SOCCER
ONE of the greatest goalscorers in Victorian football history could be on the verge of a sensational comeback if a plan hatched months ago by Rosebud comes to fruition.
When Stuart Johnston and assistant Stan Packer took over as senior coaches they identified a need to add to the team’s firepower.
Johnson knew Nathan Yole from their days at Mornington while Packer was a long-term friend of Dave Greening and given that both forwards had joined forces at Baxter a couple of years ago it seemed logical to try and revive their partnership.
The first part of the plan dropped neatly into place last week when Yole signed and the second part could fit smoothly alongside it on Thursday when Greening trains with the senior squad.
Greening’s impact on senior competition at varying State League levels can’t be overstated given his remarkable haul of nine league Golden Boot awards.
The last time he kicked a ball in anger was against Endeavour United at Reema Reserve on Saturday 4 June 2022 and it looked as though the story of his playing days would have a horror ending.
Greening had to be helped off in the first half and later taken to hospital after a reckless and dangerous challenge left him with a fractured cheekbone.
“I’d hate to finish my playing career on that memory from Endeavour,” Greening said.
“Look I was probably 50:50 about playing again but it’s more like 80:20 now and I’d like the chance to finish up on my terms rather than have someone knock my cheekbone out of place.”
Greening is now 42 and has a three-year-old son Alfie with partner Emma.
He has been a physical education and classroom teacher at Boneo Primary School for over a decade.
He took up athletics again last year having competed at county level when growing up in England and his return at masters’ level reaped spectacular results winning gold medals at state championships.
Greening recently won three gold medals at the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin.
But it’s his pending return to playing ranks that looks certain to cause a stir at Olympic Park and beyond.
No doubt Rosebud fans are hoping that opposition defenders are soon to be taught a lesson they will never forget.
In VPL1 Langwarrin and Eastern Lions shared the spoils after Friday night’s 0-0 stalemate at Lawton Park.
Both goalkeepers were among their team’s best with Keegan Coulter to the fore in the first half and Langwarrin counterpart James Burgess making some excellent reaction saves in the second half.
Lions were a far different proposition to the previous week’s visitors Bentleigh Greens and represented a genuine attacking threat through South African-born left winger Deandre Vollenhoven, Barbados international Omani Leacock and right winger Nathan Stamatelos.
In the 13th minute Coulter was forced to parry a shot on the turn from Langy striker Archie Macphee.
Langy livewire Tom Youngs was prominent and three minutes from half-time his corner was met by Brad Blumenthal whose glancing header was saved on the line by Coulter and eventually cleared.
In the final minute of the half Vollenhoven cut the ball back from the left of the box to Leacock who blew the best chance so far by blasting well over the bar.
Two minutes into the second period a Stamatelos free-kick struck the wall and Vollenhoven’s volley lobbed over Burgess but Luke Adams headed off the line.
Lions created the better chances in this half but Burgess parried a close-range strike from Lions sub Nick Koutsoubos.
In the 69th minute Vollenhoven broke through the middle then neatly played in substitute Davut Tahir on the left but he dwelt on the ball and his eventual shot was blocked.
This Saturday Langwarrin will play its third consecutive home match when it hosts North Geelong at Lawton Park at 7pm after the under-23s’ curtain raiser.
In State 3 news Frankston Pines midfielder Calvin Delaney had to be stretchered off just three minutes into Saturday’s friendly against Bundoora United at Hillsview Reserve.
The club reports that Delaney injured an ankle and “will be in a race against time to make the season opener.”
Pines have signed 27-year-old central defender Ben Philips who is a former Mazenod player returning after a break from the sport.
Pines will kick-off their 2024 league campaign by hosting Middle Park under lights on Friday 22 March and hope to play all their home games under lights on Fridays.
In State 4 news Baxter has signed its first Japanese player while another is trialling.
