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Ballantyne latest addition to Carlton Mid WA State squad

By Robbo May 02, 2007
From WAFL website

Peel Thunder midfielder Hayden Ballantyne has been added to the WA State squad that will take on Victoria on Saturday, May 26.

Ballantyne kicked three goals in his team's loss to Subiaco last Saturday. The 19-year-old from Baldivis who made his WAFL debut in 2005 and has played 26 senior games, has kicked 11 goals in five games so far this season, including four goals against East Perth in Round 4. The training squad now stands at 34 with the omissions of Mathew Seal, Tallan Ames, Justin Sprigg and Blake Broadhurst. Broadhurst injured a shoulder in the Lions win over Perth in Round 5 and was always going to be in a race against time to be fit for the game against the VFL at TEAC Oval in Victoria.

WA State coach Ashley Prescott said the inclusion of Ballantyne was proof that if players continued to show good form there was still room for inclusion in the State squad.

"He is just a genuinely quick player who could be used to burst through the middle and he is also capable of kicking a few goals," Prescott said.

Devils plot to end losing streak

By Robbo May 01, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

DEVILS co-captains Brett Geappen and Scott Stephens held player-only meetings in their respective regions last night to address the team's three-game losing streak and try to come up with a plan to form closer bonds with the Kangaroos players.

After starting the season with an away win, the Devils have dropped their past three games, including a home 52-point loss to Frankston on Saturday that prompted Geappen (South) and Stephens (North) to address their squads.

Geappen said high on the agenda would be the relationship with the Kangaroos players ahead of Saturday's Bellerive game against winless Box Hill.

"It is about making that work. We are going to put some steps in place to get the group gelling more," Geappen said yesterday.

"That is one area we are going to talk about."

Dolphins run all over Devils

By Robbo April 30, 2007
From Frankston Independent/Mornington Mail
Reported by Michael Robinson

Despite flight delays and a rush to get to the ground, Frankston have beaten Tasmania by 52 points in the Alec Campbell Cup game at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

It was a cool but clear night with Frankston getting off to a good start against the breeze with goals to Matthew Burns and Justin Berry got the Dolphins a handy 9 point quarter time lead.

Frankston used the wind to their advantage in the second quarter as they piled on 5 goals to lead by 39 points shortly before the break. Tassie then had their best period of the game kicking three unanswered goals to get within 21 points at half time.

After half time the Dolphins midfield continued to dominate as Frankston added another 4 goals to 2 to lead by 34 points going into the final change.

In the final quarter the Dolphins finished the domination with 4 goals to Tasmania's 1 to win the game by 52 points.

Justin Berry won the Frank McDonald Medal for Frankston's best player. Marcus Marigliani, Sam Carpenter and Nick Benbow were among Frankston's best but it was a great team performance.

"It's always tough to come down here and win," Frankston coach Brett Lovett said.

"This was the best four quarters we've played all year, our pressure was great, and I couldn't be more proud of the boys."

Leaders display their credentials

By Robbo April 30, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

LAST year's grand finalists, Sandringham and Geelong, have asserted themselves as the VFL's dominant clubs after convincing wins yesterday.

Sandringham struggled to shake a determined Casey Scorpions outfit and led by only 27 points at the final break, before a nine-goal final quarter delivered them a 79-point win and kept them a game clear on top of the table.

With spearhead Nick Sautner enjoying an absorbing duel with St Kilda's James Gwilt, Melbourne youngster Michael Newton played his finest senior game to date, booting six goals.

Newton showed goal smarts and looked strong on a fast lead.

Taken with pick 43 in the 2004 draft, 2007 shapes up as a defining season. At 20, he is yet to make his Demons debut and last season played half the season in the Sandringham reserves after struggling to consolidate a place in the seniors.

Hard days ahead for soft Devils

By Robbo April 30, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

IN a scathing assessment of the Tasmanian Devils, coach Daryn Cresswell has described his players as too pampered and not fit enough after their 52-point VFL mauling by Frankston in Launceston on Saturday night.

The stand-alone Dolphins gave Tasmania a lesson in pride in their jumper and commitment to their teammates.

Cresswell said the Devils should follow working-class Frankston's formula as they prepare to meet Box Hill at Bellerive on Saturday.

"Pampered, that's an understatement with our boys, pampered," Cresswell said. "They've got the best facilities going round and we could learn something from Frankston."

The Tasmanians were warned about Frankston's fight.

Cats give Roosters a lesson on the field

By Robbo April 30, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

GEELONG gave North Ballarat an old fashioned football lesson in the VFL in Geelong yesterday.
There is no other way to describe the 60-point bath which the Cats gave the Selkirk Roosters.

North Ballarat stayed in touch until late in the third quarter, thanks to three goals in the term to Eddie Sansbury.

However, it was nothing more than false hope.

North Ballarat did not kick another goal, while Geelong cut loose with the next eight to romp in 18.17 (125) to 9.11 (65).

The Roosters were simply outclassed.

Geelong superior pace and ability open up the game undid North Ballarat, which was fortunate to stay in contention as long as it did.

In the same way they ended the match, the Cats dominated the opening quarter.

The difference was inaccuracy in front of goal.

Geelong, which went in without Brad Ottens, had the chance to put North Ballarat away, but 3.7 kept North Ballarat in it.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald predicted Geelong would be tough to overcome, but he was extremely disappointed with the way North Ballarat fell away.

Skipworth blow

By Robbo April 30, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE season could be over for star Metricon Bendigo Bombers recruit Hayden Skipworth after he seriously injured his left knee in Saturday's VFL loss to Port Melbourne.

In what was a dirty day for the Bombers, Skipworth ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee early in the first quarter of Bendigo's 15.14 (104) to 9.10 (64) loss to Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval.

The injury to the 24-year-old occurred when he landed awkwardly after being involved in a marking contest.

Skipworth was operated on last night, and the Bombers will learn more on the extent of the injury to the classy midfielder today.

"I spent an hour with Hayden last night and he is really shattered and distraught about the whole situation," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said yesterday.

"When one of your key players and leaders goes down it certainly takes the sting out of the group a bit.

"You would say with a ruptured patella tendon it's at least going to be a 12 to 16-week injury, but it could be up to six months.

"It looks highly doubtful he will play again this year."

Skipworth joined the Bombers during the pre-season after playing 44 AFL games with the Adelaide Crows.

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