Border Mail |
“A DISGRACE.” That’s what some of the Ovens and Murray’s greatest have labelled modern-day players after a review into representative football was detailed by league officials yesterday.
Speaking at the O and M’s annual Hall of Fame morning tea, past champions Brian Gilcrist, Ken “Pascoe” Ellis and legend Jim Sandral hit out at those unwilling to represent the O and M at interleague level.
Gilcrist, a Hall of Fame member and five-time best and fairest winner at Wodonga, didn’t pull any punches when asked what he thought about players who withdrew from representative selection this year.
“I thought that was a disgrace,” he said.
Gilcrist was met with immediate agreement from Ellis.
“I might be old fashioned but to me, it’s not good,” Gilcrist said.
“They’ve got a bloke out at Lavington busting his guts week in, week out.
“Where does he get the support, Penda?
“He doesn’t get much.
“Some people say pay them to play.
“I wouldn’t give them a bloody cent.”
Gilcrist, a passionate Ovens and Murray follower, didn’t stop there.
He expressed concern for the current state of the competition and said he sympathised with Wodonga Raiders, who are languishing on the bottom of the ladder after a host of star recruits left just one season after joining the club.
“After two rounds, you knew what the five was going to be,” Gilcrist said.
“It won’t change.
“I don’t begrudge anybody, but the thing I don’t like is what happened to the Raiders.
“They had three blokes on second-year contracts (leave), Wodonga had one, too.
“I think what they should be doing with contracts is one-year contracts, only.
“No incentives for second years, or anything.
“Because they’re not keeping them.”
But Gilcrist didn’t point the blame at clubs, saying that instead it said a lot about the character of the players.
Ellis, Yarrawonga’s games record holder, agreed.
“Too many blokes these days are gypsies,” he said.
“They come in for a year and then go out to the bush and get $1000 a game, where they pick up 30 or 40 kicks with no effort.
“It should be an honour to play in the top echelon.
“Having that on your CV is something you should strive for, to my way of thinking.”
Sandral, who will be elevated legend status next month, said he was hurt by the fact the best players no longer wanted to play for the league.
“We can’t field our best side and it’s been going on for a while now,” he said.
“That’s very hurtful, I feel.
“I don’t know how you can fix it.
“We used to love representing the Ovens and Murray.
“It was an honour to do it, but they don’t seem to have that any more.
“I think it’s the money that’s done it.”
Ovens and Murray boss Aaron McGlynn confirmed yesterday the league was in the process of setting up a panel to investigate why the best weren’t putting their hand up and effective ways of making that happen in the future.
Details of those plans will be released over the coming weeks.
