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A defeat to be proud of

By Robbo July 08, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by James Bresnehan

A 42-POINT loss, their 11th in a row, and one player on a double report, but for the first time in a long time the Tasmanian Devils were smiling last night.

Triple reigning premier Sandringham stretched the Devils' club-record losing streak with a 19.20 (134) to 14.8 (92) win at Aurora Stadium, but the home side scored a moral victory.

The Devils fought like their namesakes against a Melbourne-laced Sandringham, and had Lady Luck smiled on the locals they would have given the Zebras the fright of their lives.

Besieged coach Daryn Cresswell mingled with his players post-game, smiling and even announcing a temporary lift on the players alcohol ban, such was his delight with his dog-tired 22.

The biggest bonus for Crezza came from one man, midfielder Scott Stephens.

"I copped a lot of flack about making this guy co-captain of Tasmania," Cresswell said.

"He had 39 possessions tonight. His last six weeks have been outstanding.

"He played on a class player in Peter Summers and kept him to 18 possessions and had a ton of it himself.

"He's one player who shows great character and I was really pleased with him and the way he led from the front.

"I feel I made the right decision -- I never doubted myself, but a few other guys did."

Tough Tigers hold off Bullants

By Robbo July 08, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Chris Walker

THE Coburg Tigers staved off a gallant Northern Bullants side by 12 points at Preston City Oval yesterday, getting up 10.14 (74) to 8.14 (62) on a bitterly cold and rainy afternoon.

Despite going into the game as underdogs, the Bullants fired the first shot and when Mark Austin kicked the first of his three goals, the Tigers had some catching up to do.

With a patient forward structure and seemingly endless space, the Bullants looked the better side in the opening term and had a two-goal advantage at the first break.

David Teague and Josh Houlihan led the way with 10 possessions each.

The second quarter was sloppy as expected as the ball gathered mud, but Coburg came to life and began to run numbers behind the ball. The forward pair of Kent Kingsley and Jay Schulz were clearly hampered by the conditions.

"It was always going to be tough for those two. The conditions didn't suit them at all," Tigers coach Andy Collins said. Inaccuracy also cost Kingsley, who should have kicked at least four goals but ended with two.

Northern base is possible: Cresswell

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards

AURORA Stadium could become the home base of the Tassie Devils next season, coach Daryn Cresswell said yesterday.

Speaking at the Devils' training session at the venue in preparation for today's clash against reigning VFL premier Sandringham, Cresswell said it was important for the team to have a central training base.

"The football department will meet with Scott Wade in the next few weeks to discuss a system whereby we can train together a bit more than we have done," Cresswell said.

"Aurora is definitely a chance because it's very accessible and we can get on here in the summer months because there's no cricket played here."

But Cresswell said he didn't have a particular preference for either Bellerive or Aurora.

"Whatever best suits the footy team in terms of the best training venue where everyone can get together is more important to me rather than where it's at," he said.

The bottom-placed Devils face a tough assignment in today's game against the Melbourne- aligned Zebras, who boast a potent forward line of Nick Sautner, Ezra Poyas, Ben Holland and Byron Pickett.

But Cresswell said he was more concerned about the Devils' effort than the result.

Schultz to make worthy debut

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

WAYNE Schultz makes his senior debut with North Ballarat against Bendigo Bombers in the Victorian Football League at Stawell tomorrow.

His selection is a reward for persistence.

Schultz, who turns 25 on Tuesday, joined the Selkirk Roosters from Ballarat league club Sebastopol last year and has had to work hard to finally get the nod from coach Gerard FitzGerald.

It is appropriate that Schultz makes his debut in what is North Ballarat's first regional home game, with him being originally from nearby Horsham.

FitzGerald said Schultz was yet another endorsement for the Roosters' development system - giving players from throughout the western region an opportunity to play the best football outside the AFL.

Schultz's inclusion is to help cover the loss of the fleet-footed Steve Dinnell (knee) and Steve Clifton (hamstring).

The Roosters will not finalise their line-up until after a training session this morning, but as well as Schultz, the Kangaroos' Lindsay Thomas was last night the only other definite inclusion. Thomas replaces Matt Campbell,

who returns to the Kangaroos.

Gun full forward Aaron Edwards is also in the running to play for North Ballarat.

