Port Melbourne News

Baird heads Borough's chances

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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VETERAN Port Melbourne skipper John Baird will be the backbone to its finals campaign against Geelong in a qualifying final today, then tomorrow night he is favoured to take out the prestigious J.J. Liston Trophy for the VFL's best and fairest.

If Baird wins the coveted award, he may have to fend off teammate Shane Valenti in the count; a proven vote getter who is a solid chance to create history for his third consecutive Liston after yet another consistent season.

The 2009 Liston winner, North Ballarat's Myles Sewell, is also tipped to finish high in the pecking order after a top season at the Roosters, lifting his name back into calculations for another shot at the AFL draft.

Advertisement Rarely does a footballer in the twilight of his career - in which he played 46 games at North Melbourne - dominate in such a way that Baird has this season.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story
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IT had been a grind for Port Melbourne in previous weeks. On Saturday it was a gallop.

Led by another best-afield performance from John Baird, the Borough gave a splendid performance to defeat a Bendigo Gold team replete with Essendon players by 53 points at North Port Oval.

Surface water covered the ground, but Port made light of the slippery conditions to double up the visitors, 16.19 (106) to 8.5 (53).

Only two goals split the sides at half-time, but the Borough kicked clear in the third quarter and in the end won comfortably, their most impressive effort for weeks.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story
Click Here

THE Port Melbourne players thought it was one of the best, one that would lodge in the memory.

They weren't talking about their thrilling three-point victory over Box Hill Hawks at North Port Oval on Saturday, but coach Gary Ayres' withering blast at three-quarter-time.

Not often has the former Hawthorn champion had cause to give his Boroughs an old-fashioned bake.

But after watching Port fiddle and diddle and surrender their lead in the third quarter, he quickly rounded up his men at the last change and gave them a sustained burst.

A Perfect Season

A Perfect Season
by Cory McGrath
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"There are a lot people out there that said that the stand alone model couldn’t win a premiership. Not only to go through undefeated, to be the premiers and to be champions, it just says how much courage, how much character, how much commitment, how much sacrifice this particular football group has got." - Gary Ayres

Too many great VFA/VFL Grand Finals have come and gone without clubs paying respect in words and pictures. This is a book every footballer should read. It is a story of the kind of devotion and discipline that every coach dreams about. It is a book in which so many key players offer their thoughts and some lines burst from the page. ‘The Perfect Season’ is a book that had to be written.

Rich in heartfelt stories and reflections from players and staff along with commentaries by journalists, what words cannot capture, the photographs bring to life. What treasures for every Port player and supporter. - Phil Cleary

Listen to an audio interview with Cory McGrath on SENs VFL Show.
Part 1 of interview

Part 2 of interview

Check out the website for more information.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article - Click here

PORT Melbourne's VFL premiership defence has taken a sledgehammer blow after champion midfielder Sam Dwyer broke his leg.

Dwyer initially thought he'd suffered deep bruising after taking a knock against the Northern Blues three weeks ago.

But an X-ray on Monday revealed a break to his left fibula.

The injury is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.

Dwyer will visit a surgeon tomorrow (Thursday) and is clinging to the hope of surgery.

Even then the best-case scenario is a four-week spell on the sidelines.

Comment thread: http://vflfooty.com/node/8031

North Port Oval redevelopment goes to tender

PORT MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB MEDIA RELEASE.

The proposed redevelopment of North Port Oval has taken its biggest step yet to becoming a reality with tenders for work on the Norm Goss stand and development of new facilities closing on August 10.

The most exciting part of the project will be the new administration and social facility which will be built adjacent to the scoreboard, with the entry to be from Ingles Street.

Ayres tips big finish for 'refreshed' Port

From the Port Phillip Weekly
Reported by Daniel Paproth
Full article - Click here

PORT Melbourne coach Gary
Ayres believes his team will finish the VFL season strongly when they return to action on Saturday after the bye.

And he'll have key players Adrian Bonaddio, Adam Bentick, Michael Dillon, Sam Dwyer, Ryan Gale, Heath O'Farrell and Jason Williams all returning from injury and pushing for senior selection over the next fortnight.

The Borough finish the regular season with home games against Box Hill on Saturday and Bendigo and a visit to North Ballarat.

"We're still where we want to be and that's in the top two," Ayres said.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story
click here

Port Melbourne more demolishes than defeats teams at North Port Oval, and when it hustled to an early lead against Sandringham on Saturday, it appeared the Borough was on course for another cushy victory.

It led by 33 points at quarter time.

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