From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE Casey Scorpions have belatedly installed a senior coach, locking in former Carlton forward Rohan Welsh.

Welsh, 42, was appointed last night, agreeing to a part-time role.

Ironically, the club interviewed the 2006 Oakleigh Chargers premiership coach four years ago, but he was unable to commit to what was then a full-time job.

"It's something I've always wanted to do, get into the VFL system," Welsh said this morning.

"Having had 12 years at TAC Cup level, I saw it as the next progression for me.

"Because I've got my own business (signwriting) it was going to be hard because most of the VFL jobs are full-time these days. I was stuck in between following my passion, which is footy, and looking after my business.

From the Hobson Weekly
Reported by Lance Jenkinson
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WILLIAMSTOWN Seagulls have swooped on delisted Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood.

The Seagulls had a vacancy in their big man stocks following the departure of mobile tall James Wall and this acquisition will go some way to filling the need.

Wood played 64 AFL games at the Brisbane Lions (16) and Collingwood (48) after being selected with pick 18 in the 2004 national draft.

Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said his club's top preseason aim was to recruit a quality big man.

''I think it was obvious that we lacked a ruckman and left ourselves a bit short last year,'' he said.

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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THE VFL draw will be much more AFL-friendly next season, with fewer byes for clubs reducing complications for AFL clubs.

Carlton was one of a number of AFL clubs that complained to AFL Victoria about fixturing problems in the state league last season.

Clubs were forced to bring players back into AFL ranks after injury without time in the VFL.

It also meant that suspended players David Wojcinski from Geelong and Lachie Hansen from North Melbourne faced extended time on the sidelines because of byes running in between serving time.

This season, however, the decision to have a stand-alone Essendon club in the competition - parting ways with Bendigo after a decade - is a blessing for the state league as it will return to an even number of teams, reducing the number of byes.

From the Warrnambool Standard
Reported by Aidan Fawkes
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NORTH Ballarat Roosters officials say the club hopes to stage a VFL match in Warrnambool within two years.

Roosters football manager Marg Richards said a clash against Geelong at Reid Oval would come under consideration when club officials received the 2014 VFL fixture.

Reid Oval hosted state league football last season when Coburg transferred its home match against Geelong to Warrnambool in June.

But the city was a noticeable absentee from the 2013 fixture, which AFL Victoria released this week.

From the Official VFL website
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With the release of Peter Jackson VFL 2013 senior fixture, AFL Victoria would like to announce a new competition logo and the continuation of its naming rights partnership with Peter Jackson Menswear.

AFL Victoria General Manager Grant Williams believes it is exciting times ahead for the VFL, especially with Peter Jackson Menswear reaffirming their commitment to the competition for another three years.

“It is very pleasing to have the continued support of Peter Jackson Menswear, renewing their naming rights partnership with the competition.

From AFL Victoria Website
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Senior Fixture Click Here

The Peter Jackson VFL 2013 senior fixture has now been released.

The fixture features a 14 team competition with both Bendigo Gold and Essendon fielding stand alone sides in 2013, and each club set to play 18 games. The season will run for 19 rounds, with one official bye per club, two split rounds (in rounds 1 & 13) plus a break for the state representative game against the West Australian Football League on the weekend of May 11.

Season 2013 of Peter Jackson VFL action will kick off with two games on the Easter weekend as part of a split round start to the season. 2012 VFL finalists – and 2013 Foxtel Cup representatives - Port Melbourne and Werribee Tigers will kick off the season on Easter Saturday with their round 16 clash brought forward to the opening weekend of the season to accommodate their Foxtel Cup fixture.

The Easter weekend will be completed with the now traditional Torquay Easter Sunday clash between Geelong and Williamstown. The remaining 10 VFL clubs will start their season the following weekend, with former aligned sides Bendigo Gold and Essendon opening their seasons under lights at Queens Elizabeth Oval on Friday April 5.

The 2013 Peter Jackson VFL fixture features an increase in night matches and a reduction in byes. Night football will become prominent with five of the nine fixtured night games to be on a Friday night, with Bendigo, Geelong, Werribee and Casey Scorpions all hosting night matches.

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Simon McEvoy and Paul Amy
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IN football terms, the Frankston Dolphins are a small fish in a big pond.

But the VFL club continues to churn out AFL players, with Kyle Martin and Leigh Osborne the latest Dollies to find their way on to league lists.

Martin, 22, who won Frankston's best and fairest this year, was snapped up by Collingwood in today's rookie draft.

And Osborne, also 22, was taken by the Gold Coast Suns.

Their rise to the big league continues Frankston's reputation as a football factory.

In the past three years, a pod of Dolphins has been snapped up by AFL clubs Michael Hibberd (Essendon), Mark Baguley (Essendon), Dylan Van Unen (Essendon), and now Martin and Osborne.

"It probably shows that we're the club of choice," Frankston coach Simon Goosey said.

"There are a lot of kids who want to come down and hopefully they can see an opportunity."

From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE Bull became a Dolphin and now he's a Magpie.

Just as he set out to do when he left Noble Park 12 months ago, Kyle Martin completed the rise to AFL ranks when Collingwood selected him in today's AFL rookie draft.

The Pies had interviewed Martin after his best-and-fairest season at Frankston Dolphins, but made no promises about taking him.

The plumber slipped away from work this morning to watch the draft on his mobile phone and was stunned when his name popped up on the AFL website.

"It's always been a goal to get drafted, and it's a big thrill that it's happened," he told Leader a few minutes later.

"It's a shock, but a good one.