Western Border Football League

Grimmett

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The appointment of Jason Mifsud as an assistant coach with St Kilda has highlighted the depth of footy talent and knowledge in the VCFL. The league he left at the end of the 2005 season was the Hampden Football Netball League and the league he was originally moving to was the Western Border Football League with Hamilton.
Not much activity on these boards about the WBFL but Mifsud's departure has created one issue as the Magpies search for a coach. The league itself is also searching for a CEO. Stories lifted from the Hamilton Spectator:
 

Grimmett

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Mifsud aftermath unfolds
19 January2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By CODY WINNELL

INTERIM Hamilton Football Netball Club leader, Steve Nichol, is looking forward to the Magpies' pre-season.


In the wake of senior coach, Jason Mifsud, resigning to take up a post at St Kilda Football Club, Hamilton's assistant coach, Nichol, will temporarily take over the reins.

Pre-season kicks off January 23 at Pedrina Park, with Nichol to take the Pies through their paces in what he hopes will be an "enjoyable time".

"It can become a real slog, it's the hottest time of the year so the aim is to make it as enjoyable as possible for all the guys," the 30-year-old former Alexandra coach explained.

"I really want to get the message out to everybody who's in two minds about their footy at the moment.

"If you've been at the club in the past, or you're considering getting involved, come along to training and give it a go."

Assistant coach Nichol, however, ruled out leading the 2004 Western Border premiership winning club in 2006.

He only recently moved to Hamilton and he wants maximum opportunity to settle into his new teaching role at Hamilton and Alexandra College.

Also, he and his wife Siobhan have just had a baby girl, Matilda (eight weeks old), who is a sister to Ciara (eight years old).

"I'd like a year to settle in and see how my work goes, that sort of thing, then maybe next year I'll put my hand up.

"I really want to see how things work out," Nichol explained.

Hamilton president Ashley Crow is looking forward to Hamilton's pre-season training and is happy that Nichol is in charge.

"It's important to have a profile person like Steve with great credentials leading the guys at the moment.

"I'm really pleased with the job he's doing and I'm very confident in his leadership ability."

Crow said the Magpies were expecting to make a senior coaching announcement by next Friday.

"We've already spoken to a prospective coach and we're talking to another one shortly."

While there would be disappointment that he is no longer at the club's helm, Jason Mifsud's appointment as assistant coach at St Kilda is likely to help Hamilton, which is now exploring a deeper relationship with the AFL club.

"I've spoken with St Kilda already.

"The aim at the moment is for within the next year or so, we as a club hope to get down there and train with the Saints."

It's also believed Hamilton will look at other ways to bolster its professional standing, through merchandising etc.

"There are many ways they can help us out in future, we're hoping to build a really strong relationship with St Kilda."

Crow said he'd been flabbergasted at the amount of support he's had from football people all over the state.

"It's unbelievable how many people have rung me to help us out.

"People care because Hamilton has a great committee.

"We have a solid football network and people are only too willing to help out."
 

Grimmett

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QUALITY FIELD
19 January2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By MICHAEL HOWARD

WESTERN Border Football League is zeroing in on its Chief Executive Officer, having attracted a wide range of well-credentialed applicants.


Currently, the league is in the midst of accelerating the process, with the aim of having the league's first full-time employee in place by March 1.

"We have looked at every application, put them into groups and are currently looking at references and looking deeper into the applications," league chairman, Craig Keating, said. "The process will then be revisited on January 29 when the league has its next general meeting."

Keating said the calibre of applicants was exceptional, building confidence that the league's implementation of a Chief Executive Officer will a successful venture.

"We are absolutely happy with how everything has progressed," Keating said.

"We have had applications from four different states, which left me gob-smacked.

"We have had a number of different applications and all of a high quality.

"The decision will go down to the specific skills we are looking for.

"Some of the applicants are experienced in the exact field that we are looking at, some have business experience and there is basically a large range of applicants."

That range will be reduced in coming weeks as Western Border's directors refine the field.

"I anticipate that we will interview four and we are looking to get that list into shape at the moment.

"We would like to have the person ready to go by March 1, but if the best candidate is unable to start until beyond that date then we will wait.

"We want the best person for the job and won't compromise on that.

"We already have the skills on the board to run the league and can wait for as long as it takes."

The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer will be the final link in the chain amid what are changing times for Western Border.

They were officially signalled with the revitalisation of the executive, which became a Board of Directors.

At the league's most recent meeting, directors were assigned their portfolios, a change Keating expects will greatly improving the functioning of the league.

"After the annual general meeting (in November) we had a brief discussion about the roles that we need to have someone responsible for," he said.

"They were allocated to allow us to cover all major functions of the competition and any that aren't covered I (as chairman) wear.

"We wanted to have people specialising in their interests and the benefits of this system is two-fold.

"It means that the clubs, media and interested parties can go to certain people to address certain areas.

"Additionally, the CEO can go to a certain person for whatever issue arises.

"It is also a way of ensuring certain functions of clubs aren't being neglected; it means that at every meeting we address each area and none are left behind."

