TA: Gee, the Charlie Farley drama keeps bubbling along. What do you know about it all?
AT: I love the way you handball me the tough questions. Matty Monk did a bit of a tune on radio 3YB's Hampden league grand final footy show supported by sidekick Matty Stewart which said something a little derogatory about Charlie. Mr Farley was also uncovered as the Guru who writes a piece in the Hampden league record. Charlie took exception to the song and demanded an apology. The apology was first aired last Friday and has been on the radio a few times since. There's also an apology in today's paper.
TA: Well, you would expect that's where it's all going to end.
AT: You'd hope so but I'm not sure if Charlie is happy yet. He was very careful about the way he did the Guru column and wasn't overly derogatory or sexist.
TA: He did call us the Garden Gnome and Toadstool.
AT: I'm not sure which name is worse, or who is who, but if you're in this business Tim, voicing opinions and creating comment, then you have to learn to ride the bumps. I don't think Charlie was happy his 76-year-old mum had to hear what was on the radio. It'll be interesting to see how it all finishes up.
TA: This is also a sad weekend for nine Warrnambool blokes. For the past 20 years a group of Warrnambool men have made an annual trip to the big Murtoa Cup race meeting which is being run today. The group left yesterday and have a few beers and a few bets over the three days before returning home. This year one of the original group, Bill Hodges, will not be there. Bill passed away after an illness a few months ago. The boys have all decided to drink green VB beer cans this weekend in honour of Bill. The VBs were his favourite drink.
AT: Gossip for the week includes Simon O'Keeffe heading back to Koroit as assistant coach. Simon Seddon and Liam McLaren are also likely to return to the Saints and Jarrod Thompson could be heading north. I'm told the Merrivale footy trip to Bendigo was pretty big, but the boys may have left some of their accommodation deposit behind when they returned. How did you finish up after the AFL grand final?
TA: I must confess that I did have an investment on the Hawks to win the flag. I'm not blowing my trumpet, I'm just saying there were a lot of people across the Western District in mourning late last Saturday afternoon when the Cats got beat. But there were some happy people down at Materia's fruit shop.
AT: Did Mario and the boys back a winner? That might help pay for all the works in the refurbished shop.
TA: They did manage a healthy collect. Apparently they are going to double up on Melbourne Storm to win the rugby league in Sydney. How did you go?
AT: Backed Ablett for the Norm Smith and finished second again after getting on Paul Chapman last year. I hear that Dave Conheady is staying on as playing coach of Panmure next season. There's a whisper that ruckman Mark Inia could lead Nirranda with a Warrnambool player as his assistant. Scuba Wright is going to coach Old Collegians by himself next year with this year's joint coach Jay Everall a bit busy with work.
TA: I happened to catch up with the old fishing guru John Considine this week. He gave out some handy advice.
AT: I have not seen John Considine for a long time. What's he up to?
TA: He's just home after spending four months up north fishing. He told me he was out at Levys Beach the other day and came across three tiger snakes. He told everyone to keep their eyes peeled for snakes during the next few months, especially dog owners with their pooches off their leads.
AT: Much else going on?
TA: Port Fairy Folk Festival may be on the long weekend in March next year but the committee has already finalised one of the big acts. John Williamson will be one of the headline acts. That's a major coup for the festival.
AT: Warrnambool-based betting agency boolbet.com will be back on line as of midnight next Saturday, October 11, after serving four months on the sidelines for betting on the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic. The boys will be concentrating on racing with the first meeting back at Hamilton on Monday, October 13.
TA: What about today's great racing?
AT: Niconero at $15 in the Epsom at Sydney and Maldivian at $14 in the Turnbull to cause an upset against hot favourite Weekend Hussler. Warrnambool galloper Baughurst ($6.50) has a solid chance in the Bart Cummings (2520m) with another local, Cargo Cult ($26), not without some hope at juicy odds in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m). Until next week hooroo.