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.

Cats set for Coburg visitors

By Robbo August 04, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Chris Walker

WITH four rounds to play in the VFL home-and-away season, round 17 could prove pivotal to the make-up of the top eight come finals time.

The Coburg Tigers travel down the Princes Freeway today to play the rampant Geelong Cats at Skilled Stadium in the morning AFL curtain-raiser.

The Cats boast the most potent forward line in the competition, kicking an average of 116 points a game. They also have the most miserly defence with an average of only 79 points kicked against them each week.

The Tigers, who have not lost a game since round 11, will rely on their athleticism to out-run the Cats. They will be missing suspended midfielder Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, who has enjoyed a wonderful month of football, but will regain Andrew Krakouer, who was omitted from the Richmond side.

Tigers coach Andy Collins is a supporter of the AFL curtain-raiser concept, believing it provides the crowds with added value.

"It's great for the fans to be able to see their club's players run around in the VFL. I would travel down to Skilled Stadium every week if it meant we could play a curtain-raiser."

Coburg Tigers flag intentions

By Robbo August 04, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

SECOND-placed Coburg Tigers are keen to test themselves against the two main flag contenders in the final four rounds.

They clash with Geelong (third) this morning at Skilled Stadium and then face an away game against ladder-leader Sandringham in Round 20 on August 25.

"They are clearly the class sides of the competition this year," Coburg coach Andrew Collins said this week.

"It is an exciting challenge to play at Geelong this week and then we've got Sandringham in a couple of weeks."

Collins is also chuffed about playing the curtain-raiser to the Geelong-Richmond game.

"I would encourage the VFL to do that bit more," he said.

"There are some special games played as curtain-raisers to an AFL game when it could easily have been VFL games.

"We have that opportunity with the alignments.

"It would be great to have the Coburg Tigers playing on the MCG before the Richmond Tigers (Coburg's affiliate)."

Bendigo Bombers future safe after AFL says… VFL alignments to stay

By Robbo August 04, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers' future appears safe with the AFL Commission yesterday approving in principle to a review that supports the continued alignment between AFL and VFL clubs.

The AFL second-tier review committee has presented five recommendations on the status and direction of the VFL.

Among the recommendations, approved by the AFL Commission and supported by AFL Victoria – the governing body of the VFL – are "alignments between AFL and

VFL clubs will continue to be a key component of elite football in the state".

There had been some exploration earlier this year of a national reserves competition that would replace the various-state based competitions, including the VFL, which would have put grave doubt over the future of the Bendigo Bombers.

However, a national reserves competition has now been ruled out, and the review committee recommendations support Bendigo's alignment with Essendon.

"We were never worried because we thought it was heading this way from all the feedback we've been getting along the way," Bendigo

Bombers' acting general manager Peter Lodewijks said yesterday.

State of play

By Robbo August 04, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE AFL will underwrite a revived Tasmanian statewide league and may increase funding for the Devils to keep them in the VFL, says AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

He met AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker and general manager Scott Wade yesterday and left them with massive grins.

Neither party would reveal the funds required but it was believed the AFL's grant to Tasmania would increase from $1.38 million to $2.2 million to cover both the new statewide league and the Devils -- a 59 per cent increase.

Demetriou said he was a supporter of a properly run statewide league, with the proposed model being underpinned by the three regional competitions and only including seniors.

"If that was something that made sense, we wouldn't hesitate in underwriting something like that to help it get off the ground," he said.

"We are a strong believer in football in Tasmania. It has got a rich history in our game, it has provided great talent to the VFL/AFL and anything we can do to further that we will look at."

But it was believed the proposed statewide competition would not be brought in until 2009.

AFL Tasmania's decision for the Devils to join the SANFL next season because of financial reasons was almost assured but Demetriou said he was not of the same opinion.

VFL/TAC CUP Fixture Changes Saturday August 25

By Robbo August 03, 2007
Here are details of fixture changes for TAC Cup and VFL Fixtures for Saturday August 25

VFL ROUND 20
Tasmania vs. Williamstown has been rescheduled from 2.00pm to 2.07pm due to ABC TV Tasmania TV commitments. The match remains on Saturday 25th August at Bellerive Oval.

TAC CUP ROUND 17
Gippsland vs. Oakleigh now to be played at Casey Fields at 11.10am. The match will now be played as Curtain Raiser to the VFL Casey Scorpions vs. Frankston senior match and remains on Saturday 25th August.

Tipping update

By administrator July 31, 2007
NEXT SIX WINNERS JACKPOT WILL BE IN ROUND 18
There is only 5 matches again in Round 17. The next round with 6 matches will be Round 18 where $30 will go to the tipster to select six winners will collect. If more than one tipster picks six the tipster nearest the aggregate score will collect. If no tipster picks six winners it will jackpot to $60 to the following round.
AGGREGATE THIS WEEK
This week's aggregate score match will be the North Ballarat v Box Hill clash.
Tipster nearest the aggregate score will collect $40

CLOSE AT THE TOP
Mudassar has regained the lead with 66 winners. The old Dandenong Redleg supporter has picked 66 winners to date with both Adam 'Beachy' Beach and Blackrocker 'Doug Newington' just behind on 65 winners. Old Geelong West Roosters fan Brett Gillett has picked 63 winners with Shane 'Wicker' Ryan an old Brunswick magpies fan on 62 winners as is former East Devonport and Ulverstone Fullback Gavin Inglis.

Little respite for Devils

By Robbo July 31, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

AFTER the train wreck of this VFL season, the Devils will begin pre-season for 2008 barely a month after playing their final home-and-away game.


Following another dismal second-half fade out on Sunday, which saw the Devils go from a point up early in the third term to 109-point losers against North Ballarat, Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said talks had already started for next season's preparations.

To top off Sunday's horrendous performance, it seems Geelong recruit Paul Koulouriotis (hamstring) will join fellow former AFL player Cameron Thurley (hip) on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

And Kangaroos-listed Leigh Adams (shoulder) and possible AFL draftee Brodie Moles (knee) could spend close to, if not all, the remaining three games on the injured list, resulting in -- if it is possible -- an even bleaker finish to the season.

It appears the first casualties of the dismal season could be the Devils' fitness staff, with AFL Tasmania already looking at new personnel.

"Obviously it is an area that we need to look at in terms of we need someone who has got the knowledge and who's very much qualified in getting players fit so they can play at a higher level," Cresswell said.

Half-game horror show

By Robbo July 30, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

A 20-goal second half by North Ballarat sent the Tasmanian Devils crashing to their third triple-figure defeat of the VFL season in another Jekyll and Hyde performance at Aurora Stadium yesterday.

 The Devils were told to get uncomfortable and to come in at half-time feeling sick from an exhaustive workrate.

They achieved that, playing inspired football despite a four-point deficit at half-time.

And having led by one point two minutes into the third quarter, the Devils were outscored 20 goals to three by the boys from Ballarat.

That second-half effort also left the Devils feeling uncomfortable and sick as they trudged off 24.22 (166) to 8.9 (57) losers.

Disappointed Devils coach Daryn Cresswell said the willingness to run and put pressure on in the second half was poles apart from the first half.

Pages