From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Luke D'Anello
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GENERATION next led Williamstown to a 12-point win against Bendigo in the VFL elimination final at North Port Oval on Saturday.

The Seagulls held a five-goal advantage at three-quarter time but survived a late charge from Gold to claim an 11.17 (83) to 10.11 (71) victory.

Young guns Jack Charleston, Stephen Witkowski and Jack Frost embraced the pressure-packed atmosphere of a final, the trio producing a display which belied their years in the defensive half.

"They had to do a power of work for us, our defenders, and I thought the young boys really stood up," Williamstown coach Peter German said. "Ever since he (Charleston) has come in to the side, the last six or seven weeks, he's been terrific. He's been one our best defenders on a weekly basis."

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8
Development League 1st Preliminary Final
Williamstown vs Coburg Tigers at Casey Fields 11am
VFL 1st Semi Final
Casey Scorpions vs Williamstown at Casey Fields 2:10pm (ABC1TV,VFL Radio-Aussie Digital)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9
Development League 2nd Preliminary Final
Werribee vs Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields 11am
VFL 2nd Semi Final
Geelong vs Box Hill Hawks at Casey Fields 2:10pm (ABC1TV,3WBC,VFL Radio-Aussie Digital)

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

VETERAN Port Melbourne skipper John Baird will be the backbone to its finals campaign against Geelong in a qualifying final today, then tomorrow night he is favoured to take out the prestigious J.J. Liston Trophy for the VFL's best and fairest.

If Baird wins the coveted award, he may have to fend off teammate Shane Valenti in the count; a proven vote getter who is a solid chance to create history for his third consecutive Liston after yet another consistent season.

The 2009 Liston winner, North Ballarat's Myles Sewell, is also tipped to finish high in the pecking order after a top season at the Roosters, lifting his name back into calculations for another shot at the AFL draft.

Advertisement Rarely does a footballer in the twilight of his career - in which he played 46 games at North Melbourne - dominate in such a way that Baird has this season.

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

THE Box Hill Hawks proved that they're not just making up the numbers after upsetting Sandringham by 30 points in an elimination final at Trevor Barker Beach Oval yesterday.

The Hawks' forward set-up had their most dangerous look for the season with Adam Pattison, Broc McCauley and Max Bailey all floating as the big targets with exciting goal sneaks Amos Frank and Derick Wanganeen at their feet.

McCauley finished with four goals, while Xavier Ellis kicked two crucial goals in the final term to stem the tide as the Zebras continued to hunt down the lead.

Advertisement Luke Andrews continued his super season and is perhaps Box Hill's biggest hope of continuing its success of breeding players into the AFL. He finished with 25 touches, while Tom Schneider was also brilliant with 27 touches.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Simon McEvoy
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THAT'S the last wooden spoon for Frankston.

This time next year the Dolphins will be preparing for a finals campaign, coach Simon Goosey said.

He said season 2012, though yielding only two wins and a draw, would prove the forerunner to a sharp climb up the ladder.

"I wouldn't be happy with anything less," Goosey said.

"The inroads we've made, definitely we'll be aiming to play in the finals.

"Look, I reckon we were only three or four experienced players short of the finals this year."

The Dolphins finished the season with a 43-point loss to the Northern Blues at Princes Park on Saturday.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Luke D'Anello
Full Story Click Here

WERRIBEE secured a top-four berth and the vital double chance after dismantling Collingwood in the final round of the VFL home-and-away season on Saturday.

The Tigers led at every change on their way to an 82-point victory, 20.16 (136) to 8.6 (54).

The win was highlighted by a blistering second half display, with Werribee piling on 11 goals to three.

The Tigers will meet minor premier Casey Scorpions in a qualifying final at Casey Fields on Sunday, with the winner earning a week's rest and ticket to the preliminary final. Werribee thumped the Scorpions by 78 points in Round 14.

Coach Scott West was pleased with the display against the Magpies after the last-quarter fadeout against Northern Blues the previous week.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Luke D'Anello
Full Story Click Here

MOMENTUM is the buzzword at Williamstown.

The Seagulls' train was almost derailed earlier in the season when the side suffered four losses by single-figure margins.

But Peter German's troops will enter this weekend's VFL elimination final against Bendigo Gold with six successive wins, three of them by less than two goals.

Saturday's victory against Geelong was the Seagulls' third against a top four outfit in recent weeks, with Werribee and Port Melbourne also on their list of victims.

Western Bulldogs-listed players Zephaniah Skinner, Tom Campbell, Fletcher Roberts and Jarrad Grant were late withdrawals after being called up to the AFL side.

But despite that early setback, Williamstown led at every change at Simonds Stadium and claimed a rousing four-point victory, 11.11 (77) to 11.7 (73).