■ It’s best and fairest season. Werribee crowned Jarred Moore as back-to-back winner of the Bruce Montgomery Trophy at Moonee Valley Racing Club last Thursday, and Williamstown will present the Gerry Callahan Medal at Williamstown Town Hall on Friday. At Western Jets, first-year player Brayden Monk, a Werribee Districts junior, took out the Barry Round Medal, and it was no surprise to see Wayde Skipper win the Hoppers Crossing B&F. He’ll also be a leading contender for the Barry Priest Medal at the WRFL presentations this Friday. And there’s a new award in the WRFL this year, the Ron & Thelma Angwin Medal for best and fairest in division 3. It’s a most deserving honour for Ron (deceased) and Thelma, who were both awarded life membership of the league because of their tireless work for the competition. I’m so pleased to see Thelma recognised for her contribution.
■ Looks is if Caroline Springs footy club will have to wait another year to sign up two-time Hawthorn premiership player Brian Lake to the Lakers’ playing or coaching ranks. Brian’s a great supporter of the club on and off the field, but he’s keen to try for a third AFL premiership in 2015. What a move going from the Bulldogs to the Hawks turned out to be for him personally . . . two premiership medals and a Norm Smith. One former AFL player has already moved on, with Deer Park’s Brent Guerra signing as player-coach of Chelsea in the Southern footy league.
■ With just one function to go on my footy calendar for this season – the WRFL presentation night this Friday – it’s interesting to look back on the highlights. Footscray winning the VFL premiership heads the list and, even though I work for Werribee, I love to see the Doggies win anything. I am, after all, a life member. The joy that win brought to long-time Doggies supporters was wonderful to see.
■ It was also great to see Parkside get the monkey off its back and win a grand final after so many attempts in recent years. And Werribee Districts’ debut as a senior team in the WRFL went better than I expected; they’ll be a force for years to come. The lowlights for me were the power of money at all levels of football to dictate results and the crumbling nature of football participation of kids from 16-18. The standard is still pretty good, but the interest is waning and that’s a big concern. I don’t have a definitive answer for either problem.
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