penshurst, Hawkesdale-Macarthur, Glenthompson-Dunkeld and Lismore-Derrinallum. The East team will be made up of players from Moyston-Willaura, SM&W Rovers, Tatyoon, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac and Woorndoo-Mortlake. Under 12, 14 and 16 matches will be played at Willaura on Sunday, July 18, with the league to put on a free barbecue. Action starts 9.30am.
HEYWOOD's recruiting power has become the perfect comedy material for a blogger. The blog on SuperFooty titled "Heywood football club experiment" has attracted more than 800 views and plenty of praise. Writer "spence" has received glowing comments for his lighter insights, including several into Mal Michael's alleged diet. Readers have posted comments such as "this is fast becoming my favourite football related thread", "officially my favourite thread", "I'm lovin this" and "This is one of the funniest football related threads I think I have ever read! BRAVO!". But it will probably offend Lions supporters.
ONE of Warrnambool and District Football Umpires' Association's most respected umpires will celebrate a milestone tomorrow. Jamie Lake - who has been in charge of the last three Hampden league senior grand finals - will rack up his 550th match. Lake's tally includes 423 central games, 125 boundary games and one match as a goal umpire. He also officiated the 2005 Hamden league and 2005 WDFNL senior grand finals.
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