As chairman, Keating will lead the team of six directors.

Graham Gill has been appointed as the Director of Football Development, in which he will oversee the interleague program, junior football and the relationship between leagues.

Carol Russell, also Western Border Netball Association president, has accepted the role of Director of Netball on the football board and will liaise between the two bodies, including addressing issues that affect both groups.

David Burge, who has served as Western Border secretary, will take on the role of Director of Operations, and his responsibilities will involve liaising with the Chief Executive Officer on operational tasks.

Jill Hosking has accepted the role Director of Marketing, Special Events and Sponsorship, with Keating highlighting that former sponsorship manager Graham Wilson will assist Hosking to build on the contacts that he had made in his time at the helm.

Treasurer Greg Duver will now take on the role of Director of Finance, while Des Gray will continue to act as vice-president as well taking on the port folio of Director Responsible for Club Relations.

"Everyone is excited about the changes and there are a few things for us to follow through between now and the next meeting on January 29."

At the latter, the directors will also more closely analyse the Pre-Season Cup, which is set to debut on April 9.

At the January 29 meeting Keating said significant work will go into looking at sponsorship, marketing and proceedings of the day, with Keating suggesting that the league will look to share the load and resources for the new venture.

A location for the inaugural cup will also be decided at the meeting.
 

Jock Clark 2

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:( THEY'D want to get someone pretty handy as their CEO, judging by the inter-league effort on their own dung hills from last May.
THE Western Border senior team hardly gave a yelp, with Bendigo and Bellarine fighting out the championship on the Sunday.
The grounds and facilities around Mt Gambier were excellent, however. It was just the representative team didn't do much.
And that was after the big build-up with a gun CHF recruited from the SANFL. Peter Shepherd's his name and Heywood was his 2005 club. He arrived at Heywood from West Adelaide.
 

Grimmett

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Hamilton have appointed Glenn Doyle to replace Jason Mifsud as coach for this year. Doyle previously coached Horsham Saints in the Wimmera FL before an acrimonious departure at the end of 2005.

Articles from the Wimmera Mail-Times and the Hamilton Spectator.


DOYLE’S A MAGPIE
Coaching role for former Saint leader

First published by:

Wimmera Mail-Times
Friday, January 27, 2006

By Megan Hustwaite

Former Wimmera Football League representative Glenn Doyle, 31, will continue his playing and coaching career outside the Wimmera.
Doyle told the Mail-Times this week he had signed as playing coach with Western Border League club Hamilton.
“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “It’s a fresh environment, fresh club and fresh people. They have no preconceptions about Glenn Doyle. “I’ll get my body right and start fresh.”
Doyle, former Horsham Saints coach, replaces Jason Mifsud who is now assistant coach at AFL club St Kilda.
“Hamilton understands that I’ve been injury prone in the past and is accepting of that,” Doyle said. “My work as territory manager with Nestle means I’m in that area a lot anyway, so I’ll spend 70 or 80 percent of my week in Hamilton. My wife has been very supportive about it. I wouldn’t do it unless she was 120 percent behind me. I think she’s more excited at the prospect of me being a playing coach than I am.”
Doyle said he had spoken to several Wimmera clubs but his goal was always to coach as well as play.
“I spoke to a few clubs but I wanted to coach a major league club and the majority of clubs already had coaches,” he said. “This position came up about 10 days ago and I believe it was too good to refuse. I need to be able to play, coach and test myself at the highest level.”
Hamilton won the league premiership in 2004 and finished second in 2005.
“It is a perennial finalist, its under 18 side has won the past few flags and it has a good junior structure,” Doyle said. “The off-field setup is really professional, one of the best I’ve seen in Victoria.”
The club started pre-season training this week and Doyle will take over in two weeks.
“I’ve got a good assistant coach in Steve Nicholl and a good support network,” he said. “From what they tell me the side lacked running in its game last season and a running game where players link up and run is something I developed at the Saints. I’m going to work extremely hard, I won’t leave any stone unturned.”


PIES COACH TAKE TWO

First published by:

