From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Paul Amy

BENDIGO BOMBERS
Coach: Adrian Hickmott (second year).
Captain: Michael Flaherty.
Last season: 5 wins, 15 losses.
In: Charles Slattery (Central Districts), Paul Scanlon (Seymour), Ky Miller (NTFL), Joel Malone (Maryborough), Jerome Jetta (Brookton, WA), Simon Weekley (Sandhurst).
Out: Brent Hartigan, Shannon Geary, Dale Young, Johnny Coghlan.
Verdict: On and off the field, it’s a vital year for the Bombers. The club needed an injection of cash from the VFL and Essendon to get through last season, and, with the alignment up for review at the end of 2009, Bendigo must show it is a viable state league entity. Essendon injuries exposed the VFL list as being tissue-thin last year and a 2007 finalist slumped to 13th. But the establishment of three training bases and the appointment of a full-time football manager in Steve Thomson opened recruiting doors, and the Bombers have gained some experienced types and some exciting tykes. Expect them to improve, but perhaps not enough to enter the top eight.

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From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Phil Cleary

Courting the SANFL

In a sign that all is not well in the VFL, rumours abound that at least one VFL club is exploring the possibility of joining the SANFL. Given what some clubs believe is a lack of genuine commitment to a second-tier competition in Victoria in favour of the development of elite footballers the SANFL solution should come as no surprise. As it stands, only four clubs, the unaligned Port Melbourne and Frankston and the financially powerful but aligned Williamstown and North Ballarat would be in a position to explore such a strategy. Only one is in the frame. It wouldn’t be the first split in Victoria’s oldest football competition!

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From LocalFooty
Reported by Laura Jolly

Full article Click here

NORTHERN Bullants coach David Teague hopes the club’s link with Carlton makes his side a force to contend with this VFL season.

Teague said although the Bullants’ own list was thinner than last year’s, when it made the elimination finals, Carlton’s list would make them stronger.

“I think we’ll get some real depth from Carlton.

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Source click here

THERE'S more to VFL reigning premier North Ballarat renaming its home base Eureka Stadium than a reference to the history of the region. The worth of its historic breakthrough flag last season was gold to many who doubted whether a country team could go all the way.

It changed the way the people of Ballarat thought about its local team.

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond

Source Click here

GOLD Coast Football Club's possible entry into the Victorian Football League would give great exposure to the competition's players, AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes.

The club is expected to announce in May whether it will progress from the TAC Cup under-18 system to a state league, with the VFL and QAFL both regarded as its best options.

Bendigo Pioneers: 10.9.69
Geelong Falcons: 17.14.116

Western Jets: 12.19.91
NSW ACT Rams: 10.8.68

Gippsland Power: 13.8.86
Dandenong Stingrays: 16.11.107

Murray Bushrangers: 17.11.113
North Ballarat Rebels: 8.8.56

Gold Coast: 9.10.64
Eastern Ranges: 16.6.102

Northern Knights: 8.10.58
Calder Cannons: 14.12.96

Sandringham Dragons: 6.9.45
Oakleigh Chargers: 15.11.101

Ladder after Rd 1: