Season 2024 - Smithy's VFL

Possibly one of the worst matches to be facing when we're trying to bounce back from back to back losses. Werribee have shown they can be up there with the strongest teams again, and travelling up there will be a monster trip for us. Hopefully the boys take their frustrations from last week and take it out on Werribee, but I'm not confident of a win. I don't dare ask for more than a competitive effort.

What a delicious win for the Ants over their former oppressor! Smashed them for three quarters to be 42 up at three-quarter and then held on in the last. Great to see them and Coburg with a pair of wins. Standalone teams are now 18-16 v AFL reserves teams this season, including 12 wins from the last 16.



Also nice to see the Ants off the bottom of the table, pushing the Blues to last. Only four times have AFL/aligned clubs finished bottom in the VFL, Tassie/North twice in 07 & 08, Geelong in 2005 and Springvale/Saints in 2004.

One of the wins that will be long remembered! 

It's been a big big day down at Port with the Borough running out strong winners 20.9.129 to the Seagulls 10.9.69.

Ill post up more of a report  tomorrow, but the win keeps our slim finals chances alive.

Tonight is a must-win game for us if we're serious about contending for finals. Sandringham isn't fielding some stacked team full of St Kilda veterans, so injured or not we need to get the job done. Unfortunately George Grey will miss at least the next six weeks due to facial fractures suffered against Southport, but with a pair of tough away games coming up we need to bank another win.

Brilliant first quarter by the Dolphins - they totally outplayed Southport, but after that the wheels came off. Almost a blueprint of how the Geelong game went a few weeks ago. Seems we are ultra competitive at home on a Friday night, but struggling to keep the pressure up away.

Gee it was a terrible broadcast - Im not knocking the commentators - but the camera work was shocking. In and out of focus every couple of minutes, the camera wasnt where the ball was and there was a lot of movement of the camera. I finished up feeling like I was sea sick after about 10 minutes!

While its great to have the live streams, the AFL need to make them more professional. This was like it was taken on someones phone, but as with all things AFL, amateurism will be at the front of most things they do. Maybe a name change to AAFL. Australian Amateurish Football League?

No doubt Dolphs will bounce back next week against Sandy on Saturday night at Kars Street and should notch another win.

Clear skies and only the slightest breeze tonight for our clash with the Swans. Hoping for a reasonable crowd tonight but with Sydney playing Carlton at the same time I doubt many will make the journey. Plus there's an art exhibit running across the street in Beauty Park so the lack of parking will put a lot of people off. 

Big game for us. A win tonight means we move past last year's win record. With Vossy and Mynott back into the team I've got some real hope we'll get up. 

Good tough win by the Dolphs - real old fashioned wet weather slog, between two evenly matched teams which eventually came down to who wanted the win most. Was always going the be Frankston if they held their composure, which they did strongly until the end.

Big difference having Matt Johnson in form. Critical to the side when he's up and about. At the other end Max Williams has become a worry. Only 4 possesions yesterday and while hes not expected to get big numbers it appears he may be carrying an injury judging by yesterdays effort. Hes going for marks one handed and is not committing his body to the packs. At his best he crashes packs and knocks the ball forward and this is quite obviously missing. Had injuries early in the season so hopefully its not still that, and he will be back to top form soon. Incredibly important to the backline and we will be in trouble without him.

Dolphs have set up up a huge night at Kinetic Stadium vs Sydney on Friday. This should be a cracker!

Not many bookies betting on it this year, but found this market on Bet365. Gold Coast way too short, but Willi, Werribee and Southport all looking strong.

Well, the Frankston bubble has well and truly burst! The tone was set in the opening quarter with a very lack lustre start and didn't improve much during the day. It was always going to be a tough assignment but not having Gown and O'leary really hurt the side. Not many positives to take away but Lachy Sharp was brilliant on debut and Angus Grant had a great game and continues his great improvement in the ruck. Grey, Quirk and Voss were good and tried their guts out all day.

A couple of things that must be concerning the coaching staff is the innacurate kicking for goal. Seems to happen in nearly every game. 6.13 yesterday, and even though a lot of the missed shots were difficult, players at that level should get most of them. And how Geelong were consistently able to get multiple loose men inside fifty when they were attacking was frightening. The backline structure really needs rejigging - Geelong tore them apart way too easily.

A few guys look like they need a run or two back in local footy to regain form, Colby Nayna 7 possesions is completely out of form Joe LLoyd 8, and Connor Riley (The Clanger King) got 13 but had no effect on the game and really hasnt done much since rejoining the team. Not playing anywhere near his best.

Hopefully the boys can reset during the week and come back with a competitive effort against GWS.

Great to see ex Dolphin Dan Capiron still playing great footy. Looked like being anything as a youngster but it didnt work out for him at Frankston mainly due to an imbecile coach, but has been a very good player for Geelong over a long period of time now.

I clicked the about VFL button in the VFL app today.  There is not one mention of the VFA or the fact the comp started in 1877.  All it mentions is that the V/AFL was founded in 1896 and the  ex VFA clubs are “long standing clubs”.  Have a read https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/about