The Deer Park Football club has certainly not sat on its hands since winning the WRFL Division One Grand final in September. Last week another major recruiting coup with the signing of former Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave and ex-GWS and Carlton player Bret Thornton. This on top of signing dual Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra. Social media went nuts about local footy being ruined by the almighty dollar but while there is no salary cap, points or workable system to even the competition this is always going to happen. You can’t blame a club for attracting sponsorship dollars and then spending it on players. I have no problem with that, as long as the club remains committed to junior development as well, because that is the future of clubs and the game. I hope rival clubs don’t make the mistake of spending money that they don’t have in order to be competitive. Another former Bulldog and Port Melbourne premiership player Wayde Skipper has joined Hoppers Crossing. “Skip” is a great bloke and will be a great addition to the Warriors on and off the field.
Plenty of movement in local VFL footy as well with Werribee adding former Geelong star Peter Riccardi and dual North Ballarat premiership player Jacob Spolding to its coaching panel. Former player Phil O’Keeffe takes on the role of Development coach and Michael McMaster a 1993 premiership player is the senior runner. At Williamstown for 2007 Gerry Callahan Medallist Ben Davies is back from the bush and former Western Jet Sean Tighe is back from WA. The two teams will meet in a pre season game on Saturday 8 March at a venue to be announced.
This Thursday night the AFL National Draft will determine the sporting and professional future of about 60 young men who will be brought into the AFL system. The problem is about 200 more will miss out on their dream and while many will get picked up in the rookie draft for many the dream is over. Imagine that? Hopefully the ones not drafted are not lost to the game and will continue to try to make it happen through VFL football. While professional sport appears to be a wonderful lifestyle, truth is it is a ruthless business these days. For every Brad Johnson, Rohan Smith and Doug Hawkins who play 300 games there are hundreds who never play one.
Those players at McLean Reserve bottom oval last weekend playing for or against Spotswood Fourths were girt by Schibeci’s. Well known SEN broadcaster and the Voice of the “G” Tony Schibeci was joined by two of his sons, Daniel and Brayden in the whites for the Woodsmen. The boys made their contribution each taking two wickets but for Tony it was not a great day – he scored a duck. The game ended in a tie. The Ashes starting this week means cricket is back in a big way.
This week Royal Melbourne hosts the World Cup of Golf – a massive event that will attract hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide to the telecast. There could be no better golf course in Australia to host the event and the players from all over the world. If you get a chance get out there and watch just how talented these blokes are. While I have not played for a number of years I still love the game and I am looking forward to being there on Saturday afternoon broadcasting for SEN. The format is different with an individual and team competition. The team winners share $1 million the individual competition carries prize money of $7 million. Adam Scott is the best thing to happen to Australian golf since Greg Norman.
Don’t forget the Ashes Dinner with Rodney Hogg on Wednesday 27 November at Werribee Sports Club. Book through Janelle on 9741 9862. 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