Hamilton Spectator
Thursday, January 26, 2006

By Michael Howard

HAMILTON Football Club is ready to re-launch its 2006 pre-season, having announced Glenn Doyle as its senior coach.
After a testing few months, which brought the club under the national spotlight following the hiring and release of Jason Mifsud as senior coach, the Magpies are ready to dig their fingers into the new season.
The new face of the club has been unveiled, with former Port Melbourne footballer and more recently Horsham Saints coach, Doyle, handed the reins to the 2004 premier.
"He has the right credentials for what we want and with his wife, Rowena, and two kids he is looking forward to making the next step," Hamilton president, Ashley Crow, said. "Glenn is very much into strategic planning. He is very organised and along with Steve Nichol (assistant coach), Colin Riddle (thirds coach) and Scott Ogle (reserves coach) we have a very good coaching panel."
Doyle's signing comes just a fortnight after Mifsud dropped the bombshell that he had been appointed St Kilda Football Club assistant coach, a shock that Hamilton has responded to quickly and cleanly.
"We had some contacts throughout the district and around Australia. I did a bit of homework before it was 100 per cent that Jason would leave and put a few things into place to see what would happen if he did leave. Once he confirmed he was going to St Kilda, the main aim was to get things moving forward."
Doyle, 31, comes from good football stock, which has enjoyed a long association with VFL club, Port Melbourne, where for three seasons he took his own football to a higher level.
Having spent two years playing senior football with South Melbourne districts in Southern Football League, Doyle then aligned with Port Melbourne.
He played with the latter from 1994 to 1996, learning from the likes of club coaches David Cloke and Shane Molloy.
"It is a family tradition," he said. "My uncle, Frank Johnston, is regarded as one of the best VFA players of all time. He has an interstate medal named after him and was in Port Melbourne's Team of the Century. My three older brothers played with Port in the early 80s when it was a dominant side, Shane was a dual premiership player and my older brothers Craig and Brendan also played for Port."
However, after two years in the VFA and one in the VFL holding down a defensive post with the Boroughs, Doyle moved west.
"It was a change of lifestyle decision," he said. "I met a girl (Rowena) who is now my wife. She's a Horsham girl and we decided to try the country lifestyle and nine years later are married with two children (John, 5, and Thomas, 2). I was 23 when I left Port, so I really hadn't reached my potential, but it was more of a lifestyle decision than a football orientated one."
The tall and talented utility settled in the Wimmera, aligning with St Michael's which has since become Horsham Saints, and carving out a career with the major league club which would last for almost a decade.
"I spent nine years at Horsham Saints, the first four as an assistant coach, then as a player for another three. For the last two years I have been senior coach. During my time at Horsham Saints they have missed the finals only once and have played in four grand finals but managed to lose them all. We were beaten by four points by Ararat in 2001, that was the closest we have come, while in 1998 we lost to Murtoa by 24 points."
The latter are results that don't sit too well with Doyle.
"It nags away a little; parting ways with Horsham Saints and not having won a flag is a bit of a bugbear. We finished in the top two or three for four of my nine years and to not come up with a premiership was disappointing."
One of the finals campaigns includes Doyle's first year as coach, when he improved the Saints from fifth to second in 2004 and then finals again in 2005, when they finished fourth.
"There were some good juniors coming through when I first took over and we were expected to finish fourth or fifth, but made the grand final. From the feedback that I have been given, Hamilton's under-18s are very strong and will be coming through the ranks, so it seems like a similar challenge."
It appears the correlation between the two clubs is strong and, having parted ways with the Saints under indifferent circumstances, Doyle is keen to carve out a new chapter in his career.
"Basically, Horsham Saints wanted to sign a coach from outside the club; to lure a big name," he said. “They haven't been able to do that, but that was what they were looking for. I wanted to continue to coach in a major league, but there was initially not a position available. The unique situation then arose where a major league club had a well respected coach who gained a job in the AFL and subsequently a position came up."
As a territory manager for Nestles, the western district is on Doyle's radar and subsequently relocating an hour's south was an attractive option.
"It was an opportunity to still coach in a major league and to continue coaching and working with the young fellas was also attractive," he said. “The professionalism of the players and coaches is very high, additionally Hamilton Football Club has a set-up that is second to none that I have seen. Ashley (Crow) and Gordon (Uebergang) were very professional about the club and I see it as the right fit."
So now it is on to 2006.
"We will lose five or six players from last year and pick up four or five," Crow said. “We will be thereabouts. We will play a lot more kids; that is something that I'm desiring to see happen and so are Glenn Doyle and Steve Nichol. Perhaps we are looking at 2007 more than 2006 at this stage, but if we can put another good on-baller in the mix, we will not be looking too bad."
Notably, Doyle's inclusion is expected to help offset the loss of Gareth Abrahamson to Casterton, where he has taken on the role of senior coach.
Abrahamson, a strong marking and straight shooting key position player, held down full-forward while assistant coach of the Magpies for the past two seasons and its expected Doyle will be able to step into that role.
"I can pretty much play anywhere down the spine and will play in the position that most suits the team," he said. "It will be a see how it goes situation."
According to Crow, much of the Magpies' recruiting work had been done, but there remains one major objective before the first ball is bounced.
"The main aim of the football department is to now find a very good on-baller," he said. The positive that has come out of our association with Jason Mifsud is that we have made a lot more contacts. We are certainly better to have known Jason Mifsud than not, he has enhanced our club and enhanced our reputation both in the district and beyond that circle, that's something that certainly played a role in us picking up Glenn Doyle."
In the meantime, the Magpies are hoping to get improved numbers at training, launching into the pre-season with a Meet the Coach night on Monday at Alexandra House from 6pm.
"I encourage all players that might be sitting on the fence or unsure about which way they will go in 2006 to listen to what I have to say," Doyle said.
It was a message echoed by Crow.
"Now that everything is in place and we have good numbers on the books, particularly for under-18s and reserves, I'm asking everyone to get stuck in and build up to 2006."
 

Grimmett

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WBFL enlists a CEO

February 1, 2006

THE Western Border Football League has appointed a full-time chief executive officer.

