A number of former inhabitants of Uni Oval featured in representative teams over the weekend.
Former Blues’ best and fairest and current skipper of North Warrnambool, Liam Ryan, was the captain of the Hampden League interleague team that met the cream of the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday at Camperdown. Prior to the game, Hampden coach David Cassidy described 27-year old Ryan as the obvious choice for the captaincy. “He has proved himself at North Warrnambool, he is their best player year in year out. He is dedicated to interleague and epitomises what we’re looking for.”
Also in the Bottle Greens’ line up was Xavier McKinnon, a former Uni Blues Under 19 premiership player who is now pulling on the boots with distinction for Terang-Mortlake. Xavier’s brother Tim, a recent departure from Blues’ senior side, was also rated a likely starter in the Hampden interleague team but was not able to be selected due to injury. Tim opted to spend his Saturday observing his former teammates take on De La Salle at Uni Oval. The Bottle Greens may have missed the defensive run of “T-Mac” as they fell 49 points short against their opponents from the Peninsula.
Up in Bendigo, representing the Murray Football League against Bellarine, was fellow ex-Blue, James Scambler. Scambler has been in stellar form this year while playing for Moama while he is going to university in Bendigo. Scambler walked into the club during the pre-season and asked if he could get a game. He won the league medal in the North Central league 2 years ago after playing for the Blues in '04 and '05. Needless to say, the Moama coach has been pretty pleased with his new 'recruit'. Scambler kicked a goal as the Murray FL got over the line against the boys from the peninsula.
Meanwhile over in the west, Ross Young, last season’s Sandover Medal winner and another former Blues’ best and fairest, was among the WAFL squad that faced off with the VFL in the clash of the two leagues. Unfortunately for “Youngy”, the Vics were too good and defeated the hosts by 55 points.
The break for rep resentative games resulted in a couple of other former players being on hand at Uni Oval on Saturday. Aaron “Duxy” Davis, current club sponsor and sublimely skilled onballer from the Blues’ senior teams of the 90s, made the trek to town from Murtoa and ran water for the current senior team. Lachie Fehring, enjoying a break from onfield duties for the Cohuna Kangas, was another welcome sight on the sidelines on Saturday and joined the growing ranks of the Blue Bloods.
24 May 2010
