The timing was both coincidental and convenient.

Only a few weeks earlier, I had raised in this column the issue of why the western grandstand at McDonald Jones Stadium had not been given a name, six years after its completion.

I posed the same question in between our entree and the main course. What would the process of nominating a worthy recipient involve?

I was surprised to learn Venues NSW were looking to "move away" from naming grandstands, because they considered that to be a trend belonging to a bygone era.

Instead, I was assured that more modern concepts such as a "walk of fame", linking Broadmeadow train station to the stadium, would eventually be a feature of a spectacular new sporting precinct that would transform the landscape at District Park, which was how our icons would be honoured.

I seem to remember raising an eyebrow but thinking these blokes are far more qualified than a humble journalist to make such decisions, so who am I to argue?

Four years down the track, however, I can't help but reflect on that conversation, in light of recent events.

Firstly, after the death of Shane Warne two weeks ago, the Victorian government wasted no time in announcing the MCG's Great Southern Stand would be renamed in the great man's honour.

That, of course, was a decision made by politicians south of the border and has nothing to do with Venues NSW.

But closer to home, it has been impossible not to notice the recent furore in Sydney surrounding the new football stadium at Moore Park, in particular the debate over whose names should be immortalised on the various grandstands.

The state government appears to have bowed to media and public pressure and abandoned plans to name one stand "Garrison", to mark the site's military heritage, and will instead recognise rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson.

Big Artie looks set to join fellow Rooster Ron Coote, former Socceroos skipper Johnny Warren and rugby union icon Sir Nicholas Shehadie - Sydney's 75^th lord mayor - in having a stand named in his honour.

That prompted me to check the status of the western Sydney stadium, which opened in 2019, and I discovered there are stands bearing the names of former Parramatta greats Ken Thornett, Mick Cronin, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling.

All of which brings me back to my dinner four years ago, and a previous column I wrote in December 2012, in which I declared: "It is about time that western grandstand, which has been open for 18 months, was given a name."

So when exactly are we going to see a name on the western stand at Turton Road, and whose name should adorn it? I mean, it's only been open 11 years, and there is no sense rushing into these things.

For the record, the old stand, built in 1967 in the hope the city would one day host the Commonwealth Games, was named after the former Member for Newcastle, Harold Hawkins.

The eastern stand, opened in 2005, was named after Andrew Johns upon his sudden retirement in 2007 (with signage about as prominent as a postage stamp).

Meanwhile, Venues NSW announced this week a new naming-rights deal for at least five years to continue calling the city's only decent sporting facility McDonald Jones Stadium.

In other words, the state government is quite content to pocket a dollar so that word-of-mouth and the media promote a company's brand, but when it comes to naming a stand, those in charge seem to think it's not really an important matter.

I don't know about you, but I don't like people in Sydney telling Novocastrians how to suck eggs. In fact, I don't think it's outlandish to label this whole business a disgrace.

It's just more evidence that there is one rule for them, and another rule for us.

And, of course, it's not as if we are bereft of choice.

Given that one stand has been named after a rugby league champion, I'd suggest it's only fair the other is named after an exponent of the round-ball code.

And there is no greater name in Australian soccer than our own Craig Johnston, whose fairytale career inspired a generation of Aussies to head abroad, seeking fame and fortune.

During eight seasons with Liverpool, Johnston played in 190 first-team games and won five first-division championships, two League Cups, the European Cup and scored a famous goal in the 3-1 FA Cup final triumph against Everton in 1986.

No Australian player has been more decorated. I doubt his feats will ever be surpassed.

The other name worthy of consideration is Cheryl Salisbury, who played a record 151 games for the Matildas, captained her country for many years, and in 2019 became the first women's footballer inducted Sport Australia's Hall of Fame.

Both should be recognised at that stadium, in one way or another.

Shame on those who have prevented it from already happening.