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From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Chris Cavanagh
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REWIND to August last year.

Coburg Football Club had just played its last game of the 2013 season in the VFL, marking the end of a 12-year alignment with AFL club Richmond.

The Lions were yet to name a coach for 2014, had some stability issues off the field and many in VFL circles raised the possibility they might not see out one season as a stand-alone club.

But amid the bleak forecast, the man who has been considered the heart and soul of the club over recent years — courageous captain Nick Carnell — was the first Coburg player to sign a new contract with the club and did so without hesitation.

Like every year there were offers to go elsewhere, but the ever-loyal Carnell never seriously considered leaving.

From Leader Community Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE milestone comes this Saturday at Punt Rd, against Richmond.

That Port Melbourne captain John Baird played on the famous old ground before its reappearance on this year’s fixtures is an indication of his seasoned status in Victorian football.

It was for Hawthorn reserves against Melbourne in 1999. He can remember a carrot-topped left-footer topping up numbers for the Hawks: Cameron Ling, later to captain Geelong to a premiership.

Sixteen seasons later, Baird returns to Punt Rd this Saturday to play his 200th VFL match.

The right-footer says it “feels a very long time ago’’ that he wore No 42 for the Hawks in his first year out of school.

In fact, he’s been playing in the VFL since it expanded to take in the reserves in 2000. He’s seen a series of alignment changes and teams come and go (Murray Kangaroos, Tasmania and, soon, Bendigo).

John Baird flying high for Box Hill Hawks against Williamstown in 2001.
John Baird flying high for Box Hill Hawks against Williamstown in 2001.

Baird was with Hawthorn for two years. In 2001 he played at the Box Hill Hawks and won the Norm Goss Medal as best-afield in a premiership team containing Sam Mitchell and Chance Bateman.

From Frankston Standard Leader
Reported by Paul Amy
Full Story Click Here

SIMON Goosey’s voice was so gravelly you suspected he ate barbed wire for breakfast.

“I’m so proud of you boys,’’ the coach rasped, prompting another burst of applause for the Frankston players from supporters packed into the changerooms at Casey Fields.

“The Goose’’ was hoarse after an afternoon hollering in the box and then, more pleasurable, singing the club song.

The Dolphins have had some frustrating days this season, dropping matches they ought have won.

But their performance against the Casey Scorpions on Saturday could salve a few wounds from the earlier rounds and was a reminder of their talent and tenacity.

SATURDAY JULY 19
North Ballarat vs Bendigo at Eurkea Stadium 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
Northern Blues vs Werribee at Visy Park 1:30pm
(Development League match starts at 10:30am)
Casey Scorpions vs Frankston at Casey Fields 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Port Melbourne vs Coburg at North Port Oval 2pm
(Development League match starts at 11am)

SUNDAY JULY 20
Footscray vs Essendon at Whitten Oval 12pm
Sandringham vs Geelong at Trevor Barker Oval 2pm(VFL Radio)

VFL Byes: Collingwood,Richmond

Development League Bye: Sandringham

Note: Williamstown vs Box Hill Hawks Round 15 match was played on Saturday March 28

Fabulous Fred‭ ‬- The Strife and Times‭ ‬of Fred Cook
Written by Paul Amy - Foreword by Sam Newman
Pre-order Now - http://www.melbournebooks.com.au/fabulous-fred.html

FREE postage within Australia for orders placed before 1st August

Fred Cook began his football career with Footscray in the VFL. But he really made his name in the game after crossing to Port Melbourne in the VFA.

His prodigious goalkicking in the 1970s earned him the nickname ‘Fabulous Fred’ and fame at a pop-star level. He appeared on TV, on radio and wrote newspaper columns, and he mixed with Melbourne’s sporting and entertainment elite.

But he fell in with a criminal crowd, formed a drug habit, lost everything and did three spells in prison.

