From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Source click here

THERE'S more to VFL reigning premier North Ballarat renaming its home base Eureka Stadium than a reference to the history of the region. The worth of its historic breakthrough flag last season was gold to many who doubted whether a country team could go all the way.

It changed the way the people of Ballarat thought about its local team.

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond

Source Click here

GOLD Coast Football Club's possible entry into the Victorian Football League would give great exposure to the competition's players, AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes.

The club is expected to announce in May whether it will progress from the TAC Cup under-18 system to a state league, with the VFL and QAFL both regarded as its best options.

Bendigo Pioneers: 10.9.69
Geelong Falcons: 17.14.116

Western Jets: 12.19.91
NSW ACT Rams: 10.8.68

Gippsland Power: 13.8.86
Dandenong Stingrays: 16.11.107

Murray Bushrangers: 17.11.113
North Ballarat Rebels: 8.8.56

Gold Coast: 9.10.64
Eastern Ranges: 16.6.102

Northern Knights: 8.10.58
Calder Cannons: 14.12.96

Sandringham Dragons: 6.9.45
Oakleigh Chargers: 15.11.101

Ladder after Rd 1:

The VFL Tipping comp is on again for the 2009 season. This will be the tenth season of VFL tipping which began in 2000.

In 2000 there was 11 tipsters that took part which has rapidly grown to have well over 100 tipsters over the past few seasons.

The VFL competition kicks off on Saturday April 11 where last season's Grand Finalists Port Melbourne and North Ballarat meet.

The cost is $20 for the season.
Prizemoney based on 100 tipsters will be as follows Top three place getters 1st $600 2nd $375 3rd $175 Total $1150

From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Phil Cleary

Source insidefootballonline.com

Is anyone surprised that VFL clubs were seething at the prospect of a new constitution – constructed by the AFL – that handed the AFL veto rights on any nominations for the Board of Directors of AFL Victoria?
It’s history now that the AFL’s latest strike for total control of the former VFA was voted down, but it is surely not the end of the AFL push.

Did the AFL genuinely believe the VFL clubs would roll over in the face of such an arrogant manoeuvre?
To say that it created bad blood between AFL general manager David Matthews and the majority of VFL presidents is a gross understatement.

Stories about phone calls from Matthews to a number of presidents advising them of the consequences of voting down the proposed constitution now abound.
It’s also no secret that passionate speeches by VFL club presidents, one in particular by Casey’s John Sharkie, fired the meeting.

We really shouldn’t be surprised by the AFL’s latest strategy. From the moment the VFA surrendered its name the seeds of doubt were sown.
Yes, we’re all well versed in the AFL mantra about VFA clubs being broke at the time and needing to be saved.