Reported by Lance Jenkinson
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Footscray will make its long-awaited return to competitive football at the Whitten Oval on Saturday morning against fellow stand-alone club Richmond in the Victorian Football League.

The game is scheduled for an earlier time of 10.30am, so Bulldogs and Tigers supporters can make a full day of it, taking in VFL football at the traditional ground in the morning, followed by the clash between the two clubs in the AFL at Etihad Stadium from 1.45pm.

“I hope we can pack out the Whitten Oval before the AFL match,” Footscray co-captain Lukas Markovic said.

“I think it’s fantastic the way the club has organised this first game.

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Gold were beaten by fellow VFL stand-alone team Frankston in their final practice match at Strathfieldsaye on Saturday.

The Gold were forced to play catch-up football after the Dolphins - who used four more players - made the stronger start on the way to a 16.7 (103) to 9.8 (62) win.

"We started poorly and just weren't switched on like we needed to be early," Gold coach Aussie Jones said.

"We can't afford to turn up to games without that ultimate attitude to compete and we just didn't have that early and Frankston got the jump on us.

"But we got better and in the back half of the second quarter and the third quarter we dominated them.

FRIDAY APRIL 4
Collingwood vs AFL/AIS Academy MCG 4:10pm (Curtain Raiser to AFL Hawthorn vs Fremantle)
Bendigo Gold vs Geelong at Queen Elizabeth Oval,Bendigo 7pm(Fresh FM Bendigo)

SATURDAY APRIL 5
Footscray vs Richmond at Whitten Oval 10:30am
Frankston vs Sandringham at Frankston Park 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
(Development League match starts at 10am)
Box Hill Hawks vs Werribee at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)

SUNDAY APRIL 6
Essendon vs Casey Scorpions at Windy Hill 1pm
Northern Blues vs Williamstown at Visy Park 2pm(VFL Radio)
(Development League match starts at 10am)

From the Leader Group Papers / www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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PAUL AMY rounds up the ins and outs from each club and gives a guide to their 2014 prospects.

LIGHTS, camera, action … the VFL season kicks off this Saturday when Williamstown, celebrating its 150th year, hosts reigning premier Box Hill Hawks in an ABC TV clash.

Bendigo hopes Perth recruit Jackson Sketcher will help it enjoy a Gold rush of wins aftera winless 2013.

BENDIGO

Coach: Aussie Jones (second year)

Last year: 0-18

In: Jackson Sketcher (WAFL), Joe Redfern (Greater Western Sydney), Angus Watts (Labrador), Jesse Wallin (Morningside), Devin McFarlane (Peel Thunder), Sam Heavyside, Liam Byrne (Bendigo Pioneers), Tyson Biffin (Northern Blues), Tyrone Downie (Kangaroo Flat), Mitch Hough (Kangaroo Flat).

Out: Dean Putt, Nathan Beck, Pat Flynn, Troy Kelm.

The skinny: Shorn of its Essendon alignment, Bendigo went winless in 2013 and suffered a handful of fearful beatings. But it did have a major victory a few weeks after the season, gaining enough new sponsors and members to go on in the VFL. Some handy inclusions have increased depth — last year the bottom few players were below VFL standard — and the Gold should improve enough to win three or four games and be in a few more others. Jones would put his head in a lion’s jaw if it meant gaining a seasoned, 200cm ruckman.

Read more for all the club previews in the 2014 Peter Jackson VFL