From the Geelong Advertiser
Reported by James Podsiadley
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THIS is the stage where the next Jimmy Bartel, the next Steve Johnson and the next Gary Ablett are born.

On Sunday, our VFL side has the chance to emulate the feats of our 2002 and 2007 premiership teams when it faces powerhouse Port Melbourne in the VFL grand final.

This is the last opportunity for Cats fans to get their footy fix for the next six months.

What a great opportunity to get along to Etihad Stadium and watch the blue-and-white hoops battle it out for some silverware.

I know at Geelong, any form of team achievement is cherished. The guys who played in the 2002 VFL premiership still talk about their triumph a fair bit around the club and it's the subject of a lot of banter.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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VFL grand final coaches Gary Ayres and Matthew Knights were at Essendon when they last sat together. It was October, 2007.

..Knights had just been appointed to replace Kevin Sheedy and Ayres was a senior assistant.

Not for long. Offered a role in "opposition analysis'', he declined and moved to Port Melbourne.

"I worked with Matty for a couple of years at Essendon until he gave me the arse,'' Ayres said yesterday, light-heartedly, as he and Knights took questions at a press conference at Etihad Stadium.

Five years on, the former AFL coaches and champion players are eyeing the VFL premiership, Ayres with his spirited, stand-alone Borough and Knights with Geelong.

From the Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Alex Oates
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GEELONG survived a final-quarter surge from Werribee to book a place in Sunday's VFL grand final.

In a nail-biting finish at North Port Oval yesterday, the Cats held firm in the final minute to clinch a five-point victory, 16.12 (108) to 15.13 (103), and a crack at Port Melbourne.

A relieved Geelong coach Matthew Knights admitted his team almost ran out of legs after leading by eight goals in the second term.

"Full credit to Werribee for coming back so hard when I thought we held them at bay for three quarters with good quality football, but they clearly won the last quarter," Knights said.

The Borough booked their place in the grand final with a solid win over Williamstown on Saturday and Knights is well aware of the opposition's quality.

"Obviously their record speaks for itself," Knights said.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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IT was never easy. Williamstown, young and bold, afforded it no peace all afternoon.

But Port Melbourne fought past its great rival to win Saturday's VFL preliminary final at North Port Oval and progress to this Sunday's grand final at Etihad Stadium, where it will vie for a premiership to go with last year's perfect pennant.

The final margin was 34 points, suggesting a degree of comfort.

But a tense coach Gary Ayres and Port supporters could only relax at the 19-minute mark of the final quarter, when Steve Brewer, the man with the kick of a stallion, bombed a goal from outside the 50m arc.

Port could have taken it beyond doubt earlier in the term, but missed three chances. Adrian Bonaddio, playing his 100th game, sprayed two set-shots, but he atoned at the 12-minute mark to push the lead to 26 points. It was always going to be difficult for the Seagulls from there, and Brewer finally put them away.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23
TAC Cup Grand Final
Gippsland Power vs Oakleigh Chargers at Etihad Stadium 10:30am
VFL Grand Final
Port Melbourne vs Geelong at Etihad Stadium 2:15pm (ABC1TV,SEN 1116(Aussie),K-Rock,3WBC, ABC Local Radio Victoria)

If you are outside Victoria you can listen to the VFL Grand Final at www.sen.com.au, SENiPhone/iPad App, Red Time Sport iPhone/iPad App, ABC Local Radio iPhone/iPad app (click to 774 ABC Melbourne icon).

From the Williamstown Star
Reported by Adem Saricaoglu
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WILLIAMSTOWN face old enemy Port Melbourne in this Saturday’s VFL preliminary final, after the Seagulls put the Casey Scorpions to the sword on the road on Saturday.

The Towners have now claimed the scalps of every team that finished in the top four as part of a remarkable winning streak that now stretches back two months, including a stirring 11-point win over the Borough in late July.

Club CEO Brendan Curry told Star on Sunday the even contribution of the 23 players who take the park each week has been the secret to Williamstown’s success during the second half of the season.

“We rely on 23 players, it doesn’t matter if they’re on the VFL list or Western Bulldogs list,” Curry said.