Welcome To VFL Footy

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.

North's Lower goes higher

By Robbo September 14, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat will be without rising star and no-nonsense tagger Ed Lower for its biggest assignment of the Victorian Football League season - a preliminary final against Geelong at Port Melbourne tomorrow.

The Selkirk Roosters have lost Lower to the Kangaroos, with the 20-year-old to tackle Hawthorn in an AFL semi-final at the MCG tomorrow night.

Lower has been in superb form.

North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald has had no hesitation giving Lower the biggest run-with roles in the opening two weeks of the finals.

Lower has not only shut down Bendigo Bombers and Sandringham, but also been one of the Roosters' most creative players.

Robbie Gregg and Kangaroos-listed Ben Hughes are at the front of the line to replace Lower.

But each has to prove his fitness after being sidelined with strained hamstrings.

Hughes was the most impressive of the two at Roosters training at AUSTAR Arena on Wednesday night.

Byrne wins Liston Trophy

By Robbo September 11, 2007
From Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Michael Auciello

GEELONG VFL captain James Byrne has added another accolade to his wonderful career by taking out the JJ Liston Trophy last night.

The 29-year-old won the VFL's best and fairest award by two votes from Sandringham's Shane Valenti.

The inspirational midfielder led the voting by three votes after the first 11 rounds.

He didn't add another vote again until round 15, missing votes in round 13 despite racking up 43 possessions in Geelong's win over Frankston.

He picked up two votes in round 15 against Port Melbourne, as teammates such as Shannon Byrnes, Josh Hunt and Jason Davenport continued to share the spotlight.

Following the round 16 bye, he added another three votes in the round 17 win over Coburg to take a one-vote lead over Valenti.

The umpires awarded him another vote in the round 18 win over North Ballarat, extending his lead to two.

Roosters wait on Kangaroos for final spots

By Robbo September 07, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat is in the hands of the Kangaroos if there are to be any major changes for tomorrow's Victorian Football League semi-final clash with Sandringham at Port Melbourne.

Prolific goalkicker Robbie Gregg remains the only question mark among the Selkirk Roosters' VFL listed players.

Gregg is struggling with hamstring soreness.

If coach Gerard FitzGerald rules him out, Matt Riggio is the most likely replacement to ensure an emphasis remains on pace and running power.

FitzGerald will make his call after training tonight.

The Kangaroos last night named Leigh Harding and Ed Lower on an extended interchange for their qualifying final battle with Geelong on Sunday.

Lower was close to North Ballarat's best in the startling 37-point victory over Bendigo Bombers on Saturday, while Harding made his biggest impact since returning from knee surgery mid-season.

This is the closest Harding has been to a return to the AFL, but he most likely going to have to wait a little longer before getting promoted.

If Lower is to force his way back into the Kangaroos line-up, he will have to squeeze out fellow youngster Andrew Swallow.

VFL Semi Final Teams

By Robbo September 06, 2007
1st Semi Final
Sandringham vs. North Ballarat
Saturday 8th September
TEAC Oval (ABC TV) at 1.10pm

Sandringham

B Bode Lamb Monaghan
HB Ferguson Warnock Biddlecombe
C Garland Summers Dunn
HF M. Newton Crowe Buckley
F Poyas Sautner Valenti
R Neaves C. Liddell C. Johnson
Int Paterakis Martyn M. Johnston
 Gilchrist Hughes S. Martin
 T. Johnston Dean  

North Ballarat

B A. George Moloney Goodes
HB Feery Searl Sharkey
C J. Spolding Grima Roach
HF Harding Urch Whyman
F Campbell Cartledge Thomas
R Stephenson Lower Clifton
Int Limb Riggio Clark
 Chester McConnell L. George
 Schultz Swallow Hardy
 Peace Gregg

97.7 FM 3SER Match review

By administrator September 05, 2007
97.7 FM 3SER Match review

Courtesty of Anthony Brady

In the first weekend of finals in the TRUenergy Victorian Football League

(VFL) for season 2007, the Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER team saw Williamstown down Sandringham by two points in a classic encounter at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval Werribee, on Saturday.

The scene was set right from first light on the day, with glorious sunshine and no breeze greeting fans who packed the terraces at Sandringham's home ground.

With the oval backing right onto Port Phillip Bay, it's rare for there not to be a cool breeze wafting over Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval, but this day was made for football, and the huge crowd of approximately 4000 attending the first ever final at Sandringham's home certainly appreciated it.

The crowd was the biggest seen in Zebra territory for years, and made for an electric atmosphere. Many members of the Collingwood cheer squad were in attendance, most of whom dressed in full Williamstown regalia, including cult figure Jeff "Joffa" Corfe, sporting a Williamstown jersey with Sharrod Wellingham's number 41 on his back. Added colour was given to the game when the Williamstown fans made a special banner for the players to run through, a sight only seen at VFL level during Grand Finals.

The toss was won by Sandringham captain Chad Liddell, who elected to kick to the grandstand end of the ground, though any wind advantage to that end was negligible.

Key Devil's future unclear

By Robbo September 05, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE Devils' centralised Hobart program will cost them Northern players, co-captain Scott Stephens believes.

Stephens, based in Launceston, said he was undecided at the moment about whether he would be able to continue on with the program next year.

He sat out the program in 2006 due to previous coach Mathew Armstrong's centralised training regime but returned this year when it was set up with regional training squads in the North, North-West and the South.

"Absolutely, I have got no doubt about that it will cost Northern players," Stephens said.

"It did in the past and it will again next year. If guys are serious about their footy and want to take their footy to the next level it is just the step they are going to have to take."

Stephens, 24, said he could not commit to the Devils by living in Launceston so would have to relocate.

VFL Cats one step closer

By Robbo September 04, 2007
From Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Michael Auciello

GEELONG has put itself in the box seat for a tilt at the VFL flag after overcoming a determined Coburg in its qualifying final yesterday.

The Cats' 31-point win at TEAC Oval gives them a week's break before a possible grand final rematch with reigning premiers Sandringham in the preliminary final in a fortnight.

After a fantastic tussle in the first three quarters, the Cats blew the game open in the last term to run out comfortable winners, thanks to best-on-ground Jason Davenport.

The margin was less than a kick at each break, but last year's runners-up booted the first four goals of the final quarter to break the spirit of a tired Coburg.

Jay Cheep  who along with Scott Thompson proved Geelong has plenty of talent in its VFL list  took a strong overhead mark and goaled, before Todd Grima added the second of his three majors for the day to put the Cats up by 16 points six minutes into the last quarter.

Enter Davenport to seal the deal.

The Cats' young gun kicked the next two  the second a superb goal on the run  to put the contest beyond doubt.


Pages