DOLPHINS THRASH DEVILS IN DOMINATE DISPLAY

By Robbo July 22, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

Frankston have beaten Tasmania by 79 points in their game played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Sunny but cool conditions greeting the players with temperatures of around 10 degrees.

The Dolphins got the jump on the Devils kicking the 1st 2 goals and from there the Devils played catch up. Frankston led by 4 points at the 1st change.

Frankston continued to play well in the 2nd quarter at one stage the Dolphins led by as much as 30 points with Marcus Margliani playing well up forward and Daniel "Normie" Clarke dominating in the ruck. Paul Kennedy was also doing a great job restricting Tassie midfielder Ken Hall to just 3 first half possessions. A mini fightback by the Devils late in the 2nd quarter reduced the margin to 15 points at the main change.

Disapponting news for the Dolphins at half time with Chris Oliver not taking any further part in the game after being taken to hospital having trouble breathing after a heavy hit.


The 3rd quarter was always going to be crucial and it turned out that way as the Dolphins came out with all guns blazing led by Brett Dore, Ricky Morris and Marcus Marigliani up forward with Shaun Pollard dominating in defense and big "Normie" Clarke in the ruck. The Dolphins kicked 9 goals to Tasmania's 1 to effectively end the contest as the Dolphins lead by 63 points at the final change.

Looking for a percentage booster the Dolphins continued on kicking another 7 goals in the final quarter to Tasmania's 4 to win the game by 79 points.

Dismal Devils display

By Robbo July 22, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Adam Smith

THE Devils produced one of their worst performances for the year at Bellerive Oval yesterday, ending up on the end of a 79-point hiding at the hands of Frankston.

It was a far cry from the performance last weekend, when the side battled hard to register just its second win of the season.

The Dolphins smashed the Devils in every aspect of the game to run out 24.7 (151) to 10.12 (72) victors.

It was the basics which hurt the home side the most yesterday, with simple skills errors proving costly.

Time after time in the first half players failed to hit targets, turned the ball over and the decision-making under pressure was poor.

Despite this, the Devils trailed by only 15 points at the main break, but a nine-goal-to-one third term killed off the game as a contest.

Coach Daryn Cresswell was fuming with his players after the match, keeping them behind closed doors for nearly 20 minutes and giving them a huge tongue-lashing.

And he admitted a few of the group may have got ahead of themselves after last week's win.

"It was very disappointing. All the things we did well last week weren't there today," Cresswell said.

"We have been making silly little errors all year and our turnovers cost us goals.

WA WINS AFL UNDER 18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

By Robbo July 11, 2007
AFL Under 18 National Championships Report
Reported by Michael Robinson (VFL Footy News)

Western Australia have won their 1st Under 18 National Championship in 8 years after thrashing South Australia by 77 points at Casey Fields today.

This is their 3rd National Championship after winning in 1985 and 1999. They are also the 1st non Victorian side since 1999 to win the title.

In the battle of the Victorian sides, it was even first half with Metro edging out to a 21 point half time lead. The 3rd Quarter was the decisive one as the Metro kicked 7 goals to nil and have a match winning 62 point win at the last change.

The country boys had a good last quarter but Metro boys still ran out comfortable 48 point winners.

Michael Hurley, Scott Simpson and Nick Cattapan were the best for Metro. Ben McEvoy,Nick Suban and Matt Austin best for the Country boys.

VIC METRO      4.3  7.6  14.8  17.8(110)
VIC COUNTRY  2.3  4.3  4.6    9.8(62)

Goals: VIC METRO: Maric 4, Grimes 3, Grant 3, Simpson, Polkinghorne, Kreuzer, Potts, Arrowsmith, Daniher, Cattapan VIC COUNTRY: Gaylor 3, Kay 2, Selwood, Ford, Normington, Hall

Best Players: VIC METRO: Hurley, Simpson, Cattapan, Farmer, Grimes, Kreuzer, Maric VIC COUNTRY: McEvoy, Suban, Austin, Curnow, Kangars, Normington, Selwood

In the 2nd game, WA dominated the game from the start with a bit of help from some undisipined play from SA and ran out comfortable 77 point winners.

NSW/ACT WIN AFL UNDER 18 DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

By Robbo July 10, 2007
AFL Under 18 Championships Report
Reported by Michael Robinson(VFL Footy News)

NSW/ACT Rams have won the Division 2 section of the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships following todays games at Victoria Park,Collingwood.

This is their 4th title and first since 2003.

In their 1st game today Queensland got off to a good start against the NT boys and at one stage led by 20 points half way through the second quarter.

