Winter follows summer
Last week’s hot summer conditions didn’t last long, with football players and supporters quickly reminded that the sport of Aussie Rules football is a winter game.
Low scoring matches were the order of the day in cold, wet and slippery conditions.
It was the Reserves who perhaps copped the worst of the conditions, with driving hail in matches at Darnum and Western Park.
Umpire Jason Walters had decided to take advantage of an early start to the Reserves match and it proved a master stroke, with most of the hail at least occurring during the three-quarter-time break.
Driving hail began late in the third quarter with play in the far pocket at the netball court end.
Players were quick to run across the ground to seek shelter upon the sounding of the siren.
The Dusties Reserves team appeared to have better footy smarts than their senior counterparts on this occasion, taking their three-quarter-time huddle under cover of the Answerth pavilion as senior players made an attempt at a warm up out on the ground.
Number 44 retired
Ellinbank have retired its number 44 guernsey of the late Rick Johnson.
His number had been worn for the final time by his best friend Ash Wallace in round one.
The club noted its support received from the wider community in a tumultuous time for the club, and thanked the Poowong club for agreeing to move the game back to Ellinbank.
The Neerim-Neerim South, Nilma-Darnum and Bunyip clubs had been some of many in the football community to reach out, while officials on the day joined in wearing black armbands as a mark of respect.
No netball at Buln
Saturday morning at Buln Buln didn’t quite have the same feel with netball not played at the venue.
A hiccup had meant that its new courts were not quite ready, with netball played out at the Burke Street courts in Warragul.
The club is hopeful the courts will be ready for its next home game.
More new facilities
Poowong have been the latest club to report an improvement to facilities is in the works.
Plans are progressing to complete a new and compliant netball court over the next off season.
Community funding has been secured for the project, with one grant already accepted and another in the process of being submitted to hopefully see the concept get off the ground.
Tanny offers advice
Catani president Nathaniel ‘Tanny’ Rodda was at it again in his club notes following last week’s joke at the expense of members of the well-known Williams farming family, Brad and James.
Touching on three club weddings that had occurred over the off season, including his own, Tanny was happy to share some advice that he had received.
“Marriage is like a good hand in poker, you start with a pair and end up with a full house.”