League president Craig Keating said yesterday Marc Turri had been employed to fill the new position.

Turri, formerly of Portland, was the sponsorship and events co-ordinator for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He previously was sponsorship and marketing manager with the Williamstown Football Club and administrative manager of the Williamstown and Western Jets football clubs.

Keating said he had been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the 11 applicants, including interested candidates from NSW and Queensland.


``It was a very difficult decision but we are confident that with the appointment of Marc we have secured an exceptional person,'' he said.

League secretary David Burge said appointing a chief executive officer was a big change.

He said the league had been planning for 12 months and the $50,000 appointment was a large commitment.

Turri will start work on March 1. He is moving to Portland and will work from an office at Hamilton.

The Western Border league is the 13th of the 16 major leagues in the VCFL to appoint a full-time CEO. The Hampden league still has a part-time general manager.


This story was found at: http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2006/02/01/1138590534158.html
 

Jock Clark 2

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WHO will be the pace-setters in this league in 06, Grimmett ?
Will Hamilton go OK after the upheaval, and at short notice, of having to find a new coach to replace Mifsud ?
 

Grimmett

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Not my local league so my knowledge is not completely up to date Jock. Hamilton will continue to be a pace setter no doubt.
South Gambier has won a bucket load of flags in the past decade and is perenially strong I think. Always the team to beat.
East Gambier has signed Matt Kluzek, ex Adelaide I think, so perhaps they will be OK.
Millicent is still looking for a coach.
Heywood started training in about the third week of October from memory so they should start quickly but could be stuffed by about May.
Portland signed an ex SANFL coach to replace Brodie Atkinson.
Hamilton Imperials a fair way off the pace last year I think.
West and North Gambier are unknown to me.
Casterton signed one of Hamilton's better players, Gareth Abrahamson, to coach but otherwise I don't know how they will go.

Bottom line is the the four Mt Gambier teams and Hamilton will be in finals contention with probably Portland the other likely candidate.

I'll do some more research and get back to ya.
 

bigblackalsation

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Grimmett said:
WBFL enlists a CEO

February 1, 2006

THE Western Border Football League has appointed a full-time chief executive officer.

League president Craig Keating said yesterday Marc Turri had been employed to fill the new position.

Turri, formerly of Portland, was the sponsorship and events co-ordinator for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He previously was sponsorship and marketing manager with the Williamstown Football Club and administrative manager of the Williamstown and Western Jets football clubs.

Keating said he had been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the 11 applicants, including interested candidates from NSW and Queensland.


``It was a very difficult decision but we are confident that with the appointment of Marc we have secured an exceptional person,'' he said.

League secretary David Burge said appointing a chief executive officer was a big change.

He said the league had been planning for 12 months and the $50,000 appointment was a large commitment.

Turri will start work on March 1. He is moving to Portland and will work from an office at Hamilton.

The Western Border league is the 13th of the 16 major leagues in the VCFL to appoint a full-time CEO. The Hampden league still has a part-time general manager.


This story was found at: http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2006/02/01/1138590534158.html[/quote]

Great choice!!! Really knows his stuff
 
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Just wondering how Millicent are shaping up in 2006? Had a pretty good year in 2005 but have seen the ad for a coach for the 2006 season. Has it been filled and how are the guys shaping up for the season?
 

Grimmett

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bigblackalsation said:
Great choice!!! Really knows his stuff


He's a bit of an unknown in country footy ranks. Up to the job in your opinion though bigblackdog, so looking forward to him making a positive impact on the league. Good place to start would be interleague where they have been dismal in the past few years.
 

Jock Clark 2

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Well, Perthie the WBFL is down in Division 4 of the VCFL country champs -- and there are only 4 divisions.
Lose again this season -- as they did in 2005, losing all three games in Division 3 in Mount Gambier -- and they'll be out of it altogether, one suspects. They'll be playing Sunraysia, North Central and Yarra Valley, in the Yarra Valley, this year.
They've recently appointed a new CEO so maybe Western Border can get its act together in 06.
 
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Im a regular visitor to the dunkeld races,and every year i hear these stories of the year a group of darwin blokes played for imps. What was the go there ,ones name was jankovic?
 

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I was wondering if anyone had information on a couple of blokes from the league. I apologise in advance for the spelling.

1. Cameron Phyer from Casterton
2. Kane Ubbergang from Hamilton
3. Nathan Bell, I think he played in the GV last year but is originally from Mt Gambier.

Would any of these blokes make ok assistant coaches?

Cheers
 

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journeyman said:
I was wondering if anyone had information on a couple of blokes from the league. I apologise in advance for the spelling.

1. Cameron Phyer from Casterton
2. Kane Ubbergang from Hamilton
3. Nathan Bell, I think he played in the GV last year but is originally from Mt Gambier.

Would any of these blokes make ok assistant coaches?

