I'll be covering the footy....

[you_idiot]

...for the Ballarat Courier.

And I know it's a small paper, and the league I'll be covering-- the Central Highlands Football League-- ranks low on the totem pole amongst many of the Victorian supporters here, but I now have my first job at a newspaper here in Australia.

(For those who know me, I'm a correspondent for an international soccer website. So I am not new to the sports journalism racket.)

I'll be covering a game a week in the CHFL, although I won't know which game I'll be attending until a couple of days prior to the matchday.

Nonetheless, I'll give this section of regional Victoria the best coverage possible.
So in trying to prepare myself for this new beat, can any of you out there let me know about some of the basics of the league? Who are the top teams, best players, coaches, etc., as well as some of the traditions and customs around the CHFL?

Having been told that the CHFL is "grass-roots footy in the heart of Victoria", I really look forward to fulfilling my duties here... and don't forget that I am writing for you, the fans!

Cheers,
William

[Wayde Petersen]

Good luck Will, if the Ballarat Courier has a website, where I can read your article when it comes out, i'll make sure I read it.

I don't know a great deal about the Central Highlands but if you look at Mobbenfuhrer's website (www.fotypedia.com) you can find some basic info. about the league, also you can ring up thier secretary, and he/she will tell you some more perdinent facts about the CHFL.

I know that Hepburn, are in the competition, and they were rubbed out of the competition in all grades of football and netball for three years by the league, after a brawl involving Dunnstown.

Well the story went that Hepburn appealed (which recieved a lot of media coverage about thier plight), complaining about the severity of the decision, and that innocent parties (eg. thier juniors, and netballers) would be punished for the actions of a few, and they eventually won and played the last few matches of the 2000 season, and Hepburn have stayed in the comp. ever since.

Well, I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck in your new career.

[you_idiot]

Thanks, Wayde, for the link. It's actually www.footypedia.com (after a little troubleshooting), and I have bookmarked it for future research and reference.

And thanks for the info about Hepburn. They seem like a side to be looked at closely-- perhaps not so much if they're at the top of the league, but for how they'll do in their return to the CHFL.

It's not so much of a "new career" for me; I've been a professional sports journalist for the last 13 years now. But covering footy is a new endeavor for me (although I've followed the sport since 1979). Nonetheless, it's something I thoroughly look forward to doing. :)

And the Courier's general website is http://www.thecourier.com.au/home.asp.

Cheers,
William

[Mobbenfuhrer]

Thanks for the plug, Wayde!

I believe the Ballarat Courier can also be found through the 'yourguide' network ( www.yourguide.com.au ) which is an invaluable resource for finding news around the countryside.

you_idiot, a mate of mine who posts here on occasion knows a bit about the CHFL, his user name is Slax, he might have some more info for yer.

[Phil Doyle]

Hey Mate,

I extort money as a sports journalist as well. I highly recommend Paul Daffy's book 'Local Rites' (available from Melbourne Sports Books) that has some interesting background on the CHFL, and country footy in general.

Paul is the Couyntry Football writer for the Age/the Sunday Age.

drop me an email at phildoyle2000@yahoo.com.au if you want some good contact details for flogging CHFL stories to other publications as well.

chers,

Phil

[you_idiot]

Thanks for the info, Phil; I've e-mailed you accordingly.

Looking forward to my first assignment this weekend...

Cheers,
William

[you_idiot]

Update time...

My "getting to know you" interview with the Courier's editors went very well on Wednesday, and they handed me my first assignment, and my wife and I will be at the Clunes vs. Gordon game on Saturday afternoon. I eagerly await my first assignment.

Also, per Phil's suggestion, I bought a copy of the "Local Rites" book, and so far, it's an interesting read. The folks over at Dymocs recommend a few tales in particular, so I'm reading those first.

I'm also perusing the footypedia.com site to try and get some info about the CHFL prior to Saturday, as the league's administrator is still in the process of sending me some paperwork about the teams and players in the league, a little something to help me approach my job a little easier. :)

Come out to the game if you're in the area-- Jennifer and I look forward to it ourselves. Meanwhile, tomorrow (Friday) is a prep day for the big assignment.

Cheers,
William