From the ABC Grandstand website
Reported by AAP
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A decade after his first stint at an AFL club, Geelong forward James Podsiadly will this weekend play at the highest level for the first time at the ripe old age of 28.

Podsiadly will become one of the AFL's oldest debutants of recent times when he takes his place at full-forward against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Podsiadly was last year recruited from the VFL by the Cats under the AFL's new mature-age rookie rule, having spent time at Essendon in 2000 and Collingwood in 2002.

He was unable to crack senior games with either club, but Cameron Mooney's suspension means Podsiadly will finally get his chance after getting the nod from coach Mark Thompson.

"Bomber (Thompson) grabbed me in the race and told me that I was playing - it was something that I never thought would happen," Podsiadly told Geelong's website.

From the Herald Sun
Reported by Adam Hamilton
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AN ABLETT will run out for Gold Coast for the first time tomorrow when Nathan makes his debut for the club's VFL side in their season opener against Port Melbourne at Southport.

Gold Coast has graduated from the TAC Cup under-18 competition to the VFL this year as part of its progression towards the AFL next year.

Only Daniel Harris (North Melbourne), Ablett (Geelong) and Danny Stanley and Sam Iles (both Collingwood) have played AFL football.

Coach Guy McKenna said selection had been a testing exercise, given the jump in physicality he expects from underage football to seniors.

From the Herald-Sun (via Leader Newspapers)
Reported by Paul Amy
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GUY McKenna doesn't profess to be an expert on the VFL.

But the Gold Coast coach knows his team, preparing for a season in the Victorian state league ahead of its inauguration to the AFL, has done well to draw Port Melbourne at home (Southport, in fact) in this weekend's first round.

From the Gold Coast Bulletin
Reported by Ben Case
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GOLD Coast Football Club young gun Alik Magin starred for the side in their inaugural TAC Cup season last year but will now have to step up his game if he is to do it all again in the VFL.

The big moment for the GCFC comes at 2pm when they face the first bounce against Victorian powerhouse Port Melbourne at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday in what is their first hitout at VFL level.

Source: Herald Sun

UP TO a dozen first-gamers could be in Frankston's team to tackle Sandringham in Sunday's VFL season opener at Kars St.

The Dolphins' list has never been so young and inexperienced.

Only two players on the list captain Paul Kennedy and Clinton Proctor have played more than 50 VFL games.

Just four have played 20 games or more.

Frankston's average age is 19.

Herald-Sun

CASEY Scorpions VFL captain Kyle Matthews is in intensive care at The Alfred hospital after he was punched outside a Hawthorn hotel last night.

Matthews, 24, suffered a slight skull fracture and swelling of the brain after the incident outside the Geebung Polo Club in Auburn Rd.

He fell on to the road, with a witness describing the sound as “like a coconut hitting the ground’’.

From the Whitehose Leader
Reported by Chris Vernuccio
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THE Box Hill Hawks have adopted a new jumper for the next two years to recognise their growing relationship with the Hawthorn Football Club.

The new design features a brown Hawthorn Hawk on a yellow background and includes the Mustang logo.

Unveiled at the club’s jumper presentation night yesterday, the alternate strip will be worn against non-VFA clubs Bendigo, North Ballarat, Collingwood, Geelong and Gold Coast.

The traditional Mustangs jumper will still be worn against VFA rivals including Coburg, Port Melbourne, Williamstown and Sandringham.