-Family connections make community sport so special, and the connection between 100-goal-kicker Nathan Gardiner and his family was clear to see after the champion full-forward’s magnificent milestone on Saturday. Both Nathan and his father Rob refused to talk about each other, at the risk of becoming emotional, but the pride that existed in both men after the final siren on the weekend was obvious. Well done Nathan, Rob and Robyn…and enjoy the rare 100-goal experience, because not many get to share it!
-GARFIELD is on the hunt for a new coach after making the decision to part ways with Paul Carbis after his two-year stint at the helm. Carbis took over when the Stars were at rock-bottom, after a mass exodus of players at the end of 2021, and led the Stars to one win in 2022 before improving to four wins this season. Stars president Chris Greenall confirmed the club is looking in a new direction, with both playing and non-playing coaches on the radar. “I’d like to publicly thank Paul for his two years of service to the club, and thank him for laying a solid foundation for the future,” Greenall said. Garfield is one of four clubs, alongside BUNYIP, KILCUNDA-BASS and KORUMBURRA-BENA that have not played finals football since the introduction of the WGFNC in 2017.
-DALYSTON will have a new voice barking instructions in 2024 with former GOLD COAST and HAWTHORN midfielder Mitch Hallahan taking over the senior coaching role next year. Dean Wylie, the senior coach in 2023, will be Hallahan’s off-field assistant. The former SORRENTO star was hampered by injury this season, only playing 12 games, with six of those resulting in Magpies’ victories. The Magpies were the big improvers in the WGFNC this year, winning eight games after winning just two in 2022.
-The WGFNC has only been going since 2017 – and only 11 games were played across 2020-21 – but it hasn’t stopped four familiar figures from playing their 100th games in the competition on Saturday. Mark Griffin (PHILLIP ISLAND), Nathan Muratore (KOOWEERUP), Tim Miller (KOOWEERUP) and Billy Thomas (CORA LYNN) all chalked up 100 games in the WGFNC, joining Lachy Peluso (108), Tim Payne (105) and Bailey Galante (102) in triple figures. CORA LYNN’s Jeremy Monckton is next on the list, but will need to play three finals to reach the 100-game figure this year!
-It seems like a really high number, but 156 players played their first games of senior football in the WGFNC this year. That consists of recruits, youngsters coming up through the ranks, and twos players finally getting their chance…and averages out to exactly 13 players per club. Of those 156, only 12 played every game this year, while 27 stepped onto the senior stage this year just once. The latest of those were Leigh Tannahill (KOOWEERUP), Jasper Kempster (INVERLOCH-KONGWAK) and Jack Salan (GARFIELD) who made their senior debuts on Saturday. A total of 454 players (38 per club) played senior footy in the WGFNC this year.
-Some of the best players in the WGFNC have suffered injuries this year, but it’s when you get them, and who gets them, that really hampers teams from playing their best footy. Against KOOWEERUP on Saturday, the injury toll at CORA LYNN was quite obvious. Skipper Jaxon Briggs hasn’t played since round one, while fellow midfielders Nathan Gillis (6 weeks) and Tom Stiglich (12 weeks) have had significant stints on the sidelines. Missing on Saturday from their round 17 clash was Ryan Gillis (Corky-Knee) and Tim Payne (Shoulder), while the rapidly-improving Gus Da Costa will now miss the remainder of the season after a collarbone injury on Saturday. The Cobras, just like PHILLIP ISLAND, are making no excuses, but it’s going to take one hell of an effort to progress through this year’s finals series.
-Outgoing KOOWEERUP coach Rhys Nisbet looked a relived man, shortly after the final siren on Saturday, as he sank what looked to be the first of many pots of beer. Nisbet came to Denhams Road with high hopes, being a premiership coach at BERWICK, but things never really fell into place. What Nisbet can be proud of is the way his players approached his last game in charge on Saturday, pushing finalists CORA LYNN all the way to the final siren. Enjoy coaching retirement ‘Roo’…but I’m sure we’ll see you back in the hot seat one day. Coaching footballers is what the Nisbet family do!
-While on coaches, either Lachie Gillespie (TOORADIN-DALMORE) or Harmit Singh (WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS) will call an end to their time at their respective clubs after they meet in Saturday’s elimination final at Inverloch. Both have different backgrounds, with Gillespie a stalwart of Tooradin for many years – who became a hero last year after breaking a 25-year premiership drought – while Singh has one of the smartest minds in football, having coached MORWELL and VERMONT to premierships…and has lifted the Dusties out of the doldrums. Whoever loses on Saturday, it will be sad to see the coach go!
-Hats-off to the spectators at the NARRE WARREN v MT EVELYN clash who sprung into action when the young boundary umpire in the reserves game needed medical attention. The youngster was in tears having rolled his ankle and struggled to put weight on his right foot, but within minutes he had ice strapped to the injured area and was in much better spirits.
-Overheard on the MT EVELYN bench in the first quarter on Saturday between two assistant coaches: “Shit, I’ve counted five centre clearances but there’s only been four goals kicked.” “Yeah mate, there’s a centre bounce at the start of the game, so there’s your fifth…”
-In Outer East’s Division Two finals, ALEXANDRA have qualified for the grand final on Saturday 2 September after getting the better of WARBURTON MILLGROVE in Saturday’s second semi-final by 31 points. WARBURTON MILLGROVE will face POWELLTOWN for a spot in the grand final this week, who thrashed YARRA GLEN by 118 points in the other semi, which was a knockout fixture. WARBURTON MILLGROVE won two of their three contests this season but POWELLTOWN won the most recent fixture, coming from behind at the final change to sneak home by a point. Saturday’s clash will be played at BROADFORD’s Harley Hammond Reserve at 2.10pm.
-NARRE WARREN’s Tom and Cam Miller’s trip to the city to watch their beloved Saints on Saturday night took an unexpected delay when their Uber driver crashed into a bollard while attempting to turn-around at Kalora Park on Saturday night. The collision made a huge dint in the passenger side of the car and stripped it of paint, the harrowing sound of metal on metal drawing a crowd and swinging heads to assess the damage for themselves.
-Those unable to attend upcoming Outer East matches will be able to live stream the action at home with a day or series pass. All finals of Senior Football and A Grade Netball, along with every football and netball game on Grand Final day, will be broadcast live, with day or series passes available to purchase for each division. Games will still be broadcast on radio by Yarra Valley FM but no senior football or netball will be streamed on the league’s Facebook page. For more information, head to the League’s website.
-A shout-out to all the SPRINGVALE DISTRICTS fans who made the trip to JL Murphy Reserve for the clash at Port Melbourne on Saturday. They were treated to an old-school classic between two fierce combatants and certainly made their voice heard amid a groundswell of home town support.
-Congratulations to 2022 Dandenong Stingray HENRY HUSTWAITE, who made his debut for Hawthorn yesterday in its loss to Melbourne. He gave a good account of himself as a late in for Jai Newcombe, with 15 disposals, two goals, five tackles and two clearances.
