Rumour mill has gone to the dogs

TA: I've got to be a bit careful this week. The barflies told me a funny yarn about someone who has been very close to this gossip column during the past 15 months.AT: You know the rules. Our regular readers like us to name names. Our charter is to be transparent as possible and if possible avoid legal action. What's the gossip?TA: I'll come clean but we might be looking for a new sponsor for the column.AT: Don't tell me it's got something to do with Bamstone's Michael Steel of Port Fairy. At least you're giving poor old Brian ``Nut'' McMahon a rest. I didn't even have the heart to approach him at the dogs this week after he's copped a flogging the past two weeks. But Nut is having the last laugh with his slick greyhound Nuts Fawn Suit making the big $9000 maiden final next Wednesday night. I did notice a new Bamstone sponsorship sign at the dogs during the week. What's Steely been getting up to?TA: Apparently, Bamstone did a bit of work up at the Warrnambool Greyhound Club for a new development. Bamstone jumped on board as a sponsor and club chief Matt Ansell sent Steely a couple of tickets for the greyhounds last Monday. Steely was to present the winning trophy to the owners of the Bamstone Cup. During the afternoon he did all the normal things with his kids on holidays and then about 5pm he informed the decision-maker that he would have to get ready to go into the dogs. He headed into Warrnambool with his father-in-law Don Bartlett and his good mate Jim Chambers. But when the trio arrived in Warrnambool there was no one at the greyhound track.AT: Where was everyone?TA: There had been 11 races run at the greyhounds on Monday but Thomo, the first race was at 11.42am. The Bamstone Cup was run at 1.53pm and the last of 11 was at 2.47pm. No wonder Steely and his counterparts had to head down to Liebig Street to get a feed.AT: The dog club has a new tipping competition going. Pick the six winners between races six and nine and win a jackpot which goes up by $100 a week. The club kicked off the jackpot at $1000 and it's already up to $1500. Backing winners at the dogs is a bit easier than horses but you have to be on track to have a go. Who else have you got some gossip on this week?TA: We must acknowledge the deeds of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter marketing guru Bill Slater for keeping the dollars running through the Warrnambool City Council coffers.AT: Billy and gang at Warrnambool Cheese and Butter and Sungold are gearing up for the big Twenty20 cricket competition later this month. How's Billy helping out the city council?TA: Well, a reliable source tells me Slater has had 10 parking tickets in the last couple of months in Warrnambool. It's not like that he does not put money into the parking meters. His problem is he keeps on talking and the meters run out of cash.AT: I heard the yarn in the Allansford Hotel the other night about Billy in Melbourne. The story goes he was at an important meeting in Chapel Street, Prahran, and when the meeting was finished he went outside to get into his car only to see it was not where he had parked it.TA: That's Melbourne for you Tim, full of crooks. Was his car stolen?AT: No. Bill had parked in a clearway. He ended up having to get a cab over to Collingwood to retrieve his vehicle. The whole exercise cost him $400 as he has to pay all the fines and speeding tickets out of his own pocket.TA: I've only got one snippet of footy gossip. Camperdown was full of hope for the coming season after recruiting a few handy footballers but now it looks like ruckman Stephen Sinnott will not play this year. He's going to have knee surgery. He'll be a massive loss for the Magpies.AT: Your nephew Matty will be pleased to hear that Russells Creek has managed to pick up a couple of very handy players from Colac and District premiership team Irrewarra-Beeac. Gun goalkicker Nathan Harty managed 78 goals last year and is going to line up with the Creekers alongside onballer Troy Armstrong who previously played with Colac. TA: What's the word on former Creek coach Paul Butters?AT: Appears he and former South Warrnambool teammate Adam Wolfe, who played in a flag with Balwyn last year, are signing up with Port Fairy along with Hamilton playmaker Brad Thomas. Todd Cook is also back from Noosa. Hawkesdale-Macarthur looks likely to sign up former Warrnambool and District league best and fairest Troy Richardson as coach.TA: What about former Melbourne AFL backman Nathan Carroll?AT: His playing future is up in the air a bit after it looked like he was going to play in the Hampden league. He trained in Warrnambool with boxing/personal trainer Rodney Ryan after the end of last season and fell in love with the area. South headed a host of suitors which included Warrnambool, North Warrnambool Eagles and Port Fairy. The Roosters had a job in the pipeline but it looks like Carroll, who is a boilermaker by trade, might work in the WA mines. TA: Anything else?AT: Former South and Port Fairy footballer Jarrod Thompson is almost certain to play with Southport alongside the Bourke boys and Kurt Nikulas. Interesting to note that former South player Corey Fulton might have a new teammate in former AFL champion Wayne Carey. Other than that I took the kids to mini-golf this week and John Holland said he's had the best summer ever. He did mention you hadn't been pestering him. John said the railway bridge at the cutting was not the Berlin Wall and you might want to come down for a coffee. Until next week, hooroo.