From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond

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PORT Melbourne coach Gary Ayres holds a slight hope that the trend of recruiting first-time AFL coaches will change.

The former Geelong and Adelaide coach is hoping to get back into AFL coaching after an impressive season in charge of the Borough, taking the VFL team from fringe finalist to flag favourite in his first season.

The five-time Hawthorn premiership player believes newly appointed Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss could struggle.

"Sometimes great players don't necessarily make great coaches," he said.

From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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THREE weeks ago, Williamstown had the top spot on the VFL ladder seemingly sewn up with an impressive percentage after a consistent year of football. But now in the second week of the VFL finals series, Williamstown finds itself in a knockout semi-final against an ever-dangerous Frankston, a position that coach Brad Gotch never expected to find himself in.

"Last week's loss (to North Ballarat) was disappointing, but it was the loss to Werribee in round 20 that has really cost us," Gotch said.

In the final match of the regular season, the Seagulls played host to Werribee in a game they were expected to win. Despite their excellent record at home, they stumbled at the final hurdle and fell from top spot to third after an 11-point defeat. The loss forced Williamstown to head to North Ballarat for a qualifying final.

"At half-time I thought we were a big chance. We had a slender lead, but in the end we didn't quite make the most of our chances on the scoreboard," he said.

Williamstown vs. Frankston (ABC TV)
Saturday 13^th September 2008
TEAC Oval at 1:10 PM

Williamstown

 Frankston

From The Leader Group Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy

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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

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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

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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.