■ I am all for drug testing coming to local football and sports clubs as long as it’s for the right, non-political reasons. We need to create family-friendly clubs that our sons and daughters are comfortable in and which parents trust as a safe environment for their children. There is no place for drugs of any kind in that scenario. The AFL is going to reset its drug policy and it needs to ensure that every local junior and senior club signs off on the new policy. Football needs to make sure there are no grey areas, from Auskick to AFL seniors. One in, all in. The sooner this is all sorted the better it will be for the game, the players, the parents and everyone involved.
■ Talk about two different emotions in football. Last week, I watched Werribee lose its game against Geelong in the VFL on the siren. Then I saw the Bulldogs run over the Gold Coast Suns. What a great thing it is to follow and be involved in a sporting club. Earlier in the day, I watched the Wyndham Suns beat Tarneit in the WRFL 3rd division, and that was a treat, even though temperatures were arctic. It wasn’t about how much money players were getting paid, it was about wearing the jumper and having a go. The Suns won, so did the Bulldogs and the Cats, and I’m sure every player, coach, official and fan felt exactly the same emotion after the game. That’s why we love the game.
■ Werribee Football Club is trying to track down Henry Ogilvie, a former player who won the club’s best-and-fairest in 1967, the third year of the its existence. If you know how the club can contact Henry, let me know via email: kevin@howdypartnersmedia.com.au or call the club on 9741 6688. Henry’s nickname was ‘Moses’ due to his appearance. Former priest and Werribee player Peter Wintle once directed opposition players to Henry. They were after the television priest and Peter told them they should be targeting Moses. Lovely form for a man of the cloth.
■ Wonderful to catch up with Merv Hughes last week at the Werribee Football Club president’s lunch. Merv is the club’s number one ticketholder, along with Russell Mark. Hughes is in England now and, hopefully, he can help motivate a turnaround in our cricketing fortunes … someone has to. If not, Werribee Districts Football Club president Rod Harrington is also UK-bound, and he might be our good luck charm. As for local cricket, there seems to be a lot happening – let me know your news for the coming season.
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.
