What’s the future for interleague games?

According to GVL co-coach Mark Lambourn the dust will be given a chance to settle from the weekend’s game before any talks between the two leagues decides what the immediate future holds for both leagues in regards to interleague games.

‘‘We’ll sit down in a couple of weeks and have a chat and come up with what we think is the best thing to do,’’ Lambourn said.

‘‘I love interleague games, but there are a lot of things to consider, particularly the expenses in running them.’’

Some critics believe the GVL versus Ovens and Murray annual clashes in recent years may have run their race.

Some also believe new rivals for both leagues may be the way to go to inject fresh enthusiasm into interleague football.

Lambourn said he was pleasantly surprised with the good sized crowd at Deakin Reserve for the clash which showed that a lot of people still like their interleague footy.

I have always been a strong advocate for interleague games which give players the incentive to aspire to representing their family, club and the league at a higher level.

xxxxxxxxx

A decision this week by the Picola District Football Netball League board could have the league revert back to a two-tier competition.

But the league’s general manager Shane Railton was not prepared to predict what the board may do.

A meeting of clubs last Sunday were about even on reintroducing a second tier or leaving it one league so the decision now rests with the Picola board.

Railton said about 10 clubs, not all Picola league clubs, had shown interest in the two-tier proposal.

The league split for the first time in 2009 with North West and South West leagues being formed.

It remained in that format until 2018 when the two divisions merged after the league had decided not to affiliate with AFL Goulburn Murray.

Four clubs — Shepparton East, Dookie United, Tungamah and Katandra — didn’t rejoin the league.

Shepparton East and Dookie United joined Kyabram District League and Tungamah and Katandra the Murray league.

Xxxxxxxxx

(with photo of Laurie Quinlan supplied by Gus)

The recent death in Melbourne of Laurie Quinlan revived a lot of pleasant memories for many Kyabramites.

Laurie and his wife Beth arrived in Kyabram in the mid 1960s when Laurie took up his position as a teacher at Haslem Street Primary School.

Laurie, who died on May 10, grew up in the Yea district and was the youngest of eight children.

After arriving in Kyabram he quickly established himself as a fine sportsman and one of the best all-rounders in Kyabram District Cricket Association.

He was also regarded as one of the best captains to lead a Kyabram Cricket Club side and was in charge when the club won the KDCA A-grade premiership in the 1969-70 season.

His death brought back a lot of memories for one Kyabramite in particular, Brian O’Meara.

Brian knew Laurie from their first day at Assumption College, Kilmore, in early February, 1952.

“We were boarders at the college for five years where we completed our secondary education,’’ Brian said.

‘‘In addition to being good classmates, we became very involved in sport.

‘’In the 50s, handball was a strongly played sport at the college. In our first two years we took handball very seriously and played lots of it. As a result, we both became quite good at it and won the doubles championships at the college in 1953 and 1954.

‘’Following our college days we remained very good friends for the next 72 years.

‘‘Laurie’s wife Beth joined myself and Anne (wife) at St Augustine's Tennis Club where we enjoyed both the tennis and social activities.

‘‘Laurie would often join us for a social evening. He was also a very good golfer and we teamed up to contest various events at Valley View.

‘‘Over the ensuing years, we have kept in touch — whether at college reunions or just a catch-up once or twice a year.’’

xxxxxxxxxx

Waaia Cricket Club is taking steps to try and avoid agonising straight set exits from Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield competition after winning the minor premiership.

It has lured star batter Liam Evans back to the club after two years with Nathalia Cricket Club and has also added South African all-rounder Morgan Potgieter as one of the club’s two overseas players.

Evans, who won the Lightfoot Medal playing with Waaia in 2021-22 Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield competition also plays football for Nathalia and currently sits in second place on the Murray Football League goal-kicking list with 34 goals, nine behind former Kyabram goalsneak Kyle Mueller whose five goals against Moama on Saturday took his tally in eight games to 43.

xxxxxxxxxx

Kyabram businessmen-sportsmen, who go by the name of ‘‘We are Crackers Group’’ and headed up by Peter Hall, chairman of selectors of Kyabram Football Club and Graham Lyon, celebrated another win with their impressive trotter Shes Ruby Roo at the weekend.

The four-year-old mare defied a betting drift to land the money at Melton in the opening event, paying $4 for the win.

Drawn the inside of the second row Shes Ruby Roo was able to get the back of the pacemaker and race favourite Watts Up Partytime in the run and then ran that trotter down in the concluding stages to notch her ninth win in 23 starts.

Three of these wins have come in her past four starts and the latest win has taken her prizemoney earnings to more than $150,000.