Footscray news

Footscray news

Roughead, Roberts to return via VFL

From the Western Bulldogs Official Website
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Comment Thread - http://www.vflfooty.com/node/9537

Key defenders Fletcher Roberts and Jordan Roughead will make their return from injury with Footscray on Saturday, named in the extended squad for the VFL side's Round 18 match at Victoria University Whitten Oval.

Roughead has missed the last three weeks with a foot injury, while Roberts has been sidelined since injury his ankle in the Club's Round 15 win over the Gold Coast Suns in Cairns.

The defensive pair will add significant experience to the Footscray back-six, and have been named to occupy key-posts in defence along with father-son defender Zaine Cordy.

The fourth placed Footscray (10-5) side take on Port Melbourne (6-9), with the standalone VFL side currently sitting just outside the top-eight in ninth position.

A win for Footscray could boost their claims for a top-two place on the VFL ladder, sitting one game behind Wiliamstown and Sandringham.

Footscray have named a squad that will feature 18 AFL-listed players. Father-son prospect Darcy Macpherson has again been named as the 23rd man.

After this weekend, just two rounds remain in the VFL home and away season, before finals beckon, commencing in the first weekend of September.

Saturday's Round 18 VFL between Footscray and Port Melbourne will be broadcast live on Channel 7, with coverage commencing from 12:00pm.

Footscray set for Port battle

From the Western Bulldogs Official Website
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Comment Thread - http://www.vflfooty.com/node/9537

Footscray will take on the ninth-placed Port Melbourne in what is a must-win match to keep the Borough’s final chances alive.

Bulldogs coach Ashley Hansen said that he expected a tough match with Port Melbourne fighting for a finals spot.

“We are expecting nothing less than the Port Melbourne Football Club we have known for the past decade.

“A really proud club with experienced players will always respond to the opportunity to stay in touch with the finals so we will be prepared for that.”

The Bulldogs welcome back senior vice-captain Jordan Roughead who has missed the last three weeks with a foot complaint.

Fletcher Roberts also returns from injury after a four-week layoff and both are expected to take on key defensive roles.

“For both Jordan and Fletcher our main aim for the weekend is to return to playing football and gain significant match fitness and game sense after being out with their respective injuries,” Hansen said.

“Both are valued members of the squad so tomorrow is an important step in their rehab and return for AFL selection in the coming weeks.”

Footscray posted a big result last weekend against the top ranked Williamstown, and Hansen said it’s important for his side to maintain that form and carry momentum.

“The focus each week for our players is to continue to build their games around the role they are assigned and collectively performing as one unit.

“The strength of our team is determined by our actions for one another so that mentality is really important that we sustain after last week.”

Williamstown defeat Footscray in VFL

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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Williamstown continue to be the pace setters in the VFL after upsetting Footscray by 39 points at Whitten Oval on Sunday.

Cameron Lockwood's goal at the 10-minute mark of the final term was a fitting blow to celebrate his 100th VFL match in style, but realistically this match should have been over much before that.

Perhaps the inaccurate Seagulls flattered the Bulldogs, winning 9.22 (76) to 5.7 (37).

Sam Darley (38 disposals) and Lachie Hunter (34) were prolific for the Bulldogs, but the damage was done on the scoreboard as the Seagulls ran rampant with Mitch Banner scoring two opportunist goals, while Andrew Galluci also snared two majors.

In a low-scoring affair for the most part – only six goals were scored in the first half – the Seagulls finally broke free early in the final term after leading by just 18 points at the last change.

Footscray have been accustomed to playing the game plan that they wanted against most teams so far this season. But two of their losses have been against formidable opponents Box Hill and Williamstown, which have excelled at shutting down the Dogs' running game.

From the Herald Sun
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE 2015 VFL season kicks off on Friday with Werribee hosting Geelong under lights. Leader sports editor Paul Amy rounds up each club’s ins and outs.

