From Anthony Brady
Courtesy 97.7 Casey FM
In interstate action yesterday at Port Melbourne's TEAC Oval, the 97.7FM Casey Radio 3SER team saw the Victorian Football League (VFL) thrash the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) by 119 points in a record-breaking victory in the Herald Sun Cup before around 3,000-4,000 fans.
A sunny day greeted both teams, however a strong wind favouring the Williamstown Road end of the ground meant conditions were difficult for players, and made for a chilly afternoon for the sun-loving Sandgropers.
The toss was won by WAFL captain Shane Woewodin, who elected to kick with the wind.
The first quarter began at a cracking pace, with both sides proficient at getting the ball out of the centre and pumping it in long and direct to their forward lines. Victoria surprised many by kicking into the wind extremely well, with forwards such as VFL veteran Nick Sautner and Frankston's Justin Berry particularly good at negotiating shots on goal.
Both teams had seven shots on goal during the first term, but already the Big V had jumped to a 20-point lead, thanks to much more accurate kicking for goal. The stand-out performers early were Victorian defender John Baird, with nine possessions in the first quarter, while Woewodin had gathered eight for the Black Swans.
