IN THE DOGHOUSE: Kevin Hillier

■ Great to see our local athletes getting some recognition and funding in their quest to achieve success. Federal MP for Lalor, Joanne Ryan, recently held a forum at Werribee Football Club to acknowledge and encourage local sportspeople to follow their dream. The City of Wyndham is producing champions of the future such as basketballer Dante Exum, AFL player Majak Daw, swimmer Karlene Pircher and athlete Morgan Mitchell. Exum and Daw don’t need financial help, but many, like Pircher and Mitchell, do to make it to the top. For Exum it’s a massive chasm between playing at the Rec Centre in Werribee and suiting up for the Utah Jazz in the NBA, for millions of dollars. Good on him; his story will be an inspiration.

■ There will be no medal parties at the Mark household in Hoppers Crossing after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, but both shooters, Lauryn and Russell, can hold their heads high. As always there was controversy surrounding the couple. At one stage a betting organisation had them firm favourites to be the first Games couple to fall pregnant after the closing ceremony – I’m sure the Marks had a giggle at that one. There was also a bit of press when it looked like Russ might bunk up with fellow shooter Michael Diamond rather than Lauryn in the athletes’ village – it was just Russ being the stirrer we all know he is. Then, the pair missed the shooting team photo because they had arranged a family get-together. Pity, because I think Russell is retiring from international competition, though I have written that about him more often than for singer John Farnham or cricketer Michael O’Keefe.

■ On Sunday, the Footscray Bulldogs head to Avalon Airport Oval for the first time to take on the Werribee Tigers. Given their history and where they are placed on the VFL ladder, this is a major game for both clubs. There was a time when Werribee was the Bulldogs’ affiliate. Many people don’t know that players such as Chris Grant, Lindsay Gilbee, Daniel Giansiracusa, Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney have all played in the Werribee jumper. It is past players’ day, so maybe Grant, Matty Croft (a Werribee B&F winner) and Simon Garlick (runner-up to Croft) can join the likes of Adam Taylor, Damien Fitzpatrick, Kevin Leece, John Comben and Simon Atkins in the marquee.

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