Cook has led a remarkable life, going from hero to zero. He’s always wanted to tell his story, which features football, crime and drugs, and the wider issue of sportspeople who struggle with normalcy once their careers have ended.

Fred Cook’s name still resonates, thirty years after his career ended. Last year he was nominated for the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

SATURDAY JULY 12
Collingwood vs Werribee at Victoria Park 1pm
(Development League Werribee vs Box Hill Hawks at 9:30am)
Footscray vs Box Hill Hawks at Whitten Oval 1:10pm(ABC1TV,3WBC)
Port Melbourne vs Essendon at North Port Oval 2pm
(Development League Port Melbourne vs Casey Scorpions at 11am)
Bendigo Gold vs Casey Scorpions at QEO,Bendigo 2pm(Casey Radio)
Geelong vs Richmond at Simonds Stadium 7:30pm

SUNDAY JULY 13
Coburg vs Williamstown at Piranha Park,Coburg 2pm
(Development League match starts at 11am)
North Ballarat vs Northern Blues at Eureka Stadium 2pm(VFL Radio)
Sandringham vs Frankston at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm
(Development League match starts at 11am)

Development League Bye: Northern Blues

TUESDAY JULY 1
(Foxtel Cup 2nd Semi)East Perth vs Williamstown at Patersons Stadium 8:35pm(Melb Time)(Fox Footy)

SATURDAY JULY 5
Richmond vs Casey Scorpions at Punt Road Oval 11am(Casey Radio)
Werribee vs North Ballarat at Avalon Airport Oval,Werribee 1pm
(Development League Werribee vs Casey Scorpions starts at 4pm)
Essendon vs Box Hill Hawks at Highgate Reserve,Craigieburn 1pm(3WBC)
Sandringham vs Port Melbourne at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 1:10pm(ABC1TV)
(Development League match starts at 10am)

SUNDAY JULY 6
Geelong vs Footscray at Simonds Stadium 1pm
Northern Blues vs Collingwood at Preston City Oval 2:15pm(VFL Radio)
(Development League match Northern Blues vs Box Hill Hawks at 11:15am)

VFL Byes: Bendigo,Coburg,Frankston,Williamstown

Development League Byes: Coburg,Frankston,Williamstown

From the Frankston Standard Leader
Reported by Simon McEvoy
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FRANKSTON Football Club president John Barry says the Dolphins at a delicate stage in their existence.

Struggling on and off the field, Frankston is in need of help, Barry insists.

Bendigo Gold announced last Wednesday that it would fold at the end of the season, unable to afford to continue as costs rise to field a stand-alone club in the VFL.

Barry said Frankston, more than any other time in its history, needed support.

He said once the new function centre, construction of which begins in a few weeks, was built the club will “make good money’’.

“It’s just holding on ’till then,’’ he said.

Barry said the Dolphins needed three things.
“We need support. We’ve still got supporter base even though we are losing,’’ he said.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Gold will not renew its licence at the end of the season, bringing to an end Bendigo's VFL involvement.

REACTION: Bendigo Gold coach Aussie Jones says decision to call time the right move

REACTION: Executive chairman says financial tightrope wears down the Gold

FROM THE HEART: A player's perspective of the decision

EDITORIAL: Gold's demise hurts our city

COMMENT: Disappointing day but decision was inevitable

PICTURES: A look back at the players who proudly supported the blue and gold

The Gold's playing group and staff were told at the QEO tonight of the board's decision to call it quits at the end of the season.

Wednesday night’s announcement comes less than a year after the Gold’s successful survival campaign late in the 2013 season when the club put its future on the line seeking more support.

"We've been going through the planning with what's involved with the licence renewal at the end of the year, but the one thing we've come to as a board is we can't see VFL football is sustainable longer-term in the town," Gold chairman Tim Dickson said.

"One of the reasons is the VFL is becoming much more competitive. An average club ran on three quaters of a million dollars a few years ago. That's probably up near around one million dollars now, so it's moving forward fairly quickly."

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