From the Ballarat Courier
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AN AFL-standard playing surface for Ballarat is a step closer to reality.
Turf laying works as part of the $950,000 Northern Oval upgrade were finished late this week.

The new couch grass surface has eleven weeks to settle in to be ready in time for the North Ballarat Football Club's first VFL season home game against Collingwood on May 2.

CASEY Scorpions football manager Craig Lees is tipping big things for his club’s new AFL relationship with Melbourne on the eve of the 2009 VFL season.

Lees praised Demons officials’ approachability after their intra-club match on Saturday and expects the alignment to be more successful than the Scorpions’ eight-year partnership with St Kilda.

From Inside Football - Online
Article by Phil Cleary

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Gary Ayres isn’t the first celebrity coach in the VFA/VFL, but few have won as many hearts. He did everything in his power to take Port to the flag. Just why so many of his stars went missing when the game was calling for a hero is something he’ll ponder in the coming days. Unable to find a spot where Dylan McLaren could influence the game and counter the dominance of Rooster ruckman Orren Stephenson, Ayres’ game plan simply unravelled. Suddenly players who’d looked invincible in the midfield throughout the finals – Toby Pinwell, Robin Nahas and Ryan McMahon – couldn’t find the ball and were error ridden when they did. How Port missed midfielder David Spriggs!

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond and Martin Boulton

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CARLTON development and Northern Bullants coach David Teague said the Bullants would welcome troubled defender Setanta O'hAilpin back to the club after he served any AFL-imposed suspension.

Teague, who described O'hAilpin as a "really nice guy", was shocked at Friday's footage that showed the Irishman kick teammate Cameron Cloke following a series of punches during an intra-club match.

I was deeply saddened to hear that 'Gladdy' one of the iconic Port Melbourne ladies who sits along the fence at Port Melbourne passed away during the recent spell of hot weather.

She still lived in Port, and rain, hail or shine, I can't recall her missing a game. 

She will be missed by all who sat and stood near her at North Port Oval.

From the Official VFL website:

The Victorian Football League mourns the passing of 1990 Liston Trophy winner Matthew Burrows.

According to www.northernbullants.com.au, Burrows failed to recover from a heart attack he suffered at work on Thursday. Burrows was in his early 40s.

Burrows was a skilled half-back who also won Preston's Best and Fairest in 1992.

The Victorian Football League extends its deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

From Leader Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
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WILLIAMSTOWN believes in Liam Picken and is prepared to put up money that he will make it as an AFL player.

The Seagulls have confirmed they gave $20,000 to their VFL partner the Western Bulldogs to help pay for the cost of having him on their rookie list.

“We think it’s a very good investment in Liam and for our alignment with the Bulldogs,” Willy general manager Brendan Curry said.

“It will be money well spent. We’ve got enormous faith in him. He’s ready to step up.”

Liam is the son of former Collingwood champion Billy and shared Willy’s best and fairest last year. He was also selected in the VFL team of the year.