Pot Shots: Ricky Ferraro to continue his playing career at Hepburn
We’ve rounded up the latest football news from around the Mornington Peninsula, including a whisper of a Division 1 champ switching leagues, a recently resigned coach taking on a new challenge and another local player sizzles interstate.
Local Footy
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Ricky Ferraro has made a decision on his footy future.
He’s returning to play with Hepburn in the Central Highlands league.
Ricky left Hastings in June and missed out on the Bonbeach coaching job last month.
He played with Hepburn in 2015-16 and has a long family association with the Burras, with his dad “Fluf’’ playing in three premierships in the 1980s.
LONG ROAD AHEAD
Pearcedale coach Boris Hamilton reckons the lowering of the salary cap in local footy is a good thing.
“The money some of these blokes get paid is ridiculous,’’ he said.
But Hamilton acknowledges local clubs face a long road ahead in these COVID times.
“A lot of footy clubs are reliant on pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants, and I can’t see them forking out too much next year,’’ he said.
“You’re going to have to look at other ways to get money and that puts a fair bit of pressure on your volunteers and your supporter base.
“So I reckon it might be a bit of a hard year.’’
ON THE MOVE
Whisper that a genuine MPNFL Division 1 A-Grader is set to spring a surprise by joining a powerhouse club in a metropolitan league.
He has a strong connection there. If true, it will be a blow for the MPNFL club.
LANGY LOOKING
Langwarrin coach Josh Beard says the Kangaroos are on the hunt for recruits but their main priority was to keep the list together.
“The majority of the list has stuck together,’’ he said.
“We’ve certainly spoken to a couple but…now that we are aware of the salary cap restrictions we just weren’t in the mix with a couple.
“Three years ago I think the club was pretty seriously in some heavy debt and for us to get through this period and not be in debt is exciting for the footy club to start the (2021) season without having to chase our tail off the field.’’
Beard said Langy’s star recruit former Essendon player Mark Baguley would be fresh and jumping out of his skin to play footy next year.
INTERSTATE FOOTY
Plenty of MPNFL players having a kick with interstate clubs.
There are a heap in Darwin getting ready for the NTFL season which starts on October 2.
Red Hill premiership forward Jono Ross and Langwarrin’s Billy Rolfe are among them; they are doing their two-week quarantine stint in the facility 30 minutes out of Darwin.
And Langwarrin’s Nick Tuddenham has just finished a successful season with Balmain Tigers in Sydney’s AFL league. He kicked 11 goals in eight games as a midfielder, helping the Tigers go deep in to the finals.
Work took Tuddenham to Sydney and he was able to play football while there.
As a youngster, he was a Victorian representative alongside many current AFL stars, including Lachie Whitfield.
TWIN STARS
Mt Eliza footy club twins Zac and Jordan Rouse have been an awesome double act for a long time.
As kids they were national level cross country runners.
Spectators used to have to adjust their eyes when they saw one run past, only to see an identical version follow soon after.
In 2007 the Rouse boys were supported by The Sports Injury Clinic in their quest to achieve athletics glory.
All these years later, they are now both physiotherapists at TSIC as they continue to support their local community and participate in local sport.
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