However, Edwards has been suffering from knee soreness and his availability will depend on how he pulls up after training with the Kangaroos today.

Fierce rivals clash

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers are preparing for what coach Matthew Knights has described as their biggest game of the season this Sunday.

Why is it so important? Firstly, the Bombers are playing their arch-rival North Ballarat, and the bottom line is no Bendigo sporting side likes losing to their Goldfields foes.

And secondly, the Bombers simply need to keep winning games of football to hold their position in the VFL's top eight.

After belting Tasmania by 96 points at Bellerive Oval last Saturday, the Bombers have climbed up to seventh on the ladder after 12 rounds.

However, a loss against the Roosters at Stawell this Sunday could relegate the Bombers to as low as 10th on the ladder, such is the evenness of the competition.

'‘We have made significant ground in the past five weeks, but we're still in a very precarious position in that bottom part of the top eight," Knights said yesterday.

‘‘We still have to make every post a winner and I have no doubt this is the biggest game we have played this year.' ‘We are playing against North Ballarat, an arch rival, and they are sitting above us on the ladder.

‘‘Each week becomes fairly huge for us now and every game becomes like a mini-final." Both sides go into this Sunday's clash in terrific form.

Top four all that counts for Bendigo

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

THE improving Bendigo Bombers are aiming for a top-four finish despite a slow start to the season.

"We are confident that in the second half of the year we can improve and make a bit of a run at the top group," coach Matthew Knights said.

"I have always had the aim in the VFL that you should be aiming to finish in the top four in a 13-team competition.

"I don't think you are worth your salt as a coach if you are not aiming for the top four.

"If you do achieve that, great, and you aim high. If you don't, then you reassess.

"We have won four of our last five games and dropped the other one against the Casey Scorpions (16 points).

"Our form line in the last month has been significantly better and during that time we have boosted percentage."

Bendigo (five wins) has moved up to seventh but is still two games behind Coburg Tigers (fourth) and North Ballarat (fifth) and half a game behind Port Melbourne (sixth).

Tomorrow's Round 13 game against North Ballarat is at the neutral Stawell venue.

"It is pivotal with North Ballarat sitting in the upper echelon of the ladder," Knights said. "They have strung three consecutive wins together and their form line is pretty decent. It is great to play in a country town to show VFL football, we are looking forward to it."

Devils welcome to Adelaide

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by James Bresnehan

THE door has been thrown wide open for the Tasmanian Devils to join the SANFL in 2009.

SANFL boss Leigh Whicker said yesterday his league liked the idea of having a team from Tasmania join the Adelaide-based competition to end the bye in the nine-team league.

Whicker said the SANFL would be prepared to meet all the Devils' travel costs and scrap their annual $85,000 VFL licence fee -- an overall saving of more than $330,000.

The South Australians put together an affiliation proposal and presented it to AFL Tasmania two weeks ago.

The SANFL then formed a working committee, which plans to meet with Tasmanian officials this month to discuss the proposition.

The SANFL chief's enthusiasm for Tasmania follows a survey of SANFL clubs that found eight out of nine captains favoured Tasmania joining the competition, and another that showed 79 per cent of SA fans felt the same way.

WA IN PRIME POSITION TO WIN UNDER 18 NATIONALS

By Robbo July 06, 2007
Reported by Michael Robinson

WA are favorites to win their 1st national title since 1999 after today's games at MC Labour Park,Carlton. These games were moved from Skilled Stadium,Geelong due to the poor condition of the surface after yesterday's Division 2 games.

In the 1st game, after an even 1st half WA out played the Victorian Country side kicking 7 goals to 1 to win comfortably by 43 points.

Rhys Palmer was the star for the Sandgropers along with Tayte Pears and David Myers. Ryan Hobbs, Nick Suban and Scott Selwood were the best for the Country boys.

WEST AUST      1.1  2.5  5.9  9.14(68)
VIC COUNTRY  0.3  2.6  2.6  3.7(25)

Goals: WA: Ellard, Morton, Mastern 2, Garlett, Yarran, Palmer Vic Country: Hobbs, McKenna, Bell

Best Players: WA: Palmer, Pears, Myers, Masten, Garlett, Morton, Rich Vic Country: Hobbs, Suban, Selwood, Austin, McEvoy, Hinkley

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