The Victoria 2026 Organising Committee will seek the public’s help to find a Commonwealth Games mascot for the regional staging of the event.
But it seems City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali has saved the committee the hard work.
Posting to Facebook recently, Cr Sali — pictured with local legend Leigh Egan — had this to say.
“BMX legend and Shepparton local Leigh Egan has put his hand up to be the 2026 regional Commonwealth Games mascot,” he said.
The kicker for Oddie was Cr Anthony Brophy’s quip in the comments section.
“From Sunrise Cash Cow to Shepparton’s Crash Cow,” Cr Brophy said.
Surely that’s a name that catches on.
Running a different kind of message
J.D. Hayes returned to the field for Euroa recently for the first time in nearly two years.
While he had a quiet day by the GVL Data numbers, Oddie sources have been told that the regular appearance of the Magpies’ runner by his side had nothing to do with his performance on the field.
Rather, the messages were pertaining to his performance off the field — or more specifically that of his Lindsay Park Racing stable.
Brother Ben and J.D.’s first metropolitan treble in Morphettville certainly kept the runner busy.
Evening up the playing field
The inclusion of Tasmania as the 19th AFL team has already caused plenty of discussion around which area of the country should be awarded the 20th licence.
The Northern Territory, Western Australia and Canberra all have decent business cases — but as always, Oddie would prefer to see the league head to the regions.
With populations shifting out of metropolitan areas — and a regional Commonwealth Games lighting the fuse — why couldn’t another area, similar to Geelong, join the race to be number 20?
We’re only slightly biased, but Shepparton would be the perfect home for a $715 million boutique stadium, wouldn’t it?
Oddie will keep dreaming.