Weekly Times | FOOTBALL in the Mallee town of Hopetoun has undergone drastic changes over the past year, but the presence of Mark Reid remains a staple.
Reid was a past player, junior coach and president of the Hopetoun Football Club, before its merger with rival Beulah ahead of this season created the Southern Mallee Giants. Two weeks ago, against Walpeup-Underbool, the 46-year-old strapped on the boots in the reserves for his first game as a Giant in what was also his 400th club appearance.
“It’s pretty unusual,” Reid said. “I don’t think anybody would have played their first and their 400th game for a club at the same time.”
The Mallee league is to disband at season’s end, as per the AFL North West Structural Review’s final recommendations released last month. The review suggested the Giants join the Horsham and District league.
Results of Woomelang-Lascelles’ club survey regarding it’s direction next season were to be tallied last night, according to club vice-president Tim McClelland. The review’s first preference was for the club to merge with Sea Lake Nandaly and join the Central Murray league, or alternatively for the clubs to remain separate and join either the North Central or Golden Rivers leagues. The option for the Cats to fold has also been raised by the club.
The Mallee league is hosting a reunion on August 1, coinciding with its final season.
