From the Frankston Leader
Full article - Click here

TICKING along nicely, Frankston Dolphins timekeeper Michael Robinson officiated in his 200th VFL game last Friday.

He still laughs about the day at Visy Park in 2010 when the siren and emergency siren refused to work and he had to take extraordinary measures.

“We ended up sitting in the Northern Bullants’ vicepresident’s car honking the horn,’’ Robinson chuckled.

“The car was driven into the driveway in between the two stands and we just sat in the car.

“Originally we sat in Bryan Mace’s van and then at half-time the vice president came over and we used his car because it had a louder horn. It had comfy seats.’’ Robinson said being a timekeeper had a serious side – “concentration is the key’’ – but it was also a fun job.

“We have a lot of fun up in the box during the day. It’s not all serious,’’ he said.
He said he especially enjoyed working alongside of the timekeepers from Port Melbourne, Sandringham and Williamstown.

In his time at Frankston, Robinson said his top five Dolphins were Daniel Clarke, Michael Hibberd, Paul Kennedy, Aaron Edwards and Mark Baguley.

From localfooty.com.au
Reported by Chris Cavanagh
Full article - Click here

LONG-TIME local football rivals Northern Blues and Coburg are preparing for another hute “Battle of Bell St” clash in the VFL this weekend.

The Blues and the now stand-alone Lions will meet for the 150th time at Preston City Oval on Saturday at 1.10pm, both chasing the fictional “Bell St Cup” victory.

Remarkably, from 149 ­encounters between the sides heading into the Round 5 match, the ledger is split at 73 wins with three draws since the teams first met in 1925.

Northern Blues general manager Garry O’Sullivan said both sides always looked forward to this clash, and the fact Coburg was a stand-alone side again this year meant there would be extra spice in this one.

“We always enjoy our ­rivalry with our neighbours,” he said.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full article - Click here

NORTH Ballarat Roosters’ Gerard FitzGerald will equal the all-time VFL/VFA games coached record this week.

Gerard FitzGerald will coach his 313rd VFL/VFA match this week.

The Roosters’ triple premiership coach is set to draw level with the legendary Bill Faul’s 313-game tally – a league benchmark that has stood since 1959 – when he leads the Selkirk Roosters into battle against returned Victorian Football League contender Footscray at Eureka Stadium on Sunday.

Their coaching logs will remain even for at least a fortnight as the Roosters have a bye next week before FitzGerald can make his record-breaking bid on May 18 in a clash with Frankston.

In a nice twist of fate, FitzGerald will equal and break the record at Eureka Stadium, having also chalked up his 300-game league coaching milestone at the Roosters’ home venue in round 12 last season.

SATURDAY MAY 3
Northern Blues vs Coburg Lions at Preston 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
(Development League match starts at 10am)
Box Hill Hawks vs Frankston at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Port Melbourne vs Bendigo at Northport Oval 2pm
(Development League Port Melbourne vs Sandringham starts at 11am)

SUNDAY MAY 4
Richmond vs Geelong at ME Bank Centre,Richmond 11:30am
North Ballarat vs Footscray at Eureka Stadium 2pm
Casey Scorpions vs Werribee at Casey Fields 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Sandringham vs Essendon at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm(VFL Radio)
Williamstown vs Collingwood at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm

Development League Bye: Williamstown

ANZAC DAY FRIDAY APRIL 25
Frankston vs Richmond at Frankston Park 2pm(Tiger Radio)
Bendigo Gold vs Footscray at Queen Elizabeth Oval,Bendigo 6:30pm

SATURDAY APRIL 26
Essendon vs Collingwood at Windy Hill 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
Coburg Lions vs Box Hill Hawks at Piranha Park 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Werribee vs Northern Blues at Avalon Airport Oval 7pm
(Development League match starts at 4pm)

SUNDAY APRIL 27
Geelong vs North Ballarat at Simonds Stadium 12pm
Casey Scorpions vs Sandringham at Casey Fields 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Williamstown vs Port Melbourne at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm(VFL Radio)
(Development League match starts at 11am)

Development League Bye: Frankston