If this is your first visit, be sure to register so you can post. Click the register link above to proceed. Also please note that the website is currently being upgraded to a newer version in the coming weeks(s). This may impact on access to the site and the maintenance on the site may reactivate some historical posts.
From The Leader Group Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article Click here
JOHN Baird has one prestigious VFL medal to his name, the Norm Goss Medal as best-afield for the Box Hill Hawks in the 2001 grand final.
Another, higher honour might come his way next Monday.
From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie
Full article Click here
PORT MELBOURNE consolidated its standing as VFL premiership favourite in style yesterday, dismantling Werribee by 74 points, 20.10 (130) to 6.20 (56), in the first qualifying final.
Buoyed by the return from injury of its captain Luke Cotchett, Port played accountable, attacking football and had Werribee under pressure from the outset to lead by 25 points at quarter-time.
Although well behind on the scoreboard, Werribee was very much in the game for three quarters but squandered numerous opportunities in front of goal.
"Our continual pressure was very good, especially down back. It was so great that it was almost perceived at times," said Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres. "Considering we won by 70-odd-points in a final, I'd say we did a pretty good job."
From The Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie
Full article Click here
IF THE first two games of the VFL finals series are anything to go by, VFL fans are in for a nail-biting month, with Casey and Frankston surviving elimination finals with narrow victories yesterday.
At Casey Fields, the Scorpions were met by a fired-up eighth-placed Bullants, who were determined to extend their finals push and avenge an embarrassing 118-point defeat in round six.
Playing coach David Teague and captain Josh Vansittart led their side by example, Teague with three goals and some inspirational acts, and Vansittart composed as usual in defence. But Casey captain Kyle Matthews and onballer David Armitage, who proved equally as damaging, matched the Bullants duo for both tenacity and touch.
Although Casey controlled much of the play, it struggled to make use of its superior possession, with poor delivery to key forwards Jarryd Allen and Michael Rix proving costly at times. Ruckman Michael Gardiner was impressive at the stoppages and also around the ground, finding space and providing a competitive marking target.
From the Ballarat Courier
Full article Click
here
Greig becomes only the second Rooster to achieve the feat in North Ballarat's first home final in eight years - a qualifying final against Williamstown at AUSTAR Arena in Ballarat tomorrow.Only reigning captain and Greig's
fellow defender Shaune Moloney has played more senior and reserves matches for North Ballarat since it entered the VFL in 1996.
While the milestone is satisfying, Greig has his sights set on bigger things.
From The Herald-Sun
Reported by Chris Mitchell
Full article Click here
NORTH Ballarat stalwart Marc Greig has warned his teammates they will pay the price for a tardy start in tomorrow's second qualifying final against Williamstown.
The 28-year-old, 179cm defender, who will play his 150th club game, said the Roosters had lost form in the past month, despite finishing second and securing the double chance and a home final.
Williamstown and North Ballarat have split their games this season, but the Roosters won their most recent clash - a 47-point thrashing at Ballarat in Round 12.
The Roosters led by 32 points at quarter-time and 53 at halftime , but Greig said the result could easily be reversed with a slow start tomorrow.
"We know if we play our best footy we can beat anyone. We've just got to make sure we don't wait until halftime to get going, otherwise we could be nine goals down ourselves," Greig said.
From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie
Full article Click here
THE Casey Scorpions go into today's first round of the VFL finals against Northern Bullants facing elimination, a prospect that seemed unlikely for most of the season with the Scorpions entrenched in the top four.
But a one-point loss to Coburg in the second-last round and an upset victory by Werribee over Williamstown in the final round elevated Werribee to fourth and stripped Casey of the double chance.
"It was disappointing, but look, we probably knew it was going to happen when we lost to Coburg," said senior coach Greg Hutchison.
Although Casey had the Bullants' measure at their only meeting this season in round six, when Casey trounced today's opponents by a whopping 118 points, Hutchison believes the Bullants have the advantage this time around.
From the ABC Grandstand website
Reported by Chris Thompson
Full article Click here
Port Melbourne host the Bullants in the final round of the home-and-away season this Saturday and ABC Grandstand will be there to bring you all the action live from 1pm.
Both teams are already assured of a finals berth, but there’s still plenty to play for in terms of ladder position.
A Port win could see them finish atop the VFL ladder, a spectacular achievement for a stand-alone side and the ideal position from which to launch a premiership bid.
