Port Melbourne outlasted Collingwood by 12 points to win its first rebel VFLW premiership in a thrilling Grand Final at ETU Stadium on Sunday.
In just their third VFLW season, Port added the rebel VFLW premiership to the 17 VFA/VFL cups in their bulging trophy cabinet in a game that went down to the wire.
Every Grand Final needs a hero, and the Borough had several.
Port Melbourne have pulled off a last-minute recruiting coup for season 2018 in adding highly-credentialed ex-Collingwood VFL key defender Ryan Pendlebury to its playing list.
Pendlebury is the younger brother of Collingwood skipper Scott and joins the Borough with 55 VFL games next to his name, which also included Team of the Year representation in 2015.
Originally from Gippsland, 25-year-old Pendlebury has previously played his best football on the opposition’s second and third tall forward.
With the departure of draftee Brody Mihocek, Brodie Murdoch (relocation) and Hugh Sandilands (retired) from the 2017 Premiership defensive unit, Pendlebury will be a welcome addition to the group as the season progresses.
Pendlebury is currently nursing a hamstring injury, and Port fans can expect to see him on the field in the next 3-4 weeks as he works through his recovery and match fitness.
Pendlebury will don guernsey number 48.
We welcome Ryan to the Borough and look forward to seeing him in action over the next few months!
From localfooty.com.au and the Maribyrnong Leader Reorted by Luke D’Anello Full article - Click here
The 18-year-old nephew of Essendon great Michael bagged six goals, including five in the second half, in the Dogs’ thumping 119-point victory at North Port Oval.
DRAFT prospect Ben Long showcased his potential as a merciless Footscray hammered Collingwood in the VFL preliminary final on Saturday.
Footscray’s Lukas Webb and Collingwood’s Lachlan Ferguson clash on Saturday. Picture:Wayne Ludbey
The 176cm Long played in defence for the Allies in the AFL Under-18 National Championships earlier this year and has scored an invite to the state combine.
Long’s ability to swiftly adapt to life in the forward half — he has booted 11 majors from six VFL senior games this year — combined with his versatility should make him an attractive option for AFL recruiters.
“These young boys have these breakout games, where they have those moments within quarters or within matches where they probably realise they belong at the level,” Footscray coach Ashley Hansen said.
“I thought (Long’s) forward-half pressure was unreal. That really set up a lot of our play early on in the match.
“Then for him to capitalise with some goals late in the game was good reward for his hard work.”
The free-wheeling Dogs displayed unrelenting pressure mixed with run and carry and a splash of panache.
It proved too much for the stunned Magpies, who conceded nine unanswered goals in the first half as Footscray established a 41-point lead at the main break.
But the rampaging Dogs piled on 11 consecutive majors in the second half and kicked 10 goals to one in the final half-hour to record a 27.19 (181) to 9.8 (62) triumph.
They will meet either Casey Scorpions or Williamstown in Sunday’s decider at Etihad Stadium as they chase a second flag in three seasons.
Footscray and Collingwood players tangle on Saturday. Picture:Wayne Ludbey
“We executed the plan really well,” Hansen said.
“I guess playing against Collingwood three weeks previously gave us a really good idea of how to go about it.
“Certainly the first quarter of that previous match highlighted what you can’t do against them, which is let them control the ball and give them time and space, particularly in the back half.
“To the boys’ credit, they were just sensational. Their intensity over the four quarters, the exclamation mark to turn it into a 119-point victory really showed a strong desire for their behaviours to carry over to next week.”
Lukas Webb was influential in the middle and iced his performance with three goals, while Mitch Honeychurch and Koby Stevens also starred.
Ever-consistent skipper Jordan Russell and Brad Lynch controlled the back half, while Tom Campbell and Will Minson combined strongly in the ruck.
The Dogs experienced an indifferent start to the campaign, winning one of their opening four games.
But with the club’s AFL list now healthier, Hansen’s side is peaking at the right time.
“With a lot of injury brings a lot of opportunities for our VFL-listed players and we could explore their potential,” Hansen said.
“Our whole squad has contributed to our team making the grand final and it is going to be really tough at selection this week.”
Hansen said midfielder Nathan Hrovat, who has battled ankle and shoulder complaints this year, would be given “every chance” to take to the field in the decider.
