Round 17
Sydney v Western Bulldogs
7:40pm, Friday 3rd July 2026
SCG
By Dan Lonergan
Football particularly is always fierce at senior level and although the chance for AFL players from both teams to catch up after the game for, as is often described in this country (which I still don’t fully understand) a quiet beer, does not exist. Local players still get the chance and always will.
It’s usually the best part of community football and netball catching up with friends after the game and the opposition to talk about what has unfolded on the ground, and players no matter which club they play for at this level often become close mates. When they suffer some health issues, footy lovers or former teammates and combatants get together to help them and we have seen that recently in the rich sporting environment of the Mornington Peninsula on the same night Sydney was hosting the Western Bulldogs.
Simon Goosey is the greatest goal kicker in the MPFNL kicking 1950 goals in a long career with 2 clubs, Mornington and Dromana. 1700 came with the Mornington Bulldogs, including 11 times kicking more than 100 goals in a season and 4 premierships, and the rest with a century in a season at the Dromana Tigers.
‘’The Goose’’, as he is affectionately called on the Peninsula, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and through his great mate, another local footy legend especially in coaching, Paddy Swain, a charity match was organized on Friday night involving star ex-players from the region. There was an MPFNL representative side up against a Frankston VFL Legends team raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer and the EJ Whitten Foundation now known as the Rule Foundation.
Many greats of both teams over the past 30 years or so, who either played with or against ‘’Goose’’ who had a year at half back at Frankston and also trialed without playing senior footy with Richmond and Geelong, were more than happy despite their age, lack of fitness and dodgy soft tissues to play. Among those to line up included St Kilda goal kicking star, Stephen Milne, Kyle Martin, who played six senior games at Collingwood before deciding AFL wasn’t his go (but best and fairests at Noble Park, Frankston and Collingwood VFL became his speciality), Daniel ‘’Norm’’ Clarke a champion Frankston ruck and ex Bomber, Mark Baguley.
The hammys and calves pinged left right and centre with some doing both and forced off the ground early on, but others kept going and despite being an exhibition match promoting fun, nostalgia and most
importantly encouraging men to have their prostate tested regularly as the condition can be genetic, the competitive juices were certainly flowing.
My father passed away from it at the age of 63 and my brothers and I are very cognizant about getting tested at least once a year and that message was outlined constantly on the broadcast of the game of
which I was fortunate enough to be involved.
The MPFNL had players who either recently retired or were in the very back end of their careers and still playing and for what it’s worth, the MPFNL won a close contest with many players still showing they had the talent and ability, although a bit slower understandably in their movement.
As this charity game was ending the clash at the SCG was underway and the Swans dominated the first term kicking five goals to none, which had me very downcast.
Another interested watcher was former Carlton defender, John Hynes, who played 4 games for the Blues in the 90s and is another MPFNL legend with Edithvale/Aspendale, who also produced many other
AFL footballers including Brownlow medallist, Gerard Healy, Swans and North champ, Stan Alves, Dylan Shiel, who had a fine career with the Giants and Essendon and dual All Australian, Bailey Dale from the
Western Bulldogs.
John’s son Cooper was playing for the Dogs at the SCG. He is in his second season at the Kennel and is beginning to establish himself in the seniors, which has included a rising star nomination after the Dogs’ stirring win over Hawthorn. ‘’Hynesy’’ was joint coach of the MPFNL All Stars, but like me once the game at Mornington’s Alexandra Oval had finished, he was very keen to watch his young bloke in action and was hoping after that shocking start, the Bulldogs would make a better fist of proceedings, which they did.
However, they hardly reduced the margin, which hovered around the 35 point mark most of the night. The Dogs had a brief positive patch in the third term to cut the lead to 24 points, but the Bont was being closed down by the human blanket, James Jordan. Charlie Curnow again filled his boots against the Bulldogs with six goals following a seven goal haul back in round seven, when Luke Beveridge’s men were at their weakest with so many key players missing through injury. He kicked four in the first quarter out pointing Buku Khamis, much to the frustration of Simon Goosey another keen Bulldogs supporter, who is usually more positive about their chances in games than me.
In this match though, ‘’Goose’’, who gave great speeches before and after his charity clash, lamented the Bulldogs” start and how listless they were. ‘’Goose’’, ‘’Hynsey’’ and myself were also critical of Joel Freijah who is having third year blues. He seems to have gone backwards at a rate of knots after taking the comp by storm for large portions of last season. He turned the ball over constantly.
Watching on the big screen with so many people and former great footballers in the recently renovated Mornington clubrooms having a great time, the three of us marveled at the brilliance of Brodie Grundy
of the Swans eclipsing Tim English, who actually spent some time at full back. I mentioned that it seems English and coach Luke Beveridge have had a falling out. ‘’Goose’’ said he had heard the same thing and both of us were hoping, albeit not confidently, that Cooper Hynes’ old man might share something. As expected he didn’t but did say, full back was not his position.
More people joined us to watch the last rites of the game knowing that we were very invested in the Dogs. I got a bit frustrated with another turnover and those around us laughed at how annoyed I became wearing my heart on my sleeve, but we all agreed that Ryley Sanders continues to grow as a player in a rare highlight for the Dogs. There was also chatter about Bulldogs 2016 Premiership hero, Joel Hamling at his 4th club Sydney, playing an understated role up forward like he did for the Dogs 10 years earlier in defence on grand final day, ironically against the Swans.
We all marveled at the brilliance of Isaac Heeney and that miracle goal from the boundary through heavy traffic and the overall depth and talent they have compared to the Bulldogs, who I believe are very thin in that area.
There was also discussion amongst this now large group all hovering around the TV about how Sydney had adjusted their game plan a fraction reducing the forward handpassing style to implement the
lowering of the eyes with short passing to slice through the Dogs zone defence, which was completely non plussed.
Once the game ended with the Dogs” paltry percentage getting another battering, the attention turned to the activity of fun in the room with many of the stars of yesteryear from the MPFNL and the Frankston Dolphins VFL club embellishing their feats of all of their fine careers as well as nursing sore and injured bodies and the next morning sore heads.
However, they all said no matter whether they injured or tore their hamstrings or calves, it was a pleasure to play in this charity event for the great Simon Goosey and raise awareness of prostate cancer and how vital it is for men to have regular checks. That’s what local and community footy is all about and I am proud to have contributed in a small way to a very special occasion.
As far as the AFL was concerned, Sydney further cemented their top two spot, while the Dogs remain in the wildcard hunt, but with many other clubs, who are in better form.
At the end of the day as much as we enjoy it, footy is not life or death, ensuring you are healthy is, but it’s great they can intertwine at times.
SYDNEY 5.3 8.5 10.10 13.12 (90)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.3 3.8 6.10 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Sydney: Curnow 6, McLean 3, Cleary, Warner, Hamling, Heeney
Western Bulldogs: Jones 2, Croft 2, Naughton, Dale, Sanders
BEST (Dan’s best)
Sydney: Grundy, Heeney, Gulden, Curnow, McLean, Blakey
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Sanders, Richards, Kennedy
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Budarick (ankle)
LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Crowd: 35,227
Malarkey Votes
3 – Grundy (Swans)
2 – Heeney (Swans)
1 – Gulden (Swans)
Read other round 17 match reports HERE
Read more from Dan Lonergan HERE
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