'lefty' Has The Mark Of A Star
Sun Herald
Saturday July 14, 1990
* IF "Lefty" Dale Lewis turns out half as good as Mark Browning then the Swans have come up trumps.
It took Lewis, who we picked up in the mid-year AFL draft, just two games with the "scrubbers" to break into the senior ranks.
His raking left-foot drop punts remind me of Browning, who gave the club such sterling service.
Lewis couldn't have asked for a tougher baptism into league football than running through the race at the Western Oval.
The parochial Melbourne Bulldog supporters certainly gave Lewis a hard time every time he touched the ball.
He came to the club as a highly-rated centre half forward from North Ballarat but like so many bush recruits soon realised that he hasn't quite got the build to play in the key forward position.
Lefty started the game yesterday against the Dogs on a wing and given time to settle and with a full pre-season preparation under his belt could firmly establish himself in the club's senior ranks next year.
* A MEETING with the SCG Trust through the week certainly went a long way to resolving the problems we've encountered all year with the state of the ground.
We came up with a strategy that will eventually see the SCG surface return to its former glory.
The key to the plan is to have the wicket area properly watered and for the curator to sow winter grass at the right time of the year.
As far as the Swans are concerned we've agreed to switch our early pre-season training next year to Erskineville Oval to give the grass a chance to thrive.
* ROD Carter's retirement has to go down as one of the shortest in football history.
It's great to see the club's grey-haired legend has been given his chance to play his 300th game.
But Rocket, what are you planning to do with the $20 the players chipped in for a farewell present? Maybe we can drink it out at the end of the season.
© 1990 Sun Herald