TA: Great to see Warrnambool businessman Neville Brodie is back riding his bike around the Wangoom circuit. After more than six months off the bike following a back operation, the lure of riding the most expensive bike in Warrnambool has got too much for Nev. Apparently, his bike is not supposed to get punctures - or so he tells everyone who wants to listen - but he has run into a bit of trouble during the past few weeks.
AT: I could not imagine Nev getting his hands dirty repairing punctures.
TA: Right again. Story along Liebig Street is Nev phones his lovely wife Lyn to repair any puncture on the bike that can't have punctures. Funny part about that story is Nev was well in front of other early morning riders last week when he went missing. Reports have surfaced that Nev was hiding behind a tree after his much-loved super-expensive bike got another puncture. He was so embarrassed he hid behind the tree and phoned Lyn on his mobile. Lyn was out there in 10 minutes, Nev put the bike in the back of the car and snuck away so Lyn could carry out the repairs. Fellow riders thought of putting a call into local police because they thought Nev should be listed as a missing person, certainly a rider missing in action.
AT: Talking of local sportsmen, there's a strong whisper that former first round AFL draft pick Danny O'Keefe has hung up his footy boots for good and is chasing a golf traineeship. Apparently Danny plays off one or two and was being considered for a traineeship at the 13th beach course. Basketballer Nathan Sobey could also be missing from the district league finals with Russells Creek after securing a seven-month scholarship to play basketball in the United States.
TA: Talking of talent I reckon I might have come across the best tipsters in the district and believe it or not the super tipster is a woman.
AT: Don't sound too surprised. Women can do great things, Julia Gillard is running the country.
TA: Bernie Calcaterra, partner of well known Timboon Hotel chef Charlie Savage, has been in sparkling form. Publican Graeme "Grandpa" Welsh has a punters club each week and Bernie, who confesses that she knows nothing about horses, has been in the chair for seven weeks. The punter in charge gets $140 to spend each week and must return a minimum of $145 to get another crack. Last weekend Bernie returned just over $800 for the 28 punters club members. The group has more than $8000 in the kitty which will be split up at the end of November just in time for Christmas and they all hope Bernie can retain the seat. Anyone interested in Bernie's tips just give the pub a ring.
AT: Talking of having a punt, I think East Warrnambool's Ashley Sumner might have pulled the wrong rein not accepting a one-week set penalty for striking this week and then finishing with a three week suspension. It was interesting to note that there was video evidence which clearly showed the incident, which was played before the tribunal took a plea, and the backman still decided to plead not guilty.
TA: Great effort by Sam Newman to play in the E. J. Whitten Legends game the other night at the ripe old age of 64. It's a huge effort to play contact sport at his age.
AT: Calling that game contact sport is using a fair bit of imagination. I did hear it was the highest TV rating game of the year which was a bit surprising and the usual crowd of 12,000 to 14,000 swelled to 25,000 with Sam running around. Great fundraiser for the Whitten Foundation.
TA: Former Port Fairy star Dean Dwyer hung up his boots five years ago after 260 senior games, but he came out of retirement a few weeks ago to play two games in the reserves at the ripe old age of about 40 because the side was short. Now he has decided he's definitely finished after suffering groin problems. Dean's relation Paddy Dwyer played for Koroit and Warrnambool for many years before coming back for one game in the reserves with the Blues earlier this year. Dean and Paddy reckon it's very hard to compete against younger players when you get into your late 30s. That why Newman's efforts to play at 64 were worth a mention even though he damaged both his hamstrings.
AT: Talking about Dwyer, is there any news of when his wife Nicole will return to the netball court?
TA: Dean and Nicole are the proud parents of Lexie who was born eight weeks ago. Word is Nicole will have another couple of weeks on the sidelines before trying to play the last two games in the young Port Fairy netball side. Until next week, hooroo.
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