From news.com.au
Reported by Sam Landsberger
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IT'S finally official: Brent Prismall will use the Western Bulldogs' VFL affiliate as a platform to try to relaunch his AFL career.

The delisted Essendon midfielder visited Williamstown headquarters today to finalise his playing contract for 2013 and is set to start pre-season training in January. Prismall, 26, trained at three clubs in the lead-up to the pre-season and rookie drafts but was overlooked by the Bombers, Dogs and Port Adelaide.

Last week he signed at the Dogs as their full-time player-welfare, a role vacated by Brett Goodes after he beat Prismall to the final place on Brendan McCartney’s list.

“He still sees himself as someone who can get picked up in the future, so it was important for him to come into a good environment,” Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon told SuperFooty today.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE Casey Scorpions have belatedly installed a senior coach, locking in former Carlton forward Rohan Welsh.

Welsh, 42, was appointed last night, agreeing to a part-time role.

Ironically, the club interviewed the 2006 Oakleigh Chargers premiership coach four years ago, but he was unable to commit to what was then a full-time job.

"It's something I've always wanted to do, get into the VFL system," Welsh said this morning.

"Having had 12 years at TAC Cup level, I saw it as the next progression for me.

"Because I've got my own business (signwriting) it was going to be hard because most of the VFL jobs are full-time these days. I was stuck in between following my passion, which is footy, and looking after my business.

From the Hobson Weekly
Reported by Lance Jenkinson
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WILLIAMSTOWN Seagulls have swooped on delisted Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood.

The Seagulls had a vacancy in their big man stocks following the departure of mobile tall James Wall and this acquisition will go some way to filling the need.

Wood played 64 AFL games at the Brisbane Lions (16) and Collingwood (48) after being selected with pick 18 in the 2004 national draft.

Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said his club's top preseason aim was to recruit a quality big man.

''I think it was obvious that we lacked a ruckman and left ourselves a bit short last year,'' he said.

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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THE VFL draw will be much more AFL-friendly next season, with fewer byes for clubs reducing complications for AFL clubs.

Carlton was one of a number of AFL clubs that complained to AFL Victoria about fixturing problems in the state league last season.

Clubs were forced to bring players back into AFL ranks after injury without time in the VFL.

It also meant that suspended players David Wojcinski from Geelong and Lachie Hansen from North Melbourne faced extended time on the sidelines because of byes running in between serving time.

This season, however, the decision to have a stand-alone Essendon club in the competition - parting ways with Bendigo after a decade - is a blessing for the state league as it will return to an even number of teams, reducing the number of byes.

From the Warrnambool Standard
Reported by Aidan Fawkes
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NORTH Ballarat Roosters officials say the club hopes to stage a VFL match in Warrnambool within two years.

Roosters football manager Marg Richards said a clash against Geelong at Reid Oval would come under consideration when club officials received the 2014 VFL fixture.

Reid Oval hosted state league football last season when Coburg transferred its home match against Geelong to Warrnambool in June.

But the city was a noticeable absentee from the 2013 fixture, which AFL Victoria released this week.