-KOOWEERUP senior coach Rhys Nisbet informed the Demons in June that he will not be throwing his hat into the ring for the senior coaching role in 2024. Nisbet’s decision follows WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS coach Harmit Singh’s announcement that he will be stepping down at season’s end due growing commitments at COLLINGWOOD. The next premiership coach at KOOWEERUP is likely to be immortalised in bronze…with the Demons having not won a senior flag since 1981!
-This hasn’t been confirmed by the club, but Footy Shorts has it on pretty good authority that PAKENHAM may be following NARRE WARREN’s recent move of putting an Expression of Interest forward in joining the MORNINGTON PENINSULA league next season. It’s no secret that the Lions would love to move back to their old stomping ground in WEST GIPPSLAND, but there seems to be a reluctance from some clubs – possibly due to self-interest – in accepting them. Pakenham in West Gippsland, you would think that would open up some huge sponsorship opportunities for the league!
-All Victorian competitions Metropolitan competitions, including the Southern Football Netball League (SNFL) and Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL), will make the transition from GameDay to PlayHQ for season 2024. A statement on Monday from the EFNL made in conjunction with six other Metro Leagues said that training expected for league staff will commence shortly, followed by the training of club personnel, to be ready for the new football year from 1 November 2023. It follows Cricket Victoria’s decision to depart from MyCricket for greener pastures at PlayHQ for the upcoming cricket season.
-While not an entrenched member of the best 22 at PAKENHAM, it was impressive to see and hear Jackson Hillard’s booming voice delivering instructions to his fellow defenders against NARRE WARREN on Saturday. The captain of the reserves side showed no hesitation in telling his teammates how to set up, and held his own against the star-studded Magpies forward line. Hillard, or ‘Hilfy’ as he is known at Pakenham, is the person every club love to have, reading out the fines and genuinely contributing to a good vibe. Hilfy is the son of former Lions’ champion Darren Hillard.
-NARRE WARREN defender Trent Papworth’s goal late in the game against PAKENHAM on Saturday elicited one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon, having not kicked a major since round 18 last season. It follows fellow defender Cameron Miller, who nailed his first major in Premier Division since 2019 the week before against WOORI YALLOCK.
-EMERALD are riding high in Outer East’s Division One competition and appear to be kicking goals off the field too. A social media user shared her experience of watching Russo brothers Adrian and Nick, and Michael Richardson, help change several flat tyres caused by potholes on Saturday night after the Bombers’ win over BERWICK SPRINGS, describing the trio as “Angels”.
-It takes you back a few decades to recall the first player to handball a footy into an opponent’s shins, attempting to win an out-on-the-full free kick. One CRANBOURNE goer has fond memories of Kevin Bartlett doing it and enjoyed the similar piece of play Dillan Bass pulled off to win a free kick inside 50 on Saturday as part of a last-quarter onslaught.
-Good to see the DINGLEY clubrooms progressing nicely. The expected renovation is taking place this year and it remains on track for the club to use in its first home match of 2024. In the meantime, opposition clubs still detest the proposition of visiting Souter Oval, with a group of under-19s players getting loud and rowdy every week on the back of their utes. It’s all in good spirits and provides an excellent atmosphere to the neutral observer.
-Keep an eye on Ryan Davey in the coming weeks. The experienced CRANBOURNE premiership player was part of the Eagles’ reserves lineup on the weekend, in what was his first game of the season. The ball-winner would be a massive addition for Cranny.
-Get your thinking caps on ladies and gentlemen, because the STAR NEWS GROUP is looking to narrow down a list of the best ever sportspeople to have emerged from our readership areas. Some names that immediately spring to mind are Edwin Flack from Berwick, Australia’s first Olympian, or Michael Tuck, also from Berwick, who played 426 games for HAWTHORN. We’re looking at all sports, not just main-stream…so get to work and we’ll be back in touch with you shortly. We will narrow down the list to number-one via a tennis-style draw.
-The Garfield Pub would have been a great place to be last Thursday with several legends of the local region getting together to capture their memories of sport from over the years. Superstar full-forward Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller was on hand, and he no doubt had some great stories to tell, while PAKENHAM’s very own Stan Young was also there to put his two-bobs worth in. We’re not sure what stories were told…but the bar tab would have been healthy!
-All presidents put in an absurd amount of time and effort into their respective sporting clubs, but this week’s special shout-out goes to PAKENHAM Football Club supremo Derrick Brown. After watching his senior football team go down to NARRE WARREN at Kalora Park on Saturday, Brown backed up bright and early on Sunday morning, opening up the clubrooms and strapping on goal-post pads ahead of the standalone senior women’s game against BERWICK SPRINGS. He was still around locking up doors and sweeping up floors after the game, with a big smile on his face along the way. Thank you to all club presidents for the hard work you do…local sport just wouldn’t be the same without you!
