Umpire embraces Top End adventure
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TO USE his own words, Connor Hawes is ‘‘loving it.’’
His umpiring stint in the Northern Territory Football League that is.
The 19-year-old Kyabramite has officiated in the first four premier grade rounds in the league and said he was really enjoying the experience.
‘‘The footy is very open and fast and there are a lot of skilful players. I’m really liking it,’’ Connor said.
He said three central umpires officiate in every game which was helpful because of the muggy conditions the games were played in.
‘‘Most games don’t start until 5.30pm which is a help but it’s still pretty draining,” he said.
“I did umpire one game that started at 2.30pm and I was sweating for a long time after it, I can tell you. It was pretty draining and challenging.’’
Connor has just come off a busy weekend, umpiring an under 18 game on the Friday night before flying to the Tiwi Islands to officiate in the Tiwi Bombers versus Southern Districts clash on the Saturday.
Connor, a member of the Goulburn Valley Umpires Association, was trialling to get into the VFL umpiring system when COVID-19 struck, which consequently influenced his decision to go north for part of the summer to increase his umpiring experience.
He officiated 26 times at senior level in games last season in the Goulburn Murray football region and is regarded as one or its most promising young umpires.
Connor works for a Melbourne accounting firm and is still able to carry out that role online while in Darwin.
He expects to return to Victoria early next month.
Football recruit makes hay while sun shines
Kyabram Football Club recruit Jack Cattanach is also making an impression in the Northern Territory Football League’s premier competition.
Cattanach, originally from Hay, was to have made his debut with the Bombers this season but it had to be put on hold due to COVID-19.
In Darwin he is playing with the Waratah club.
Cattanach, an attacking defender/midfielder, is a talented sportsman, according to Kyabram Football Club president Peter Learmonth whose ties with Cattanach from their days at Hay played a key role in getting him to the Bombers.
“He won the best footballer and best cricketer award when attending Xavier College in Melbourne,’’ Learmonth said.
Kyabram’s Jack Castles is also playing in division one of the Northern Territory Football League with the Banks club.
Reeves’ retirement a sad day
Must say I’m a bit sad about Jake Reeves’ decision to quit playing football for good (see back page story).
Reeves was a bulldozing, powerhouse ruckman who could control the tempo of a game, particularly at the centre bounces and ball-ups where his sheer size and strength intimated rivals.
I have no doubt that if he had played in the 2018 grand final which Kyabram lost by less than a kick to Shepparton, the Bombers would have had the perfect 84-84 win ratio under coach Paul Newman.
I rate Reeves along with David Lucas as the two best ruckmen Kyabram has had in my 60-plus years of following the Bombers.
Lions lock in coaches
Ben Davey will still be coaching Seymour Football Cub in 2020 with star player Ben Clifton taking an assistant senior role.
Another of the club’s former star players Paul Cox will again be in charge again of the Lions reserves side which will be defending the flag it won in 2019.
Travis Blackwell remains at the helm of the under 18s which also made the season-decider in 2019 while Tony Best will guide the Under 16s in the inaugural season of this new GVL age group.
Incredible coaching stint continues
Tracey Brereton will line-up for her 14th season as Shepparton Bears netball coach next season.
A former Melbourne Kestrels star, Tracey acknowledges her role can’t last forever but said she didn’t want her coaching tenure to end in a year when no games were played.
Tungamah snares premiership Bear
Shepparton premiership player Xavier Stevenson will coach Tungamah next season in the Picola District Football League.
Stevenson was a member of the 2018 Shepparton side that ended Kyabram’s state record winning run of 62 successive wins by upsetting the Bombers in the 2018 GVL grand final.
Tungamah and Katandra clubs have both rejoined the Picola League for next year after leaving it in 2018 to join the Murray Football League when Picola opted not to affiliate with AFL Victoria and AFL Victoria.
Ready to win as always
Kyabram owners have enjoyed another win with their star trotter Always Ready.
After going off stride in his previous start in the home straight, Always Ready bounced back last Friday night at Melton to run his rivals ragged over the 1720m trip in chalking up his 11th win in just 17 starts.
Kyabramites Phil and Trudi Plumb, Stuart Laidlaw, Owen Gregory and Geoff Berry are in the syndicate which races Always Ready which produced a scorching career best 1.56.0 mile rate in the win.