Olympic connections
It’s always good to have local connections to the Olympic Games. Morgan Mitchell has been making her mark in the 400 metres on the track and the Footscray Swimming and Water Polo Club has been watching the men’s water polo team with great interest. Jarrod Gilchrist and James Stanton-French are Sharks members and both have been a big part of the men’s team’s performances in Rio. Gilchrist is making his Olympic debut while this is the third Games for goalkeeper Stanton-French. The Footscray club also boasts Australian women’s team manager Lynne Morrison and Daniel Flahive, one of the tournament referees. Well done to all concerned.
Coaching merry-go-round
The coaching merry-go-round at all football levels is in full swing. Brett Montgomery exited the Bulldogs last week, so he won’t be appearing on the Inside The Kennel show this week. Anthony Eames was announced as the 2017 Spotswood coach last week. He takes over from Tom Langlands, who will continue as a player. Eames – a former Altona and Williamstown premiership coach – had success earlier in the year with the WRFL interleague side. He has a very talented group of young players coming up from the Woodsmen’s under-19 program.
The Woodsmen
The Woodsmen can still achieve a lot this year, starting with the division 1 elimination final this Sunday at Burbank Oval against Altona. If they need inspiration, they should look to their under-15 girls side, which won the premiership last Sunday at Hansen Reserve. The Woodswomen came from behind and won by a few points in extra time in the club’s first year of fielding a girls’ team. Well done to all the players and coaches Chris Grant and Ian Alla, and assistant coach and runner Rob Cavka.
Newport Power
There have been few better achievements in footy in the west on the field this year than those of Newport Power. The club has finished top of the WRFL division 3 senior ladder in its debut year, fourth in the reserves, with its under-19B and under-17Cs also securing minor premierships. The club has planned and worked hard for years to lay the foundations for its launch into senior football and that plan has been well executed. Full credit to all concerned.