“Obviously at Etihad, with his ball use and creativity, he will be an important player for us if he’s right for selection,” he said.
Williamstown and Casey Scorpions will contest the other preliminary final today.
From the Collingwood FC Website Reported by Sam Gastin Full article - Click here
Momentum continues to flow for the VFL Magpies who on Saturday won their ninth consecutive game with a 50-point victory over Geelong.
Five goals to one in the first term set an early pace which was maintained throughout the course of the match.
Collingwood added another five in the second term, before running out winners 13.14 (92) to 5.12 (42).
“It was a good performance by the boys,” returning forward Mason Coxtold Collingwood Media post game.
“We came out on top by quite a bit.”
Having an extra 211cm in the shape of Cox back in the team, the Magpies immediately looked dangerous up forward.
And the ball spent the majority of the first quarter in Collingwood’s forward line, with the midfielders winning the clearances 17-5 before the first break.
After playing 10 consecutive games in the AFL, Cox hasn’t taken the field at all in the last three weeks.
He was rested, then met the US Vice President, then was faced with the VFL bye before taking the field at Victoria Park.
THE 2015 VFL season kicks off on Friday with Werribee hosting Geelong under lights. Leader sports editor Paul Amy rounds up each club’s ins and outs.
BOX HILL HAWKS
Coach: Marco Bello
Last year: runner-up to Footscray Bulldogs
In: Cadeyn Williams (Richmond), Jack Sandric (Hobart City), Lochie Adey, James Handley (Blackburn), Matthew Burt, Chris Jones, Liam Kidd, Matthew Traynor (Eastern Ranges), Billy Murphy, Sam Switkowski (Northern Knights), James Sullivan (Tatura), Patrick Dillon (Donvale), Xavier Dimasi (Assumption/Calder Cannons), Ben Fitzpatrick (Korumburra/Bena), Dalton Graham (Sandringham).
Out: Luke Andrews, Callan Burns, Corey Cassidy, Sam Cust, Jackson Eade, Tom Goodwin, Jake Kalanj, Tom Miles, Xavier Murphy, Matt Northe, Nick Papadopoulos, Kalem Post, Michael Thompson, Brandon Wood.
The verdict: the Hawks have lost top-line midfielders in Xavier Murphy and Luke Andrew as well as the emerging Brandon Wood. But they’ve picked up former Tiger Cadeyn Williams and have good young players coming through in support of senior men Sam Iles, David Mirra, Marc Lock and Liam Tobin. Premiers in 2013 and runners-up last year, there’s no reason to think there will be a slackening of standards.
Player watch: Mitch O’Donnell. He’s as hard as a coffin nail and he’ll be granted more opportunity after an excellent pre-season.
Celebrating season 2014 with the Casey Scorpions and A Positive Move
Click on read more for a full club by club report.
Saturday’s VFL-AFL doubleheader marks two 100 game milestones.
The one we know about is Dayne Beams. His week has included a press conference, clippings dotted through the newspapers and highlight reels online.
The other will receive less attention. It’s certainly off broadway as far as the mainstream football public is concerned, but it’s no less significant than Beams’ AFL ton.
Saturday’s VFL match against Geelong marks Sam Dwyer’s 100th match in the Victorian Football League.
The 27-year-old played 97 senior VFL games for Port Melbourne between 2005 and 2012 before finally winding up on an AFL list ahead of last season.
Remarkably, given his experience in the competition and status as a mature aged rookie, Dwyer did not play one VFL match for Collingwood in 2013. Instead, he carved out a niche in the senior side that saw him average 16.57 disposals across 21 games.
The trip to North Port Oval to take on the Borough must rank as one of the toughest in Australian football.
Port Melbourne has made the ground its fortress under Gary Ayres, winning 27 of its last 30 matches at the venue prior to the 2014 season.
While all involved expected a fierce contest, no one anticipated Collingwood would suffer its first loss of the VFL season to the tune of 53 points when the two clubs met on Saturday afternoon.
The Pies were shell-shocked by Port’s nine-goal onslaught in the opening term and battled for stability there on.
The result came as a surprise to most given the Magpies’ confident start to the new season, winning all four practice matches and holding out North Ballarat in the first round a fortnight ago.
