The Antz Pantz
 Northern Bullants Football Club

www.northernbullants.com.au

November, 2007

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NAB Northern Bullants Business Network Breakfast

Tuesday November 27th at

Time: Cost:

7.15am for 7.30am start $50 inclusive of fully plated hot/cold breakfast with coffee, tea and juices.

205 Bell Street

We are especially privileged  to have two of the legends of our great Australian game as guest speakers at our final Business Breakfast for 2007 (perhaps even three if you ask M.C. Daniel Harford!)

Francis Bourke - Saint Francis Bourke represented Richmond in 302 VFL games and his state on 13 occasions.  Bourke was a member of five Richmond premiership teams.

David Parkin -  211 VFL game Hawks great, captaining the club including 1971 premiership. Coached  Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy including 1978 flag with Hawthorn and the  1981-82 & 1995 Carlton flags.   Named Carlton’s coach in their Team of the Century

Bookings: By November 23rd, call (03) 9470 2224     Details

Social Club lunch - December 7th - 12pm - 4pm featuring Brownlow Medallist Brad Hardie and comedian Lawrence Mooney who had everyone in stitches at our Comedy Night earlier in the year (with some very funny references to ants).    . $60 inclusive of carvery lunch and beverages. Book by calling PFCSC 9478 0823 or Bev mobile 0417 034 466. 

Ins and Outs

Obviously  the inclusion of David Teague and Matty Lappin on the Bullant list boosts our experience levels enormously, but they will be sorely needed with the likely departure of a number of senior players.

The pre-season draft will tell its tale, but as mentioned on our web site, Adam Iacobucci has been invited to do the early pre-season with Hawthorn and Jarrod Banister the same with the Kangaroos.    It's been a long time since a Bullant headed off to Collingwood, but it's again happened with Justin Crow taking up a full-time physio role with the 'Pies and as well as looking after their A.F.L. list, he will play for their Reserves side in the V.F.L.   

Digby Morrell seems likely to join Barry Mitchell (we're guessing as assistant coach) at the Box Hill Hawks, Josh Houlihan will be with back-to-back N.F.L. premiers, Heidelberg, and Frankie Raso as mentioned previously announced his retirement from senior footy at the Best and Fairest Night.   With two degrees in engineering disciplines, it's also highly likey Ross Young will be off the the mining industry, either in Western Australia or perhaps even overseas

If it all happens, this leaves just "Rogan" Josh Vansittart as the sole remaining member of last year's senior group and opens the door for a few younger players to take up more prominent role.

And of course next Saturday is Decision Day!

Forget the Johhny and Kev show - the National Draft is much more important!  Expect four Northern Knights to go as first round picks and two or three other possibilities in later rounds.   Post the draft, we will have a better idea just which of the graduatingKnights players will commence their VFL careers with us next season.

All Aboard!

We are delighted to announce that Preston Travel Services has joined the growing band of NAB Northern Bullants' sponsors.

The multi-award winning independent agency (British Airways – VIC/TAS Award of Excellence 2007,  Qantas – VIC/TAS Most Outstanding Agency 2007) has 30 years experience and will now offer members of the NAB Bullants exclusive discounts in their support of the club.
From individual holiday needs to group travel and corporate bookings, Preston Travel Services will ensure you receive personalised service whether you book over the phone, by email or visit them at their High street store.

The NAB Northern Bullants would like to thank Preston Travel Services for their support and urge all members and supporters to give them a call and book your next travel arrangements. Visit Preston Travel Services

MnM Fruit at the Preston Market has also signed on to sponsor the NAB Bullants in 2008. So when shopping at the Preston Market make sure you call in to see Domenic and the guys at MnM who will make sure you're looked after.

Bug Me No More Pest Control Services have also agreed to sponsor the club and have committed to donate 10% of all club referrals back to the club.  Please contact Phil on 0409 504832 (annoying Ants a specialty!).

And we are also delighted to have Nando's back on board for 2008. This week sees a huge launch for the new Preston store on the corner of High and Bruce Streets - with give-aways, food tastings and the Nando's Cockerel in-store.

Rydges on Bell are also offering some fantastic deals for people looking to book a Christmas function. As a bonus, for those people booking the function with Rydges On Bell, you receive 2 free Accommodation rooms for the night of the event (conditions apply). So be quick and take up this offer and make the most of your Christmas party. For bookings please contact Nicola or Fiona on (03)9485 0041 or (03)9485 0196 and mention that you are a Bullants supporter.      Download Christmas Packages

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Northern Bullants will be held at the PFC Social Club on Wednesday, December 19 from 6:00 p.m.

