http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/star/williamstown-altona-laverton/284/s…
A NEW three-year agreement with the Western Bulldogs and a major funding boost from the VFL were among the announcements made at Williamstown Football Club's AGM on 7 February.
Trevor Monti, who was re-elected unopposed as president, said he was “delighted†to remain affiliated with the Bulldogs - but he warned the future of the relationship, and the make-up of the VFL competition, was impossible to predict.
“There are no guarantees about the future in any walk of life, but to get a new agreement with the Bulldogs is fantastic,†he said.
He said it remained a “distinct possibility†the Bulldogs could one day field its own VFL side.
“It's not only the Western Bulldogs who've spoken about the prospect of fielding their own VFL side,†Monti said.
“There will be some changes to the competition in the years to come and it may be that those changes affect us and we will be standing alone.â€
But Monti said he saw “no reason why we wouldn't want to extend it when the three year agreement expires.â€
“We are enjoying an extremely close and friendly relationship with the Bulldogs. I think it is a terrific thing for the Williamstown Football Club and we're delighted,†he said.
In other matters arising from the AGM:
• Monti supported the AFL's decision to take control of the VFL's administration. The new board will operate under the name AFL Victoria Ltd. Monti said he was assured funding cuts mooted by the old VFL board would be re-instated, and all clubs' futures would be guaranteed until at least 2014.
• Williamstown has received $110,000 from the VFL to upgrade training and rehabilitation facilities at Burbank Oval. The club will buy hot and cold spas, a gymnasium and other equipment with the grant money.
• Williamstown will not play any games at Burbank Oval this season because of the ground's redevelopment. The club's nine home games will be played at Werribee, Keilor, Torquay and Wangaratta. Williamstown will not derive any income from the canteen or bar during these games, but can still hold game day raffles and will still conduct president's luncheons at each of these nine games.
• The club signed a six-year sponsorship deal with building group Burbank. Burbank will build one house per year for six years at cost price, with Williamstown to receive the profits gained by the sales.
• Williamstown general manager Brendan Curry praised the club's decision last year to reject a pre-auction offer of 66 gaming machines at $77,000 each. Instead, the club waited for the auction and bought the machines at $5500 each – saving more than $3 million. The club will take ownership of the machines in 2012 and have the gaming licence until 2022.
• Curry said the decision of former Seagull Matthew Little to move to Bendigo partly stemmed from his relationship with Essendon coach James Hird (they are first cousins), and that the star forward felt playing for Bendigo would increase his chances of landing an AFL contract.
• Monti told Star the discovery of the World War II bunker at Burbank Oval would not affect the scheduling of the Burbank Oval redevelopment. “It hasn't caused any delays in the project, nor will it,†he said.
Wally from Williamstown
Not a word about Ned Kelly !!!!
He only played 2s Digs. Settle down
and it was 130 years ago, however if you have a spare couple of days I'm sure Trevor would be delighted to prove to you that Ned did indeed don the royal blue & gold guernsey :-)
Wally from Williamstown
... and that's the crime they hung him for!
Fair penalty ;)
There's been a few Ned Kelly's running around in VFA. Best of all Phil Cleary's beard in 1977. Check the you tube clip of a Caulfield v Coburg clash in 1977.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeLlkGaHVn8
Ned Kelly might be long gone but the Ned Kelly beard is famous and can be seen from time to time.
Might have to start another thread called famous Ned Kelly beard's playing VFA football
Phil Cleary- Coburg, Paul Cleary- Brunswick, Lou Milner- Caulfield, Gary Baker- Moorabbin and Mordialloc, Denis Clark- Sandringham, Stephen Douglas- Werribee was a beauty. Can you think of any more ??
Russell Petherbridge at Sandy had a Ned Kelly like beard...Coach at the time, "Hooker" Harrison didn't like it and told him to shave it off...Petherbridge wouldn't so h ended up leaving Sandy to play in the bush at Sandhurst in the Bendigo League
I went past Willys ground yesterday and the grandstand no longer has any roof or seats and the ground itself has been ripped up.Its a pity to see such and icon like the historic Willy stand go under the wreckers but as they say "thats the price of progress!"
Off topic I know!!!!
Russell Petherbridge also played with East ballarat in the Ballarat football league. Lives today in the hills outside of Daylesford.
Wonder what kind of crowd the seagulls will get to Torquay (v Geelong), Keilor (v North Ballarat) and Wangaratta (v Collingwood). I think all these games will get healthy crowds, especially at Torquay during Easter and at Wangaratta.
Wonder what kind of crowd the seagulls will get to Torquay (v Geelong), Keilor (v North Ballarat) and Wangaratta (v Collingwood). I think all these games will get healthy crowds, especially at Torquay during Easter and at Wangaratta.