Last week 20-year-old Kennusuke Kameshima, a right-sided full back or winger from Okinawa-based amateur club Chatan, agreed terms.
“‘Kenni’ is technically excellent, has a great first touch with a good range of passing and like most Japanese players I have encountered has an unbelievable work rate,” Baxter head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor said.
In Football Victoria news the state body announced last week that all its clubs had made the deadline to arrange payment of outstanding fees.
Previously FV had claimed that clubs owed just over $2 million and threatened to suspend non-financial clubs from competition.
However FV is yet to publicly announce that the oldest club in Victoria has withdrawn from competition.
South Yarra was formed in 1928 and 96 years later the club has withdrawn from State League competition a week after forfeiting its Dockerty Cup tie with Mount Eliza.
South Yarra is based at Fawkner Park and was competing in State 3 South-East which will now consist of 11 teams next season.
South Yarra will continue to run a junior program and a women’s program as well as fielding teams in the Metropolitan Leagues.
In other news iconic Frankston Pines figure Tommy Mitchell is the new team manager of Casey Comets.
Mitchell has had various roles at Pines since joining the club in 1970 among them ground manager, team manager and committeeman.
He is a life member at Monterey Reserve and Pines’ scoreboard is named in his honour.
Comets gaffer and former Pines player Billy Armour was delighted by Mitchell’s appointment.
“He’s one of the best signings I’ve made this season,” Armour said.
“His experience will be invaluable.”
Meanwhile a unique event takes place at 11am on Saturday when Steve Keenan’s Wild Rovers take on touring Czech Republic side TJ Ostrovan at North Seaford Reserve.
Seaford’s senior coach Paul Williams and assistant Steve Keenan play for Wild Rovers which were formed in 2009 and consist of former players with an average age of 50.
The team regularly competes in five-a-side competitions and has been successful in Victoria and interstate.
Here are the results of some friendlies involving local clubs:
Casey Panthers 1 Chelsea 4 (James Stinson 3, Adam Bartosy), Somerville Eagles 3 (Ben Schmidt, Tom Simmons, Corey Riddle) Lilydale Montrose Utd 0, Mount Martha 0 Mentone 2 (Marcus Spivey, Chris Gibson); Lyndale Utd 3 Rosebud 2 (Ethan Hunt, triallist); Nunawading City 1 Mornington 4 (Rory Currie 3, Rhys Craigie); Corio 2 Peninsula Strikers 2 (Wayne Gordon 2); Gippsland Utd 4 Skye Utd 1 (Riley Gill); Bundoora Utd 3 Frankston Pines 2 (Cassius Delaney 2); Baxter 2 (Ryan Brown, Keegan Myatt) Sandringham 1; Seaford Utd 6 (Josh Vega 3, Backy Barakzoi, Mitch Hawkins, own goal) Boronia 1.
Here are the round 2 Dockerty Cup/Australia Cup ties involving local clubs:
Saturday 24 February:
Chelsea v Heidelberg Eagles, Edithvale Recreation Reserve, 4pm; Somerville Eagles v Waverley Wanderers, Westernport Secondary College, 3pm; Baxter v Point Cook, Baxter Park, 5pm; Diamond Valley v Frankston Pines, Partingtons Flat, 3pm; Kings Domain v Mount Eliza, Monash Uni Playing Fields (pitch 2), 5.30pm.
Here are some upcoming friendlies:
Tuesday 20 February:
Baxter v Mount Martha, Baxter Park, 6.45pm.
Saturday 24 February:
Mornington v Knox City, Dallas Brooks Park, 1pm & 3pm (TBC); Peninsula Strikers v Clifton Hill, Centenary Park, seniors 11am, reserves 1pm; Ringwood v Skye Utd, Jubilee Park, 1pm & 3pm; Wild Rovers v Ostrovan FC, North Seaford Reserve, 11am; Lilydale Eagles v Mentone, Morrison Reserve, 1pm & 3pm.
