Smithy's VFL Round 7
Friday May 10
Carlton v Casey Demons - IKON Park, Melbourne • 5:10pm
Port Melbourne v Coburg Lions - ETU Stadium, Melbourne • 7:35pm
Saturday May 11
GWS v Frankston - Blacktown ISP, Sydney • 11:05am
North Melbourne v Sydney Swans - Arden Street Oval, Melbourne • 12:05pm
Northern Bullants v Collingwood - Genis Steel Oval, Preston 2:05pm
Williamstown v Essendon - DSV Stadium, Victoria 3:05pm
Sunday May 12
Gold Coast v Southport - People First Stadium, Gold Coast • 1:05pm
Richmond v Footscray Bulldogs - Swinburne Centre, Melbourne • 2:05pm
Box Hill Hawks v Sandringham Zebras - Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi 2:05pm
Rebel VFLW Round 8
Friday May 10
Port Melbourne v Western Bulldogs - ETU Stadium, Melbourne • 5:05pm
Saturday May 11
Williamstown v North Melbourne - DSV Stadium, Victoria 10:00am
Darebin v Carlton - Genis Steel Oval, Preston 10:15am
Essendon v Casey Demons - Windy Hill, Melbourne • Wurundjeri 11:05am
Geelong v Collingwood - Deakin University, Geelong 12:00pm
Sunday May 12
Box Hill Hawks v Southern Saints - Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Wonthaggi 11:30am
Frankston need to respond next week. Probably unrealistic to expect a win against GWS but with how embarrassing we were yesterday, we need to at least play well and preferably bank a couple of wins out of the next four games.
A lot is going to come down to the injury list I think. Hopefully we get some talls back on the park. GWS are 3-2, same as Frankston......the next couple of weeks will tell us a lot. If we can pinch this one I'd be reasonably confident against Sydney at home next week. One bad loss isn't going to define Frankston's year.....it's now all about the response to it.
Dolphins get a great win on the road today. I didn't see much of the game due to being at the women's matches at Pearcedale, but the margin got as big as 30 points before GWS mounted their comeback. Thought for sure we'd choke it at times but credit to them for holding on. Great response after last week.
Awesome day for the vfa clubs. Frankston beat GWS in Sydney, Preston knock off Collingwood booting last 5 goals. Williamstown also come from behind kicking 6 goals to 1 in last quarter. Great day !!!
A huge round for the VFA faithful!
The Port v Coburg game was a terrific night. A very healthy crowd and good atmosphere (its been noticeably better at Port for a number of reasons this year, despite some average results).
Port notching up two in a row, gives a little bit of hope for Port fans and its great to have players like Billy Gowers, that provide a bit of an X factor and has become a bit of a cult hero lately, with supporters behind the goals, singing songs and chants.
Coburg, despite the result played some pretty good footy. I spoke to a few Lions supporters and it was great to have a chat. I really hope to see them climbing the ladder as they are doing a lot right off-field as well.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
What do you bring the healthier crowds at Port down to ? Its a little suprising when you condider on field performance.
For me i think it may have to do with the match day experience having moved to another level. Last few seasons it tended to feel more like a suburban ground with no ground announcer or entertainment but this season the club has a whole different feel. Might be a stretch but i think that had we of won those 3 games we possibly would have had the best crowds in the vfl at present.
Also feel that the fans are genuinely being looked after and feel appreciated again. Really happy off field, the club has started doing the basics again and some more. Now all we need is to keep momentum up on field but theirs no denying the task is a difficult one in the coming half dozen games.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Watched the replay of the last quarter from Preston, amazing atmosphere, the passion from the supporters was great to see.
Port do a very good job of the matchday stuff, though the ground announcer's barracking is grating. Loved the community involvement the day we played there, thought it was great to see local kids being included.
Also got to see the last quarter at Preston and the Ants' fans getting up and about was great. They've played some good footy this year as have Coburg. Hopefully they both start hitting their straps and registering some wins.
I think standalone clubs are currently 11-12 against AFL reserves teams, with Port the only one not to beat an AFL club so far and they got close three times. Hopefully all can keep ticking off regular wins. Four standalones in the top 10 at the moment, would be nice to keep it that way.
Yes others also commented on the ground announcer and the pleasing thing is they listened and he has now toned it down. It appears that the club is more receptive to feedback now, another example is that they got feedback that lines for the drinks was too long, the following match they opened up another bar. Last few years feedback was given to the club on a variety of issues and it fell on deaf ears, pleasingly it appears that the times are changing.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!