Cheers

:) Cameron Thyer. Solid, attacking half back flanker - can play on-ball. Had a great year with the Cats, who largely struggled, though no fault of his. Tends to rate himself a tad, but can back it up. Strangely lived in Mount Gambier but travelled the 60km to Casterton three times a week and returned that night. Think he was living on his own in the pub. Did start out at North Gambier but left a couple of practice matches when he thought he should have been in the ones, but told to prove himself. So question mark in that regard, likes it his way. But a solid footballer.

Kane Ubergang from Imps a pretty good footballer. May have played in the AFL under 18s comp I reckon and should be a good pick-up, though young!

Nathan Bell if it is the same one is from North Gambier. No trouble finding the ball, good skills and pretty hard at it. Did play interleagueand had a really good year in 1998 when the Tigers should have won the GF. Not sure he has played all that uch since leaving the Mount but could be wrong.
:)
 

Gozling

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Quote:
Originally Posted by journeyman
I was wondering if anyone had information on a couple of blokes from the league. I apologise in advance for the spelling.

1. Cameron Phyer from Casterton
2. Kane Ubbergang from Hamilton
3. Nathan Bell, I think he played in the GV last year but is originally from Mt Gambier.

Would any of these blokes make ok assistant coaches?

Cheers



Cameron phyer can play the game pretty well and could be handy if was as good as what he thinks he is. Couldnt get a game in the ones at North so left for Casterton in a bid to make a name, hasnt succeeded and done no favours.

Kane UEBERGANG, broken ankle last year, left imps and is playing for Shepparton Swans, where Nathan Bell played last year and is so far returning to the snow at Bulla and playing for the swans. Changes may have applied to his career due to work.
 

Goldust

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Nathan Bell of Tant. Quite skillful, a good mark for his size - on-baller. Remember him being pretty handy and pretty level-headed. Trouble is now, there were two Nathan Bells playing for Tant. Nathan Kane Bell and Nathan Mark Bell I believe. Kaney the better of the two but both more than useful.

Cameron Thyer had a pretty good year. Led Casterton in the league voting from memory and played a blinder out at West one day where he was clearly BOG. In a good side though, he would be ranked lower than he was with the Cats who struggled.
 

Grimmett

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Some recent articles about the WBFL. All are from the Hamilton Spectator.

Emerging Pups the core of Imps' next title tilt
25 February2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By MICHAEL HOWARD

IMPERIALS Football Club is boasting significant riches from its 2005 crop of under-18s, which it hopes will form its core for years to come.


The faces that guided the Bulldogs to Western Border's thirds preliminary final last September will be given the chance to show their wares on the seniors stage in 2006 according to coach Jason Muldoon.

"It is all about giving them opportunities, we are going to try and teach them how to play the game," Muldoon said.

"They are all enthusiastic and have plenty of football ability."

Both individually and collectively, Muldoon is extremely excited about the prospects at his hands, detailing what they can bring to the table.

One player that does excite the first-year senior coach is Brad Rhook.

"He is a nuggetty on-baller. He is hard-nosed, has good leg speed and his skills are good.

"He is definitely ready for seniors."

In fact, Muldoon said that there will "six or seven" from last year's under-18s crop ready for round one.

That will include Jason McIntosh.

"He is 6 foot three (187cm), is coming off a bad ankle injury in the seniors but hasn't missed a session this off-season.

"He is a very big boy and we will look for him to hold down a key back position for us."

At the other end of Imperials' starting 18 will be Josh Cole.

"He is six foot four and a developing ruckman/forward.

"He has great hands and is equally good on the ground as he is in the air.

"He will play forward as much as possible, but will also have stints in the ruck to give Rod (Uebergang) a break."

At his feet will be Stuart Ward, a lightning fast rover who burst on to the senior scene last year with a best on field performance.

"His big plus is leg speed. He is the quickest bloke at the footy club.

"He is a confident kid and nothing phases him. He is down-to-earth.

"He got a taste of senior football and, as can happen for a young bloke, his form dropped off as his senior games went on.

"We are looking to get consistency out of him this year."

The latter is something that Leigh Bubb, captain of Imperials' under-18s last year, gave in spades, having played the most senior games of the emerging Pups.

"We would expect Leigh to rotate through the midfield. He is a strong, inside player and really impressed last year."

Last but not least is Brad Harman, a developing forward who will no doubt benefit greatly from Muldoon's appointment as senior coach.

"Brad is six foot four and a beautiful kick. He has a big body, will get a chance leading out of the goal square and has a good set of hands."

They form a list that the Bulldogs will look too fast-track this season.

"We are going to pump 18 games into some of these guys," Muldoon said.

"We don't expect miracles, but have a big emphasis on giving game time to the young blokes so that two, three or four years down the track we can enjoy the rewards and play finals footy."

It is a path that is familiar for Imperials' supporters.

"It is a special group. They are talented and good mates.

"There is a real correlation to the Cranages, Brophys and Walkers of '95 and there are also the likes of Jack Goss, Tim Edgecombe, Bevan McIntosh, Leo Sharaf and others who are coming through the ranks.

"It is exciting."

The link to Imperials' premiership year (1995) is not a subject Muldoon introduced without thought.

Acknowledging the club's success has been a regular trend for Imps this off-season and is also reflected in two of the Bulldogs' most recent appointments.

