OUR suggestion to pit the Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues’ best 21 against each other in an annual showdown got the tongues wagging, much of it positive. While the consistent view was that the HFNL side would win, the feedback was that spectators would be prepared to watch it. The only problem is that it appears those who count (or make the decisions) aren’t so keen. It has been suggested the VCFL may not let it happen and that the HFNL should still play its country championships match. WDFNL vice president Ken Knowles suggested a curtain-raiser could be played between the WDFNL’s best side and a Hampden’s second-best representative team. More food for thought for the Hampden league and its clubs which are meeting on Monday night. The topic of interleague footy is sure to get a mention at the forum. Word is the clubs are split on the value of interleague matches which doesn’t auger well for future campaigns, that is of course, if there are any.
THE Saints versus Seagulls match also had an added battle between two teammates, Koroit’s Dallas Mooney and Port Fairy’s Lochie Young. Both are members of seven-a-side soccer team England in the Wolves Wednesday night competition. While they are friends on the pitch with the round ball, when it comes to the oval-shaped ball they quickly forget that bond.
WHILE Warrnambool and Terang Mortlake occupy the first two rungs on the Hampden league ladder, it has emerged their footy skills are far better than their punting abilities. Warrnambool Greyhound Club’s recent Hampden league night at the races was a great success, according to organisers, with representatives from clubs given $500 to bet with and the club with the most at the end of the night gifted a further $1000 by Greyhound Racing Victoria. South Warrnambool had the most luck finishing with $1200 but collected a cool $2200 after the GRV bonus. Junior club Emmanuel Hawks took home $692, North Warrnambool Eagles just under $500, Koroit $5.86, Terang Mortlake 15 cents and Warrnambool, in the words of greyhound club general manager Matt Ansell, “blew the whole lot”.
MEMBERS of Warrnambool’s 1960 premiership team will reminisce about their triumph over Camperdown on June 12. Organiser Lois McKenzie said nine of the 11 surviving members would attend the 50th anniversary reunion, including Queensland-based Ron Fountain and Gavin Gleeson, of Melbourne. The team included a host of familiar names, Ian “Lefty” Wright, Bill McConnell, David Chittick, Kevin Matthews and coach Peter Cook. The reunion starts with registration on June 11, afternoon tea during the June 12 Warrnambool versus Koroit match, followed by dinner.
NO truth in the rumour that Old Collegians is looking at introducing a ‘no-holiday-during-the-season’ policy despite the fact that assistant coach Andy Ryan is missing for eight games on a trip to South Africa for the soccer World Cup. His holiday comes after coach Jeremy Gleeson missed the club’s round five match against Russells Creek because he was in Queensland for a work-related break. Aaron Williams will miss the round 14 clash with Deakin University because he too is Queensland-bound.
COLE RAINE’S legion of supporters need to remember that tomorrow’s clash against Heathmere is an away game, not a home fixture. Heathmere’s round two home-game was switched to Coleraine because its netball courts were not able to be used because of upgrades.
GLENORMISTO N’S 1970 premiership-winning senior and under 17 teams were reunited at Noorat last Saturday — the venue of their triumphs 40 years earlier. Kolora-Noorat president Simon Bourke said the Power liked to honour the clubs that gave birth to the Warrnambool and District league powerhouse. He said about 80 people attended the reunion which included afternoon tea at the Power’s match against South Rovers followed by dinner. Among those who returned for the day was Kevin O’Keefe, who at 17, was a member of the successful senior side and played in Terang’s 1972 premiership side before joining Fitzroy in the VFL. In 92 games with Fitzroy, he forged a reputation as a strong half-back, winning state selection in 1975. Bourke praised Gerard Broderick, John Royal and Terry Kenna for organising the reunion.
THE annual Moyne Cup fixture between Koroit and Port Fairy contained some intriguing sub-plots, including one involving a Hampden league umpiring debutant. Ethan Tobias, 14, stepped up to his first HFNL senior game at Victoria Park alongside a three-man central panel of Jamie Lake, Daryl Davey and Ian Watt. Umpiring is a family affair for Ethan, with his brother Jonty, 16, and Maddi, 13, also involved with Warrnambool and District Football Umpires Association. Watt was a fresh face for footballers at Koroit, officiating under an exchange program with the Western District association.
ARNO Pennings will rack up his 650th match as an umpire tomorrow. His milestone comes after 611 games as a central umpire, 27 as a boundary umpire, nine as a goal umpire and two interchange games. Pennings is the current president and a life member of the Warrnambool and District Football Umpires’ Association (WDFUA), while he is also a former coach of the WDFUA. The respected umpire has taken charge of several senior grand finals in both the Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues.
JAMES Reicha will also celebrate a milestone tomorrow, running out for his 50th senior match for Terang Mortlake. Reicha has come through the junior ranks at the Bloods.
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