TALENTED young Kyabram footballer Charlie Barnett was a little disappointed in his display in the final trial match from which the School Sport Victorian side to contest the under 15 national championships was to be selected.
That was last Sunday week.
The following day Charlie’s dad, Justin, handed him a letter when he got off the bus in Kyabram from attending school at Goulburn Valley Grammar.
The letter announced Charlie, 14, had made the final team of 25 players to make the trip to Tasmania in July to contest the national titles.
‘‘He was a bit disappointed with his game in the final trial but pretty rapt when he got the news he had made the side, I can tell you,’’ said Justin.
Justin believes his son’s ability to take his chances during a game played a big part in earning his Big V jumper.
‘‘He usually makes the most of his possessions,’’ said Justin.
The national under 15 championships are being held in Launceston from July 27 to August 3.
Some 300 hand-picked under 15 players from all over Victoria tried out for the team, reflecting the enormity of Charlie’s feat in making the final cut.
Charlie, a ‘‘Collingwood six footer’’ who can play in any position with authority, has the breeding to be a talented player.
His maternal great grandfather is the legendary Kyabram player and inaugural Goulburn Valley Football League Morrison Medallist, the late Wilf Cox.
His paternal great grandfather is Greg Barnett, a club legend and life member of the Box Hill Football Club.
An uncle, Heath — Justin’s brother — was an accomplished Kyabram and Lancaster footballer and a centenarian goalkicker in the Cairns competition.
Justin himself was also handy player with Lancaster.
So the family gene pool has been very much in favour of Charlie being a footballer with his share of ability.
And he has wasted no time in displaying that.
He has been a member of the Goulburn Murray Echuca-based Bendigo Pioneers squad for the past three years and last year he shared the Keith Saddlier Medal for the best and fairest player in the Goulburn Campaspe League’s under 14 competition.
Charlie is currently playing his club football with the Kyabram Bombers under 16 division one team in the Shepparton District Junior Football League and is a member of its interleague team, which plays Bendigo this weekend.
Charlie’s immediate football commitments don’t stop there. He has another tournament in early July in Mildura as part of the GM Academy squad. This tournament is a potential pathway to the V/Line Cup, an elite statewide under 15 competition to be held in September in Shepparton.
Yes, the ball is firmly at Charlie’s feet.
Who will enter hall of fame?
WHOSE names are about to be added to the list of Goulburn Valley League Hall of Fame inductees?
The latest batch will be announced at a GVL function this Sunday evening in Shepparton.
I understand there will be six new inductees and also a legend joining the ranks.
Former Kyabram players who have already been inducted are the late Wilf Cox and goalkicking wizard from the 1990s Chris Stuhldreier.
Kyabram premiership coach and Rochester stalwart David Williams has also been inducted.
Who could it be?
APPARENTLY it’s more than a rumour about a big-name player joining a local neighbouring lawn bowls club over the past week or so.
The clubs involved play in different associations and once had a fierce football rivalry.
Glory for Rory
KYABRAM trainers and owners had a big day at the Cobram Harness Racing Club’s Community Pink Ladies fundraiser meeting on Sunday for the McGrath Foundation.
A group of Kyabram owners, known to celebrate win, lose or draw, enjoyed the victory of trotter Rory McHinson, who saluted for Kyabram trainer Mick Blackmore in his third run back from a long spell.
Rory is named after Kyabram’s Roy Hindson and Roy is among the Kyabram owners who include Jackie Pearce, Kyra Clark, Lyn Allen and Greg Woods.
A five-year-old by Muscle Mass, Rory McHinson has had just the 10 race starts for four wins and three placings.
Other Kyabram owners who enjoyed a win at the meeting were John Lilford, Tony Hansen, Rob Whitford and Peter Hall who race the smart Steve Duffy-trained pacer Winkanditsover.
Driven by Ryan Duffy, Winkanditsover was coming off a second placing when resuming from a spell and has now won 10 races with 19 minor placings from 38 career starts.