Sam oozes local’s confidence

Sam oozes local’s confidence

Dockland’s Sam Newman was confident of coaching Victoria to victory in its EJ Whitten Legends game against the All Stars at Etihad Stadium on July 3.

As Docklands News went to press, Sam’s team was just taking to the field, so we can’t report the result.

But in an interview before the game, the Docklander expressed confidence that his side was simply too good for the opposition.

“I predict an easy victory,” he said.  “Frankly, we don’t have much opposition and we’re very good at kicking for goal.”

The Legends game is an annual charity fundraiser for prostate cancer research, the disease which killed AFL hero Teddy Whitten.  The EJ Whitten Foundation was formed in 1995 to raise awareness of the disease which each year kills more than 3300 Australian men.

And, while the Legends game is played for a serious reason, the on-field approach is anything but serious.

Selected on “state-of-origin” guidelines, more than 50 former AFL greats lined up for either Sam’s Victorians and the All Stars, which comprised the cream of the rest of Australia.

Last year Sam’s team clinched victory in the dying seconds when an All Stars’ goal was controversially disallowed.

The Yarra’s Edge resident has lived in Docklands for eight years and can’t get enough of the place.

Like many of us, the Channel Nine celebrity says its location is Dockland’s strongest asset.

“I’m a great public transport user, although I kept forgetting to touch off my Myki card for the first month or so,” he said.

“And I also like to ride my bike and Docklands is great for that too.”

He loves all the local restaurants but is not keen on the precinct’s many dogs.

“I’m different than 90 per cent of Australia’s population because I’m not overweight, I take my health seriously and I don’t have a dog,” he said.

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