Neville Osborn has accepted the role of chairman of selectors and Darren Templeton the football manager position.

"We have tried to get people who have had success with the club in the past involved to get the work ethic into the young blokes.

"Neville is a legend throughout the district and he'll be very handy.

"He will sit on the bench in the seniors and have a lot of input into training and on match days.

"He's very knowledgeable about his football and someone that (assistant coach) Grant (Ewing) and I trust. Importantly, he's also very passionate about Imperials."

Similar can be said of Templeton, a two-time premiership player with the Bulldogs.

"He will be in charge of the football department and report back to the committee.

"He will also have a match-day role with Ossie (Osborn)."
 

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DOUG KNIGHTED
2 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By BY CODY WINNELL

MILLICENT Football-Netball Club has finally named its senior coach for 2006 with Saints' stalwart Doug Lang accepting the role.


Lang, who has played all his football with Millicent except for one season when he coached Kalangadoo in the Mid South East, was the logical choice for the Saints, who have held out naming a senior leader until now.

Former Millicent coach and multiple Western Border league medal winner, Andrew Nitschke, who is the club's football committee president, said Lang was a good signing for Millicent, which was looking for a coach who would "lead from the front".

According to Nitschke, that's one of Lang's most traditional traits.

"He's been around the club a long time and he knows which way the club wants to head. He's a natural leader.

"He understands the aim of the Saints this season is to fill all grades, especially in the juniors.

"If we get the building blocks in place then we're going to be in a good position for seasons to come."

Lang has built a strong reputation over the years playing for the Saints, the on-baller/back pocket consistently being one of Millicent's main possession winners.

Having had previous coaching experience at both senior and junior level, coaching his home club would have been something Lang had in the back of his mind for seasons now.

The opportunity arose this year with 2005 Saints coach Ashleigh Brown returning to Tasmania.

"I'm sure this was always something he thought about," Nitschke said.

"At this stage, given the situation, he saw this as a great opportunity and one that I'm sure he will relish."

Nitschke said the response at the Saints to date had been positive with Tuesday night's training session, where Lang was unveiled as coach, really well attended.

"We had nearly 30 there and all the guys were really positive.

"Everybody is looking forward to the start of season 2006, with the senior guys putting a big onus on encouraging the young players at the club to push for senior games.

"This is going to be strictly a rebuilding year for us."

The Saints have already named a host of key recruits for 2006 with David Dunn and Cameron Viney having already signed, while Nitschke said the Saints were nearly ready to name two more after speaking with them at training.

"We've got a couple more, we're not going to name them just yet, but it shouldn't be far away."

The club has also pushed hard at getting under-18 players back at Millicent.

"A lot of the kids we're getting back had been playing in the Mid South East, but these kids started with Millicent."

As for Justin Cotton and Adam Enright, who have both applied for clearances away from Millicent, Nitschke repeated his comment made in last Thursday's Spectator, "at this stage they're contracted players for 2006".

Millicent has a strong onus on moving forward, one that Nitschke is constantly stressing.

"We're in a good position now. We have all the guys really keen for the new season and we're looking to bolster our stocks at junior level.

"Putting all of this into place is the key for us at this stage and we're confident that we'll reap benefits from it in the future."
 

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Marc enjoying role
4 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By CODY WINNELL

WESTERN Border Football League Chief Executive Officer, Marc Turri, moved into his office this week and is enjoying his new role with the league.


It's a league that is prospering and easy to market, Turri believing it's far simpler to sell WBFL than it is Victorian Football League.

For the first few weeks sponsorship is on the top of his agenda.

"Sponsorship is a key component of my job but it's an area I'm vastly experienced with," Turri said.

"The response from possible sponsors has been so far very postive.

"Coming from a VFL background it was always much harder to get media exposure for it because the AFL obviously takes up so much of it in Melbourne."

Getting back to the Western District is something Turri is enjoying as Turri was raised in Portland, where he also played the majority of his football.

He assisted Portland Football Club's thirds to grand final berths in 1996 and 1997.

Turri started officially in his CEO post on Wednesday and has enjoyed his time so far.

"It's been really good the first few days, everybody has been really friendly and receptive.

"The next couple of weeks will be a great opportunity to meet even more people associated with the league and I'm looking forward to that."

Turri was to meet for the first time with all club delegates last night.

"I'm looking forward to the meeting. Everyone I've met so far has been interested in my background and very receptive.

"It's going to be great to meet the club delegates."

When it was first announced Turri had been selected for the CEO position, he said it was great "opportunity to be involved in a league I am quite passionate about".

His former football administration experience has seen him Sponsorship and Marketing Manager of Williamstown Football Club and Administration Manager of Williamstown and TAC Cup team Western Jets.

Although that's obviously very vast experience the Western Border role is different again.

"I didn't know what to expect when I first took on the role, but the office setup is fantastic and everybody has been really helpful.

"The communities associated with the clubs in the Western Border are great, they have a really keen interest in their competition."

Turri stressed that he's not just working for the league but for clubs also. And he welcomed any ideas or input that clubs have or may have in future.

