RECORD ISSUE 14 9th July 2016 $2.00 KICKIN’ IT WITH KRISTEN Editorial – Issue 14, July 9th 2016 WRFL SHARES IMPORTANT WHITE RIBBON MESSAGE By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS OVER the next few weeks Ribbon project with players from across our league. the Western Region Stay tuned to the WRFL website next week for more. Football League will be working with White Ribbon Also this weekend is Multicultural Round - a to raise awareness to end dedicated AFL round that honours and celebrates violence against women. the multicultural players and communities who are involved in our great game. Violence against women is a serious issue in Australia, with The Western Region Football League is a very diverse on average, 52 women killed league, with players from different backgrounds per year by a current or former coming together to play footy. partner. Whether it is a sport you have grown up with or it is You may think this isn’t an something you have come to love, footy has always issue many are confronted been a great way to connect with others. with in our community, but last year alone there was Throughout the state there is a number of multicultural 9000 reported incidents of violence against women in programs which encourage people to play footy. Melbourne’s inner west. A new program is the Werribee based AFL Victoria That is a staggeringly high number of incidents in our Diversity Squad, which is run by the Werribee Football own backyard. Club’s Chris Gallagher. It is time, as a league and as a community, we make a The new initiative aims to help multicultural people stand against domestic violence. fast-track their football development as well as provide In the lead-up to the WRFL’s White Ribbon Round on a pathway for them to pursue footy at a higher level. July 16 and 17, the league will share information about It is a great program that will only get bigger and the work White Ribbon does in the community as better in years to come. well as educate the league’s players, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters about what you can do to Finally, a special shout out goes to Robert Greto from address this serious issue. the Sunshine Heights Football Club who this week will play in his 400th game for the club. In this issue of the Footy Record we learn about what White Ribbon is and in particular the White Ribbon He has been involved with the Dragons since his Night, an event that aims to raise awareness and funds juniors and has been an integral member of the club to ends men’s violence against women. both on and off the field. Turn to pages four and five for more. Congratulations on your achievement. The league has also been working on a special White See you at the footy. CONTENTS Robert Greto ......................................................................................3 Umpire’s Corner ............................................................................. 37 White Ribbon ................................................................................4-5 Tips/Flashback Photo .................................................................. 38 Division 1 Senior/Reserves ...................................................7-16 Under-19 Division 1 ...............................................................39-44 Player Profile ................................................................................... 17 Division 2 Senior/Reserves .................................................18-25 Under-19 Division 2 ...............................................................46-51 Match of the Day .......................................................................... 26 Leading Goal Kickers ................................................................... 52 Division 3 Senior/Reserves .................................................28-36 Heartland Award ........................................................................... 53 FRONT COVER CAPTION: Fresh from the bye the Yarraville Seddon Eagles will take on Albanvale today. Picture: DARRELL JONES WRFL FOOTY RECORD Western Region Football League President: Meredith Angwin Level One, Whitten Oval, Footscray CEO: Bob Tregear OFFICE: (03) 9315-5400 Editor: Kristen Alebakis 1 WRFL FOOTY RECORD Club Multicultural Diversity Partner GROWING AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL IN THE WEST WRFL NEWS GRETO HITS 400TH GAME MILESTONE By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS SUNSHINE Heights legend Robert Greto will play Sposato said the star player his 400th game today. didn’t play footy for the The proud and passionate Dragons playing-coach, who accolades, he plays because has earned multiple club best and fairest awards, will he loves footy and he loves lead his team in their match against the Wyndham Suns. Sunshine Heights. Greto is not one to make a fuss over milestones, “He is a family man and a however, president Vince Sposato said the achievement quality individual, who wears shouldn’t go unnoticed, saying he