While it might be cricket season, footy news seems to be what everyone is still talking about and everyone was buzzing with the news that dual Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra will join his brother Luke at Deer Park in the WRFL next year. It is a boost for the reigning premiers, who will also have James Condos back, as well as a few of their Division 2 Premiership team from 2011. One big surprise for me is the news that David Mitchell is putting the boots back on for North Footscray in Division 2, under new coaches Shaun Borlase and Matty Walsh. The three ex Hoppers Crossing favourites will certainly give the Devils a much needed boost.
I have mentioned the new WRFL club the Tarneit Tigers and the return to the WRFL of Werribee Districts, to be coached by Wade Chapman, but there is another new club launching in Westbourne Grammarians FC, which is rising from the ashes of the Old Westbourne AFC. The new club will remain at the Westbourne School and has appointed Roger Hand as Senior Coach with Justin Johns returning from Clunes as a playing assistant coach. Fab Gatti will be looking after the under 19s and the club will be playing in Division 4. Anyone interested in playing, or being involved should contact the club westbournegrammarians@gmail.com I do wonder where all these new clubs are going to get players from, but I guess we will have to wait and see.
Point Cook Football Club will be fielding its first ever girls team in 2014, and has appointed Belinda McErvale as inaugural coach. Belinda is well known in the area in her job as a teacher at Carranbach College. She has played for Melbourne Uni in the Women’s Football League for over 10 years with more than 150 games under her belt. Her experience and enthusiasm should make for a great team atmosphere. Anyone interested in playing or being involved should contact Mark King 0447 156 108 or markk4@bigpond.com.au
After my experiences this year with the Auskick program, which I absolutely loved, the importance of junior coaching was really brought home to me. It is great to see most sports now with their own version of Auskick, with the aim of teaching kids the basic skills of the sport and the importance of teamwork and physical activity. The hole in the system now, is when kids hit their teens and other activities take them away from sport. For me, I remember not playing any sport from the age of 17 to about 28, because of work commitments. That is happening younger these days as kids have part-time jobs. All sports have to look at the 12 to 16 year olds and come up with a way to keep them involved, because that is where the drop off is happening. Overall participation figures are up in many sports, but I think there are gender and age factors, that have resulted in what I would term as ‘creative accounting’. Got any ideas?
Little River Cicket Club is having a Past Players and Officials Function on Saturday 30 November from 2pm, at its home ground, Little River Reserve. The Firsts will be playing Meredith and there will be raffles, a happy hour and plenty going on. For details contact Andrew Richmond on 0412 430 125 or andrewr@rsea.com.au
If you have any news or events please let me know on the email kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au and you can follow me on twitter @KevinHillier and check out the website howdypartnersmedia.com.au
