■ I believe local football is at the crossroads and some of the decisions made in the next few weeks will be crucial to the future of many football clubs. In the WRFL, with which I’m involved, I can see agreements for promotion and relegation. A few years ago I had a conversation with Mark McGoldrick after Deer Park won a Division 2 flag. He was adamant the club wasn’t ready to go up and he was correct. But look where his club is now, the powerhouse of the WRFL. Nobody, and I mean, nobody really knows where a club is at in terms of strength of the committee, ability to raise money for players, other than someone at the club. On-field results at one level do not equate to being competitive when you have to go up a step. And it’s not just one step . . . the jump between divisions 1 and 2 is enormous in terms of dollars, talent and commitment. Some players don’t want to make that transition and neither do some volunteers. And I don’t blame them. The truth is, the survival of so many clubs depends on winning games and giving a positive experience to everyone involved. Competitions will need to take that into consideration in the future. Expansion is good, but it needs to be thought out carefully. Why not guarantee clubs a certain amount of time in the next level? This would allow them to recruit past the ends of their noses and not just for a quick fix.
■ What a weekend for Matthew Dean, of Werribee Districts Football Club and Werribee Cricket Club. On Friday night he walked away from Moonee Valley Racing Club with a Barry Priest Medal around his neck as the WRFL umpires’ B&F player. Less than 12 hours later, he captained Werribee Cricket Club first XI in the first game of the season and scored 108. He’s an exceptional sporting talent but, more than that, an exceptional young man. Another Districts boy, Tyler Crennan, took out the footy Rookie of the Year award, which may motivate this 17-year-old to have a crack at a higher level.
■ The first round of the 2014-15 Athletics Shield competition is coming up at Hoppers Crossing VU track this Saturday. The main attraction will be at 4pm, when Morgan Mitchell will compete in the 400 metres. Mitchell is a national championship gold medallist. The men’s 100 metres will be another highlight, with the appearance of local Luke Stevens, a winner at the Stawell Gift last year.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Post a comment below
ANY NEWS? Let me know on email kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au.
FOLLOW ME on Twitter @KevinHillier, and check out the Howdy Partners Media website as well.
