Reported by Chris Cavanagh
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NORTHERN Blues opened their 2014 Victorian Football League season with a win on Sunday, mounting a massive comeback to take down Williamstown Seagulls at Visy Park.

Having trailed by 37 points midway through the third quarter, the Blues booted 10 of the last 13 goals of the game to pinch victory by four points, 15.11 (101) to 14.13 (97).

Carlton’s No. 13 pick in last year’s AFL National Draft, Patrick Cripps, starred for the Blues, finishing the match with 34 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and a goal that sealed the game late in the last quarter. He should be in line for a senior AFL gig very soon.

SATURDAY APRIL 12
(Development League)Coburg 3.1 (19) def by Williamstown 24.15 (159)
Essendon 11.12 (78) def North Ballarat 9.10 (64)
Port Melbourne 19.10 (124) def Collingwood 9.17 (71)
Northern Blues 15.12 (102) def Frankston 15.9 (99)
(Development League Northern Blues 12.11 (83) Frankston 5.15 (45))

SUNDAY APRIL 13
Coburg Lions vs Richmond at Piranha Park,Coburg 2pm(VFL Radio)
Casey Scorpions vs Geelong at Casey Fields 2pm(Casey Radio)
(Development League match Casey Scorpions vs Port Melbourne starts at 11am)
Box Hill Hawks vs Sandringham at Box Hill 2pm(3WBC)
(Development League match starts at 11am)
Werribee vs Bendigo Gold at Highgate Reserve,Craigieburn 2pm
(TAC Cup Western Jets vs Northern Territory starts at 11am)
Williamstown vs Footscray at Burbank Oval,Williamstown 2pm

Development League Bye: Werribee

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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Footscray began life as a stand-alone VFL team in emphatic style with a 117-point win against Richmond in a return to the Dogs’ spiritual home at Whitten Oval on Saturday.

Fittingly, it was Ayce Cordy, the son of former Bulldog Brian who played many of his 124 games at the ground, who monstered Richmond defender Ben Darrou to kick five goals and become the game breaker in the third term.Cordy, who has gained almost 20 kilograms since joining the Bulldogs as a father-son pick in 2008, appears to be finally on the brink of showing that he belongs.

The Bulldogs faithful didn’t disappoint also, with more than 5000 fans flocking to the match billed as a curtain-raiser for the AFL game just across town in the more modern facility of Etihad Stadium, which has been adopted as their new home.Conversely, this was a sombre start for Tim Clarke’s Tigers. They were undermanned in defence, outrun in the midfield and their forwards barely gave a whimper.

Former Port Melbourne speedster Nathan Batsanis was one of the better performers with two goals, while ex-Greater Western Sydney midfielder Anthony Miles showed plenty of touch in the first half.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/footscray-returns-to-vfl-as-victor-over-ric...

Reported by Chris Cavanagh
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A LAST quarter fade-out saw Coburg suffer a hefty loss to Port Melbourne in the opening round of the 2014 VFL season on Saturday.

In their first stand-alone match since ending an 11-year alignment with Richmond, the young Lions side were brave for three quarters but succumbed to a more experienced Boroughs outfit in the end as they eventually went down by 73 points.

While the final scoreboard of 19.15 (129) to 8.8 (56) suggests a lopsided affair, Coburg had been remarkably competitive in the opening three quarters at Piranha Park.

After a Matthew Clark goal at the six-minute-mark of the third term, the Lions trailed by just a point as they took it right up to a side which played off in a semi-final last year.

Reported by
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THE VFL investigated an incident that saw North Melbourne’s Majak Daw knocked out behind play in a practice match last week.

But it won’t be taking action against St Kilda’s Josh Bruce after inconclusive video failed to show anything untoward in the Werri-bee-Sandringham clash at Moorabbin last Saturday.

VFL state league and talent manager John Hook confirmed an investigation had been launched after an umpires report detailed Daw’s injury. But after looking at two different versions of video Hook insisted the VFL did not have enough evidence to take the matter any further.

“There was no formal complaint and we acted off an umpires report in trying to get to the bottom of the incident,” Hook said.

“There was a little bit of footage we have looked at, but we couldn’t really see anything other than the two of them bumping into each other.”

“On the video evidence we have before us, I couldn’t cite anyone on that.”

North Melbourne would not be drawn on the incident yesterday, saying it was in the hands of the VFL. The Kangaroos do not intend to take the matter further.

Reported by Lance Jenkinson
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Footscray will make its long-awaited return to competitive football at the Whitten Oval on Saturday morning against fellow stand-alone club Richmond in the Victorian Football League.

The game is scheduled for an earlier time of 10.30am, so Bulldogs and Tigers supporters can make a full day of it, taking in VFL football at the traditional ground in the morning, followed by the clash between the two clubs in the AFL at Etihad Stadium from 1.45pm.

“I hope we can pack out the Whitten Oval before the AFL match,” Footscray co-captain Lukas Markovic said.

“I think it’s fantastic the way the club has organised this first game.