From Saturday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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Gary Ayres has labelled the VFL competition as "gearing towards an AFL full-alignment or partial-alignment reserves competition" amid AFL clubs compromising the competition by resting players on the eve of its finals series.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott's decision to rest players in the final round could have major consequences for their partial affiliate Werribee in their elimination final against Collingwood at North Port Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers will field just four North Melbourne-listed players – Scott McMahon, Dan Currie, Eric Wallace and Kieran Harper – for their cut-throat clash against Collingwood, who will have 15 AFL-listed players.

Werribee were in contention for a top-four spot up until last week. They have opted to be fully aligned with North Melbourne next season, but perhaps along with that, throwing away their destiny.

SATURDAY SEPTEMEBER 5
VFL 2nd Elimination Final
Collingwood vs Werribee at North Port Oval 12:10pm (Channel 7)

Development League Qualifying Final
Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown at Box Hill 11am
VFL 1st Qualifying Final
Box Hill Hawks vs Footscray at Box Hill 2pm (3WBC)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6
VFL 1st Elimination Final
Essendon vs Casey Scorpions at North Port Oval 11:40am (Channel 7)
Development League Elimination Final
Casey Scorpions vs Coburg at North Port Oval 2:40pm

VFL 2nd Qualifying Final
Sandringham vs Williamstown at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm (VFL Live)

From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
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EXCELLENTLY prepared. Encouraging teacher and astute learner. Constantly evolving his tactics. Highly respectful of the game, the league and its players. Genuinely interested in the stories behind his players and the staff he works alongside.

Fiercely competitive.

These are consistent themes in how peers and players describe Gerard FitzGerald’s coaching style, characteristics fine-tuned in his tenures with North Ballarat Roosters. This is how he plans to sign off.

FitzGerald will close a coaching chapter with the Selkirk Roosters in the Victorian Football League on Saturday. He will lead the club into battle against standalone club Coburg, a team led by long-time friend and rival Peter German.

From Leader Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
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FRANKSTON has reappointed coach Patrick Hill for two years and re-signed 30 players as it sets out for a more prosperous 2016.

As per a recommendation from football manager Brett Angwin, the Dolphins board locked in Hill last night.

The former Box Hill Hawks assistant confirmed he had been seeking a two-year deal. In its first season under Hill, Frankston finished 0-18 and with a percentage of 43.66, ending a rugged year with a humiliating 146-point loss at Port Melbourne.

SATURDAY AUGUST 29
Geelong vs Northern Blues at Simonds Stadium 11am
Collingwood vs Port Melbourne at Victoria Park 1pm
Essendon vs Richmond at Windy Hill 1pm
North Ballarat vs Coburg at Eureka Stadium 2pm
Sandringham vs Casey Scorpions at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm(VFL Live)
(Development League match starts at 11am)

SUNDAY AUGUST 30
Werribee vs Footscray at Avalon Airport Oval,Werribee 11:42am(Channel 7)
(Dev League)Northern Blues vs Coburg at Ikon Park,Carlton 12pm
Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)

VFL Bye: Frankston
Development League Byes: Frankston, Port Melbourne, Werribee