Sports snaps with Gus Underwood

THERE could be no interleague football competition next year, with AFL Victoria axing the WorkSafe Community Championships. However, AFL Victoria has still agreed to support any leagues eager to continue representative football.

And Goulburn Valley League operations manager Grant Wilson said his league will be trying to continue interleague football and netball despite AFL Victoria’s present stance.

AFL community football and development officer Steve O’Donohue said there were several reasons why the Community Championships had been scrapped, with many leagues pushing for an update of the competition and raising doubts on the current format.

Refusal of top players from leagues to make themselves available for interleague games, with the true strength of leagues not displayed in most interleague games, has also been mentioned as a factor in the decision.

AFL Victoria region manager Jamie Macri said the future of interleague games now rests with the leagues.

‘‘If leagues want to play interleague, AFL will support them,’’ Macri said.

Obviously games against neighbouring leagues — the Murray League and the Ovens and Murray League — would create the most interest for spectators in northern and north east Victoria, who are somewhat reluctant to support interleague games, particularly if it’s a long road trip to play.

The Ovens and Murray League has already expressed interest in a clash with the GVL.

I have always been a strong advocate for interleague football — any interleague sport for that matter — which usually gives players the chance to play at a higher level but even more importantly represent their club and league.

Lions and Aynsley split

STANHOPE Football Club and its coach Coby Aynsley have parted ways, with the Kyabram District League Lions now on a hunt for a new coach.

Club president Damian Miller said his club and Aynsley have departed on good terms despite Aynsley being reappointed in the recent final series.The split was prompted by different views held by Aynsley and the club about the future.

Aynsley will rejoin his former club Shepparton East.

Shepp appoints co-coaches

SHEPPARTON Football Club has appointed former GVL stars Ramadan Yze and Sam Ahmet as co-coaches for next season.

One of Shepparton’s former Under 18 premiership players and Richmond and current VFL Footscray player Nathan Drummond has also listed the Bears as his home club, although he isn’t expected to play any games, still being in the state league system.

Euroa Football Club has been one of the most active of GVL clubs since the season finished and will have a host of new faces next season, which is expected propel it up among the premiership hopefuls.

Murchison to stick with Nick

NICK Iorianni will be non-playing coach for Murchison in the Kyabram District League again next season.

Iorianni guided the Grasshoppers into the finals this season in his first season at coach of the club, losing an elimination final to Stanhope.

Switch is a winner for Miss

THE return of Miss McManus to the racetrack as a trotter with a new trainer paid instant dividends when she claimed the Cliff Robinson Memorial Trot at last week’s Cobram meeting.

Having her first start as a trotter after 65 starts as a pacer, which produced four wins and 14 minor placings, the eight-year-old daughter of Grinfromeartoear gave a flawless display for new trainer, Tongala-based Michael Watt, and reinsman Damian Wilson.

Wilson camped Miss McManus on the back of the pacemaker and favourite Bicardi Wood and she sprint-laned to an impressive first-up win over the favourite with the Mark Lee-trained and driven Flippin Easy filling third placing.