"The door is always open," he said about his new office at 44 Gray St.

"I'll generally be available Monday to Friday 9-5pm in the office for clubs to come and see me, but it might pay to ring my mobile number beforehand to make sure I'm in the office."

Turri's mobile number for clubs to contact him on is 0419 399 311.

Already things have been happening with Turri on Thursday talking with a potential sponsor for the league's pre-season competition.

That proposal was to be run past the club delegates last night.

Between now and round one things are going to be pretty hectic through Turri's office.

He expects clearances to come thick and fast as they usually do, plus he's aiming to get all clubs online.

"One major aim is to get all clubs on the internet and setting up emails to improve communication lines between clubs and the league.

"And of course we want to raise the bar for sponsorship. It's a tough challenge because I've only got 6-8 weeks to sign them up in time for the season, but it's a challenge I feel I'm up to," Turri explained.
 

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CATS BOOST STOCK
4 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By MICHAEL HOWARD

THE pieces are falling into place for Casterton Football Club, with coach Gareth Abrahamson confirming several key signings who are expected to form the Cats' core in 2006.


The signing of school teachers and return of promising young prospects have inflated the Cats' stocks, which will bring a considerably new look to the table in 2006.

The new faces and first-year senior coach have brought a fresh approach to the club, which is enjoying improved numbers at training and is bubbling after a successful "boot camp" at Ballarat.

The latter, held at Pax Hill Scout Group, attracted 20 Cats, a response that Abrahamson described as "reasonable".

"We were happy with that, but a little disappointed that we didn't get more numbers," he said.

"It was a similar training camp to the one conducted by North Ballarat Rebels.

"We were involved for two days in what was a boot camp style. It centred on exercises, sprints and team building. It was good.

"There was a lot of fitness work and team building activities, stuff like climbing timber structures without letting go of each other."

The success of that camp is a further extension of a promising pre-season for the Island Park boys.

"Training numbers have been good," Abrahamson said. "We are regularly getting 30s at training with a further four to five footballers in the Rebels squad.

"The signs are positive."

Clearly, morale is high, which has been boosted by several new recruits committing to the club's cause.

Notable among the Cats' signings is the addition of Dylan Kent, a likely centre half-forward who has joined from West Adelaide, having also spent time with Southern Districts in Northern Territory Football League.

"He is a young guy who was a local and is returning home," Abrahamson said.

"He has played some higher level football and is returning to the area for work.

"He's quite tall, six foot three, and is a developing player."

Abrahamson hopes that Kent will develop into a likely centre half-forward, with the latter no doubt certain to benefit from playing beside the Cats' new coach, who has been one of Western Border's most prolific goal scorers in recent times.

It is a similar story for Nathan Reeves, who is also expected to settle near goals.

"He is a shorter type player, about five foot nine.

"He is working in town as a butcher and, like Kent, is a returning local.

"He is fairly fit and only young and will take on the role of a leading forward."

Importantly, Casterton's recruits also promise to inject greater leadership into the Cats.

Principally, this will come from school teachers Grant Luscombe and Shawn Taylor and veteran recruit Adam Galpin.

Both Luscombe and Taylor have aligned with the Cats after stints in Ballarat Football League, where Luscombe represented East Point.

"Grant is a physical education teacher at Casterton Secondary College," Abrahamson said. "He is very fit and is a hard-running player.

"He has been taking a couple of sessions himself, and will likely play off half-back with mid-distance running his strength."

Taylor is listed as more a utility type, but has quickly made an impression.

"He is extremely fit also. He has played in the Ballarat league and with Port Fairy as well.

"He is also a good leader and could play anywhere, being about six-foot tall."

It is expected that Galpin, who last season played for Bell Post Hill in Geelong and District Football League, will boost the Cats' spine, with the veteran tipped to take the pressure off the likes of Baden Dodd and Adrian Meyer in defence.

"He is not only a good size, about six foot, but he is a reasonably strong fella and is experienced," Galpin said. "He will most likely hold down a key defensive post."

In addition, the Cats' reliance on youth will also be prominent.

Of the up and coming types, Luke Robinson, who played in the Rebels' trial game at the weekend, Dylan Ryan and Josh Norris are all expected to take strides, with Abrahamson noting that Norris was particularly good at the camp.

With a practice match against Horsham Saints at Casterton on March 26 just around the corner, the signs are good.

"I'm a bit excited about it," the coach said. "Once we have our first practice match that will sort a few of them out.

"In the meantime, we will continue training three nights a week."
 

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Western Border to penalise rep team no-shows
7 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By MICHAEL HOWARD

WESTERN Border Football League's players that turn their back on interleague football will be penalised.


That is the news that emerged from Friday night's league delegates meeting at Casterton Football Club, where clubs conferred over interleague changes, increased computer activity and sponsorship details.

Of those topics, it is Western Border's decision to enforce penalties on footballers that don't put their hands up for representative football that is most likely to promote discussion.

In recent years, the league has allowed players to withdraw from interleague engagements without punishment, but according to league chairman, Craig Keating, that is about to change.

