From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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PORT MELBOURNE goes into the final round of the VFL home-and-away season knowing it has a top-three spot sewn up after a 66-point victory over Collingwood at home yesterday, 13.21 (99) to 4.9 (33).

Although missing full-back Luke Livingston with a minor hamstring injury, and losing key onballer David Spriggs, also to a hamstring injury, Port controlled the game from the outset, with Collingwood looking out of its depth by quarter-time.

Unable to match Port for firepower up forward, Collingwood tried to slow the match in the second term and succeeded, restricting Port's running game and stemming the flow of goals. While frustrating their opponents with their "chip and wait" game plan, the Magpies failed to convert possessions into scoring opportunities despite Sam Iles and Rhyce Shaw, who returned from injury in good form, getting plenty of the ball across the midfield.

NORTH BALLARAT takes a wealth of attacking power into battle with Tasmania in the Victorian Football League in Hobart today.

The return of North Melbourne-listed Josh Smith gives the Selkirk Roosters potentially five big key forwards.

Smith lines up alongside Paul McMahon, and North Melbourne team-mates Michael Wundke, Aaron Edwards and Robbie Tarrant.

The combination of McMahon, Smith and Wundke has worked extremely well and been instrumental in developing North Ballarat into a premiership contender.

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers’ tough finish to the VFL season continues at the Queen Elizabeth Oval today when they host the Werribee Tigers in round 19.

Having kicked just a combined three goals in their past two games, which have been losses by 119 and 155 points, the Bombers must today confront a Werribee side that is fighting for a spot in the top four and the coveted double chance.

Going into today’s game, Werribee sits fifth, just percentage behind the Casey Scorpions with two rounds remaining.

With the growing injury toll at Essendon now at an extreme, only two AFL-listed players will line up for Bendigo today.

Port Melbourne vs. Collingwood
Saturday 23rd August - TEAC Oval at 1:00 PM

From the Sunday Tasmanian
Reported from Adam Smith

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TASMANIA was left two agonising points short of snapping a long losing streak yesterday, falling to Collingwood in a VFL heart-breaker at MC Labour Park in Melbourne.

In the final term the visitors kicked 3.6, including missing several golden opportunities late in the game, before going down 14.14 (98) to 14.12 (96).

The loss consigned the Devils to their eighth consecutive defeat with just two rounds remaining in a horror season.

But the players finally found the passion and grunt coach Lance Spaulding has been seeking from them for the past month.

Well there is 2 rounds to go and 10 teams still in the running. Here is the preview for Round 19. Not known at this stage which games the radio stations will do on Saturday.

SATURDAY
Port Melbourne(14-4 3rd) vs Collingwood(6-12 11th) at TEAC Oval 1pm
Last Meeting: Round 1 29th March at Carlton. Collingwood 12-15(87) def Port Melbourne 11-8(74)

The Borough are in great form after disposing the Cats. The Pies struggled to beat the Devils at home. The Borough will go in warm favorites especially on their home ground despite the Pies beating them back in Round 1.

Casey Scorpions(11-7 4th) vs Coburg Tigers(10-8 6th) at Casey Fields 1:10pm(ABC1(Victoria))
Last Meeting: Round 11 22nd June at Coburg. Casey Scorpions 23-13(151) def Coburg Tigers 14-14(98 )

Both teams are coming off good wins. Casey need to keep winning to keep their double chance. Coburg will be looking to for a win against a fellow finals contender. Should be a good game.

Tasmania(4-14 14th) vs North Ballarat(14-4 2nd) at Bellerive Oval 2pm(ABC1(Tasmania))
Last Meeting: Round 6 10th May at Austar Arena. North Ballarat 18-7(115) def Tasmania 9-12(66)

The Roosters are coming off a shock loss to the Bullants in terrible conditions and are looking to bounce back as the battle between the top 3 continues. The Devils were competitive against the Pies for the whole game only to lose narrowly. The Devils may give them a fright but you would except a comfortable Roosters win.

Box Hill Hawks(5-13 12th) vs Williamstown(14-4 1st) at Box Hill 2pm (3WBC 94.FM)
Last Meeting: Round 8 24th May at Williamstown. Williamstown 23-15(153) def Box Hill Hawks 13-12(90)

The Seagulls will be looking for another big win to consolidate top spot and a chance at the minor premiership. Box Hill will be looking at being competitive against a top side as their season comes towards a close.

Northern Bullants(9-9 8th) vs Geelong(7-11 10th) at NAB Oval,Preston 2pm
Last Meeting: Round 11 22nd June at Skilled Stadium. Northern Bullants 17-9(111) def Geelong 15-10(100)

This is a huge game. The equation is simple the Bullants win they are in the finals and the Cats miss out. Should the Cats win their season and the Bullants season will come down to the final round.

Bendigo Bombers(5-13 13th) vs Werribee(11-7 5th) at QEO,Bendigo 2pm
Last Meeting: Round 3 13th April at Werribee. Werribee 17-13(115) def Bendigo Bombers 14-11(95)

Werribee need to win this game to themselves a chance at the top 4. Bendigo are looking to be a lot of competitive after only kicking 1 goal against the Seagulls. Werribee should win this easily.

From the Herald-Sun
Reported by Chris Mitchell

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With just three games before finals, time is fast running out for the ninth-placed Zebras, who are a win behind eight-placed Northern Bullants and equal on 28 points with 10th-placed Geelong.

Sandringham travels to Coburg City Oval to face the seventh-placed Tigers today, before finishing a tough season away to sixth-placed Frankston and a potentially season-defining Round 20 clash at home with ladder leader North Ballarat.

The Zebras squandered a golden opportunity to move into the top eight last Sunday when they lost to Geelong by 11 points at Trevor Barker Oval, and Summers knows time is ticking.

"This week is make or break for us," said Summers, 24, who spent the pre-season with Sandy's AFL affiliate Melbourne. "It's huge. We have to win every game from here on in."