Famous Names Continue a Carnival Tradition
Saturday, 24 July 2010 12:31
If you know anything about AFL then the surnames Bairstow, Ditchburn, Harvey and Goldsack will be well known to you.

Now four young men are carrying those names - along with a family tradition of country football representation - by competing in the 2010 Landmark Carnival in Canberra.

Shane Harvey – brother of North Melbourne’s Brent, Jarrod Goldsack – brother of Collingwood player Tyson, Luke Bairstow – nephew of Geelong’s famous ruck rover Mark and Troy Ditchburn – son of Carlton premiership player Ross, are all representing in their respective state country sides and according to Australian Country Football Council President, Glenn Scott their involvement continues a long standing tradition.  

“These boys playing continues the tradition of famous country football names competing at a high level in the sport,” said Glenn Scott. 

“It’s not really surprising that well known AFL names keep cropping up given that half of all AFL players come from country areas and many have played in these national carnivals in the past,” said Glenn Scott. 

According to Troy Ditchburn his famous dad, Ross, remembers the carnival’s he played in fondly.  

“He’s been to a few of these national country carnivals before and while the game has changed a lot since the last time he played he told me the ACT team would be very strong and he was right,” said Troy Ditchburn. 

“He also told me it’s the closest thing to AFL footy that you can play as a country player with the pressure and intensity lifting to a whole new level compared to what we normally experience,” said Troy Ditchburn. 

For Shane Harvey – a member of the NSW state team – the experience his brother Brent has in the AFL is a little more current. 

“Brent doesn’t really give me a lot of advice about my footy but he does ring me every week after my games. For us, we’re our own people and go about playing football in our own way,” said Shane Harvey.  

“It’s pretty exciting to watch him play, especially the way he’s going but I don’t aspire to play football at the level he does – I enjoy my weekends too much and know the sacrifices you have to make to play in the AFL,” said Shane Harvey. 

Playing as part of the WA team, Troy Ditchburn has been amongst the side’s best every game and says that the experience of being at the carnival is something he won’t forget. 
 
“It’s been awesome. Obviously the level of football is lot different than being at home – much quicker even than the WAFL games I’ve played in. Playing games with 17 ½ minute halves has meant it’s flat out from the word go and as a team we struggled on the first day with pace but adjusted yesterday and had a couple of wins,” said Troy Ditchburn. 

When asked about the advice his dad, Ross, gives him in terms of his football Troy says he doesn’t like to talk about it too much.  

“He won’t come out and tell me things but every now and then I ask him before big games how he handled the pressure and he’s said he was absolutely racked with nerves before every big game,” said Troy Ditchburn. 

“He was knocked out in the first quarter of the 1982 grand final and doesn’t really remember much. 

“There’s always that little bit of pressure having the name. People automatically know something about you without actually knowing you but for me personally it’s opened a few doors and I don’t think it’s a hindrance. I’m proud of what dad’s achieved and glad I can get a bit of his reputation,” said Troy Ditchburn. 

The Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival concludes on Sunday 25th with Jarrod Goldsack’s team, Vic Major contesting the final against South Australia.
 

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