COUNTRY footy crowds could be back in force (fingers crossed) in the coming season.
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Exemptions on the original cap of 1000 spectators, excluding players and officials, has resulted in one Goulburn Valley League club being granted extra spectator numbers.
In fact Echuca, which hosts Seymour in the opening round at Easter, was so successful in its exemption application it will be allowed 5000 spectators to pass through the gate at Victoria Park.
Club president Ash Byrne said although the crowd was unlikely to reach those numbers, it provided options.
Shepparton Football Club has also indicated it will be looking for crowd exemptions for its Good Friday opening round clash with its Deakin Reserve co-tenant, Shepparton United.
President of Murray League club Echuca United Ian Johnson believes the 1000 crowd cap is well short, claiming his club usually caters for about 3000 spectators at home games.
AFL star returns to Rushworth
●Rushworth Football Club has received some good news as the season approaches with former AFL star Daniel Harris returning home to play games this season.
Originally from Rushworth, Harris played 149 games with North Melbourne and 11 with Gold Coast Suns in a stellar AFL playing career.
He will be renewing a friendship with Rushworth coach Brett Pateman, who was in charge of the KDL Tigers when making his senior debut as a teenager in the late 1990s.
Now 38, Harris played for North Heidelberg in the Northern District League in 2019 and Pateman believes the tough midfielder has a lot to offer at Rushworth with his experience and renowned hard-at-it work ethic.
Umpire shortage a threat to footy comeback
●It would be the last straw given what’s happened over the past year but could a lack of umpires be the new fly in the ointment as to footy seasons restarting in northern Victoria this year?
AFL Goulburn Murray has estimated it is 40 umpires short of the 250 umpires required to run the three senior men’s leagues - Goulburn Valley, Murray and Kyabram leagues - and Country Women’s League for the 2021 season.
AFL GM Umpires boss Sam Wood said COVID-19 had had an impact with some former umpires taking up other pursuits during the lockdown. indicating they won’t be returning.
AFL Goulburn Murray is hoping more umpiring recruits will attend a come-and-try session tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 25) night at Kialla from 6pm where there is a new facility for umpires.
Kyabram-based Goulburn Valley Umpires Association president Andrew Moore said his association was planning a similar evening in the near future at Kyabram.
He urged anyone interested in umpiring to attend these sessions because of the current critical situation.
Interleague remains on hold
●The GVL versus Ovens and Murray Football and Netball League showdowns have been called off for the second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both leagues had been working towards a new date for 2021 but because of the ever-evolving threat of the pandemic, both leagues have agreed to postpone these matches to 2022.
Due to be hosted by GOTAFE GVL, matches would have included senior and Under 18 football clashes along with open and 17 and Under netball games.
The senior football teams would have once again played for the coveted Ash-Wilson Trophy, currently held by the O&M.
The leagues have competed against each other since 2001 with the trophy being named after former Shepparton and Albury legend Stephen Ash and Wangaratta Rovers champion Mick Wilson.
VFL star among Euroa's boom recruits
●Euroa is emerging as a genuine force in the GVL this season after adding several class recruits to its playing ranks over the summer months.
The latest newcomer is former Collingwood VFL skipper Jack Hellier.
Hellier made the VFL Team of the Year in 2013 and was intending to continue his career with the Pies last year.
But after missing last season through COVID and at 32 years of age he has opted to pull the plug on his VFL career and throw in his lot with Euroa who have lured at least six quality recruits to its ranks for the coming season.
Masters footy on offer
●If you are over 35 and live in the Kyabram area and would still like to have a kick of the footy in a reasonable stress-free environment, you’ve got a couple of choices.
Both Echuca and Shepparton are fielding sides in a Masters competition this season.
Echuca is known as the Echuca Moama United Emus while Shepparton goes under the banner of Goulburn Valley Giants.
Echuca’s home ground is the Echuca South oval while the GV Giants are based at Shepparton’s Kialla Recreation Reserve.
If you are interested in having a kick with the Emus, the contact number is 0429 176 298 while the GV Giants can be contacted via Facebook.
Swans on the way up
●Shepparton Swans have lured back former senior players in BJ Squires, Tom Campbell, Mitch Bell and Ryan Pfeiffer as anticipation grows for an improved season for the GVL battler of the past few years.
The Paul Hawke-coached Swans have had good numbers on the track and at a function at the weekend where AFL great Gary Ablett Jr was guest speaker.
Gold medal display at museum
●Rochester’s Sports Museum has had some more prestigious memorabilia added to its already impressive display.
Apparel and gear belonging to Bendigo’s great and late lawn bowler Don Sherman is now on display in the museum.
Sherman’s wife Judy and their son Don Jnr recently made the presentation to the museum.
Sherman was a gold medalist at the 1982 Commonwealth Games when the sport of bowls was introduced for the first time.
He was also in the Australian side which contested the World Bowls Series in 1985, the year he also represented his country in the Pacific Games.
After his playing days, he became an Australian coach and selector.
Although he never lived in Rochester, he had a strong connection with the district with his sister Dorothy Tognolini a resident of the town.
Blues fun run open for all
●Tongala Football Netball Club’s fun run is returning this year.
The big family day and season launch which was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic is being staged on Saturday, March 27.
The fun run is divided into three distances - 10km run, a 3km run or walk and a 3km run for the kids.
The run starts at 9.30am and anyone, just not club members or supporters, are invited to join in.
Entry is $40 per person but this includes a singlet and barbecue lunch. There is an option to do the run and buy the singlet separate.
More information is available on the club’s Facebook page.
Book a place for the cup
●Racing fans wanting to attend this year’s Moama Bowling Club Echuca Cup meeting on Sunday, March 7 are advised to pre-book or pre-register to avoid disappointment.
There will be a cap on crowd numbers and already there have been consistent bookings.
Feature events at the meeting will be the cup and the Vobis Gold Eldorado which are both worth $100,000.