■ The news that Hoppers Crossing had been knocked out of the race for a place in Premier Cricket and that Werribee was still in the mix made me think that maybe both clubs have shot themselves in the foot. As I wrote last week, I hope Werribee is successful, but I can’t help but think a team from the City of Wyndham would have been a shoo-in, as opposed to two separate bids. When you consider what’s best for under-16s at both clubs, a future Premier Cricket club on their doorstep must be a better option than going to Footscray Edgewater, the Greenvale Kangaroos or Geelong. I think both will have to wait for the next opportunity, which is a shame for the clubs and young players coming through.
■ The fate of Parkside Football Club for 2015 will be detailed for members and life members at an extraordinary meeting this week. As a foundation club of the old FDFL, it would be a shame if Parkside did not field a side this season. The real danger is that they’d disappear altogether. New clubs are great for the competition in many ways, but that can’t be at the expense of clubs like Parkside. And they’re not the only club feeling the pressure of player payments and the draining of the talent pool. The much-discussed points system may actually make it more difficult for clubs like Parkside and Port Colts, who don’t have juniors. Suburban football is becoming serious business and the economic reality is some of those businesses (clubs) will go under. Sad but true.
■ I was so pleased to broadcast my SEN Saturday show from Whitten Oval at the weekend and to see the club’s family day take on another dimension with the paying of an intra-club practice match. I walked away at the end of the day with very positive feelings. I’ve been a Bob Murphy fan from the first day he walked into the club, but not since Scott Wynd have I seen a player more equipped to be club captain. He has embraced the role and is loving it, and that can only help his footy. The other pleasing aspect is the calmness of new senior coach Luke Beveridge, who has had to hit the ground running faster than Luke Dahlhaus on a good day – and he seems to have done that. I watched the intra-club game and while they’re not premiership material, the Bulldogs were good to watch and had a dip. As a fan, I’m happy with that at this stage.
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