■ The Western Region Football League seniors and under-19s will take on the Ballarat Football League at Whitten Oval on Saturday as part of the AFL Victoria Community Championships. The coaching panel, led by Anthony Eames (seniors) and Matty Dean (under-19), has assembled the best possible sides to represent the west. We all have rose-colored glasses in this area, but I truly believe the WRFL is on the up and will prove it on Saturday. I hope all those not involved in club games will get to Whitten Oval to support the boys. We’ll broadcast the senior game on 88.9 WYN FM.
■ It was fantastic to have Alastair Clarkson return to Werribee Football Club last Sunday and speak at the pre-game breakfast. Many people don’t know that the four-time AFL premiership coach got his first senior job at Werribee in 2000. He has fond memories of that year in which the club just missed the finals, finishing ninth. It was the first year of AFL/VFL alignments and he had half the Bulldogs list at Chirnside Park, including Bob Murphy, Ryan Hargrave and Lindsay Gilbee, all in their first AFL year. At the end of that season the Bulldogs decided to go to a full alignment and had to choose between Werribee and Williamstown. Clarkson was involved in Werribee’s pitch to be that club, knowing full well he would lose his job if the bid was successful. It was and he did … and the rest is football history.
■ Congratulations to Wyndhamvale on winning its first ever WRFL division 1 game last Saturday, beating Spotswood by 11 points. For years I’ve been talking about the massive jump from second to first division, but the Falcons did not go on a spending spree to try to be competitive. They mainly placed their faith in the players who had done the job to get to first division. Yes, it’s only one win, but there were many who thought they might not even get that.
■ There are a few events coming up, with Werribee Districts hosting a sports and auction night at Werribee Racing Club on Friday, featuring Paul Chapman, Dane Swan and myself. Tickets are available through Alan Chadwick 0422 864 459. And Wyndhamvale has its Legends game this Saturday at 1pm on its home ground against arch-rival Glenorden.
Any news, let me know on email kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au. Follow me on Twitter @KevinHillier, plus check out the Howdy Partners Media website as well.
