In the early nineteen-seventies track cycling was a major part of the Australian sporting calendar during the summer months. The Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series attracted the best riders from all around the world while carnivals were also held in regional Victoria and in Melbourne where the prestigious Austral Wheel was run at the former Northcote velodrome.

The sport was on a high and crowds were enthralled with the colour and speed of racing under lights. In late February of 1973 the Lavington Sports Club held the inaugural Lavington Wheelrace, part of a two-day carnival that was billed as the richest of its type anywhere in the world. It was the brainchild of club president, Mr.Col Donnelly, and with total prizemoney of $17,000, the carnival was able to attract athletes and riders from all over the land.

Collingwood have prevailed at a soggy North Port Oval to hold off Port Melbourne by two points in a thrilling end to their round nineteen VFL clash. The Pies held sway in the first half but when the heavens opened up midway through the third quarter the game took on a different look as the Borough hit the front during the term.

Collingwood were able to regain the lead by the final change but a goal to Port Melbourne’s Dylan Conway approaching the seven minute mark of the final quarter reduced the deficit to just five points before time ran out for the home side with the Magpies winning 10.10.70 to 9.14.68. The win shores up a top eight place for the Pies and keeps their top four hopes alive.

Essendon have won a spot in another VFL finals series after winning a tight struggle against cross town rivals the Northern Blues at a sun bathed Windy Hill in the final round of the season proper. The Bombers led by just a solitary behind with less than five minutes to go in the match before goals to James Stewart and a ripper from bigman, Sam Draper, sealed the deal for the Dons – 12.6.78 to 9.10.64.

Jordan Houlahan booted a game-high three goals for the Bombers with two each to Stewart and Nino Lazzaro while Jean-Luc Velissaris was the only multiple goalkicker for the Blues with two. The victory sets up a mouth-watering clash in week one of the finals series where the Bombers will take on arch rival Collingwood at North Port Oval on the Sunday.

Werribee have proved too strong for Coburg in round eighteen of the VFL at Piranha Park to record their fifth win of the season. The Tigers kicked with the wind to the city end in the first quarter and booted six goals to nil to set up their 16.9.105 to 8.10.58 win.

They had twelve goal kickers for the day with Nick Coughlan, Jake Sharp, Dane McFarlane and Andrew Hopper booting two each while for Coburg Hisham Kerbatieh and Sam Lowson both kicked two. The match received added exposure late in the week when the AFL announced it would use the game to trial possible new rule changes that the competition’s governing body were looking to add in the near future.