46 FRIDAY, April 8, 2011 The Standard www.standard.net.au LOCAL SPORT Eagle’s foundation for life has to prove (their worth for) By MEAGAN ROOTH their spot,” he said. “We’ve got a lot more depth 150-game milestone for Mason BRICKLAYER Steven this year. Mason has stacked his North hfnlhfnl “Obviously sometimes I Warrnambool Eagles senior might be out of form so I go club match contribution total back to reserves for a few 149 games high. weeks to get my form back. And with a solid pre-14s but by the time he was 15 “After that I’m usually season under his belt, the he was running out for the ready to go again,” he said. 27-year-old is set to hit the seniors. Mason played in four grand life-membership milestone At 16, the bold teenager quit finals as a junior at Harrow- tomorrow. school to take up a bricklaying Balmoral but is yet to help He is just the fourth apprenticeship with Mark claim a fl ag. Eagles footballer to earn Edney in Warrnambool. He is desperate to at least the ticket. “I wasn’t much good at finish in the top fi ve this But for the hard-working school but I thought I had to year. Mason, bundling together do something,” Mason said. “It would be awesome to 150 games was never a part “The bloke I signed up play finals,” he said. of his plan. with (Edney) took me up to But first the Eagles will It has merely been a con-North.” have to tackle the Seagulls in sequence of his determined Mason started with the un round one of Hampden league approach to football. der 18s in 2000 before moving action this weekend. “You just turn up and try to seniors two years later. “No side is easy to beat,” to play as much footy as you Since then he has notched “There’s 18 blokes on the can before your body packs up 110 games in the top grade field and you need to beat up,” he said. and 39 in reserves. every one of them. Port will “Each year comes around “I always strive to play the come at us hard. so fast. You finish one year best footy I can at the highest “Our main goal will be to and all of a sudden you’re level,” he said. stick to our structures and back on the oval training for Autumnal sunshine is set to if we can do that then hope- next year. greet the long-serving Eagle fully we can come away with “You don’t realise how when he takes the fi eld against “I would like to think that of last season in reserves The Essendon supporter, a win.” quickly it goes and you just Port Fairy tomorrow. I’m a bit of an in-an-under before cementing his spot who admires the talent of Teammate Jeremy end up clocking up years. But the forward/onballer player. in seniors. Jobe Watson, said he was keen Parkinson will run out for his “(Playing 150) is not some-wouldn’t mind if the weather “So when it rains the pace He still managed to attract to stay in the top division this 100th club game tomorrow — thing I ever set out to do.” turned. of the game slows down, which enough votes in reserves to be year. having played 96 senior games Mason started his career “When it rains it suits me suits me better.” runner-up in the club’s best “But with the numbers and three in the reserves. at Harrow-Balmoral in under down to the ground,” he said. Mason played the fi rst half and fairest. we’ve got this year, everyone mrooth@standard.fairfax.com.au North Warrnambool Eagles player Steven Mason will play his 150th game this week, making him just the fourth player for the club to achieve a life membership. 110406DW54 Picture: DAMIAN WHITE Justin leads cup contenders on path to AFL dream HAMPDEN SCHOOLBOYS By KATE BUTLER Umpires JAYDEN Brennan is one of almost 500 youngsters who are about to make their step up first step on the path to an AFL career. FOUR Warrnambool and District The teenager will Football Umpires’ Association captain Hampden in the (WDFUA) members have been 2011 V/Line Cup, which selected to officiate at the V/ is the premier under 15 Line Cup. representative carnival for The group was picked after junior footballers in the strong performances at a train- VCFL. ing session at Princes Park a “I got a letter which fortnight ago. asked me to try out,” he After patrolling the bound- said of the schoolboys ary at last year’s carnival, Zoe team. Pennings has impressively been “I thought it would be a selected as a central umpire. good chance to see where The other WDFUA members I’m heading.” will attend the under 15 The Emmanuel Hawks representative carnival for the footballer’s dream is to fi rst time. play AFL. Debutants Ethan Tobias, He only has to look at Kellie McLeod and Keiran a different kind of Hawk Ferguson will be boundary um to realise that the dream pires.The cup starts at regional could well become a venues this weekend before reality. making its way to metropolitan A former captain of the venues on Monday,Tuesday and Hampden schoolboys side Wednesday. is Hawthorn premiership player and the AFL club’s 2011 skipper, Luke Hodge. Jayden understands 2011 V/LINE CUP Hampden there is a another goal he Division two should tick off if he is to Conference B reach the elite level. Saturday: v Geelong at St “Obviously I would love Patrick’s College, Ballarat to get into the TAC Cup,” Monday: bye he said. Tuesday: v Peninsula Stingrays About 60 per cent of announced as captain. Hampden is the three-main thing is watching the side.“It’s just something at Highgate Reserve, Craigieburn players from the school-“It was pretty unex-time reigning titleholder kids develop at the next that I enjoy and get a lot Wednesday: crossover finals boys carnival are expected pected because there are in division two at the level. out of,” he said. against conference A to progress to the TAC Cup a lot of good boys in the schoolboys carnival, with “It’s also about the mate-VCFL chief executive program. team,” he said. coach Peter Banks excited ship and the team spirit.” Glenn Scott said this year’s sensational experience for Jayden, 15, was look-“I was pretty happy when about the potential of this As well as playing, the carnival promised to be the a young footballer coming ing forward to leading my name was read out. year’s side. schoolboys will watch best ever. to Melbourne for three Hampden at the carnival “Hopefully I can lead by “We’ve got a lot of the Melbourne-Brisbane “With the inclusion of days to compete against the which starts tomorrow. example.” versatility and our strength match at the MCG on two new AFL teams and best from across the state. The team had its fi nal The onballer is no would be that the kids Sunday, while there is also the importance of the TAC “It’s something that training session and a stranger to a captaincy sitting on the interchange a chance that Hodge will Cup as a crucial feeder these boys will remember jumper presentation at role, steering the Hawks will be as good as the ones speak to the group. competition, the interest in for the rest of their life and Cobden on Wednesday to last year’s Hampden on the ground,” he said. Banks has incredibly under 15 football has never we hope it is a highlight in night when the Emmanuel Juniors under 14 “We’re going down to try entered his 26th consecu-been stronger,” he said. their football memories.” College student was premiership. and win no doubt, but the tive year at the helm of the “The V/Line Cup is a kbutler@standard.fairfax.com.au Emmanuel Hawks player Jayden Brennan will captain the Hampden side in the V/Line Cup. 110407LP22 Picture: LEANNE PICKETT