SOCCER LOCAL coaching legend Gus Macleod is the new gaffer of ambitious State 4 outfit Chelsea. Macleod ended a five-year senior coaching hiatus when he agreed terms with Chelsea a fortnight ago. He was last in charge of a senior team in 2018 when he completed his 20th straight season at Langwarrin. Since then he has worked as a technical director at Lawton Park but the lure of the Chelsea post was impossible to ignore. “I never lost that itch that urge to coach senior players,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching the coaches at Langy but the Chelsea job just…
Browsing: sport
CRICKET PROVINCIAL LANGWARRIN has victory in their sights after a strong showing on the first day of their two-day clash with Red Hill. Red Hill hosted Langwarrin on Saturday. The home side won the toss and chose to bat first. Red Hill opener Riley Shaw was dismissed for just two runs to start their innings. They struggled to recapture momentum from there. Captain Chris Weeks scored 34 from 63 to help salvage something for his side. Red Hill was eventually bowled out for 133 after 55 overs. Matthew Prosser and Jackson Mockett did most of the work for Langwarrin with…
SOCCER SAMMY Orritt has rejoined Mornington after playing in the NPL with Langwarrin and Eastern Lions. The 30-year-old dynamo agreed terms last week and could be joined by more new signings shortly. Orritt’s football odyssey started in California at the age of three after business reasons prompted his family to move to the US from Doncaster in England. He is the best-travelled footballer on the peninsula having paraded his skills on pitches in England, Scotland, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. His first stint at Dallas Brooks Park started during the 2017 season when he arrived from NZ outfit…
CRICKET PROVINCIAL A MASSIVE opening stand between Dale Elmi and Luke Long has helped Baden Powell score an impressive win over Pines. Baden Powell was sent in to bat first on Saturday at Pat Rollo Reserve. Elmi and Long were awesome, scoring 166 runs between them before the first wicket fell. Dale Elmi fell agonisingly short of a century – he was dismissed first for 97. Soon after, Long managed to pass his century. He scored 103 before being caught out off the bowling of Ricky Ramsdale. A tail order collapse prevented Baden Powell from scoring an enormous total. They…
SOCCER LANGWARRIN gaffer Jamie Skelly has wasted little time in refashioning his squad by signing two new players for the 2024 season. And a third newcomer could be on the way if discussions between the club and an attacking player reach a positive conclusion. Last week the local NPL2 club agreed terms with central defender Luke Adams and Queensland goalkeeper Griffin Bambach. Adams, 29, boasts an impressive CV. He has captained New Zealand at under-17 and under-20 levels and made five appearances for the full national side. He started playing as a junior with Auckland-based Fencibles United eventually signing for…
CRICKET PROVINCIAL MPCA cricket returned last weekend with one-day action. Reigning Provincial division champions Old Peninsula got their 2023/2024 campaign off to a good start at home against Peninsula division premiers Heatherhill. The Pirates chose to bat first. Their best performers were Dylan O’Malley and captain Justin Grant – O’Malley scored 53 from the opening position and Grant scored 51 runs batting at number five. Old Peninsula finished their innings after 40 overs with 175 runs on the board. Heatherhill skipper Kristian Miller led from the front, but he didn’t get enough help from his teammates for a successful run…
SOCCER THE longest serving president in Seaford United’s history will step down at the club’s AGM next month. Willie Lynn and wife Liz have been involved with Seaford since 1978 and Willie is in the 16th year of a second stint as president having previously served for 10 years. Liz has served several terms on the committee and has turned her hand to almost every volunteer job at the club. The Lynns arrived in Melbourne from their native Scotland in August 1977 and North Seaford Reserve became their home away from home just a few months later. It’s been like…
SOCCER STATE 4 South outfit Chelsea has lured high-profile coaching guru Stuart Munro to its ranks. The local club announced his arrival as technical director late last week. Munro boasts a celebrated career both as a professional footballer and coach. The Scot played with St Mirren and Alloa before establishing himself with Glasgow giant Rangers where he played for seven and a half years. He also played with Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City before coming to Australia in 1997 to join Sydney United. Munro’s coaching CV includes stints at Gippsland Falcons, Carlton, Parramatta Power, South Melbourne, Oakleigh Cannons, Dandenong Thunder,…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE DROMANA comfortably defeated Frankston YCW to claim the 2023 MPFNL Division One premiership last weekend. Kinetic Stadium hosted the Grand Final last Sunday, 17 September. The Tigers have been the team to beat all season – Dromana came into the match with just one loss to their name all year. Frankston YCW finished the home-and-away season in second place. On Sunday, Dromana continued their good form. It was comfortable for the Tigers in the end. Frankston YCW had no answers for Dromana, who kept up the pressure all day. Dromana went on to win by 55 points…
