Local and country footy’s biggest stories of 2022
Local footy’s return in 2022 has brought about a mixture of stories on and off the field. Here are Leader Local Footy’s biggest of the season.
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It’s been a massive year for local footy.
After two years of Covid interruptions, 2022 finally saw the first premiers crowned.
But for all of the feel good stories, there were moments which shocked the local footy community.
Here are Leader Local Footy’s biggest stories of the year.
Local footy’s lifesaving angel
A typical afternoon at the footy would prove anything but for Vermont trainer Alicia Carroll and North Ringwood supporter Gary Cooper, with a chance encounter bonding the pair for life. Carroll would perform a marathon CPR effort on Cooper following a near-fatal incident at the Eastern league Premier Division match on May 7, with the narrow escape serving as a stark reminder of the importance of first-aid training. It wasn’t the first time Carroll had saved a life, and the long-time Eagles medic was later named the Eastern league’s Trainer of the Year.
Women’s teams booted from finals action
Oak Park and Westmeadows were both sensationally booted from the Essendon District League finals after their preliminary final. Footage of a brawl from the game emerged online. Aberfeldie eventually took the place of both sides in the grand final against Keilor.
University Blues cop serious penalty for points breach
VAFA Premier club University Blues lost 20 premiership points and were fined $22,000 with $11,000 suspended until the end of the 2024 season for breaching the player points rule. The Blues lost a total of five wins with the premiership points it lost which put them at risk of relegation when the club fell to equal-last on the ladder with St Bernards. The $22,000 fine for the Blues reflected $1,000 for each of the 22 times where the player points were entered incorrectly during the season. Following the independent investigation, the Blues were found to be over the limit in nine of the 11 matches in the season.
Shock mid-season sacking in the Northern league
Whittlesea made the stunning decision to sack premiership-winning coach Blair Harvey in June. Harvey was given his marching orders after a 157-point loss to Montmorency with injuries and illness hitting the Eagles hard earlier in the season. Following Harvey’s departure a number of key figures departed the club.
Former AFL player left with broken jaw
Former AFL defender Lynden Dunn was left with a broken jaw after he was punched by Westmeadows’ ruckman Ferras Mehri. Mehri received a seven-game suspension over the incident with Dunn eventually returning to help West Coburg reach the EDFL Division 1 grand final. “I shouldn’t have done it,” Mehri told Leader after the incident.
The Hendy hanger
There were plenty of huge marks in 2022 but the best may have been taken
by Hampton Park’s Kyle Hendy in the Southern league in May. His skyscraping specky against East Brighton had many labelling it the best they’d witnessed. Hovering on his opponent’s shoulders, Hendy marked it clean as a whistle and made the descent to terra firma. Was it the greatest mark in local footy? Hampton Park coach Nathan Wilson thought so. “It’s the best I’ve seen live,” he said. “It was a screamer. He was sitting on a bloke’s head for what seemed like a fortnight.”
. His skyscraping specky against East Brighton had many labelling it the best they’d witnessed. Hovering on his opponent’s shoulders, Hendy marked it clean as a whistle and made the descent to terra firma. Was it the greatest mark in local footy? Hampton Park coach Nathan Wilson thought so. “It’s the best I’ve seen live,” he said. “It was a screamer. He was sitting on a bloke’s head for what seemed like a fortnight.”
Langwarrin’s ‘phenomenal’ season
Perfect. Langwarrin completed a flawless, undefeated season by winning the MPNFL Division 2 grand final, beating Karingal by 51 points. It was the Kangaroos’ first senior premiership in 17 years. And the club’s reserves and Under 19s sides also won premierships, making it a hat-trick of flags for the powerhouse club. The three teams lost only one game between them for the whole season. “It’s a phenomenal year for the club,’’ Langwarrin co-coach Josh Beard said. “We’ll probably really reflect when the beers stop flowing and we can talk about it.’’
Echuca loses points
Goulburn Valley League premier Echuca was stripped of its points from Round 1 victories, in the seniors and reserves, against Rochester for playing ineligible players. An investigation found senior player Matthew Lias and reserves player Toby Hore were not cleared by their former clubs. But they were listed on team sheets for round one without any red flags being raised by a new player registration and administrative system, PlayHQ, which has been widely condemned since its introduction this year.
