Wylie, Josh showing the way
EACH weekend The Chronicle sport team looks at pressing issues on the Saturday Soapbox.
Q: Wylie Buzza and Josh Smith will line up on opposing teams as Collingwood takes on Geelong in the AFL at the MCG on Saturday. How big is that for the game on the Darling Downs?
Ben Drewe: THE Darling Downs has not had many players go on to play in the AFL over the years and there is a golden time at the moment with two former Downs products in squads at the moment.
The fact they are both getting games in the top team at their club is even better.
Now they will get the chance to play against each other which will be great to see.
Lockyer Valley talent Buzza has been named to start at centre half-forward for Geelong while Smith has been picked to come off the interchange for Collingwood.
University junior Smith could spend some time off the half-back flank so he may cross paths with Buzza which would be great to see for Aussie rules fans on the Downs.
Glen McCullough: Quite simply, it doesn’t get any bigger.
What a great story for everyone involved from Wylie and Josh all the way back to the true believers who planted the Australian Rules’ seeds on the Darling Downs, way before the AFL was even thought of.
It’s also a tremendous endorsement for Queensland’s Aussie Rules pathways and the dedicated development work put in on the Darling Downs.
Hats off in particular to people like Jeff Neumann and Keith Webb who can now look back proudly on what their work is now producing.
But most of all congratulations to Wylie and Buzza who have emerged from the bush where rugby rules to run onto the MGC in the iconic colours of Collingwood and Geelong.
If that doesn’t inspire kids who follow to chase their dreams, nothing will.
Q: The Wallabies start their Bledisloe Cup campaign against New Zealand in Sydney today. After the axing of the Western Force Super Rugby in Australia is at a low. Can the Wallabies provide a much-needed lift for Aussie rugby fans:
Glen McCullough: I know a lot of people who weren’t aware the Wallabies and Kiwis were playing today in what is the sport’s biggest event in this part of the world.
Sadly that is the depths elite rugby in this country is plunging towards.
Be honest. Do you know who won this season’s Super Rugby comp and how the Aussie teams fared?
Punters like me wouldn’t have a clue how the shine has been diminished on Australian rugby.
But that can be turned around for fickle fans like me in one fell swoop.
It’s called winning, and lets hope against hope the Wallabies can at least put some pride back into our jersey tonight.
Ben Drewe: THE Wallabies haven’t had a good record in the Bledisloe Cup as the All Blacks have been a dominant force.
With that in mind, hoping the Wallabies can win in the Bledisloe in some sort of fairytale result that will give Australian rugby a timely boost might be a bit optimistic.
But if the Wallabies can go out, compete, play some entertaining rugby and show some heart, that will get the sport heading into the right direction in the country.