SOCCER STUART Johnston is the new head coach of Rosebud and Donn Delaney is a short-priced favourite to take over the coaching reins at Frankston Pines. The last week has been dominated by coaching conjecture and although Pines are yet to make an official announcement former JBNPL coach and ex-Peninsula Strikers head coach Delaney is at unbackable odds to be appointed. Johnston was unveiled as new ’Buds boss at the club’s presentation on Saturday night in front of 130 attendees and this is his first senior appointment in Australia. The Englishman is an ex-Crawley Town junior and also was part…
AFL MASTERS By Chris Richmond IT wasn’t the last day in September, it was the tenth; the day the Peninsula Raiders 45s men’s side secured back-to-back premierships beating the Parkdale Vultures at Roy Dore reserve, Carrum. In a rematch of last year’s game, the final score was a resounding 13.7,85 to 4.2.26 victory. The day started off poorly for the Raiders with skipper Toby Loft limping to the sidelines with a popped calf and fellow midfielder Dave “Buddy” Franklin also following suit moments later. With two of the Raiders premier on-ballers effectively out of action someone needed to step up.…
MOUNT Martha kart racer, 13-year-old Mathew Basso, has claimed another title, winning the 2023 Australasian Kart Title after competing in the KA3 junior heavy class in the Goulburn Valley. Basso competed against some of Australia’s best junior drivers and was the only driver out of all the other classes to qualify, lead, and win every single race all weekend. He was also selected as the commentator’s driver of the weekend for the 2023 Australasian Titles. Announcer Aryton Creagh, who interviewed Basso after the race, said the young driver “is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on throughout the rest of…
A RECRUITMENT drive has seen Hastings Tennis Club more than double its membership. At the beginning of 2023 Hastings had no junior teams and a about 30 members. New coach Reece Driscoll said new members and new coaching programs had breathed new life into the club. “The club now has eight junior teams, two of which are section one, two nights of after-school coaching, a junior performance squad and has signed up over 50 new members,” he said. The club employed a new coaching team at the start of term two and with that had come a new atmosphere and…
SOCCER JAMIE Skelly is the new senior coach of Langwarrin. The local NPL2 club made the announcement late last week on its facebook page. Skelly replaces Scott Miller who resigned last month. Skelly is a former Langwarrin junior, reserves coach and senior assistant to both Miller and his predecessor Gus Macleod and has held senior coaching positions with Peninsula Strikers, Casey Comets and Noble Park United. His appointment came as no surprise after David Chick accepted the Bentleigh Greens role and Langy decided to honour the succession plan put in place five years earlier when Skelly became Miller’s assistant. “We…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE FRANKSTON YCW will play Dromana in the MPFNL Division One Grand Final this Sunday. To book their Grand Final spot, Frankston YCW had to withstand a challenge from Mt Eliza at Rosebud’s Olympic Park. Mt Eliza booted five goals in the opening term to get out to a 13-point lead at the first break. By half-time Frankston YCW managed to get ahead by two points. Heading into the final quarter, the Stonecats led by just four points. They held their nerve, and went on to score a hard-fought ten point win 16.9 (105) to 14.11 (95). Joshua…
SOCCER BAXTER has reached a fork in the road and its future direction could decide whether head coach Stephen Fisher remains at the State 4 club. Preliminary talks between club and coach took place last week and got off to a positive start. “If we had won promotion under the current set-up it would have been like going into a gunfight with a knife,” Fisher said. “There wouldn’t have been a happy outcome and we would have been fighting relegation throughout the State 3 season.” That’s a reference to the absence of a playing budget. Simply stated Baxter has to…
