From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Conor Ryan
Full Story Click Here

DAMIAN Carroll gave his troops a tick for their efforts despite falling just short of the ladder-leaders at North Port Oval on Saturday.

The Box Hill coach watched a valiant effort, but it wasn't a match-winning one, as Port Melbourne continued its recent domination of the Hawks.

Box Hill gave up a four-goal advantage in the first quarter and had to battle to stay in touch with the Borough.

The Hawks fought back to make it a contest and then fought back again from a late deficit to almost snatch what would have been a magnificent victory.

The Borough had looked home, holding a 15-point advantage deep in the final term, but late goals to Broc McCauley and skipper Daniel Pratt took the match down to the wire.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story Click Here

THE Port Melbourne players thought it was one of the best, one that would lodge in the memory.

They weren't talking about their thrilling three-point victory over Box Hill Hawks at North Port Oval on Saturday, but coach Gary Ayres' withering blast at three-quarter-time.

Not often has the former Hawthorn champion had cause to give his Boroughs an old-fashioned bake.

But after watching Port fiddle and diddle and surrender their lead in the third quarter, he quickly rounded up his men at the last change and gave them a sustained burst.

SATURDAY AUGUST 18
(Development League)Frankston vs Box Hill Hawks at Frankston 11am
Collingwood vs Casey Scorpions at Victoria Park 1pm
Port Melbourne vs Bendigo at Northport Oval 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
Williamstown vs Sandringham at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm
(Development League match will be played at Crofts Reserve,Altona North starting at 10am*)
(*Please note fixture change to Development League match)
Geelong vs Coburg Tigers at Simonds Stadium 2pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 19
(Development League)Port Melbourne vs Coburg Tigers at Northport Oval 11am
Northern Blues vs Werribee at Visy Park 2pm(VFL Radio-Aussie Digital, www.vfl.com.au video steaming)
(Development League match will now be at Preston City Oval starting at 10am*)
(*Please note fixture change for Development League match)

VFL Byes-Frankston,Box Hill Hawks,North Ballarat
Development League Byes-North Ballarat,Casey Scorpions

With only three rounds remaining in the Home and Away season of the Peter Jackons VFL, George 'VFA' Paras' tipping competition is still well and truly up for grabs. Take a look at the leaderboard below.

A Perfect Season
by Cory McGrath
On sale Now.

"There are a lot people out there that said that the stand alone model couldn’t win a premiership. Not only to go through undefeated, to be the premiers and to be champions, it just says how much courage, how much character, how much commitment, how much sacrifice this particular football group has got." - Gary Ayres

Too many great VFA/VFL Grand Finals have come and gone without clubs paying respect in words and pictures. This is a book every footballer should read. It is a story of the kind of devotion and discipline that every coach dreams about. It is a book in which so many key players offer their thoughts and some lines burst from the page. ‘The Perfect Season’ is a book that had to be written.

Rich in heartfelt stories and reflections from players and staff along with commentaries by journalists, what words cannot capture, the photographs bring to life. What treasures for every Port player and supporter. - Phil Cleary

Listen to an audio interview with Cory McGrath on SENs VFL Show.
Part 1 of interview

Part 2 of interview

Check out the website for more information.

From www.afl.com.au
Reported By Paul Daffey
Full article - Click here

SIMON Goosey, the coach of VFL club Frankston, doesn't normally allow blow-ins to join in during pre-season training. It's an invitation-only affair.

But he made one exception before this season, and he's extremely glad he did.

Leigh Osborne was a 22-year-old half-back from the East Ringwood Football Club, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, who arrived unbidden at Frankston training.

Goosey told him it wasn't the normal practice to just roll up, but he said he'd give him a two-week trial out of fair play.

Goosey swears that Osborne changed his body shape in those two weeks, fining down to a more athletic visage. Then there was the obvious football talent.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article - Click here

PORT Melbourne's VFL premiership defence has taken a sledgehammer blow after champion midfielder Sam Dwyer broke his leg.

Dwyer initially thought he'd suffered deep bruising after taking a knock against the Northern Blues three weeks ago.

But an X-ray on Monday revealed a break to his left fibula.

The injury is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.

Dwyer will visit a surgeon tomorrow (Thursday) and is clinging to the hope of surgery.

Even then the best-case scenario is a four-week spell on the sidelines.

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