"We have in place the right to issue penalties and will be applying it," Keating said.

"There has always been the ability to do that, but it just gets back to the philosophy of the time.

"We want to take a hard line on that. There will be no soft option withdrawals.

"If it is deemed they occur, penalties will be enforced."

Representative football was a leading topic on Friday night's agenda, which also gave clubs a chance to welcome on board newly appointed chief executive officer, Marc Turri.

"We discussed interleague at length," Keating said.

"Graham Gill is in the process of putting together a team to administer and look after the squad.

"If we are going to be in it, we want to do it properly.

"There will be some changes to the way that we approach the championships.

"It will be no secret that we will be targeting younger players to compete in the shorter, quicker games.

"Notably, the pre-season cup will be a chance to see how the players deal with those sorts of conditions.

"Clubs will also have input into selection. We will be asking for clubs to liaise with the interleague team."

This year, Western Border will journey to Healesville in the Yarra Valley league, with the Blues certain to have a new face leading the team.

According to Keating, Western Border's long-term coach, Peter Sims, is not expected to put his hand up for the job.

Instead, the interleague reins are likely to be handled by a coaching panel, which Keating expects to drive the league from the VCFL's depths.

"We are in Group D at the moment and don't want to stay there," he said.

"I can't see any reason why we can't be competitive with Group A leagues down the track.

"Obviously they have strong competitions and bigger bases to draw from, but we were at that level not too long ago.

"We just need to get the right structure in place."

While interleague was prominent on Friday night's agenda, so too was addressing information technology.

"Computers took up a large portion of the meeting," Keating said.

"As of March 1 all VCFL clearances are handled electronically.

"As part of our training last Tuesday clubs will also submit match reports, results and team sheets on-line.

"It will be more efficient and will be up on the VCFL website much more quickly."

With Turri now on board and marketing the league full-time, sponsorship is also a key agenda item and that was certainly the case on Friday.

Keating said that the league will look at football usage, with Western Border hoping to be consistent with its ball use, rather than mixtures of Berley and Sherrin.

Additionally, the league has announced a new major sponshorship deal, which was orchestrated by Turri.

Beiersdorf (elastoplast) has been brought on board for cash sponsorship, a one-year deal with options for two more years.

The company has claimed naming rights to the league's pre-season cup as well as being the preferred supplier to Western Border clubs for medical tapes.
 

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DOUG KNIGHTED
2 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By BY CODY WINNELL

MILLICENT Football-Netball Club has finally named its senior coach for 2006 with Saints' stalwart Doug Lang accepting the role.


Lang, who has played all his football with Millicent except for one season when he coached Kalangadoo in the Mid South East, was the logical choice for the Saints, who have held out naming a senior leader until now.

Former Millicent coach and multiple Western Border league medal winner, Andrew Nitschke, who is the club's football committee president, said Lang was a good signing for Millicent, which was looking for a coach who would "lead from the front".

According to Nitschke, that's one of Lang's most traditional traits.

"He's been around the club a long time and he knows which way the club wants to head. He's a natural leader.

"He understands the aim of the Saints this season is to fill all grades, especially in the juniors.

"If we get the building blocks in place then we're going to be in a good position for seasons to come."

Lang has built a strong reputation over the years playing for the Saints, the on-baller/back pocket consistently being one of Millicent's main possession winners.

Having had previous coaching experience at both senior and junior level, coaching his home club would have been something Lang had in the back of his mind for seasons now.

The opportunity arose this year with 2005 Saints coach Ashleigh Brown returning to Tasmania.

"I'm sure this was always something he thought about," Nitschke said.

"At this stage, given the situation, he saw this as a great opportunity and one that I'm sure he will relish."

Nitschke said the response at the Saints to date had been positive with Tuesday night's training session, where Lang was unveiled as coach, really well attended.

"We had nearly 30 there and all the guys were really positive.

"Everybody is looking forward to the start of season 2006, with the senior guys putting a big onus on encouraging the young players at the club to push for senior games.

"This is going to be strictly a rebuilding year for us."

The Saints have already named a host of key recruits for 2006 with David Dunn and Cameron Viney having already signed, while Nitschke said the Saints were nearly ready to name two more after speaking with them at training.

"We've got a couple more, we're not going to name them just yet, but it shouldn't be far away."

The club has also pushed hard at getting under-18 players back at Millicent.

"A lot of the kids we're getting back had been playing in the Mid South East, but these kids started with Millicent."

As for Justin Cotton and Adam Enright, who have both applied for clearances away from Millicent, Nitschke repeated his comment made in last Thursday's Spectator, "at this stage they're contracted players for 2006".

Millicent has a strong onus on moving forward, one that Nitschke is constantly stressing.

"We're in a good position now. We have all the guys really keen for the new season and we're looking to bolster our stocks at junior level.

"Putting all of this into place is the key for us at this stage and we're confident that we'll reap benefits from it in the future."
Langs appointment for this season will be just for the yr ! and certainly a rebuilding phase for 06' the hunt is already on for season 2007 for prospective coaches and recruits on a short list.
 
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