HAWTHORN is considering pouncing on North Ballarat ruckman Orren Stephenson in the AFL rookie draft on Tuesday, December 15.

The Hawks will put Stephenson under the microscope over three days next week and decide whether to recruit him as a mature-age rookie.

Hawthorn put the dual North Ballarat premiership player through a series of tests yesterday, including a 2.2-kilometre time trial, vertical jump, sprint and general skills.

He will train with a special squad of rookie draft prospects put together by the Hawks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Stephenson said it was exciting to be attracting some interest from AFL clubs again.

He had a similar try-out with Carlton three years ago.

The 27-year-old had talks with St Kilda in the lead-up to this year's national draft.

From The Age (realfooty.com.au)
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article Click here

WHILE it is usually seen as a stroke of bad luck when a team gets an interstate fixture, 10 VFL teams believe they have hit the jackpot in scoring a trip to the Gold Coast when GC17 makes its VFL debut next season.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by David Brehaut
Full article Click here

THE AFL's team in waiting, Gold Coast, faces a mid-winter assignment in Ballarat in its debut Victorian Football League season next year.
VFL reigning premier North Ballarat will tackle Gold Coast at Eureka Stadium on Saturday, July 10.

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article click here

THE Western Bulldogs have another potential back-up option for valuable defender Brian Lake after giving former Hawthorn rookie Lukas Markovic a second chance in the national draft.

The former Box Hill co-captain was the first of only two VFL players taken in the draft (selection No. 63). The other was 20-year-old Sandringham defender Will Johnson, selected by AFL partner, St Kilda, at No. 77.

New Coaching Staff take control

Williamstown Football Club commenced pre-season on Wednesday 11th November under a new look coaching structure. Peter German as Senior Coach of Williamstown and Development Coach of the Western Bulldogs has assembled three new assistant coaches.

Peter Faulks signs with the Seagulls

Key Defender Peter Faulks has signed with the Williamstown Football Club.

Faulks who was drafted in the 2006 National Draft at pick 65 from the Calder Cannons to the Sydney Swans before joining the Casey Scorpions in 2009 has had a close relationship with new Senior Coach Peter German as they are both products of the Oak Park Football Club.