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Rabbitohs breakthrough Hand accepts in The Truganina Rabbitohs will break new ground when it heads to the NRL Victoria men’s doghouse second division grand final for the first time new position this Saturday. ■ I wrote recently of the father-son The Rabbitohs took care of business in a Westbourne Grammarians will be on rule in AFL footy and how much fans hard-fought preliminary final, overcoming the look-out for a new coach after Roger love it. I am happy to report the family a gallant Sunshine Cowboys 26-18 at Casey Hand announced he will be stepping connection in local footy is as strong Fields on Saturday. down at the end of the Victorian Amateur as ever. Three great grandsons of the It sets up a mouth-watering grand final for Football Association division 3 season. late great Charlie Sutton played in the Rabbitohs against local rivals Werribee Hand spent six seasons in charge of winning grand final sides for the Altona Bears. the Warriors, including the promotion- Football Club recently. Liam Curran in All grand finals will be held at Fregon premiership double last season. the under-11s, his brother James in the Reserve on Saturday with the second division While Hand will relinquish the under-13s and cousin Zayne Wallace in starting at 12.55pm. coaching position, he will certainly not the under 17s. The boys’ history with It will not be Truganina’s only team involved Truganina’s Stacy Knowles was caught in a be lost to the Warriors. Hand will be the the club goes back to their great, great, on grand final day. Werribee Bears sandwich in week one of the club’s director of football operations and great grandfather James Duke, who The Rabbitohs women’s first grade side will finals.(Damjan Janevski) will have a key focus on expanding the was one of the men who established take centre stage in a grand final against the club’s newly established women’s section. the club in a Pier Street cafe in 1919. Doveton Steelers immediately following the over Northern Thunder at Casey Fields on Hand will also lay the foundations for James’ son George was the first soldier men’s game. Saturday. the revival of a Warriors junior section. from Altona to return home for WWI The Rabbitohs will be hot favourites, having The Werribee-Casey grand final will be a First things first though, Hand still and his battalion’s colours were purple lost just one game this season. re-match of last season’s decider, when the has the finals series. The Warriors face and gold, colours which the club In men’s first grade, Werribee Bears had Bears broke through for their first top flight Swinburne University in the semi-final at adopted and still wear today. the luxury of freshening up for their tilt at title in club history. St Bernard’s College on Sunday at 2pm. back-to-back premierships. The first grade game will kick off at 3.30pm. ■ It was an equally proud day for the The Bears watched on as the Casey Warriors Lance Jenkinson Penaluna clan when Kyle became the advanced to the grand final with a 32-14 win Lance Jenkinson third generation of the family to proudly wear the Port Colts jumper. Kyle made his senior debut for the Colts a few weeks ago, as proud dad Mark and grandfather Jim watched on. Jim – who turns 80 soon – has been at NBL stars hit the road the Colts since its inception in 1957 and Mark played in excess of 350 junior and senior games for the club. By Lance Jenkinson ■ Former Wyndhamvale junior Jack Wyndham fans will get the chance Fitzpatrick drew the curtain on his AFL to see the stars of the National Basketball career last week, another victim of League close up in their own backyard. concussion issues. Doctors advised the Taipans and Bullets will ruckman to give the game away or face take to the court in an NBL Blitz pre-season serious health problems. At the age game on September 10 from 2pm. of 26, Jack made the obvious choice. The Blitz is an annual warm-up competition Unfortunately his career was dogged for NBL clubs where they take the game to by injuries and illness right from the regional centres. start but in the end he managed 26 This year, the Blitz will be held at Traralgon, games with Melbourne and Hawthorn, with eight games in September 7-9. including the memorable Hawks win Once the Traralgon leg is complete, the over the Pies in the final round of the teams will hit the road, with four games taking 2016 season. Jack’s ball bursting kick place concurrently at Wantirna South, Mill for the match-winning goal sealed Park, Kilsyth and Werribee. the Hawks’ final four spot and will assistant coach C.J. Bruton, be number one on his highlights reel a six-time NBL championship winner, knows forever. the importance of taking the game to the suburbs and country towns. ■ More and more clubs are looking “The ideal pre-season game is playing games to field women’s teams for the 2018 in areas that don’t have NBL teams,” he said. season with West Footscray the “To work with and show how committed we latest. The club is holding a meeting are with the game of basketball on and off the at Shorten Reserve on Thursday floor all around the country.” September 7 from 6pm and is keen Scoochie Smith, the newest to see potential players, volunteers import, will experience the derby and sponsors on the night. For more for the first time. information contact Anna on 0435 The 22-year-old, who played Summer League 821 509 or Stephanie on 0414 488 for the Boston Celtics, is linking with his team 041. Clubs expanding with netball for the first time. and women’s footy is the way to go to “We’re really looking forward to getting out ensure survival and more importantly, there and hitting the court before the NBL reflect the entire community, not just season officially starts,” Smith said. the blokes. “The Bullets will be our biggest rivals this Kevin Hillier year and we can’t wait to get an early run against them at Eagle Stadium.” Any news, let me know on email When Eagle Stadium, the home of the [email protected]. Werribee Devils and epicentre of Wyndham Follow me on Twitter @KevinHillier, basketball, was being re-developed, it came plus check out the Howdy Partners with a promise of attracting big time exhibition Media website as well. games. Last year, the Women’s National Basketball League took centre stage, with Bendigo Spirit and Dandenong Rangers playing a pre-season Cairns Taipans will have a western suburbs link with Kuany Kuany formerly of Longhorns Basketball game. Club in Braybrook. (Supplied/NBL) Now the dream of an NBL game will become a reality when the Taipans and Bullets take to WBA business manager Andrew Summerville are really looking forward to playing a small the court. said. part in this great league. WESTPOINT It will be a landmark day for basketball in “Events of this magnitude don’t happen “Tickets are selling fast so we encourage all ProudCorner Sponsors Heaths of and In The Morris Doghouse, Road HoppersThe Hillier Crossing View and Ph: Foodbytes 9749 6444 this town and for Eagle stadium. often, so this is a great opportunity for everyone our members and the local community to get CornerWeb: Heaths www.westpointford.com.au and Morris Road Hoppers Crossing 402308-MD20-9 “The Werribee Basketball Association in the area to see ’s best basketball out and support this game.” Ph: 9749 6444 402309-MD20- Proud Sponsors of In The Doghouse & The Hillier View is really pleased that the NBL has chosen players in person,” Summerville said. “The Tickets are available at www.trybooking. Web: www.westpointford.com.au to bring a national level game to Werribee,” NBL is going from strength to strength and we com/book/event?eid=307397. 71 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY \ AUGUST 30, 2017