Quick Kicks: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s Mad Monday costume, snapped whiteboards
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan might have found his new favourite local footy club after revealing his Mad Monday costume. It’s all in Quick Kicks which has some baby news to share with you.
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Welcome to Quick Kicks.
Quick Kicks is our weekly column that looks at the lighter side of local footy.
Whether it be a funny exchange, a good stat or an action that’s laughed about after the game — it’s all here.
THANKS FOR HOLDING ON, DARL
It’s hard to top Michael Sproules’ week.
The Belgrave footballer won the league’s reserves best and fairest medal, captained the Magpies to a premiership and became a dad for the second time.
But that second bit nearly didn’t happen.
“I’d like to thank my wife for holding on,’’ Sproules declared at the GF presentation.
You see, Sproules’ wife Kylie was ready to give birth at any moment and actually was in hospital the day before.
Remarkably, Kylie attended the grand final to see her hubby raise the trophy. Mind you, with Michael being an ambo, Kylie was in good hands in case the moment happened.
The great news is, Beau Sproules arrived safe and sound on Tuesday morning, just in time to join in premiership celebrations.
TRUE CLUBMEN
Another great story emerged from Belgrave’s reserves grand final victory. Playing in the premiership were both the club president (Harley McDermott) and vice president (Mark Francis) — clearly two great clubmen. Harley kicked a clutch goal, while Mark, who is also a major sponsor of the club, was one of the best players on the ground.
LESS IS MORE
Dingley coach Zach Horsley upgraded his whiteboard halfway through the year and it started superbly, with the Dingoes recording their best win. The whiteboard then came off second-best the next week and it was replaced. But the next new one was tossed in shorter time after the Dingoes played their worst game of the year. Horsley reverted to the half whiteboard and his side has been in top form since. The whiteboard is for his messages to deliver at breaks and it seems to be working a treat.
A BIT OF SELF LOVE
Local footy umpires have taken it upon themselves to be their biggest supporters. One young fella who had just adjudicated a Southern league grand final was told “well umpired” when he walked off through the crowd. He, pretty happy with what he’s brought to the table all year, turned swiftly and said “thanks, mate, I have actually had a fantastic year”.
SUPERSTITIOUS SKIPPER
We’ve already touched on some superstitions in this edition of Quick Kicks and we’ve got plenty more. A now premiership captain put in a lesser day during his side’s qualifying final defeat so the boots he ran around in all year met the bottom of the bin. He purchased a brand new set of wheels ahead of his side’s do-or-die first semi-final and dominated. In fact, he played a strong hand in his side’s next three wins – including the flag. It’s a lesson for all, if you’re playing this week and fresh off a stinker … there’s still time!
MAD MONDAY INVASION
Stormtroopers invaded Sunbury last week. Yep, they ended up in the Sunbury Kangaroos rooms as Mad Monday antics were in full swing.
GETTING IN EARLY
Port Melbourne Colts has never been far away from a big-name recruit but is one of its own working at a No.1 pick? Jamarra Ugle-Hagan attended the Colts’ reserves Southern league final with Doggies teammate and former Colt Charlie Clarke. It hasn’t stopped there either, with the star Dog happy to pose for a photo in the Colts’ red and blue at some end-of-season celebrations. The Herald Sun reported earlier this year that Ugle-Hagan was fielding some lucrative offers, but we didn’t realise they were coming from JL Murphy Reserve! The Clarke name is synonymous with Port Colts with Charlie’s father, Jason, a club legend.
IF IT WORKS, IT WORKS
Southern league star Dareo Rogers turned a few heads at interleague earlier this year when he was munching on his pre-game snack. Rogers’ fuel was a combination of rice, honey and sliced bananas. Well, turn heads no more, because the lively small forward finished the year training with Port Melbourne VFL and won best-afield with three goals in the Division 2 grand final at the weekend. Load up, Dareo!
‘WELCOME TO A WINNING CLUB’
Lachie Plowman, maybe better known as Mr Plow in club circles, was a popular member of Maribyrnong Park’s premiership win on Saturday afternoon. But one spectator couldn’t help take a pot shot at his former club Carlton.
“Welcome to a winning club,” a fan yelled as Plowman went to collect his premiership medal.
LOOKING FORWARD TO TOM’S DAD
Billy Gowers was in fine form at the VFL and VFLW awards. After being presented as the leading goalkicker in the VFL, Gowers took the stage and was asked by host Nigel Carmody about his prospects of returning to Port next season. He said the club had good people involved including Tom Hird. Gowers said he’s really looking forward to having “Tom’s dad” (Essendon champion James Hird) involved next season.
LOCAL FOOTY’S MOST-WANTED?
Rumour has it the phone of an outgoing Eastern league senior coach ran hot with offers in the aftermath of splitting with his club. Former Mooroolbark coach Bret Lavars reportedly had up to 14 clubs enquiring about his services for 2025 after his six-year stint recently came to an end at Heights Reserve. The whisper is he also knocked back multiple senior-coaching offers. Lavars steered Mooroolbark to the 2022 Division 1 grand final and has recently been unveiled at Premier powerhouse Vermont as senior assistant for next year.
PERFECT BURRAS
The perfect season is hard to achieve and only one club has done it in the Northern league this season. St Mary’s Division 2 under-19s went 20 for 20, marching to the premiership on Saturday. A 31-point victory over South Morang at Preston City Oval capped a flawless season - and denied the Lions a clean sweep of flags. Zane Gibson was awarded the best-on-ground medal, while Andre Gill-Haimowich, Will Dean, Sean Grant, Sam Files and Nick Brennan were also among the best.
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