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Dismal day for Devils

By Robbo June 18, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Adam Smith

TASMANIA'S season washed further away in the rain at Skilled Stadium yesterday, with Geelong giving the Devils a lesson in wet-weather football to hand the visitors their eighth consecutive loss.

The home side's experience and skill level shone in the greasy conditions, running away with the game in the second half to record a 72-point win, 14.14 (98) to 3.8 (26).

The score was Tasmania's second lowest ever in the VFL, bettering only the 2.4 (16) it kicked against Werribee in 2004.

At the main break the Devils trailed by 21 points, and through full-forward Adam Derbyshire kicked the first goal of the second half.

But the big turning point came immediately after the goal when the Devils were given a free kick in the middle before the ball was re-bounced.

Youngster Aaron Joseph swooped on a loose ball in the forward 50 from the resulting kick, only to miss a shot at goal on the run from 30m.

Lonergan back ... and loving it

By Robbo June 18, 2007
From Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Michael Auciello

THEY were terrible conditions for footy, but Tom Lonergan loved every second of it yesterday.

On a cold and wet Skilled Stadium, the 23-year-old Cat finally closed probably the most significant chapter in his life.

His comeback from a horrific incident that left him with one kidney has gained a lot of attention, so much so that Lonergan himself has wondered what all the fuss was about.

``I think other people think it's a bigger achievement than I (do). I was just doing what I do; I didn't think too much about it, although it was a pretty big deal,'' he said.

``I was nervous at the start, before the game, but once I got out there I was sweet.

``The first quarter I sort of was a little bit nervous still, but during the game it started to get easier and easier, and I just worked my way back into it.

Moloney stars up front for Roosters

By Robbo June 18, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat captain Shaune Moloney was an unlikely match-winner as the injury-struck Roosters beat a stubborn Casey Scorpions by 14 points in the Victorian Football League at Ballarat's AUSTAR Arena on Saturday.

As one of the VFL's best defenders, Moloney is accustomed to "saving" games.

This time he provided the impetus in attack to lead the Selkirk Roosters to their fifth win in 10 rounds - 16.13 (109) to 14.11 (95).

Moloney kicked three telling goals in a gripping last quarter in which the Scorpions constantly surged.

With Tristan Cartledge sidelined with a knee injury and Callum Urch struggling to find touch in his first senior appearance in two months, Moloney went forward in the second half and, using the same desperation he shows against

the competition's best goalkickers, helped North Ballarat keep its nose in front.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald dedicated most of his post-match address to Moloney's inspirational performance, which might easily be a catalyst for North Ballarat finally getting some genuine momentum.

Cats sharpen claws for Tassie

By Robbo June 16, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Adam Smith

TASMANIA'S defence will face one of the toughest tasks in football tomorrow when it is asked to curb the most powerful forward line in VFL football.

Geelong has kicked 123 more points than any other side this season and currently sits second on the ladder with a 6-3 record.

And if you take into account that in the past three weeks the Cats have scored 9.22 and 12.20, the points-for column could be far greater.

The Cats belted the Devils to the tune of 67 points earlier in the season at Bellerive and, with AFL-listed stars such as Henry Playfair, Tom Hawkins, Charlie Gardiner and Nathan Djerrkura in the forward 50, there are plenty of avenues to goal.

Throw in Tasmanian Todd Grima, who has kicked 23 goals and missed last weekend through suspension, and Cats coach Leigh Tudor has a plethora of options at his disposal.

"We missed Todd last week. He has been outstanding and it really hurt us not having him," Tudor said.

"Definitely, we are looking forward to him coming back.

"We have missed a few goals in the past three weeks, which has hurt us and while we have a few other things to be working on, goal kicking is one of those issues."

Injuries will test Dolphins

By Robbo June 16, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter


FRANKSTON has been forced to re-jig its line-up again for tomorrow's big clash with Coburg Tigers.

The stand-alone Dolphins (10th), fielding few stars and only one player with AFL experience - former Saint Chris Oliver - have defied the odds so far this season by being highly competitive.