The muddy Elsternwick Park Grand Final
The shocking VAFA Premier B Grand Final sparked great reaction among the football community. Rain had caused unprecedented muddy and slippery conditions at Elsternwick Park which almost saw Old Haileybury win the grand final with their lowest ever score. It was a weekend of havoc for the Association who had to move matches at the last minute to avoid Elsternwick Park which could not handle the rainy weather adequately compared to other nearby grounds.
September dreams in the Southern league
Cranbourne completed a fairytale debut season in Southern league by winning the Division 1 premiership. The Eagles beat Cheltenham by six points in the rain at Moorabbin, denying a red-hot Chelt who had taken a 17-game winning streak into the flag decider. It was the perfect end to a brilliant career for Cranbourne full forward Marc Holt, who kicked what proved to be the winning goal right on the three-quarter time siren.
Flag and then coach gone
Local footy is full of surprises and few saw this coming when Cranbourne dropped a bombshell, parting ways with premiership coach Steve O’Brien – just a month after leading the Eagles to a thrilling Southern league Division 1 grand final victory. The club wanted a 3-5 year commitment from O’Brien, who wasn’t able to do so. O’Brien said he was “disappointed the way it’s ended”.
Battle of the AFL big men
In a stunning coup for the Northern league, Matthew Kreuzer and Majak Daw made their local footy returns for Greensborough and North Heidelberg respectively in the same game. Eventually it was Kreuzer who came away with the win, with the former Carlton man also kicking the goal of the day.
Balwyn, Rodney Eade split
The Eastern league powerhouse and the three-time AFL mentor parted ways in September, bringing an end to one of local football’s most high-profile coaching tenures which began in 2018. But the Tigers moved swiftly in their appointment of a replacement. A week later, former Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson was instilled in the role.
VAFA clubs merge
VAFA Division 2 clubs Yarra Old Grammarians and Manningham Cobras announced a merger following the 2022 season to become the Old Yarra Cobras. The clubs came together and made it official in special general meetings where the merger was agreed upon. The Cobras are now set to play in the division two competition next season as they did last year but as separate clubs. It is a move that is set to provide the club with stability and foundations to move forward and chase success.
Keilor Park’s stunning turnaround
Keilor Park was back on top of the football work after claiming the EDFL Division 2 premiership. The Devils success came just four years after the club went into recess. Key names including Damien Cavka, Daylan Kempster and Robbie Castello were influential in the win.
Ararat Eagles back on top after barren days
The Ararat Eagles claimed their first senior premiership in the Mininera Football Netball League, only a couple of years after losing a game by more than 500 points. The Eagles defeated Tatyoon in the final by 45 points. It follows the club being in financial trouble and struggling on field in 2019.
Paddy becomes a Panther
Recruiting coups don’t come any bigger than this. Mornington Peninsula league Division 2 club Devon Meadows was bursting with excitement in October after signing AFL star Paddy Ryder. “I don’t think there’s a bigger signing in local footy, just about ever,” Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy fizzed. Ryder followed St Kilda teammate Dean Kent to Devon Meadows. Hendy said Ryder would play every game next season and was motivated to win an elusive premiership. “He reckons in 17 years of playing AFL football there was one thing he never got to do and that was win a premiership,’’ Hendy said. “And he goes, ‘that’s all I want to do, I want to come and win a premiership’.’’
Shock sex act mars Mad Monday celebrations
Glen Waverley’s end-of-season celebrations took a shocking turn as footage emerged online of a player performing a sex act on another in a public bar while others cheered loudly in the background. The video of the August 14 incident went viral and made news around the world across various outlets – even appearing on Los Angeles-based tabloid site TMZ – as the club, forced into damage control, condemned the behaviour and vowed to take “immediate action” in the fallout. The Eastern league Division 4 club later confirmed “players involved in the incident will not be returning” next season. A patron at the venue on the day of the incident told Leader they saw players behaving abusively to other customers, smashing glassware inside and outside, vaping indoors, dancing on tables and trying to grab wine from behind the bar. The witness said toilets were left in a state of disrepair and covered in vomit.
