Geelong vs. Box Hill Hawks (AFL Curtain Raiser)
Saturday 12th July
Skilled Stadium at 10:40AM

Geelong B Laidler Kangars McKenna HB D. Johnson Taylor Tenace C Davenport Byrne Byrnes HF Gamble S. Simpson Moles F West Hawkins Hogan R Mumford Prismall Djerrkura Int Simpkin Potter Hollmer Cheep Barnes Firman D. Simpson Donohue

Box Hill Hawks B Murphy Dawson McQueen-Miscamble HB Tuck Thorp Ellis C Neville Kennedy Bateman HF Dowler Markovic Stokes F Hunter Pedersen Morrell R Taylor Marcius Clarke Int Walsh Batsanis Gibson Warby Hill Grima Smithwick Papaluca Neil Angelopoulos Carey Cross

From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

Full article Click here

WILLIAMSTOWN grabbed some much-needed breathing space at the top of the VFL ladder as it battled its way to a 16-point win over second-placed Casey Scorpions at Burbank Oval yesterday.

Having lost for only the second time this season against North Ballarat last weekend, Williamstown was out to make amends against the Scorpions, who would have taken top spot had they beaten the Seagulls, but instead slipped to fourth place. In blustery conditions, the match was a showdown between the Scorpions\' back line, which had conceded just 949 points, and the seemingly endless list of Seagull forward options.

With Peter Street returning from suspension, Seagulls midfielders David Stretton and Brett Johnson were well supplied early, with the home side dominating centre clearances. The Scorpions, however, used the ball with more purpose.

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

Full article Click here

PORT Melbourne sounded an ominous warning to the VFL competition yesterday, and looms as an enormous stumbling block for premiership favourite Williamstown, after dismantling the Bendigo Bombers at Port by 85 points.

The win was the seventh on end for the Borough, and came at a high cost for Bomber Courtney Johns, who is likely to miss the rest of the season with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament tear. He landed awkwardly after flying for a mark in the second term.

Although it is one of two stand-alone clubs in the VFL, Port Melbourne is hardly a team cobbled together with local talent. Nine players in yesterday\'s game have had recent AFL experience, including Dylan McLaren (Carlton), Cory McGrath (Carlton), and David Spriggs (Sydney). While Bendigo\'s young AFL-listed players looked very good at times, they ultimately fell victim to a more polished outfit that is growing in confidence.

From the Mercury
Reported by Adam Smith
Full article Click here

ELIJAH Taylor has only played eight quarters of football in 2008 but it has been enough to impress Tasmanian selectors.

The Burnie youngster will make his VFL debut on Sunday against the Northern Bullants in a must-win match for the Devils.

After taking part in pre-season training last year the 21-year-old underwent a knee reconstruction in round four, missing the rest of 2007 and half of this season.

Taylor suffered the injury in round one but played on not knowing the extent of the injury, which meant 12 months on the sidelines.

From the Ballarat Courier
Full article Click here

DEFENDER Jesse Smith returns from the football wilderness for North Ballarat against Sandringham in the VFL in Ballarat on Sunday.

The highly talented North Melbourne-listed youngster has not played since tearing a hamstring against Tasmania on May 10.

He has missed five VFL matches and also the opportunity to return to the Kangaroos, where Smith is so well regarded that when fit is an automatic selection.

North Ballarat had planned to ease Smith back through the reserves a few weeks ago, but twice he has had to withdraw.

Selkirk Roosters football manager Marg Richards said an extra couple of weeks on the training track meant Smith was able to go straight back in the seniors.

Port Melbourne vs. Bendigo Bombers
Saturday 5th July, 2008
TEAC Oval at 1.10pm

Port Melbourne B Pleming Livingston S. Brewer HB Sutcliffe Smith McGrath C Nahas Pinwill Cotchett HF Baird Pitt Spriggs F Thomas Bonaddio McMahon R McLaren Cain Dwyer Int B. Nixon Robbins Dillon Martin Hassett Dare Schultz Pearce

Bendigo Bombers B Holmes Michael Crameri HB Flaherty Chartres Atkinson C Dyson Skipworth Hislop HF Weeks Hooker Hartigan F Hocking Johns Anderson R Bellchambers Williams Magin Int Martin Dick D. Young Coghlan Geary Bowe Stroobants Fahour Pears Davies Bristow Granger