But after recently losing boom recruit Damien Adkins (from West Coast) for the season following ankle surgery, coach Brett Lovett now has to deal with the loss of his main ruckman Ashley Eames for two months with a broken leg.

"He will be six weeks in plaster and then do the rehab," Lovett said.

"We have Daniel Clark to ruck and also Oliver who is more key position.

"Eames is a big loss but Clark is a seasoned player and given the opportunity he has shown he can make a big impact. He is very wily at centre bounces and around the ground."

The Dolphins have also had to replace last season's 100-goal forward Aaron Edwards and have relied mainly on clever small and medium-sized forwards such as Jason Berry, Ricky Morris and Tory Dickson for much of their scoring power this year.

Roosters need to put it all together again

By Robbo June 16, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald is confident the Roosters can get back into winning form against Casey Scorpions in the Victorian Football League at AUSTAR Arena in Ballarat today.

But he also felt the same going into the Williamstown encounter six days ago and the Selkirk Roosters suffered a caning.

They let themselves down badly.

There had a been massive build-up to the previous assignment, when the Roosters had inflicted reigning premier Sandringham with its first defeat of the year.

And as it turned out they could not cope with the same type of pressure two weeks running.

This has been an issue for North Ballarat most of the season with it being unable to win two matches in a row.

Now it runs into the Scorpions, which appear to have turned the corner.

After being on the end of four consecutive losses, Casey turned around its fortunes with a 24-point victory over Port Melbourne - a team rated highly by North Ballarat.

So there is no respite, especially with Casey lining up with St Kilda's Raphael Clarke and Andrew Thompson.

Positively for the Roosters, Steve Clifton (foot) and Ben Taylor (ankle) passed fitness tests last night to confirm their returns to the line-up for what shapes as a season-defining match as each team battles to get into the top eight.

Devils to blood young ruckman

By Robbo June 15, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE Devils are preparing for life after the Kangaroos by selecting players just in case the partial-alignment is culled for next season.

Devils assistant coach Andrew Mellor, standing in for coach Daryn Cresswell who was attending a family funeral, said young Launceston ruckman Nathan O'Donoghue would make his Devils debut against Geelong on Sunday as speculation continues to mount the "semi-marriage" will finish at the end of this season.

"I think it is the first time this year we will have someone starting in the ruck who is not a Kangaroo-listed player because we have used (Brad) Moran, (Todd) Goldstein and (David) Hale," Mellor said.

"To have a Tasmanian carrying the No.1 ruck duties is a real plus because the future is unknown.

"He was outstanding last week in the state game. He is very fit, he's tall and can jump and Geelong has got a few players like that so he'll be a real plus for us. "

Mellor said fellow big men, Northern Bombers' Tom Bellchambers and Launceston's Tim Mohr, could also be in the running for promotion to gain experience for next season.

Welcome return for Sharkey

By Robbo June 15, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

MATT Sharkey makes his much anticipated return for North Ballarat against Casey Scorpions in the Victorian Football League at AUSTAR Arena in Ballarat tomorrow.

Sharkey has not played since foot surgery pre-season.

The 2006 VFL Team of the Year member had a bone graft and pin inserted to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

The defender initially dismissed the injury, but was shocked to learn he had a fracture on the outside of the foot.

The Selkirk Roosters originally hoped Sharkey would miss no more than six matches, but he has returned with them on four wins and five losses, outside the top eight in ninth position, and in desperate

need of a victory over the St Kilda-aligned Scorpions after losing to Williamstown by 40 points.

Sharkey has been named on a half-back flank after proving his match fitness in two appearances in the reserves.

The 21-year-old established himself as one of the best in the VFL last year, playing in all North Ballarat's 20 matches, including two finals.

Sharkey and the Kangaroos-listed Callum Urch are pivotal inclusions for the Roosters.

Urch has not played in the seniors since straining a hamstring in round two.

He lasted only a couple of minutes in that match against Coburg Tigers and has missed seven games. He got through 70 per cent of a VFL reserves match on Sunday.

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