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)."

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.

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.

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.