Normally around this time of the year I can let you know what I’ve let the AFL recruiters know about the riches in the WAFL – Kelly, Broad, Ryan, Baker, Pickett, Menegola, that kind of thing – 2020 was a bit different, maybe you noticed.
Fifteen years back in the mid-Noughties Eaglehawk Football and Netball Club’s footy Team of the Century was announced. At an All Seasons Resort gala function in August 2005, attended by 550 people, the Two Blues’ greatest players of the preceding 125 years (1880 to 2005) were named. Footballing greats in David Parkin, the late Bobby Davis and Mike Brady of Up There Cazaly fame were the Hawks’ special guests. Continue reading →
The Bendigo Football Netball League, formerly known simply as the Bendigo Football Association, encompasses a fairly long list of clubs which once belonged to it.
Have you ever wondered why your club’s players run out wearing a particular coloured guernsey? I have, not only as a supporter, but as a match reporter and broadcaster over four decades. In the Bendigo FNL there are some famous jumpers, none more so than Sandhurst’s maroon and blue. Continue reading →
• Claremont’s Tyson Smallwood. Photo by Les Everett
And then along came the Tigers. In the WAFL second semi final Claremont crushed the top team.
The script was clear enough. Second semi and grand final at Fremantle Oval. Premiership for the Bulldogs and not far to go for the celebrations.
It was a horrible day for footy. Dry enough but with a howling wind kind of favouring the prison end. South had first use of the breeze and kicked their first goal in the third quarter.
The highlight of the game was the performance of the powerful Alec Waterman for Claremont. His kicking on a difficult day was magnificent and he finished with four goals.
At Joondalup it looked like Perth’s fairytale would continue when they established a lead of a goal and a bit early in the last quarter kicking with the gale. But the home team had too much experience and scored an impressive victory.
So Fremantle Oval has jagged a bonus final. They’ll get one on grand final day too but now there’s a real chance the home team won’t be in it.
Claremont 10.11 (71) South Fremantle 3.6 (24)
West Perth 7.6 (48) Perth 5.7 (37)
Sunday’s preliminary final will be between South Fremantle and West Perth.
In the WAFLW grand final on Saturday Peel caused an upset beating Subiaco 4.4 (28) to 2.1 (13). Conditions were horrible but 15-year-old Ella Roberts didn’t mind. She marked and kicked brilliantly giving a glimpse into the future of the women’s game.
The horses were gathered behind the barrier. The big moment was approaching and they’d soon be on their way in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. I was on the Irish horse The Cliffsofmoher for two reasons – I’d visited the real Cliffs of Moher in 2017 and the horse had run a good race in the Caulfield Cup.Continue reading →