BOX HILL HAWKS

Coach: Marco Bello

Last year: runner-up to Footscray Bulldogs

In: Cadeyn Williams (Richmond), Jack Sandric (Hobart City), Lochie Adey, James Handley (Blackburn), Matthew Burt, Chris Jones, Liam Kidd, Matthew Traynor (Eastern Ranges), Billy Murphy, Sam Switkowski (Northern Knights), James Sullivan (Tatura), Patrick Dillon (Donvale), Xavier Dimasi (Assumption/Calder Cannons), Ben Fitzpatrick (Korumburra/Bena), Dalton Graham (Sandringham).

Out: Luke Andrews, Callan Burns, Corey Cassidy, Sam Cust, Jackson Eade, Tom Goodwin, Jake Kalanj, Tom Miles, Xavier Murphy, Matt Northe, Nick Papadopoulos, Kalem Post, Michael Thompson, Brandon Wood.

The verdict: the Hawks have lost top-line midfielders in Xavier Murphy and Luke Andrew as well as the emerging Brandon Wood. But they’ve picked up former Tiger Cadeyn Williams and have good young players coming through in support of senior men Sam Iles, David Mirra, Marc Lock and Liam Tobin. Premiers in 2013 and runners-up last year, there’s no reason to think there will be a slackening of standards.

Player watch: Mitch O’Donnell. He’s as hard as a coffin nail and he’ll be granted more opportunity after an excellent pre-season.

Celebrating season 2014 with the Casey Scorpions and A Positive Move

Click on read more for a full club by club report.

From the Western Bulldogs official website:
Full article - Click here.

The Western Bulldogs in a move to embrace the strong support for the Footscray Football club competing in the VFA/VFL competition have now launched a VFL only membership option.

To have a look at the clubs membership options for the 2015 Peter Jackson VFL competition, take a look at the following link:

http://107.170.132.8/1741-2/?camefrom=EMCL_570119_25184691

From The Maribyrnong Leader
Reported by Luke D'Anello
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FOOTSCRAY does not fear any side in the lead-up the VFL finals, but coach Chris Maple has declared the premiership race wide open.

The Bulldogs, in their first year as a stand-alone outfit, are a genuine premiership contender and sit in third spot on the ladder with a 10-4 record.

Footscray should rubberstamp a top-four berth in the run home, with games against Bendigo, Werribee, Casey and Richmond.

While the Dogs have benefited from a smooth run with injuries, Clay Smith (knee) and Mitch Wallis (foot) will miss the remainder of the season.

The pair notched 10 VFL appearances between them in 2014 and played vital roles in the Dogs’ success.

Smith had been particularly explosive, the hard-nosed midfielder named Footscray’s best player against Bendigo and Box Hill earlier in the season.

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article - Click here

Footscray began life as a stand-alone VFL team in emphatic style with a 117-point win against Richmond in a return to the Dogs’ spiritual home at Whitten Oval on Saturday.

Fittingly, it was Ayce Cordy, the son of former Bulldog Brian who played many of his 124 games at the ground, who monstered Richmond defender Ben Darrou to kick five goals and become the game breaker in the third term.Cordy, who has gained almost 20 kilograms since joining the Bulldogs as a father-son pick in 2008, appears to be finally on the brink of showing that he belongs.

The Bulldogs faithful didn’t disappoint also, with more than 5000 fans flocking to the match billed as a curtain-raiser for the AFL game just across town in the more modern facility of Etihad Stadium, which has been adopted as their new home.Conversely, this was a sombre start for Tim Clarke’s Tigers. They were undermanned in defence, outrun in the midfield and their forwards barely gave a whimper.

Former Port Melbourne speedster Nathan Batsanis was one of the better performers with two goals, while ex-Greater Western Sydney midfielder Anthony Miles showed plenty of touch in the first half.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/footscray-returns-to-vfl-as-victor-over-ric...

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