GREAT to see Werribee’s Ben Brown drafted by North Melbourne and Western Jet James Sicily get his chance at Hawthorn in last week’s AFL draft. Hopefully a few more names will be added Wednesday morning via the rookie draft.
I WAS glad to get plenty of feedback from readers regarding my comments last week on money in local senior football. The vast majority are worried that it is killing the game, and turning players into mercenaries, who are playing for the dollars not the love of the game or the jumper. I have no problem with players being paid, but some of the figures being bandied about are ridiculous for suburban football and I fear they are not sustainable. I have also heard that payments are being made to under-18 players, that is just plain wrong and should be stamped out immediately. The problem is, it is a classic ‘he said she said’ and can never be proved. If my mail is correct, a former Priest Medallist might be making a comeback, but not with the club where he won his medal, which is strange for many reasons.
THERE seems to be some mixed messages coming out about the Werribee Racing Club. The Werribee Racing Club is saying that the meeting on 15 December is definitely going ahead and that the meeting could have been held earlier this month but it was the right decision to postpone it. What? I also don’t understand why prize-money for the Cup has been increased. Why do you need to increase the prize-money now? Is this a way to placate owners and the jockeys with a dollar incentive? I also believe that the jockeys told officials that the track was not right several weeks ago. I won’t be surprised if the jockeys have a very big say in whether racing actually happens on 15 December.
I WAS really happy to launch the new SEN Cricket show ‘Howzat’ last Saturday and have my old mate Billy Birmingham on as our first guest. The show airs every Saturday during summer from 11am till 1pm and features Rodney Hogg, Smokey Dawson and myself talking cricket for two hours. Tickets are still available to hear Hoggy this Wednesday night at the Werribee Sports Club for a special Ashes Dinner. Call Janelle on 9741 9862.
BILLY has a new best of CD on the market called “Willy Nilly” and it features some of the best moments of the 30 years of the 12th Man. I sent the very first 12th Man record to Richie Benaud to listen to, to give his thoughts for my 3XY radio show. Richie thought it was very funny and my friendship with Billy started then. I marvel at his talent both as a writer and impersonator. As he pointed out last Saturday everyone from kids to females to old blokes now think they can “Do a Richie”.
THE Altona Bowls Club held a Sports Night last Saturday and it was a great night. The panel included Cam Mooney, Jason Love, Tony Vasil and Lazar Vidovic. What happens in the room stays in the room, but I can say the insights into the football and racing world were enlightening and entertaining. Jason is back in local footy as the new coach of the Port Melbourne Football Club and I think he will be great for the club. They need a new direction and new faces to get them back to the powerhouse they have been in the past. John Hurst and the team at Altona Bowls Club put on a great night. Well done.
IF you have any news or events please let me know on email kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au and you can follow me on Twitter @KevinHillier and check out the website howdypartnersmedia.com.au
