From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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THE VFL would welcome Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney into what shapes as an expanded "eastern seaboard" competition from 2011. However, the competition’s makeup next year depends on whether both clubs want to play in the VFL— with Gold Coast participating this season and GWS expected to graduate from the TAC Cup and follow suit next year.

AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes Gold Coast may not wish to remain in the VFL after this season because of travel costs.. "Whether they’ve got any interest in [continuing to play in the VFL], they probably won’t know until they start playing," Schwab said. "I think they’ll weigh up how beneficial it has been with the logistics of travelling because they’re going to have to travel at least nine times to Melbourne this year.

"It’s a cost factor as well. Do you want to be flying your reserves side around?

"Really, at this stage, all we’re doing is providing an opportunity for Gold Coast, so they can [best prepare] to play AFL. As far as the long term future goes, that’s up to them."

From The Age
Reported by Jake Niall
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THE future of the VFL competition and potentially some of its clubs is up in the air for 2011, as the AFL considers a major revamp of the second tier of the game in the eastern states.

The AFL has been discussing how the addition of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney will affect the second tier and reserves teams for AFL clubs, with the possible creation of an eastern seaboard competition - a de facto reserves competition for 14 of the eventual 18 clubs - among the options canvassed in discussions described as ''embryonic''.

Under that scenario, Gold Coast and GWS and possibly Sydney and the Brisbane Lions would play their reserves in an expanded eastern seaboard competition, the remaining clubs coming from either AFL reserves (such as Geelong and Collingwood) or AFL-affiliated VFL clubs; it is unclear how stand-alone VFL clubs would fare in that revamped competition, which could have a different name.

The future of the VFL teams - especially those that are not affiliated, like Port Melbourne and Frankston - is a sensitive topic, but the AFL stressed that ''the support and welfare'' of all second-tier clubs was important, even as it considered significant change.

The VFL clubs depend heavily on support from their AFL club affiliations, but it is unclear how many would retain those affiliations - AFL clubs can field stand-alone reserves - in the new landscape created by the expansion.

Gold Coast Trip - Members and Supporters

Escape Travel - Werribee have provided the Club with a Travel Itinerary for Member and Supporters wishing to attend our Round 2 match against the Gold Coast at Broadbeach (Saturday 17th April).

Package Includes:

- Return Flights

- Return Transfers

- 3 Nights Accommodation at The Mantra Bel Air Resort, Broadbeach

Cost — $530 per person

From Inside Football
Reported by Paul Amy
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RON JAMES' footballing star twinkled all too briefly. It was destined to blaze and illuminate Footscray Football Club.

The rover had a fine career in front of him, but his life was cut short by a water skiing accident, the 20th anniversary of which passed on January 1. He was only 19.

``Shit, is it 20 years?’’ was a common remark by old Bulldogs contacted for this story.

Then the tributes tumbled out of them, about James’ talent and his standing as a likeable and respectful young man at the Western Oval.

Former Footscray coach Terry Wheeler said time had flown, but he remembered James every new year. ``You don’t go past it,’’ he said.

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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CARLTON'S VFL affiliate, the Northern Bullants, are interested in handing sacked St Kilda recruit Andrew Lovett a lifeline and luring him to the club.

The Bullants are one of three VFL teams that claim they will consider recruiting Lovett, despite his off-field indiscretions, which include a rape charge.

Werribee Tigers, who have a partial alignment with North Melbourne, and Frankston are the other clubs who said yesterday that they would consider Lovett if the board and leadership group agreed.

"Until he's proven guilty, we'll still sit down with Andrew and see what he wants to get out of this next season," Frankston coach Simon Goosey said.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna was coy about the club's future approach to Lovett saying: "At this stage, we're very comfortable with the group we've got."

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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GEELONG'S mature-age forward James Podsiadly appears likely to be elevated from the rookie list and get a chance to play in the early rounds of the season proper after young forward Mitch Brown was recently put on the long-term injury list following a leg injury.

Podsiadly, a previous J. J. Liston Trophy winner and goalkicking machine in the VFL, helped form a potent three-prong attack with Cam Mooney and Tom Hawkins in an intra-club match in western Sydney on Friday.

The 28-year-old was a surprise addition to Geelong's team after being snared in last year's rookie draft, despite being previously trialled in the system at Essendon and Collingwood.

Football manager Neil Balme said the former Werribee Tigers captain was likely to play in the reigning premiers; pre-season opener against North Melbourne on Sunday after kicking 2.4 in the intra-club match and impressing with his strong marking.

"He's a bit older than the others (rookies)," Balme said. "In the NAB Cup, all of the rookies can play, so it's no problem. We don't feel we have to make a decision right away but he's right in the mix."

From The Examiner
Reported by Terry Morris
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THE Box Hill Hawks have baulked at a $15,000 transfer fee being demanded for former Burnie coach Justin Plapp.
Plapp has joined Box Hill as a development coach and is hoping to continue his playing career in the VFL.

But he maintains the transfer fee being sought by Burnie is excessive and his playing future with Box Hill remains up in the air.

"I'm 32 years of age and whether I can play VFL football will be determined by the state of my body," he said.

"It is not as though I'm 28 and going to the VFL with three or four years of good footy ahead of me," he said.

Box Hill

From The Age (realfooty.com.au)
Reported by Brent Diamond
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Poor crowds at the VFL and TAC Cup grand finals in recent seasons have prompted AFL Victoria to change the scheduling back to the Sunday before the AFL grand final.

The VFL has averaged about 13,000 to its grand finals over the past three seasons with its move from Princes Park to Etihad Stadium in 2008 not attracting the numbers it had hoped for.

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

GEELONG mature-age rookie James Podsiadly is a step closer to his long-awaited AFL debut after the Cats yesterday placed young forward Mitch Brown on their long-term injury list.

Podsiadly has firmed as the most likely of Geelong's seven rookies to be elevated if the Cats choose to fill Brown's place on the senior list while he recovers from leg surgery.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
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BENDIGO Pioneers club champion Kallen Geary has signed with VFL club Sandringham.
A shock non-selection in last year’s AFL national draft and AFL rookie draft, Geary was chased heavily by several VFL clubs, including the Bendigo Bombers.

However, the Victorian Country representative decided to move to Melbourne and join the St Kilda-aligned Zebras.

“It’s with no disrespect to the Bendigo Bombers that I signed with Sandringham,” Geary told The Advertiser yesterday.

“I think the Bombers are going to be a good side this year.