NT then dominated from there led by Cyril Rioli (7 Goals) and Peter Rolfe (4 Goals). NT going on to win the game by 26 points.

NORTH TERRI  1.2  5.3  11.4  17.9(111)
QUEENSLAND   2.2  6.5  11.6  12.13(85)

Goals: NT: C.Rioli 7, Rolfe 4, Whitehurst 3, Liddle, Stewart Rioli, Motlop Qld: Zorko 3, Magin, Mulligan, Stewart 2, Hill, Enright, Fewkes

Best Players: NT: Oliver, C. Rioli, Wonaemirri, Liddle, Rolfe, Sharples and Whitehurst Qld: Zorko, Gibson, Stewart, Brittain, Headland, Reid

NAB AFL UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS VENUE CHANGEs

By Robbo July 09, 2007
The AFL have announced a venue changes  to the final round of matches of the AFL Under 18 Championships.

Division 2-Tuesday July 10 (Games at Victoria Park,Collingwood)
Queensland vs Northern Territory at 11am
Tasmania vs NSW/ACT at 1:30pm


Division 1-Wednesday July 11 (Games at Casey Fields,Cranbourne East)
Victoria Metro vs Victoria Country at 10:15am
South Australia vs Western Australia at 12:45pm

(Please note the change of times for Wednesday's games)

A defeat to be proud of

By Robbo July 08, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by James Bresnehan

A 42-POINT loss, their 11th in a row, and one player on a double report, but for the first time in a long time the Tasmanian Devils were smiling last night.

Triple reigning premier Sandringham stretched the Devils' club-record losing streak with a 19.20 (134) to 14.8 (92) win at Aurora Stadium, but the home side scored a moral victory.

The Devils fought like their namesakes against a Melbourne-laced Sandringham, and had Lady Luck smiled on the locals they would have given the Zebras the fright of their lives.

Besieged coach Daryn Cresswell mingled with his players post-game, smiling and even announcing a temporary lift on the players alcohol ban, such was his delight with his dog-tired 22.

The biggest bonus for Crezza came from one man, midfielder Scott Stephens.

"I copped a lot of flack about making this guy co-captain of Tasmania," Cresswell said.

"He had 39 possessions tonight. His last six weeks have been outstanding.

"He played on a class player in Peter Summers and kept him to 18 possessions and had a ton of it himself.

"He's one player who shows great character and I was really pleased with him and the way he led from the front.

"I feel I made the right decision -- I never doubted myself, but a few other guys did."

Tough Tigers hold off Bullants

By Robbo July 08, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Chris Walker

THE Coburg Tigers staved off a gallant Northern Bullants side by 12 points at Preston City Oval yesterday, getting up 10.14 (74) to 8.14 (62) on a bitterly cold and rainy afternoon.

Despite going into the game as underdogs, the Bullants fired the first shot and when Mark Austin kicked the first of his three goals, the Tigers had some catching up to do.

With a patient forward structure and seemingly endless space, the Bullants looked the better side in the opening term and had a two-goal advantage at the first break.

David Teague and Josh Houlihan led the way with 10 possessions each.

The second quarter was sloppy as expected as the ball gathered mud, but Coburg came to life and began to run numbers behind the ball. The forward pair of Kent Kingsley and Jay Schulz were clearly hampered by the conditions.

"It was always going to be tough for those two. The conditions didn't suit them at all," Tigers coach Andy Collins said. Inaccuracy also cost Kingsley, who should have kicked at least four goals but ended with two.

Northern base is possible: Cresswell

By Robbo July 07, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards

AURORA Stadium could become the home base of the Tassie Devils next season, coach Daryn Cresswell said yesterday.

Speaking at the Devils' training session at the venue in preparation for today's clash against reigning VFL premier Sandringham, Cresswell said it was important for the team to have a central training base.

"The football department will meet with Scott Wade in the next few weeks to discuss a system whereby we can train together a bit more than we have done," Cresswell said.

"Aurora is definitely a chance because it's very accessible and we can get on here in the summer months because there's no cricket played here."

But Cresswell said he didn't have a particular preference for either Bellerive or Aurora.

"Whatever best suits the footy team in terms of the best training venue where everyone can get together is more important to me rather than where it's at," he said.

The bottom-placed Devils face a tough assignment in today's game against the Melbourne- aligned Zebras, who boast a potent forward line of Nick Sautner, Ezra Poyas, Ben Holland and Byron Pickett.

But Cresswell said he was more concerned about the Devils' effort than the result.

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