Spider spins for a wider web

THE AFL has made the right call by expanding to include the Gold Coast, according to former St Kilda, Hawthorn and Sydney Swans ruckman Peter ‘Spider’ Everitt.

Everitt, who was in Ballina yesterday conducting a coaching clinic for juniors, believes the new club, far from being a drain on the AFL, will help the code embrace New South Wales and Queensland.

“There’s definitely room to improve footy in the lower divisions in Queensland and NSW and the new team should do that,” he said.

“It will be great for Queensland; I suppose it will be good for this area as well. It’s great that it’s up and running.

“The fact that the Titans are doing okay and there is a soccer side up there now as well and it’s a fast growing area.

“I thought the footy, soccer and league could have worked together and all maybe be called the Titans.”

The 291-game AFL veteran has become heavily involved in the media after retiring from the sport at the end of last season when the Swans were knocked out in the semi-finals by the Western Bulldogs.

Everitt passed through Ballina to check out the town as part of his caravan and camping television show on Foxtel.

“I’ve come through Sydney, Armidale and Ballina on my way to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The show will come through Ballina in six weeks so I thought it was a good chance to check it out before filming and do some junior clinics.

“The series is about caravan and camping on a budget with the kids.

“This (second) series will be based around NSW and Queensland. I think I’ll always keep my foot in the door when it comes to footy.

“It’s one of the only things I know so the travel show will fit in with that and we’ll do school visits as well as encouraging people to get active.”

Everitt put a host of AFL hopefuls through their paces yesterday afternoon despite the dismal weather at Fripp Oval, Ballina, and the big former ruckman even had a word of support for besieged Richmond coach Terry Wallace, whose tenure at the Tigers is under threat after a winless start to the season.

“It’s a tough sport in Melbourne and the media will always put in its two bob’s worth,” he said.

“There are about 640 players and about 700 journalists so everyone is always under scrutiny.

Everitt’s visit to Ballina coincides with the AFL Northern Rivers Juniors’ season start on Sunday.

This year the junior competition has increased to include Under-16s for the first time while the Under-8s division has expanded from seven to 12 sides. The Under-8s will play separately from the other divisions on Friday nights starting on May 8.