From the Port Phillip Weekly Review
Reported by Daniel Paproth
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For the sixth time in seven seasons, Port Melbourne has secured a double chance in the VFL finals series.

With an 18.17 (125) to 9.6 (60) win over Northern Blues on Saturday, the Borough locked away top spot, meaning they will host a qualifying final at North Port Oval in two weeks.

It is a remarkable achievement for the stand-alone club. In an era where AFL clubs put significant resources into their VFL teams, Port Melbourne has continually bucked the trend, building a culture of success despite lacking the facilities, money and full-time environment enjoyed by their AFL-backed rivals.

Only once since 2008 has Port not made the top four. That was last year, when they finished seventh. They were thrashed by 87 points by Williamstown in the semi-final.

From Leader Community Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
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PORT Melbourne could hardly have been more impressive or authoritative.

In its final home-and-away match, the minor premier tore fellow finalist North Ballarat to ribbons at North Port Oval, winning by 111 points under blue skies that indicated September is the next click on the calendar.

It was an exemplary performance ahead of this Saturday’s qualifying final, most likely against reigning premiers Box Hill Hawks, who themselves won by a three-figure margin, nailing the Northern Blues by 129 points.

Port and Box Hill have staged some of the VFL’s most compelling finals in the past few years, as Port coach Gary Ayres noted.

“If it’s them we play, they’re going to be a formidable opponent for us,’’ he said.

From www.localfooty.com.au (Wyndham Leader)
Reported by Luke D'Anello
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WERRIBEE snapped a three-game losing streak and secured a spot in the VFL finals after a workmanlike 25-point victory against Frankston on Sunday.

After Geelong defeated Essendon on Friday night, the Tigers ventured to Frankston Oval with the knowledge they had to prevail to book a ticket to the finals.

The visitors led by 15 points at half-time before increasing that advantage to 37 points at the final change.

The Dolphins had the better of the final stanza, but the Tigers claimed a 15.13 (103) to 12.6 (78) victory, their 10th for the season.

Werribee, which finished sixth, will now face North Ballarat in a cutthroat final at North Port Oval on Sunday.

“We went there with an expectation that we would win but Frankston has been super competitive all year,” a relieved Tigers coach John Lamont said.

From www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Victoria University Whitten Oval will play host to VFL Finals football this Sunday, with the Footscray Bulldogs to face-off with local rivals Williamstown in the second Qualifying Final.

The match will be a ticketed event, with capacity strictly limited at the venue.

Patrons are advised to pre-purchase tickets online and print them at home to avoid queues on the day.

Tickets for adults are $15, concessions $10, with children 12 years of age and under free.

Gates at VU Whitten Oval will open at 9:00am on Sunday morning, with the first bounced scheduled for 1pm.

Footscray finished their season with 14 wins to secure second place on the VFL ladder in their first season as a stand-alone side in the competition.

Williamstown too secured a top-four finish and the double chance, also finishing the season with 14 wins under coach Andy Collins.

Just percentage separated the two western suburbs teams at the end of the home and away season.

Earlier in the year, an inaccurate Footscray had an away loss to the Seagulls at Burbank Oval in round two, 7.15 (57) to 15.8 (98), before going on to win 13 of their next 16 matches.

With history between the two sides dating back to the Bulldogs’ VFA era, the clubs last met in a finals match in the 1924 VFA Grand Final, in which Footscray were 55-point victors, 11.11 (77) to 3.4 (22).

That was the last year in which Footscray competed in the VFA competition, before joining the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1925 alongside Hawthorn and North Melbourne.

BUY TICKETS: Pre-purchase your tickets to Sunday’s VFL Qualifying Final at VU Whitten Oval

Match Information:

VFL Qualifying Final
Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown Seagulls
1:00pm, Sunday, 31 August 2014
Victoria University Whitten Oval

For any match ticketing enquiries, please contact the Western Bulldogs Membership Services Team on 1300 46 36 47.

http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=100017

From Richmond FC
Reported by John Lindon
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A terrific team performance by the VFL Tigers saw them kick 23 goals in a 98-point demolition of Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday evening.

The Tigers dominated the midfield, had an even spread of goalkickers and were resolute in defence.

Liam McBean jumped to the top of the VFL goalkicking leaderboard with another bag of five. The tall forward made the most of his opportunities and came alive in the third term, slotting two set shots from tight on the boundary.

“We’ve stressed the point that if we can get it in there, we’re always going to score or keep it in there,” McBean said post-game, “so we were lucky enough to get a lot of inside 50s tonight and it showed.”

Sam Lloyd also impressed with four goals and was rarely beaten in one-on-one contests inside 50. He regularly out-bodied his opponent to score or set up teammates and had 23 disposals.

Chris Knights and Ben Lennon starred in the Richmond midfield and both set a high standard with their disposal. Knights collected a team-high 29 possessions, had 6 clearances, worked hard to get forward and booted two goals. Lennon also hit the scoreboard in his 25-disposal game and chased hard for six tackles.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
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NORTH BALLARAT 1.0 6.4 8.5 12.9 (81)
GEELONG 5.4 5.5 7.7 9.10 (64)

THERE is another twist in North Ballarat Roosters’ finals bid.

Selkirk Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald had calculated most of this season that 10 wins would be enough to make Victorian Football League finals.

Evenness in the competition has prevailed, but it seems the Roosters’ 10th win, a 17-point victory against Geelong, has may offer up that coveted top-eight spot.

The Cats are two games behind the now fifth-ranked Roosters with two rounds to play.

And what a two games the Roosters have ahead in third-ranked Williamstown and ladder leader Port Melbourne - both long-time nemeses.

“This game is ours. Finals are ours,” were FitzGerald’s parting words to fire up his players at the final break.