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Careless to step aside

By Robbo August 23, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Adam Smith

RUGGED Devils defender Ben Careless will bring to an end his 88-game VFL career when he runs out for his state for the final time on Saturday.

Having been with the club since its inception in 2001 -- including a year off in 2005 with injury -- the wear and tear of the game has finally caught up with the 31-year-old.

Increasing work commitments with the Hobart City Council and a young family also contributed to the decision.

Careless told the playing group of his retirement after training on Monday night and will follow in the footsteps of fellow Glenorchy premiership player and good mate Ben Atkin, who retired after the final round last season.

The only difference will be Careless will hang up the boots for good, despite the option of returning to the local league.

Grounds for complaint

By Robbo August 22, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

"IT never ceases to amaze," says Rob Direen, referring to the type of requests and objections he gets from VFL teams when they come to play the Devils in Tasmania.

Like this season when a side refused to play on Bellerive Oval until the centre wicket area was rolled.

On another occasion, also this season, a Victorian team refused to sign-off on Aurora Stadium until it was supplied with two canisters of oxygen for its players.

As the Devils' team manager, Direen's role is to make sure the visiting sides feel at home, particularly given they have to officially "sign-off" on the venue before they agree to play on it.

"A lot of the clubs are no trouble at all, but some clubs make life a bit difficult," Direen said.

"We've got two of the top venues in the VFL with Aurora Stadium and Bellerive.

"The only one better is Skilled Stadium, which is a fantastic venue.

Axed Bombers shine

By Robbo August 20, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

ESSENDON'S axed trio David Hille, Damien Peverill and Jobe Watson were all prominent in the Bendigo Bombers' fighting seven-point win over Casey Scorpions at Casey Fields yesterday.

Bendigo, emerging as a premiership threat after a slow start to the season, clinched a place in the final eight but lost Adam Ramanauskas (back) in the opening minutes and Courtney Johns in the second quarter.

"Hille really started the game well. His centre-bounce work was outstanding," Bendigo coach Matthew Knights said.

"Late in the game he had some important touches, even in general play, and assisted us.

"Peverill was just a tireless worker all day.

Eight straight wins for the Zebras

By Robbo August 20, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Chris Walker

SANDRINGHAM notched its eighth consecutive win with a 65-point belting of a hapless North Ballarat at Trevor Barker Oval yesterday.

In the first quarter the Roosters posed as a team that had come to play and led by 14 points at the first break, but the premiership favourite booted 11 unanswered goals.

Shane Valenti and Ezra Poyas were dominant in the midfield, both with 30 possessions, and Poyas also contributing three goals. Chris Lamb, the reliable linchpin of the Zebra defence, was also very solid.

"We really imposed ourselves on the game physically in the second quarter. Our intensity and pressure went up and we started to hit more targets," Sandringham coach Mark Williams said.

With top spot secured, Williams will be keeping his eye on Williamstown, which looms as its most likely combatant in the first week of the finals.

Schulz boots a bag in Devils' demise - Hurt by poor disposal and decision-m

By Robbo August 20, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Alex Fair

TASMANIA'S disastrous VFL season continued yesterday, as the Devils went down to Richmond-aligned Coburg in the curtain-raiser at Aurora Stadium.

Tigers forward Jay Schulz had a day out kicking nine goals in the 24.10 (154) to 14.7 (91) victory.

The Richmond centre half-forward was beating the Devils off his own boot for the majority of the first half when he raced to six goals.

Another embarrassing loss was on the cards when the Devils trailed by 88 points at the final change, but they bucked the trend of final quarter fade-outs by kicking 6.3 to 2.2.

Apart from that final quarter, Daryn Cresswell's men were never able to impose themselves on the match.

They were hurt by poor disposal and decision-making in the attacking half early on while the Tigers were able to pinpoint their forwards with ease.

Coburg's pressure and attack on the ball proved too much for the young team to handle.

Finals-bound -- Bendigo Bombers secure top-eight berth with gutsy win

By Robbo August 20, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers have guaranteed themselves a spot in the VFL finals after surviving a late scare from the Casey Scorpions yesterday.

The Bombers won 16.10 (106) to 15.9 (99) at Casey Fields, and with one round left in the home and away season now sit in seventh position on the ladder with 32 premiership points.

It's the first time the Bombers have found themselves sitting in the top-eight since way back in round five.

The Bombers will host joint flag-favourite Geelong in their final game this Sunday, but regardless of the outcome, they can't be dislodged from the top eight and can finish as high as sixth.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Bombers, who after six rounds sat in 11th position on the ladder with a 1-5 record.

"I'm really proud of the players because when you are 1-5 to start the year, it's a long way back from there," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said.

"To be 7-4 since that period, and the four games we have lost have been by minimal margins (16, 10, 15 and 33 points), we have been rewarded for our consistency by having a large percentage (109.10), which has been important in this tight season.

DOLPHINS DRAW GAME BUT FINALS HOPES GONE

By Robbo August 19, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

A Justin Berry goal with 15 seconds remaining have secured a draw for Frankston against Box Hill at Frankston Park today. Frankston's finals hope were gone not long after the final siren when the news came through that the Bendigo Bombers beat the Casey Scorpions at Cranbourne.

It was an even first quarter wth both teams trading goals, the Dolphins going into the first break leading by 4 points.

The Dolphins started he 2nd quarter well with Chris Oliver kicking 3 goals. A late come back from the Hawks combined with some poor kicking at goal reduced the lead to 6 points at half time.

The 3rd quarter was also very even but once again Frankston's inaccuracy meant the game remained close at the last change with the Dolphins leading by 9 points. Ricky Morris was carried off the ground injured late in the quarter which was a big blow for the Dolphins.

Box Hill came out firing kicking the first 3 goals of the final quarter to lead by 9 points before a Trent Shinners goal got Frankston within 2 points with about 7 minutes to go. Hawks Danny Jacobs who had been kept quiet all day all of a sudden kicked a goal with just over 2 minutes left to give the Hawks a 6 point lead. Box Hill were trying to bottle it up but Frankston had one last chance and Justin Berry got the ball and ran into kick the goal with 15 seconds remaining to level the scores. No one could get the centre clearance away and then the siren sounded and the game ended in a draw.

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