Sports snaps with Gus Underwood

From a well known Timmering and Girgarre farming family and known to everyone as George, he had sustained a blow to the head in the first quarter but courageously played another two quarters before being replaced.

He sat out the rest of the game in a car and even watched the senior game, and despite complaining at the time of not feeling well he insisted he would he all right.

But his condition worsened and after being attended at the ground by St John Ambulance officers he was taken to Mooroopna Base Hospital by his father Rex who was at the game with George’s younger siblings Archie, Trevor and Helen.

But his condition continued to deteriorate and he lost his battle to live in the early hours of Sunday morning.

His death was greeted with both disbelief and also generous praise for the teenager who had won a lot of respect in his short time on Earth.

One of his schoolteachers and secretary of the Kyabram Football Club at the time Lyn Barry said that in his 10 years of teaching he had never met a nicer mannered young man. He also predicted a bright future for him as a footballer.

George’s funeral at the Kyabram Cemetery was preceded by a most impressive service at an overflowing Timmering Presbyterian Church, and the cortege to the Kyabram Cemetery was over a mile-and-a-half long.

The president of Goulburn Valley Football League Cr T Hastie and the secretary Mr G Dowell attended the funeral, with guards of honour at the cemetery formed by George’s schoolmates from Kyabram Higher Elementary School and Kyabram and Tatura footballers.

Coffin bearers were George Watson, Ron Cooper, Ted Butler, Angus McDonald, Lyn Barrow and Cr Les Varcoe.

Pall bearers were schoolmates Peter Garrett, Barry Ruler, Graham Butler, Lionel Walker, Stuart Black and Vernon Farthing.

George was survived by two brothers Archie and Trevor, who live in Cobram these days, and sister Helen.

There was speculation at the time George may have been kicked in the head but at an inquest at Mooroopna it was established his death had been caused by a knock on the head from a relative soft object and not a football boot. He had suffered concussion of the brain in the incident.

In the year of his death the Kyabram Football Club struck up a medal in George’s honour to be awarded to the most improved player in the seconds each year.

Kyabram historian Eileen Sullivan has delved into the early winners of this medal from Free Press files and has traced winners to 1967, so it was obviously overlooked after that for some unknown reason.

Early winners of the medal were:

1954 — Barry Ruler; 1955 — Brian Turnbull; 1956 — Lloyd Gregory; 1957 — Brian Cox; 1958 — John Adams; 1959 — Ray Tuhan; 1960 — Ernie Hill; 1961 — Ray Tuhan; 1962 — (no mention of a McQueen medal); 1963 — Dave Bates; 1964 — Geoff Robbins; 1965 — Chris Salter; 1966 — G Steendan; 1967 — K Higgins.

Some big signings in the GVL

Echuca will have former Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney defender Sam Reid lining up with his brother Ben with the Murray Bombers next season.

Sam has had 108 games of AFL experience and at 31 years old will add some vital experience to the already talented young Echuca side.

He was in the GWS beaten grand final side in the 2019 season, in which he played every game.

Mansfield Football Club has lured a former junior back to the club for the 2022 season.

Jack Hutchins heads back to his old club with an armful of credentials.

The key defender has been with VFL club Casey since 2015 and has captained it to two grand finals and won a best-and-fairest award.

Before that Hutchins spent four years with AFL club Gold Coast Suns, playing 19 games.

Another former player, Lochie Christopher, is joining Hutchins at the Eagles next season which has the club buzzing at the moment.

Shepparton United Football Club has promoted Paul Serra to head coach after the past two years as an assistant coach at the club.

Serra is no stranger to the senior role, having coached his home club Tatura and also the GVL representative side after a stellar playing career with the Bulldogs.

He said his main aim was to get some consistency into the Demons, who experienced some highs but a lot of lows as well this season.

What will Will do?

That’s the burning question now after the Western Bulldogs delisted Will Hayes.

Hayes is from the famous Euroa racing family and a brother of both JD and Ben, now a training duo at the iconic Lindsay Park property.

JD has already made a huge impression with Euroa and holds the honour of being the club’s youngest ever coach.

No doubt Euroa, one of the main contenders for this year’s GVL flag before the season was aborted, will be hoping Will will join his brothers at Euroa.

But if that eventuates, juggling footy with thoroughbred racing will be a huge challenge to overcome.

In other AFL delistings of former GVL players, North Melbourne has parted ways with veteran Shaun Atley after 234 games, and Melbourne with talented but injury-plagued former Leitchville-Gunbower and Echuca player Marty Hore.

Brayden Sier, the son of former Kyabram player Joe, has also got the chop from Collingwood.

Cowan hits hole-in-one

When I was growing up the name Roger Cowan was huge in Victorian country golf, and he was a state representative for eight years.

Now 82, the Benalla golfer is still making news, scoring a hole-in-one during a recent round on his way to scoring an impressive 79 on the par 72 Benalla course.

It’s been a long time between drinks for Cowan as far as scoring aces are concerned, with the only other one he achieved 53 years ago in 1968 at the Wangaratta course.

Hazelman back with Hawks

Murray Football League club Barooga has welcomed a former coach and 300-game veteran back to the club with open arms.

James Hazelman spent this season at Picola League club Berrigan but has played more than 350 games with the Hawks.

Former Berrigan skipper Grant Martin will join Hazelman at Barooga.

Neighbour Cobram, the side most pundits thought was Tongala’s main danger for the flag this year before COVID-19 KO’d the season, has been busy re-signing players, including key men Tyron Baden, Adam De Cicco, Darcy McCormack, Nathan Hartley and Matt Demaio.

In-person celebration

There was something different about Moama Football Netball Club’s recent awards function: players and fans actually attended it — a rarity in these COVID times.

Midfielder Fraser Verhey took the senior best-and-fairest award in a close count, pipping onballer flanker Jack Russell.

Verhey was named in Moama’s best players in nine of the 13 games played.

In netball, Emily Taverna was a clear-cut winner, polling top votes in 12 of the 13 games to win by a big margin from Lisa Drysdale, who was in her first season with the club.

At Echuca United Football Netball Club, Matthew Lias claimed the top award while Remy Day was the A-grade netball winner.

Bain takes reins at Blighty

Picola Football Netball league club Blighty has promoted from within its ranks to try and led the senior football side out of the wilderness.

The club has given the gig to Kyel Bain, who obviously impressed with his coaching ability when he led the Redeyes to the 2019 reserves flag.

Bain has been a regular at the club, joining its junior ranks in the early 1990s and playing more than 300 senior games with the club.

No go at Heartland

Moama’s Heartland Raceway had to put the brakes on its planned meeting last Saturday due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Many of the workforce which runs the meeting, along with many competitors, are not in the cross-border bubble, which forced the cancellation.

The event was to have featured the Wingless sprints and V8 dirt modifieds.

Racing track application

Strathmerton will have a motor racing track if an application is approved by Moira Shire Council.

Mad Nats Pty Ltd has submitted a planning application to council for the track at 716 Katunga North Rd.

A cement pad for monthly testing, tuning and burnouts will be used on approved days between 10am and 5.30pm in the $100,000 development.