Port Melbourne News

Port to test the best

By administrator July 29, 2008

From the Leader Newspapers - www.localfooty.com
Reported by Paul Amy

Full article Click here

THE question has cropped up ever since the VFL took in AFL reserves teams in 2000.

Can an unaligned team win a flag?

No, is invariably the answer.

The thinking goes that a side of VFL players will always lack the fitness and class to overcome an opponent equipped with 12 AFL players.

Saade Ghazi said as much when he was coaching Port Melbourne, one of three so-called stand-alone teams in the VFL (Frankston and Tasmania also operate under their own steam).

Peter Banfield, then coaching Casey Scorpions, offered the same view a year earlier in a radio interview.

North Ballarat has come closest to doing it, reaching the grand final. But that was in the first year of the revamp, when there were 16 teams. As the competition settled and the standard rose, the Roosters floundered.

Baird milestone inspires Borough

By administrator July 26, 2008

From the Herald-Sun
Reported by Chris Mitchell

Full article Click here

RED-HOT Port Melbourne will have a double incentive to win its ninth straight match when it travels to Frankston Oval today.

The third-placed Borough (11-3) will look to celebrate John Baird's 100th VFL game and 50th for the club with a win that would see it overtake second-placed Williamstown on the ladder.

Amazingly, the laid-back 28-year-old didn't know of the impending milestones until contacted by the Herald Sun.

The 192cm, 95kg defender started his VFL career with Box Hill, helping the club win its only premiership in 2001, before he was drafted to North Melbourne. He played 46 games under Denis Pagan and later Dean Laidley.

Baird said he was disappointed he did not play more games for the Roos.

Cousins won\'t play this year: Ayres

By administrator July 19, 2008
From Fox Sports website
Reported by Chris Mitchell

Full article Click here

PORT Melbourne coach Gary Ayres says Ben Cousins will not play in the VFL this season.

The 2005 Brownlow medallist registered with second-placed Borough before the June 30 deadline and must play one game to qualify for the finals.

But Ayres, who expects Cousins to start training with the club in August, said it was unlikely the four-time West Coast best-and-fairest winner would play for Port this season.

"I spoke to him the Monday after the registration went through," Ayres said.

Dons, Johns shot down at Port

By administrator July 06, 2008

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

Full article Click here

PORT Melbourne sounded an ominous warning to the VFL competition yesterday, and looms as an enormous stumbling block for premiership favourite Williamstown, after dismantling the Bendigo Bombers at Port by 85 points.

The win was the seventh on end for the Borough, and came at a high cost for Bomber Courtney Johns, who is likely to miss the rest of the season with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament tear. He landed awkwardly after flying for a mark in the second term.

Although it is one of two stand-alone clubs in the VFL, Port Melbourne is hardly a team cobbled together with local talent. Nine players in yesterday\'s game have had recent AFL experience, including Dylan McLaren (Carlton), Cory McGrath (Carlton), and David Spriggs (Sydney). While Bendigo\'s young AFL-listed players looked very good at times, they ultimately fell victim to a more polished outfit that is growing in confidence.

Cousins moves to relaunch AFL career

By administrator June 30, 2008
From the AFL Website
Full article Click here

BEN COUSINS has taken a major step towards rekindling his AFL career by registering with Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football League.

Cousins, who was last year sacked by West Coast and suspended by the AFL for one year for bringing the game into disrepute amid his battle with drug addiction, had to nominate with the VFL by Monday to be able to play in that competition this year.

Although he currently has no plans to play in the second-tier competition, training with a VFL club will help Cousins maintain his physical condition if he decides to re-launch his AFL career by nominating for this year\'s national draft.

The VFL approved Cousins\' application, and Port welcomed the 2005 Brownlow Medallist into the fold.

Port gears up for Cousins with classy display

By administrator June 30, 2008
From the Herald-Sun
Reported by Chris Mitchell

Full article Click here

THE Port Melbourne playing group would benefit greatly from having Ben Cousins at the club, says star midfielder David Pitt.

Pitt, who booted four goals to guide Port to a 51-point win against the Northern Bullants at Preston City Oval yesterday, said the Borough players were "excited" about the chance the Brownlow medallist will join them.

Cousins has indicated he will train and possibly play with Port to regain fitness for an AFL return next year.

"Gee he would be fantastic, we are pretty excited," Pitt said.

"I think he would help a lot of the young guys. Half our side is under 21, so if those guys can see how he trains, he\'s one of the best trainers in the AFL, those guys can see how much effort is involved to play AFL footy."

Gary Ayres Press conference

By administrator June 27, 2008
From the ABC Grandstand website
Full article Click here

Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres says former West Coast captain Ben Cousins would be made welcomed if he was to join the VFL club later this season.

Cousins is serving a one-year ban from the AFL for brining the game into disrepute, having last year admitted to having a substance abuse problem.

The 2005 Brownlow medallist told Channel Nine's The Footy Show on Thursday that although he is still unsure whether he will return to the AFL next year, he intends to register with Port Melbourne but is only likely to train with the club rather than resume playing duties.

You can listen to today's media conference with Ayres at the ABC website

Ben Cousins plans to play for Port Melbourne

By administrator June 26, 2008
From the Herald-Sun
Reported by AAP

Full article Click here

Fallen AFL star Ben Cousins plans to register with VFL side Port Melbourne by next Monday as he keeps his football options open. Cousins doubts he will play in the VFL this year, but wants to enter into more specific football training.

In an interview tonight on Channel Nine\'s The Footy Show, Cousins said he would probably move from Perth and live in the Port Melbourne area.

Cousins, who also turns 30 on Monday, said he was "not sure" if he wanted to return to the AFL next season.

"I want to do a bit more football-specific training, see how the body feels ... I don\'t want to come back and slip up again," he said.

Pages