Pettifer, a former Kyabram and Richmond star, will return to his hometown of Merrigum on June 20 to pull on the Bulldogs jumper that day against Longwood.
It’s the day Merrigum will celebrate its 1986 Kyabram District League premiership win over Avenel under renowned country journeyman coach Peter White.
White, who also led Merrigum to back-to-back flags in 1987, also went on to break a 17-year flag drought as coach of GVL club Kyabram in 1996.
That’s another milestone which will be celebrated by the Bombers later this season.
Former star player, long-serving president and stalwart of the Merrigum Football Club, Greg Pell, said his club was keenly looking forward to Kayne Pettifer’s return to Merrigum in which he will honour a promise to pull on a Bulldogs jumper again.
“Kayne was one of the mascots in our 1986 premiership win, and his late father Mick coached the reserves to the flag that year as well,” Pell said.
Kayne never got to play with Merrigum and played his junior football at both Rochester and Kyabram before being recruited by Richmond at pick number nine in the 2000 AFL draft.
Now in his 40s, Pettifer will be accompanied on his trip back home by Richmond great and close friend Matthew Richardson, now a much loved and respected AFL commentator.
Richardson won’t be donning the boots, but along with his former Richmond teammate will be a guest speaker at a luncheon on the day.
Those people who would like to attend the luncheon can make a booking by contacting Greg Pell on 0427 752 665.
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What’s transpired over the last month in the AFL has reconfirmed my decision not to try new challenges in my long life as a journalist.
I did have offers early in my journalistic marathon to join publications with State and Federal readerships, but I was always wary where a decision to follow them through would take me.
There was always this fear in the back of mind.
I would have been asked to write negative articles, often they are called ‘scoops’, that I would not feel comfortable doing.
Like joining the media pack hunting down a besieged football coach who has lost three games in a row and the media is up front predicting he will be sacked.
In my humble opinion, the media plays a prominent role in getting him sacked.
Like what has happened to Carlton’s Michael Voss and Essendon’s Brad Scott in the last three weeks.
Because of their lack of success, they, to me, were hounded to the extent they had to get out or were pushed out.
And that raises my question: What about duty of care?
I believe journalists, like anyone else should be accountable for the outcome of the mental health of football coaches caused by negative reporting.
It may be factual reporting, but in my opinion, it stoops below common decency.
I know coaches are a hardy lot to even take on the job and are well aware of what will happen if success is not experienced early, but when having to contend with the stigma of being sacked can place them in vulnerable situations.
I’m always wary this could lead to actions they would never have contemplated before being shown the door.
I have been in this business for 65 years and I am well aware of what sells papers and what doesn’t.
But I don’t subscribe to the theory that bad news is good news to all readers.
In my journey, I have had more positive feedback on my ‘good news’ stories rather than the negative ones I have reluctantly written.
And my conscience is completely clear.
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Young Kyabram football talent Charlie Isaac is not likely to forget his first game at the elite junior level in a hurry.
Charlie made his debut with the Bendigo Pioneers last Saturday week against Eastern Rangers in the under-18 AFL Coates Talent League and, as a forward, spectated as the Rangers raced to a 75-0 lead at half-time.
In other words, he got a little chance to display his skills because the contest was so one-sided and rarely played in the Pioneers’ forward halve before half-time.
Charlie was moved for stints on the ball in the second half and was able to give glimpses of his undoubted ability.
One of his teammates in the game and also making his debut with the Pioneers was Kristian Fitzsimmons, not an unfamiliar surname name in Kyabram footy ranks.
Kristian was one of the Pioneers’ better players in defence.
His father Mark was a talented junior player with the Kyabram thirds when I was coaching them in the 1980s.
His mother Andrea is the daughter of former Kyabram star Chris Salter and his wife Marilyn.
Kristain attends Caulfield Grammar.
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