Well its nearly here the 2014 Victorian Polocrosse Championships at Moorooduc are only a week and a half away and with team nominations due in at midnight tonight you can be sure the club selectors are frantically working through their sides. Out in the east of the state elder statesmen of the Sale club are negotiating how to get themselves in a chukka with Luke Lossberg , Club matriarch Merylin Semmens is in two minds whilst she would love to play with grandson Harry she’s not sure she could keep up. No news yet on whether Jared Martin will mount up for the orange shirts or not but we do know he has made it onto the official commentary team for the weekend and he keeps sprouting something about having to play football as well so it’s beginning to look like Libby Amanda Dummett will have to cowboy up and deliver the goods on Jareds former horse. Recent sightings have been reported of Kym Templeton playing again so with Cassie, Katie, Kylie big chances in the top team Buster and Bryce may be going to war in an estrogen fuelled haze. Conspicuous by their silence Rosedale selectors will be looking at the rising youngsters to help out the old school with Taylor Radford really stamping some authority in her recent outings, The Davidge family on the other hand have probably left polocrosse player creation program just a little late for this year’s champs. Would love to be a fly on the wall down at the Jets selection meeting this week, after a successful recruiting program this year, the calculators are out working out have to divide 8 into 6, the top side will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with, let’s hope the weather isn’t too cold for those relegated to the pine. Whichever way it pans out you can be confident Ballan are a real contender for both the A and B grade this year. Moorooduc expecting a home field advantage are going to be greatly disappointed with the grounds being in a condition far better than they are used to, Little bit of horse trading still going on with Zach Vines still negotiating with his brother Harry Vines over who’s playing what horse. But none of that nonsense with Peta Marriott who has right royally kicked her son off Oops in favor of riding the old grey mare herself. Noise from the Corio camp suggests they went out strongly at the SA champs coming runners up and are looking forward to the return of Brad Cooper into the top side. A brief run up to Albury this weekend to blow out the cobwebs and the team is coming together. With the inclusion of the Darwin connection Daniel Clarke and the meteoric rise of every commentator’s worst nightmare Hugh Rahles – Rebula they are on track to really shake things up. Casterton have been just a little quiet, possibly looking to slip under the radar, quite a bit of support coming from around the country for the Kelpie capital’s team with posts from former members Samii Franklin and Anthony Dowsley . A birdie also noted that team lynch pin Kelly Allen has been reportedly seen acclimatizing to the Victorian weather (in Geelong) over the last week in preparations for a tilt at the title. As previously mentioned the dark horses in all bookies eyes Central districts are one player short of really concerning some of the favorites, my mail has Todd Edwards interstate with polo the champs weekend however I qualify my previous statement with the following (that was just a guess and any assumption that this is correct should be completely disregarded) . In past years they have been known to secure the services of a Bluegate player, will this be an option in 2014. Bowes Kelly has a monster task on his hands convincing some of Ballarat’s key players to make the journey however with news coming out of the SA championships Matt Bowman is in great form and well mounted if he and his left hand can be convinced would be an invaluable addition to the Rat’s campaign. What about Narracorte just won the SA championships, we hear they are off to Albury this weekend, what do you think the chances are that they will stop in at Moorooduc on the way home and have a shot at the Vic Champs as well ?? Similar to Ballarat they will be reliant on the assistance of key player Phil Clarke who equipped himself well last weekend. We will all know more in the morning once the teams are in and the speculation is over but for the first time in many years the competition is wide open, we are all poised for what should be a great weekend of Polocrosse, and importantly fun!!! Don’t forget the Blue and White party on Saturday night where the bar will be serving Blue and White cocktails, the live band will be pumping out a collection of popular music and those travelling polocrosse groupies Simon Gray will be in full flight
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 01:26:56 +0000