Border Mail – Round 13 – Preview
SAM O’Connor may have an unblemished record as Lavington Cricket Club’s new coach.
But the same can’t be said for his judgement in charge of Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock’s reserves in the Hume league this season.
With his Panthers teammate and former New Zealand Test cricketer Daryl Tuffey joining Holbrook mid-season, O’Connor attempted to ruffle his feathers when their teams clashed in round nine.
“We were ringing each other during the week and talking a bit of you know what and I said I’d go straight to him at the start of the game,” O’Connor said.
“It was only ‘Tuffs’ second game of footy.
“After some pushing and shoving and cheeky punches to the ribs I quickly realised he was way too strong for me so I ran away.
“He’s a big dog and was going to rag doll me.”
O’Connor admitted Tuffey well and truly had his measure in their first confrontation.
“He was referring to himself as the ‘Demolition Ball’ that day as he was busting through pack after pack,” O’Connor said.
“No one could tackle him and he knew it.
“He probably set up three or four goals.”
The light-hearted clash has been just one of many this season with a remarkable 21 Lavington Panthers cricketers lining up in the league.
Holbrook leads the way with nine – Sam Harris, Matt Sharp, Andrew Mackinlay, Tuffey, Will Heriot, David Tassell, Jayden Beaumont, Ben Talarico and Jack Favell – while Josh Jones is a former Panther in Cricket Albury-Wodonga ranks.
O’Connor, Matt Heagney, Joel Felmingham and Braden Eddy play for Brock-Burrum while Brett and Kai Davies, Nathan Brown and Jarryd Weeding are at Rand-Walbundrie-Walla.
Michael and Chris Galvin, Harry Weaven and Tom Vanderhorst are Jindera players.
The cricket-football link at Lavington doesn’t end there with opening batsman Matt Tom umpiring in the Ovens and Murray and assistant-coach David Coulston a regular official in district leagues matches.
Ryan Brown (Bullioh), Jayden Wright and Sam Strelec (Federal) and Ben Kunkel and Brad Dalbosco (Barnawartha) are also playing country football.
O’Connor said former Panther cricket coach and part-time Holbrook runner Robbie Mackinlay had been instrumental in many cricketers playing football.
“The good thing is that come cricket pre-season no fitness work needs to be done,” he said.
“We just get straight into the skill work.
“I think that’s why Robbie has ran such a tight ship.”
RAND-Walbundrie-Walla could welcome back four of their best players to take on Holbrook in a crunch match at Holbrook on Saturday.
With the Giants’ season on the line, coach Myles Aalbers, Mitch Thomas, Ryan Lavery and Kai Davies are in the mix to return from injury.
Lavery has managed only five games this season due to a leg injury after taking out the club’s best and fairest last year.
Aalbers was reappointed for a fourth season earlier this week.
“We should get a few back, but we are more focused on getting our intensity back,” he said.
“It dropped off against Lockhart before the general bye.
“I think we have shown our best footy is good enough this year and we just need to bring that effort and we will be right in the game against Holbrook.”
Holbrook and the Giants played a draw in blustery conditions at Rand earlier this season.
HUME LEAGUE
ROUND 13
Saturday, July 21
Brock-Burrum v Culcairn
CDHBU v Henty
Holbrook v Rand-Walbundrie-Walla
Lockhart v Murray Magpies
Billabong Crows v Howlong
Osborne v Jindera
THE EXPERTS SELECT
ANDREW ROBERTSON
(The Lion King)
Brock-Burrum
Henty
Holbrook
Lockhart
Billabong Crows
Osborne
TOTAL: 53
JASON KOHN
(The Kohn Man)
Brock-Burrum
Henty
Holbrook
Lockhart
Howlong
Osborne
TOTAL: 45
IAN PERTZEL
(Lockhart Sledgehammer)
Brock-Burrum
Henty
RWW
Lockhart
Howlong
Jindera
TOTAL: 46
BRETT KOHLHAGEN
(The Border Mail)
Brock-Burrum
Henty
RWW
Lockhart
Howlong
Jindera
TOTAL: 53
SIMMONS FREE
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla defender Tom Simmons is free to play against Holbrook on Saturday after receiving a reprimand for striking Lockhart’s Jamie Clough.
Simmons pleaded guilty to the charge on Tuesday night.
Along with his brother Brendan, Simmons has been one of the Giants’ most consistent players over the past month.
STAYING PUT
Henty will again host this year’s Azzi medal count.
The league received a proposal from the Commercial Club, but opted to keep the function in the competition’s heartland.
NORMAN DOUBLE
Daysdale netball identity Noreen Norman will join her husband, Lindsay, in the Hall of Fame next week.
They will become the first husband-and-wife combination to be inducted after Lindsay was honoured in 2015.
In another first, brothers Kelly and George Azzi (both deceased) will be inducted.
Howlong’s triple Azzi medallist Terry O’Halloran, Walla netball stalwart Jill Kohlhagen and Lockhart ‘s John Trevaskis have also been recognised.
The function will be held at the Commercial Club on Wednesday from 6.30pm.
Tickets are available through the league.
