■ My vote for the stupidest rule in football goes to the ball-up decision when a player goes a millimetre over the line when kicking the ball back into play after a behind. I reckon the rule is broken at least 20 times a game but is paid about once. On those figures alone, it’s a mockery. What advantage does a team get from going over the line? And if it’s deemed an offence, then pay a free kick, not a ball-up. In an age when stopping the game is not a good thing, why have this antiquated rule? I think umpires who pay it are being too officious and are not umpiring in the spirit of the game. AFL umpires may be forgiven as their every decision is filmed by a barrage of cameras from every possible angle. But local umpires, PLEASE give it a rest.
■ The three western suburbs-based VFL teams, Footscray (second), Williamstown (fourth) and Werribee (sixth), have all signed off on a successful 2014 and now start afresh for the finals. There’ll be extreme excitement at Whitten Oval on Sunday, with the Bulldogs hosting Williamstown at 1pm. It will be the biggest game at the ground since the Dogs played West Coast in the last AFL match there in 1997. In another interesting and intriguing final, North Melbourne-affiliated clubs Werribee and North Ballarat clash at North Port Oval from 2.10pm on Sunday. Well done to all three clubs and let’s hope the VFL premiership comes west this year. As well, Western Jets are in a TAC Cup elimination final, against Dandenong at Visy Park from 11.30am on Sunday.
■ Simon Beasley was the guest interviewee for Bulldogs fans in the Victory Room on Sunday and he was warmly received by the red, white and blue faithful. And rightly so, as he was full-forward in the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century. Beasley kicked a ton in the memorable 1985 season and, all up, 575 goals in 154 games for the Dogs. Simon is still upbeat about the club and expressed his opinion the Bulldogs should be as heavily financed by the AFL as the expansion clubs. Which brought a huge round of applause.
■ Local footy is exciting at the moment, with WRFL divisions 2 and 3 preliminary finals this weekend, and division 1 down to four clubs. Werribee Districts v Hoppers Crossing on Sunday will be a beauty and Spotswood v Deer Park won’t be a Deer Park cakewalk.
Kevin Hillier
