Wyndhamvale and Glen Orden have long been rivals in the Western Region Football League.
With past champions of both clubs wanting to rekindle the passion of tense Wyndham derbies, and perhaps settle a few scores, the clubs last year launched a legends game that proved a roaring success.
The sides will meet again in what has become an annual fixture when Wyndhamvale hosts the second legends affair at Wyndhamvale South Oval on Saturday at 3pm – with the visitors determined to defend their status as the titleholders.
Wyndhamvale veteran Nathan Evans said Glen Orden had been the Falcons’ main rivals for about 25 years.
“We got together and said let’s get a legends game going and rekindle some of the love and hate,” he said. “They knocked us off in a close one last year, so we’re looking to get a little bit of payback this year.”
The match is a great chance for players of both teams to catch up with some of their former teammates who joined them in battle in their heydays and will give some of the younger generation a chance to see some of the past greats of the clubs in action too.
The game is supposed to be a “friendly” – but when the ball is bounced, there will be no backward steps.
“The guys went into it last year thinking it was going to be a bit of a laugh and it was, but once they crossed the white line, they certainly remembered what the feeling of playing footy was all about,” Evans said. “They all went pretty hard at the contests.”
Wyndhamvale will be coached by Scott Crawford, while Darren Edwards will be in charge for Glen Orden.
Evans is looking forward to seeing Tony Schibeci, a radio host on SEN and the Voice of the G, and Brett Scotland, a former coach, best-and-fairest and brother of former AFL star Heath, in action for the Falcons.
“There’s about 18 or 19 best and fairest winners playing and a couple of reserves premiership winners,” said Evans of the side.
“Obviously, the players from our only senior premiership [last year] are still playing at the moment so none of them will be running out.”
The Falcons’ legends will hold a training session at Wyndhamvale South Oval tomorrow night.
There is likely to be more time spent lining up for drinks at the bar than for drills on the oval.
“I think the training session will last about eight minutes and then it will be straight to the bar,” Evans said.
The medical officers of the respective clubs will likely be working overtime on recovery on Saturday night.
“They’ll be very busy,” Evans said. “A few guys have been telling me they haven’t recovered from last year’s game.”