Finally a flag for Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst footy club will long remember season 2022 after capturing its historic first senior premiership. The Lightning put to bed the pain of successive grand final losses in 2018-19 when it toppled hot favourite Frankston Dolphins by eight points in the Southern league Division 4 grand final. The lead changed more than 10 times throughout the match as both clubs chased their first senior flag. The Dolphins were looking to complete a rare undefeated season but fell at the final hurdle. Lyndhurst captain Charlie Gardiner took home the best-on-ground medal, capping a four-quarter performance with two vital goals. In euphoric scenes after the siren, Lyndhurst’s first year coach Jae Williams hugged players, committee members and supporters as the magnitude of the achievement sunk in. Williams put his hand up to coach the club in the pre-season. His appointment was a master stroke. He instilled belief and the players went into battle for him. “The first one of many, baby,” he declared at the presentation.
Quambatook close down
There were plenty of tears as Quambatook Football Netball Club ended as a club after 111 years in the Golden Rivers Football League. Quambatook announced earlier this year that this season would be its last, saying a lack of volunteers and juniors put too much strain on those at the club. In a disappointing end to the season, they lost to Moulamein in the preliminary final.
Reality TV takes away ex-AFL player
Bundoora suffered a blow in its quest for a premiership after David Zaharakis departed mid-season for a reality TV show appearance. He played a key role in the Bulls’ first 14 games before taking the opportunity.
Brawl after grand final
The Kyabram District Football Netball League grand final was marred by a brawl after the grand final between Lancaster and Murchison-Tooloomba, which Lancaster won by 10 points. In video, obtained by Leader, fans and players can be seen fighting following the siren. The KDFNL recently announced some fans have been sent to the tribunal following the brawl with punishments potentially handed down over the next few days.
Point Cook Centrals perfect season
Despite a major scare in the grand final, Point Cook Centrals completed a perfect season to take out the WRFL Division 2 premiership. The Sharks were challenged more in the back half of the season but eventually prevailed to earn promotion to Division 1 for the 2023 season.
Player involved in crowd fight during grand final
Carisbrook Harley Hunter received a 10-match suspension after being involved in a brawl during the Maryborough Castlemaine Football Netball League grand final. Hunter, in video obtained by Leader, is seen jumping the fence and punching a spectator during the game between Carisbrook and Harcourt. Hunter got involved after the spectator allegedly made remarks about his daughter Isla who suffers from Batten‘s Disease, a condition which can lead to an early death. The player wasn‘t the only one suspended with two spectators also getting punished for the grand final incident.
WRFL marred by brawls
Two Western Region league games were impacted by brawls this season. In July, the Division 2 game between Newport and Wyndhamvale was marred by off-field violence with police called to the ground. Meanwhile in August, the Division 3 clash between North Sunshine and Tarneit was called off with minutes remaining due to on-field incidents.
Player lucky to be alive after serious injury
Ben Duffield is on his way to making a full recovery after a football accident almost cost him his life while playing for Greta in the Ovens and King league. After an innocuous clash during Greta’s reserves semi-final clash with Milawa, Duffield left the field and later collapsed in the change rooms, requiring urgent assistance. The senior match between Greta and Bonnie Doon had to be stopped as paramedics and club trainers aided to Duffield. He suffered a fractured sternum, which caused his lung and heart to be under distress. At times his heart stopped beating but he was able to be taken to hospital in Melbourne. Duffield’s club said if it wasn’t for paramedics and a club trainer who knew CPR, he might not have survived.
‘What we play for’: Wallan ready for grand final challenge
Wallan returns to the RDFNL grand final stage, defeating Macedon in the preliminary final, and is looking to cause a boilover on the big stage.
REPLAY: St Kevin’s storm home in VAFA Premier Women’s semi-final
They refer to the third term as the premiership quarter and St Kevin’s have answered the call by cutting down Old Scotch to storm into the VAFA Premier women’s grand final. Full REPLAY.