General News
14 June, 2024
40 years since last big goal dual
THE mirror has been reversed over the King’s Birthday weekend - looking back to get a picture of what’s ahead in Loddon Valley football for the big goal guns. I’ve gone back to the late 1970s and the 1980s - the days of ABBA, Michael Jackson...
THE mirror has been reversed over the King’s Birthday weekend - looking back to get a picture of what’s ahead in Loddon Valley football for the big goal guns.
I’ve gone back to the late 1970s and the 1980s - the days of ABBA, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen songs being pumped out at after-match discos in clubrooms - to find a period as exciting as 2024 with Mellington and Sharp in the race for a century and even a new league record.
Back when the Commodore was king of the road, there were some handy players swooping around goals.
There was Alan Jackson lining up with Korong Vale who kicked a few centuries and Gary Leach at Mitiamo. Mick Holland may have just fallen short of breaking the magic number but he was key in those dominant Newbridge sides.
Inglewood had Kelvin Dows and there was Colin Grenfell at Bridgewater.
Peter Collins would set a league record with Bridgewater in 1982 - 140 home and away season goals. Jackson kicked 114 and Calivil’s Mick Murphy booted 102. For the first time in 40 years, the prospect of multiple centuries looms close.
Back in those days, football was more stop-start and an accurate forward crucial to success.
Since then, we’ve seen Greg Gadsden at Bears Lagoon Serpentine and current Loddon Valley record holder Brandyn Grenfell (Marong) add excitement to the league.
Mellington is only 13 shy of the century, Sharp still has a few more to go but will bridge the gap over the next fortnight.
Who will win the race? The crystal ball says Mellington to end the home and away season with 154 and Sharp with 146. Two players with 300-plus goals, almost as good combined as Collins, Jackson and Murphy with 182.
Now onto this week’s matches. I can’t see Inglewood troubling Marong, Pyramid Hill heads to the Dome and could have a blowout victory against Maiden Gully and Bridgewater should tame the Demons at Calivil who would need more than ring-ins and the spirit of the long-ago rodeos to cause an upset.
That’s leads us to the real match of interest. Newbridge takes a journey traversing rivers, swamps and plains to Mitiamo in what is a must-win game for the Maroons if they want to keep pushing for fifth spot.
A Newbridge win would see them jump above Inglewood at the half-way mark of the season.
The round will also generate a few other changes. Pyramid Hill will lift to second spot on the ladder, dislodging Bears Lagoon Serpentine who have the bye this Saturday and will likely drop to fourth.
- GLENN CATTO