News

VICTORIA humiliated Western Australia on Saturday in an interstate game at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne, handing out a mammoth 119-point hiding.

The WAFL representative side never looked capable with matching its VFL counterparts, falling 25.11 (161) to 5.12 (42).

The wind at the Port Melbourne ground was tricky, and its small size did not help a WA side used to a free-flowing game.

The Mark Williams-coached VFL side had stars all over the field. Nick Sautner booted nine goals; 21-year-old Alister Neville received the Frank Johnson Medal as best on ground, and captain James Byrne, Simon Rosa, David Spriggs and Brett Johnson were outstanding.

WA had few players that could hold their heads high. Ruckman Adam Hay was awarded the Simpson Medal as best afield, Chad Jones was dangerous up-forward, but kicked 2.4, and Andrew Siegert, Theo Adams and Ben Colreavy tried hard.

WA got off to an impressive start, controlling play and the stoppages in the opening minutes. However, some sprayed shots at goal, and easy misses cost it dearly.

Chad Jones put through the first goal at the eight-minute mark of the game, but that was it for almost two quarters.

The Victorians got on the board through two goals from free kicks to Sautner and Justin Berry, before finishing the term with three soft goals that WA should have never allowed.

The West Australians were certainly not out of the game at quarter-time, having only one fewer scoring shot despite a 19-point deficit. Any chance it had then fell to pieces in an insipid second term. The margin at half-time was 80 points.

From the eight-minute mark onwards of the second quarter the Vics piled on 10 goals to two behinds by the visitors.

The second half saw the VFL kicking 10 goals to the WAFL’s four.

WA captain and 2000 Brownlow Medalist Shane Woewodin was honoured to lead his state, but the day turned out a humiliation for the 30-year-old.

“Without question it is right up there as the most embarrassing moment of my life,” he said.

“We came to the game today to earn a bit of respect, show pride in our state jumper, and that the WAFL is not the worst competition in the country. “We let the league, and all of West Australian footy down. We are not that bad. We have a great competition, and to get that respect back could be a long road.”

The WAFL will now look to tie up a game next year against either New South Wales or Queensland, with the VFL facing the SANFL. The WAFL hosts the SANFL and VFL in consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.

Goals: Victoria: Sautner 9, Berry 4, Crowe 2, Byrne 2, Cartledge 2, Johnson 2, Podsiadly, Spriggs, Height, Summers.Western Australia: Hay 2, C Jones 2, A Jones.

Best: Victoria: Neville, Sautner, Rosa, Berry, Crowe, Johnson, Byrne.Western Australia: Hay, C Jones, Siegert, Adams, Colreavy.

Injuries: Victoria: Livingston (leg).Western Australia: Salecic (concussion), Haines (knee), Mapleston (knee).

Reports: Victoria: Height (high contact). Western Australia: Adams (striking).

Umpires: Ryan, Stewart, Bandy.

Crowd: About 2500 at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne.

Frank Johnson (Vic): Alister Neville.

Simpson Medal (WA): Adam Hay.