IT will certainly be a new look Bulldogs for 2012 even though there has been very little player movement. A new senior coach in Brendan McCartney and a few new assistants including Shannon Grant and another yet to be announced. I am sure there will be others coming and going as well before Christmas. The biggest change we have seen to AFL football in the last decade is the increase in off-field spending and the additional staff needed to win a flag or to even compete. Who would have thought a decade ago that we would have so many assistant coaches and now we are seeing assistants to the assistants? I don’t know if it is right or wrong and I am not sure clubs can continue to fund it, but it is the way of the game. I was glad to see Mitch Hahn get a coaching role with Collingwood. I think he will do well, though it has only been in the latter part of his career that coaching was on the agenda – he certainly has a passion for it.
LOCAL golf identity George Begg will be part of the team representing Australia against the USA at the Presidents Cup media challenge at Woodlands Golf Club next month. George is secretary/treasurer of the Australian Golf Writers Association and also a member at Werribee Park. He will be part of this very serious matchplay tournament leading up to the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne as the golf media from the USA will be here to follow Fred Couples and his team. I wish George all the best and know he will be very competitive as always. While on golf, the annual Hoppers Crossing Sports Club Charity Day was a rousing success, as always, raising $8000 which means over the journey of this event (six years) $40,000 dollars has been raised, and that money has gone back to local charities and organisations like Mambourin, Open Family and local service clubs. Well done to the sports club on another event that has given direct benefit to our community.
THE honour and responsibility of presenting the Herb Pascarl Medal at the WRFL Division One grand final since Herb’s passing has been taken on by his great friend John Lord. As he has done almost every year, John attends the lunch and hands the medal out at the end of the game. This year he suffered a fall during half time but as he thought it was minor he soldiered on and made the presentation as usual in a bit of pain. It was not until the next morning that he realised he was in some trouble. John has spent the last few weeks in Epworth Hospital. I spoke to him last week just before he was about to undergo a skin graft on his leg. He was in pretty good spirits. John is nearly 79 and a total gentleman. I wish him a very speedy recovery.
THE new sports facility at the Whitten Oval is certainly proving popular with local schools and sports clubs since its opening last month. There are many sports covered including basketball and new competitions are looking for players and teams. If you are interested in a Saturday morning competition call David on 0448 324 116. They are looking for players from under-10 to under-18. This facility is going to be a huge bonus for local sport and a very lucrative asset for the Western Bulldogs for the future and better for the community than a poker machine venue.
ANY news let me know on email kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au