has had a huge his heart on his sleeve,” he impact on the club. said. “I could go on forever about Robbie,” Sposato said. “He is Sposato said he hoped his a highly respected person at our footy club.” club, who is currently in fifth position on the Division 3 “I approached him to coach in 2015 and at first he ladder, could do it for Greto refused, just because family and work commitments this weekend. stood in the way. “Our aim is to make finals this Robert Greto “But he eventually said yes and to be honest he has kept year,” he said. Picture: CODY BENCH the doors open at Sunshine Heights. “We have come a long way as a club in the past two years. “He has played juniors right through to senior football at the club, he captained the side, is century goal kicker, is “We have improved a hell of a lot on and off field. There a life member of the club, now coach and will become a are a lot of passionate Dragon people who want this 400-game player. club to succeed and I am confident as club president that we will. “His record speaks for itself.” “I really hope we can get a win on the board for Robbie Greto kicked 108 goals in 2007 and in the following year this weekend.” captained the club to its first senior premiership since 1998. F&Y SOCIALS FOOTBALL CLUB MARKS 70 YEARS OVER many years the F&Y Socials Football Club Organisers say the event is a chance for have been celebrating their annual reunion and FDL and WRFL past players, officials and now 70 years on, are doing it again. umpires with the opportunity to reunite The club was one of the most powerful clubs in the then with old teammates and officials. Footscray District Football League (FDL) during the late 1950’s In the case of the F&Y Socials, friendships, and early 1960’s and was a club that won three premierships more than 50 years in the making have been rekindled at from four consecutive Grand Final appearances. previous reunions. Whilst the club was a strong and rugged unit, off the The event will be held at Barkers Café at Whitten Oval field many friendships were formed during the period on Barkly Street, Footscray on Friday, July 29. Arrive at of the FDL, which is now known as the Western Region 11.30am for a 12.30pm start. Football League. Cost is $30 for a supreme barbecue lunch with drinks at bar prices. Tis that time of the year again to celebrate with Tables will be decorated in club colours and name tags members, partners, and friends and friends of will be waiting for you at the door. associated clubs at the annual reunion, which will be held on Friday, July 29. Please RSVP by no later than July 22 to Max Linehan on 0418 315 182 or via [email protected] or to Barry All clubs past and present are warmly invited to attend Bennett on 0400 848 923 or via [email protected] the lunchtime celebration. 3 WRFL FOOTY RECORD WRFL NEWS WRFL RAISES AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE Western Region Football League have 2016 WHITE RIBBON NIGHT teamed up with the White Ribbon campaign to help raise awareness of the impact domestic Friday 29 July is White Ribbon Night, now in its fourth violence has in the community, in particular year, the annual event is more committed to raising across Melbourne’s west. awareness and much needed funds to end men’s violence against women. Over the next few weeks, in the lead-up to the WRFL’s White Ribbon Round on July 16 and 17, the league will This year White Ribbon Australia is expanding upon share information about the work White Ribbon does in the have a night in to get the word out campaign, by the community as well as educate the league’s players, embracing some of Australia’s most popular pastimes coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters about what such as Footy, Film and Feasting. you can do to address this serious issue facing many Domestic Violence is a difficult conversation to have and people across Australia. White Ribbon Night provides a platform to open up the WHAT IS WHITE RIBBON? conversation and shine a light on this issue from the comfort of your home. White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women White Ribbon Australia CEO, Libby Davies explains the and girls, promote gender equality, healthy relationships concept behind the mid-year campaign, including the and a new vision of masculinity. raising of vital funds to expand White Ribbon Australia’s primary prevention initiatives in schools, workplaces White Ribbon Australia (White Ribbon), as part of this global and the broader community. movement, aims to create an Australian society in which all women can live in safety, free from violence and abuse. “Shockingly, on average, one woman a week is killed in Australia as a result of intimate partner violence and one White Ribbon works through a primary prevention in four Australian’s are exposed to domestic violence. approach understanding that men are central to achieving the social change necessary to prevent men’s “We would like to think that our homes are our safe violence against women.