AFLW ESSENDON spoiled Hawthorn’s return to Frankston last weekend. Kinetic Stadium hosted the two sides under lights on Saturday. A huge crowd turned out to see a tightly contested game. The Hawks went into the half-time break ahead by a point. The Bombers pulled ahead in the third term, and managed to hold on to win by 19 points 4.6 (30) to 7.7 (49). Bonnie Toogood was the most influential player on the day. The Bombers star booted two goals and recorded 23 disposals. The Hawks return to Frankston on 22 September to play Melbourne. First published in the Mornington…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE DROMANA will cap off a brilliant 2023 season with a grand final appearance. The Tigers have had a brilliant year, losing just once during the home-and-away season. They finished top of the ladder, earning passage directly into the second week of finals. Dromana played Frankston YCW at Rosebud on Saturday, with the winner progressing to the big dance. The Tigers were impressive all day. They defeated Frankston YCW 17.14 (116) to 12.7 (79). Jordan Andrews, Jayden Tooth, Terry Wheeler, Ethan Johnstone, and Billy Quigley were Dromana’s best. Frankston YCW will play Mt Eliza in the preliminary final…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines remain hopeful of escaping relegation from State 2 South-East despite finishing second bottom after last weekend’s final league round. Goals from Tom Hawkins and Joe O’Connor weren’t enough to overcome second-placed Brandon Park and Pines had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Freeway Reserve on Saturday. The 2023 rules of competition make grim reading for Pines but all promotion and relegation is at the discretion of Football Victoria and a number of scenarios are yet to be played out. “No-one really knows what lies ahead,” Pines head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor said. Rumours abound of a…
THE MPFNL will not be expanded in 2024. Earlier this year, the MPFNL sought expressions of interest from clubs who wished to join the league in 2024. The expansion proposal was rejected by the incumbent MPFNL clubs last week. Cranbourne, Frankston Dolphins, Narre Warren, Pakenham, South Mornington, and Carrum Patterson Lakes are understood to be the teams which had their bids for MPFNL acceptance rejected. Frankston Dolphins released a statement on its Facebook page last week after the decision was made. “The Committee was informed last night that Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League club presidents had voted for no further…
SOCCER SCOTT Miller won’t coach Langwarrin next season. The Lawton Park club made the announcement last week after scheduled talks between Miller, president Tanya Wallace and main sponsor Greg Kilner due to be held at the end of the season were brought forward. Miller’s last match as head coach was Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Brunswick Juventus a result that confirmed the visitors’ relegation. Goals from Brad Blumenthal and Tom Youngs sealed Juve’s fate but its cause wasn’t helped by the straight red brandished at Mathew Whatley in the opening seconds of the second half. Miller’s first match at the…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE PINES had no problems on Saturday against cellar-dwellers Bonbeach. The Pythons led at every break and kept Bonbeach to just two majors until the fourth quarter. The margin was greatest at three-quarter time when Pines were 84 points up before Bonbeach came back a little with four goals in the final quarter. The final score was 18.11 (119) to Pines’ 6.11 (47). The Pythons ending the regular season third on the ladder. Sorrento had a tough task at home against ladder leaders Dromana. The Tigers only lost one game for the season and would not be coming…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE SORRENTO picked up a good win last weekend to finish Round 17 in fifth place, but they may need to beat the premiership favourites to secure their finals spot. The Sharks travelled to play last-place Bonbeach on Saturday. Both sides were all square after the first term, but Sorrento soon showed their quality. Sorrento established a ten point lead in the second term, then put the game to bed with a five-goals-to-one third quarter. Sorrento won the battle of the Sharks 8.7 (55) to 14.14 (98). Unfortunately for Bonbeach, the loss means they cannot move off the…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ season goes on the line on Saturday night when it meets Berwick City at Monterey Reserve. It’s a do-or-die clash for both sides given the relegation scrap in which they find themselves. There’s just three games left with Pines precariously perched in second last place on the league ladder (at present the bottom two go down) a point behind Berwick and two points behind Skye United. Skye hosts Berwick the following week. Describing Pines’ season as topsy-turvy is an understatement. Losing last season’s strike force due to players switching clubs and work commitments posed a problem that’s…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE LANGWARRIN scored the upset of the season against undefeated Dromana at Lloyd Park last Saturday. Dromana has been dominant this season. The premiership favourites came into the match 15-0 for the year. Langwarrin on the other hand have struggled, and sit in ninth place with just two wins to their name. The Kangaroos were up for the fight all day long. Dromana led at the half-time and three-quarter-time breaks, but never by more than five points. Langwarrin were relentless in the final term. They managed to sneak ahead, and were rewarded for their hard work with a…