VFLFOOTY.COM

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Travis King
Full Story Click Here

BENDIGO Gold coach Aussie Jones reckons his young team could upset Sandringham at the QEO today.

The Gold has picked arguably its strongest side, while Sandringham is below full-strength.

“There’s some talent there, but I reckon there’s a sneaky chance this week,” Jones said.

Among the outs for the round six clash is Zebras captain Marcus Marigliani, who played for the VFL state team last weekend.

Sandringham will make at least six changes from its last game, although that’s made it tougher for Jones to do his homework on the Zebras – who are aligned with his former AFL club, St Kilda.

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full Story Click Here

Experienced Collingwood defender Ben Johnson will return from calf soreness against Geelong at Victoria Park on Saturday, hoping to finally gain some match fitness after two false starts.

Magpies VFL coach Dale Tapping said given Johnson's history with injuries, the club had opted to take a cautious approach with the 32-year-old, who has not played football at any level since round three.

Tapping was confident Johnson, a late withdrawal for the Pies in the past two VFL matches, would be ready to resume. He said Alan Didak, who was named as an emergency, had ''put a really good block of footy together'' in the VFL.

Here are the links to replays of the state games.

SANFL vs NEAFL North
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/38541

WAFL vs VFL
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/38542

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article Click here

Delisted Carlton midfielder Wayde Twomey was the surprise match-winner with five goals in Western Australia's first win over Victoria since 1991, by 18-points at Northam on Saturday.

Twomey, a former Werribee VFL player who was delisted after just one season with the Blues, caused havoc for Victoria's defensive half, his fifth goal putting WA in front early in the final term for the first time since the opening quarter.
He won the Simpson Medal for best on ground for WA in a game in which Victoria held control until the final quarter.

Twomey wasn't the only former AFL player who for the VFL in the first three quarters, gathering 25 disposals. up to three-quarter time. The 27-year-old, who captains Sandringham, was one of the key reasons that Victoria was able to stem the flow every time WA challenged; and it challenged hard in the second and third terms, fighting back from nearly five goals down to get within a kick.

From The West Australian
Reported by John Townsend
Full Story Click Here

Paul Johnson might have been half-joking but there was talk he might get a tattoo of a black swan somewhere on his imposing frame should WA beat Victoria at Northam on Saturday.

East Perth co-captains Craig Wulff and Brendan Lee are in the WA squad but there were no quibbles last night when their game-changing clubmate was named State captain.

It will be the first time Johnson has captained a football team since his junior days but his enthusiasm and leadership qualities augur well for the Black Swans.

And he revealed what victory would mean to him when he suggested a suitable tattoo as a memento.

From West Australian
Reported by John Townsend
Full Story Click Here

Clancy Wheeler is set to make his WA debut on Saturday after being added to the injury-riddled State squad.

The versatile big man is likely to mirror his usual Subiaco role by playing at centre half-forward and as the back-up ruckman against Victoria.

The 25-year-old Esperance product will replace power forward Josh Smith who suffered a calf injury during East Perth's win over South Fremantle on Saturday.

The WA selectors are waiting on fitness reports on up to seven other players, though coach Marc Webb was confident he would have a full squad to choose from.

From Whitehorse Leader
Reported by Conor Ryan
Full Story Click Here

IF an 87-point win could be considered routine, then Box Hill’s win at Bendigo on Saturday would certainly qualify.

The Hawks travelled up the M79 knowing they needed to return with a win, and a big one, to make the day worthwhile.

The Gold was 0-4 going into the weekend, with a percentage hovering near 30 per cent, while Box Hill was chasing consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Despite the odds being against the home side, it was the Gold that started the game the better.

Box Hill led by just five points at the first break despite having the advantage of a stiff breeze, which Bendigo used early in the second to take a one-goal lead.

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

PORT Melbourne has achieved some spectacular victories under the coaching of Gary Ayres.

But as he took in scenes of jubilation in the changerooms Ayres was moved to bracket Saturday's triumph over the Casey Scorpions as "right up there".

There were a number of reasons why he did so.

The Borough were missing top-liners Dean Galea, Shane Valenti, Toby Pinwill, Nathan Batsanis, Hugh Sandilands, Myles Pitt and Danny Hughes.

They were up against an unbeaten and hardened team.

And at three-quarter-time they trailed by 24 points and had kicked only seven goals.