All Full (you have to have NB on your card) Bullant members welcome. And speaking of the Social Club, 30th birthday celebrations are
coming up and we'll advise when we know details.

Around The Grounds

We missed a couple of more obvious names last month when following up on ex-Ant players around the state.

2003 player Peter Summers took out Sandringham's Best and Fairest.    Summers spent 2004 on Essendon's Rookie List and opted to continue with former Bullants coach Mark Williams at Sandy the following season.  And from the same Bullant list, Nick Saunter returned to one of his several previous clubs and took out the Frosty Miller Medal as leading V.F.L. goal kicker for an unprecedented sixth time.    We also note that Mark Williams, for six years coach at the Bullants, has been appointed a full time development coach with Melbourne.

At the V.F.L. level, Collingwood will be fielding their own Reserves side, playing most of their home games at MC Labour Park.   Their former affiliate, Williamstown are now with the Western Bulldogs, while the Dogs ex-partners Werribee are now the second half of the Kangaroos split alignment with North Ballarat.  The 'Roos other ex-half Tasmania seem likely to play in the SAFL.   And in an announcement made yesterday, St. Kilda will switch its operations to Frankston Oval with a major upgrade planeed, which makes wonder about their current alignment with the Casey Scorpions in the short term.   (It all makes sense to someone!)

Crazy Deal for Bullants

Crazy John's have launched their very own mobile phone plans and to celebrate they are providing NAB Northern Bullants members with exclusive offers. This presents a great opportunity for you to save up to $480 over 24 months on the latest phones.

For instance, as a Bullants member you can receive the LG Shine or even the Nokia 6110 Navigator on the Crazy $35 phone plan instead of the Crazy $55 plan. Just present your NAB Northern Bullants membership card at any store, offer ends December 31, 2007.   More offers

Membership 2008 

" We believe Carlton will be sending out membership packages later this week with details of how to get your Bullant associate membership for 2008.   All members, either full or associate, renewing before Christmas will go into a special draw for a framed Bullants jumper signed by new coach David Teague and Matty Lappin. Of course, we hope all "real" Blue-Ants will take out a full membership, $60 full or $35 concession and materially show their support for the Bullants".

Darebin Council says … (from the Darebin Business Update Newsletter)

"The NAB Northern Bullants hosted a Business Luncheon at Rydges-on-Bell with great success on October 23. The event, which focussed on business and sport in Melbourne's north entertained an audience of 100 local business people with special guest speakers Mr. Ahmed Fahour, C.E.O. of NAB and Mr Greg Swann, C.E.O. of the Carlton Football Club.

Mr. Fahour spoke of his role as a Business Ambassador of Melbourne's north and the prosperity that is being experienced in the region. He discussed the current burgeoning Australian market,the importance of our neighbours China and India to this result and he spoke of the imminent bust that is likely to be followed in the short future. In keeping in theme, Ahmed also spoke of the importance to invest back into community institutions including sporting clubs such as the NAB Bullants.

In an interesting story, Ahmed also spoke of his time as a child helping his father, a cleaner at the local branch of the National Australia Bank. He had one key message to the audience - be kind to your cleaners because they may just turn out to be your C.E.O. one day!

Mr. Greg Swann answered questions relating to Carlton's role with the NAB Bullants and the northern suburbs. Perhaps the most interesting topic Greg spoke about was the initial phone call he received from Carlton President Dick Pratt and the conversation he had with Eddie McGuire informing him that he was leaving Collingwood for Carlton. Greg assured us that Eddie's hatred for Carlton was certainly not for theatre, it was genuine! In what was a great luncheon, the audience was shocked and saddened by the news that Mr. John Ilhan had passed away that morning. Mr Fahour, a close friend of John's broke the news, which further highlighted Ahmed's performance to speak under a great deal of stress and sorrow".

Contact Details

General Manager	:	Garry O’Sullivan
Marketing Manager	:	Quentin Aisbett  0421 502886 northernbullantsmarketing@bigpond.com
Office Telephone	:	9470 2224
Office Fax	:	9470 2059
Email	:	northernbullants@bigpond.com
PFC Social Club	:	9478 0823
Web or 'Antz Pantz comments, subscriptions or unsubscriptions	:	bullant@mail.com