Grumpy old men - We need you

While there are more, grumpy old men in AFL coaching ranks than you can poke the proverbial stick at; they're a far more placid mob in the VFL. Such is the shadow of the AFL over the competition, it's a brave coach who'll launch into the kind of tirade Eddie McGuire has fired at Brisbane or Mick Malthouse saves for any journalist who crosses his path. It's a pity really. History shows that AFL football thrives on controversy. You have to look no further than the media's response to Warwick Capper's puerile comments on the Footy Show about popping a tablet of speed. Before the show had finished the media had whipped itself into a frenzy. We'd kill for that kind of publicity in the VFL.

So how invigorating it was to see Scorpions coach David Banfield fire a salvo at his old club, the Bendigo Bombers, in the rooms after last week's loss. Banfield's comments to ABC TV's Ross Booth were unequivocal. If Bendigo continues to include as few as 6 VFL players in its side, how can it claim to be a regional team? The sceptics might suggest Banfield's criticism was a product of sour grapes after losing the coaching job at Bendigo to Matthew Knights. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter what prompted the comments. The only thing that really matters is whether they're true and if they're consistent with Banfield's own coaching principles.

On that score there's no argument. On Saturday, St Kilda player Leigh Montagna played in the Scorpions reserves team and only 10 St Kilda players lined up in the senior team. And recruits such as ruckman Ashley Eames are great for the VFL. By contrast, Matthew Knights omitted 20-year-old VFL player Kain Robins from the Bendigo side and found room for 16 Essendon AFL players. Recruited from the Pioneers via Eaglehawk, Robins has been in great form. Would Knights seriously have us believe he couldn't find a spot in the team for him? And what about 20-year-old Pioneer, Aaron Connaughton? Four goals against the Roosters in Round 3 and relegated to the interchange against the Scorpions. Matthew Knights might show all the qualities of a good coach. He's articulate and clear headed. However, there's more to building a great club than being cute about the mechanics of a game of football.

A great football club is built on values such as trust, fair mindedness and courage. The principles that build success remain the same whether you're playing in the paddock or at the MCG on Anzac Day. If my coach left me out of the team because an AFL player had rite of passage he'd not win my trust. And I say that not as an ABC commentator, but as someone who successfully coached a stream of working class blokes at Coburg, many with attitude, over 9 years in a tough VFA competition.

What Essendon is doing in Bendigo is very important to the VFL. But Peter Banfield is right to remind the Essendon hierarchy that they have a responsibility to the region and to players such as Robins. In any case, as Banfield pointed out on Saturday, if they make the finals they'll only be allowed to play 12 Essendon players. Although the Bombers fought back really well and played some neat, precision football, the game lacked passion. Dare I say it; it was like a reserves game. And as long as VFL sides are dominate by AFL players that will be the rule.

And in response?

Bendigo Bombers president Warren Driscoll says he isn't to fussed by Peter Banfield's comments. Nevertheless he had this too say:

Peter's suggestion that we are saying we're a regional team is laughable. How can we be, especially as we are aligned to a Melbourne-based club? It's all about the VFL being able to play in regional centres. Anyway, it was Peter who wanted to recruit Melbourne based players such as Jordan Doering. Our reserves team is mainly regional, but the purpose of having this team is to develop new young talent that will eventually take the next big step.

We averaged 12 Essendon players per VFL game last year and I believe this year will be no different. I don't want to accuse Peter Banfield of sour grapes or the like, but I must say that Matthew Knights is a very good coach and that he communicates really well with our players. And even though we are going well at the moment, we will have bigger challenges ahead of us. What people do not understand is that it is important that Bendigo has some early success and that the media gets behind us more. This means we can aspire to a 3,000 plus crowd on Sunday against Williamstown. Bigger crowds are great for our bottom line, as we do not have the gambling facilities of some powerhouse VFL teams. Having bigger crowds in Bendigo is good for us and it is also good for the VFL.

SATURDAY

Tasmania v SANDRINGHAM- ABC TV
COBURG TIGERS v Northern Bullants
Port Melbourne v NORTH BALLARAT

SUNDAY

FRANKSTON v Geelong
BENDIGO BOMBERS v Williamstown
WERRIBEE v Box Hill Hawks