From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article - Click here

Sandringham are "adamant" they will continue to field a development team next season, despite being set to sign a new deal with AFL affiliate St Kilda in the "coming weeks".

Zebras general manager John Mennie said, despite speculation, his team would not be swayed into dropping their development squad team, whereas some other clubs – including Coburg, Casey and Frankston – may look to do so. 

Mennie firmly believes that negotiations with St Kilda have not included dropping their development team, which allows Sandringham increased depth in the case of injuries to Saints players. 

SATURDAY JULY 30

Richmond vs Frankston at Punt Road 11am Collingwood vs Geelong at Victoria Park 12pm 
Footscray vs Box Hill Hawks at Whitten Oval 12pm(3WBC) Coburg vs Casey Scorpions at Piranha Park 2pm(VFL Radio) (Development League match starts at 11am) 

Port Melbourne vs North Ballarat at Frankston 2pm  (Late Change of venue) (Development League match Port Melbourne vs Frankston at 11am) 

SUNDAY JULY 31

Werribee vs Northern Blues at Avalon Airport Oval,Werribee 11:40am(Channel 7) (Development League match starts at 2:40pm)
Sandringham vs Williamstown at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm(Casey Radio) (Development League match starts at 11am) 

VFL Bye Essendon Development League Bye Box Hill Hawks

SATURDAY JULY 23
Port Melbourne vs Williamstown at North Port Oval 2pm(VFL Live)
(Development League match at 11am)
Werribee vs North Ballarat at Avalon Airport Oval,Werribee 2pm
(Development League Werribee vs Box Hill Hawks at 11am)

SUNDAY JULY 24
Casey Scorpions vs Sandringham at Casey Fields 11:40am(Channel 7)
(Development League match at 2:40pm)
Box Hill Hawks vs Richmond at Punt Road 12:30pm(3WBC)
Geelong vs Essendon at Simonds Stadium 1pm
Northern Blues vs Footscray at IKON Park 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League Northern Blues vs Coburg 11am)

VFL Byes Coburg,Collingwood,Frankston
Development League Bye Frankston

From the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article - Click here

AT Port Melbourne, he was not just Frank Johnson. He was “the legendary Frank Johnson’’ or “the great Frank Johnson’’.

A champion ruckman who crossed the bridge from association to league football with ease late in his career, Johnson died yesterday at the age of 84.

In 2007 he was the first (and remains the only) VFA player to be inducted to the Australian football hame of fame.

Johnson was at Port from 1950-57, winning five best and fairests and the 1952 JJ Liston Trophy, playing in eight consecutive grand finals and the 1953 premiership team, and gaining selection in the 1953 and ‘56 All Australian sides.

He also coached the Borough in 1956-57.

Frank Johnson marking in the 1952 VFA grand final against Oakleigh.
Johnson then coached South Warrnambool in 1958-59 and the following year joined South Melbourne, which had coveted his signature for some years.

In his first season as a Swan he won the best and fairest at age 27, edging out Bobby Skilton. He stayed with South until 1964, notching 64 games.

SATURDAY JULY 9
Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Coburg vs Sandringham at Piranha Park 2pm
(Development League match starts at 10:50am)
Northern Blues vs Geelong at Preston 2pm(VFL Live)
(VFL Womens Diamond Creek vs Melbourne Uni at 11am)
Footscray vs Richmond at Whitten Oval 2pm

SUNDAY JULY 10
Port Melbourne vs Werribee at North Port Oval 11:40am(Channel 7)
(Development League match at 2:40pm)
North Ballarat vs Collingwood at Eureka Stadium 1pm
Frankston vs Essendon at Frankston 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League Frankston vs Northern Blues at 11am)

VFL and Development League Bye: Casey Scorpions

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article - Click here

VFL stand-alone clubs Coburg and Port Melbourne have proven they are finals' material after resolute victories on Saturday.

To the contrary of most football pundits who believed that AFL stand-alone clubs would dominate against teams made up of part-time footballers, the Lions and Borough knocked off Footscray and Essendon respectively – in another major step forward for the competition.

Coburg are in the mix to make their first finals series, since splitting with former AFL affiliate Richmond, while Port Melbourne are pushing for the top four. Of course, reigning premier Williamstown are in second position, again flexing their muscle under coach Andy Collins.

The Seagulls and Borough have both won VFL flags over the past six seasons as stand-alone VFL clubs. Coburg's rise – along with some competitive rigour and drive from Frankston and North Ballarat (albeit being on the bottom of the ladder) – has the competition in a healthy state.

Bulldogs VFL coach Ash Hansen believes playing against VFL stand-alone clubs assists with the development of their younger players.

SATURDAY JULY 2
Coburg vs Footscray at Piranha Park 1pm
(Development League match Coburg vs Casey Scorpions at 10am)
Essendon vs Port Melbourne at Windy Hill 2:10pm(Channel 7)
Collingwood vs Northern Blues at Holden Centre 4pm

SUNDAY JULY 3
(Dev League) Box Hill Hawks vs Northern Blues at Box Hill 11am
Sandringham vs Frankston at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match at 11am)
Williamstown vs North Ballarat at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm
(VFL Women Western Spurs vs Geelong at 11am)
Richmond vs Casey Scorpions at Punt Road 2:10pm(Channel 7)

VFL Byes Box Hill Hawks,Geelong,Werribee
Dev League Byes Port Melbourne,Werribee,Williamstown