From the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article - Click here

AT Port Melbourne, he was not just Frank Johnson. He was “the legendary Frank Johnson’’ or “the great Frank Johnson’’.

A champion ruckman who crossed the bridge from association to league football with ease late in his career, Johnson died yesterday at the age of 84.

In 2007 he was the first (and remains the only) VFA player to be inducted to the Australian football hame of fame.

Johnson was at Port from 1950-57, winning five best and fairests and the 1952 JJ Liston Trophy, playing in eight consecutive grand finals and the 1953 premiership team, and gaining selection in the 1953 and ‘56 All Australian sides.

He also coached the Borough in 1956-57.

Frank Johnson marking in the 1952 VFA grand final against Oakleigh.
Johnson then coached South Warrnambool in 1958-59 and the following year joined South Melbourne, which had coveted his signature for some years.

In his first season as a Swan he won the best and fairest at age 27, edging out Bobby Skilton. He stayed with South until 1964, notching 64 games.

VFL Round 14

SATURDAY JULY 9
Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Coburg vs Sandringham at Piranha Park 2pm
(Development League match starts at 10:50am)
Northern Blues vs Geelong at Preston 2pm(VFL Live)
(VFL Womens Diamond Creek vs Melbourne Uni at 11am)
Footscray vs Richmond at Whitten Oval 2pm

SUNDAY JULY 10
Port Melbourne vs Werribee at North Port Oval 11:40am(Channel 7)
(Development League match at 2:40pm)
North Ballarat vs Collingwood at Eureka Stadium 1pm
Frankston vs Essendon at Frankston 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League Frankston vs Northern Blues at 11am)

VFL and Development League Bye: Casey Scorpions

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article - Click here

VFL stand-alone clubs Coburg and Port Melbourne have proven they are finals' material after resolute victories on Saturday.

To the contrary of most football pundits who believed that AFL stand-alone clubs would dominate against teams made up of part-time footballers, the Lions and Borough knocked off Footscray and Essendon respectively – in another major step forward for the competition.

Coburg are in the mix to make their first finals series, since splitting with former AFL affiliate Richmond, while Port Melbourne are pushing for the top four. Of course, reigning premier Williamstown are in second position, again flexing their muscle under coach Andy Collins.

The Seagulls and Borough have both won VFL flags over the past six seasons as stand-alone VFL clubs. Coburg's rise – along with some competitive rigour and drive from Frankston and North Ballarat (albeit being on the bottom of the ladder) – has the competition in a healthy state.

Bulldogs VFL coach Ash Hansen believes playing against VFL stand-alone clubs assists with the development of their younger players.

VFL Round 13

SATURDAY JULY 2
Coburg vs Footscray at Piranha Park 1pm
(Development League match Coburg vs Casey Scorpions at 10am)
Essendon vs Port Melbourne at Windy Hill 2:10pm(Channel 7)
Collingwood vs Northern Blues at Holden Centre 4pm

SUNDAY JULY 3
(Dev League) Box Hill Hawks vs Northern Blues at Box Hill 11am
Sandringham vs Frankston at Trevor Barker Oval,Sandringham 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match at 11am)
Williamstown vs North Ballarat at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm
(VFL Women Western Spurs vs Geelong at 11am)
Richmond vs Casey Scorpions at Punt Road 2:10pm(Channel 7)

VFL Byes Box Hill Hawks,Geelong,Werribee
Dev League Byes Port Melbourne,Werribee,Williamstown

VFL Round 12

SATURDAY JUNE 25
Frankston vs North Ballarat at Frankston 2pm
(Development League match Frankston vs Williamstown starts at 11am(
Port Melbourne vs Box Hill Hawks at North Port Oval 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Werribee vs Coburg at Avalon Airport Oval,Werribee 2pm
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Northern Blues vs Sandringham at Preston 2:10pm(Channel 7)
(Development League match starts at 11am)

SUNDAY JUNE 26
Williamstown vs Geelong at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm
Collingwood vs Richmond at Victoria Park 2:10pm(Channel 7)

VFL Byes Casey Scorpions,Essendon,Footscray
Development League Bye Casey Scorpions

VFL Round 11

SATURDAY JUNE 18
(Dev League)Frankston vs Box Hill Hawks at Frankston 11am
Coburg vs Port Melbourne at Piranha Park 2pm
(Development League match starts at 11am)
North Ballarat vs Casey Scorpions at Eureka Stadium 2pm
(C/R TAC Cup North Ballarat Rebels vs Geelong Falcons at 11am)
Werribee vs Essendon at Avalon Airport Oval 2:10pm(Channel 7)
(Development League Werribee vs Casey Scorpions at 6:30pm)

SUNDAY JUNE 19
Frankston vs Footscray at Frankston Park 2pm(Casey Radio)
(C/R VFL Womens Seaford vs Western Spurs at 11am)
Geelong vs Box Hill Hawks at Simonds Stadium 2:10pm(Channel 7,3WBC)

VFL Byes Collingwood,Northern Blues,Richmond,Sandringham,Williamstown
Development League Byes Northern Blues,Sandringham,Williamstown

From the Leader Group website - Localfooty
Reported by Megan HURSTHWAITE
Full article - Click here

BOX Hill coach Marco Bello labelled his side “non competitive” after it capitulated to the Northern Blues on Saturday.

The Hawks led by four points at half time but were outscored 11 goals to five in the second half.

The 15.13 (103) to 10.7 (67) defeat at Box Hill City Oval was the team’s third defeat in four matches. The latest lost plunged the Hawks (5-3) from third spot to fifth on the ladder.

“We were non-competitive really, unfortunately,’’ Bello said.

Marco Bello was not a happy coach on Saturday. Picture: Stuart Milligan.
“The stats may not say that, with hands on the footy and inside 50’s similar, but we were un-Box Hill like in how we moved the ball inside 50 and our ability to defend.

“The Northern Blues showed us how to play our style and we had too many passengers. We were happy with two or three players and you could put a blanket over the rest who just did bits and pieces.”

From the Leader Group Website - Localfooty
Reported by Paul AMY
Full article - Click here

THE sun peeked through at one stage, but it was altogether a dirty day at Casey Fields, cold and wet and windy, a winter special.

And for the Casey Scorpions it was a rotten result.

They not only lost to Collingwood by 40 points, they lost top spot on the VFL ladder, handing it over to Williamstown after the Seagulls overcame a dogged Frankston at Point Gellibrand.

And their return of 2.7 (19) was the club’s lowest in the VFA/VFL, thinner than the 3.4 (22) against North Ballarat in 2004.

In heavy conditions that left the players exhausted, the Magpies took the lead through goals from Matt Smith and Jordan Collopy in the first quarter and held it the rest of the way.

The one-touch class of James Aish and Rupert Wills was telling, ruckman Lachlan Howe took it up to big Jake Spencer and Travis Cloke was the best forward on the ground.

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