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Scorpions’ run stings Bombers

By Robbo June 25, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers' inability to win a close game reared its ugly head again at the Queen Elizabeth Oval yesterday.

Going into the last term of their VFL clash with the Casey Scorpions, the scores were level at 47 apiece after an arm-wrestle for the first three quarters.

But the Bombers fell away in the final quarter when the game had to be won, losing 10.12 (72) to 8.8 (56) to end their three-game winning streak.

Bendigo's lack of ability to win games still up for grabs in the final quarter has been glaring since the start of the 2006 season.

Already this year, the Bombers have lost games to top sides Sandringham and Williamstown by seven points or less, which has cost them the chance to be pushing for a position in the all-important top four.

Instead, Bendigo is now sitting in ninth position on the ladder and with plenty of work still to do if it's to return to the finals.

Last year, the Bombers played in five games decided by less than a goal - and lost them all.

Inconsistent Zebras find their form

By Robbo June 25, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

DEFENDING premier Sandringham has hit back at speculation it is past its prime, destroying Port Melbourne by 66 points at TEAC Oval.

The Zebras, chasing a historic fourth consecutive VFL flag, were third on the ladder after two convincing losses from their past three matches.

However, yesterday they produced three of the most destructive quarters of football this season to pummel the highly rated Borough into submission.

After kicking just six behinds in the first quarter, Sandy exploded after the first break to pile on 20 goals, including five to livewire Ezra Poyas.

Port never looked in it after quarter-time, despite a five-goal haul from David Pitt that included three in as many minutes early in the last term.

While John Milhuisen was superb in holding Nick Sautner to just one goal, his effort was countered by Sandringham's Andy Biddlecombe doing an impressive job on powerful Port spearhead Jeremy Dukes.

Top Dees prove handy for Sandrigham

By Robbo June 25, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

SEVERAL Melbourne-listed players were among the best performers in Sandringham's impressive 11-goal win against Port Melbourne at Port yesterday.

 
Nathan Brown and Chris Johnson were particularly prominent and must be a chance for promotion after the Demons' 49-point loss to Richmond on Friday night.

Matthew Whelan, Brad Miller, Michael Newton (three goals), Simon Buckley and Colin Garland were other Melbourne players to stand out against Port.

Sandy didn't score a goal in the first term but then rattled on six, seven and seven in the next three quarters in an awesome display of power and teamwork.

The Zebras had been a bit wobbly in recent weeks but are now firm favourites to win their fourth straight flag.

"I wouldn't say a stumble, but we had to re-focus," Sandringham coach Mark Williams said.

DOLPHINS RUN OVER HAWKS

By Robbo June 24, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

A 6 goal to 1 last quarter has given Frankston a gutsy 31 point victory over the Box Hill Hawks at the Box Hil City Oval.

It was the 1st time that Frankston have played at Box Hill since 2001. A fantastic crowd of over 4000 turned up in beautiful sunny conditions.

It was a very even first quarter with the Hawks taking a slender 1 point advantage into the quarter time break.

In the 2nd quarter the Dolphins added a further 4 goals to the Hawk 2 as the Dolphins midfield got on top. Marcus Marigliani kicking 2 of the goals in the quarter. The Dolphins leading by 13 points at the main break.

In the 3rd Quarter the Hawks dominated all over the ground but not on the scoreboard as they added 3.5 to the Dolphins 1.1 to take the lead just on three quarter time by 3 points.

With memories of last week's last quarter fade out, the Dolphins came out blew the Box Hill Hawks away with a 6 goal to 1 final quarter. The assault was lead by the midfield was was finished off by the forwards especially Justin Berry and Nick Benbow. Frankston finishing with a 31 point win.

It was a great team effort by the Dolphins today lead by Neil Winteton, Ash Roberts and Chris Oliver.

Cresswell shakes up line-up

By Robbo June 22, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Phil Edwards

TASSIE Devils coach Daryn Cresswell yesterday made seven changes for Sunday's VFL match against the Carlton-aligned Northern Bullants as poor form and injury forced an overhaul of the Devils line-up.

With the Devils sitting on the bottom of the VFL ladder with just one win and having lost eight games straight, Cresswell said the game against the Bullants was a mini-final for his team.

He urged his players to throw off the shackles and take the game on.

"We've started playing too safe and are not prepared to take risks as we did early in the season - which is basically our game plan," Cresswell said.

"We're kicking down the line and not coming back through the corridor so - these are the sort of things we want to improve on this week."

Ninth on the ladder with four wins, the Northern Bullants have also been injury-depleted ahead of Sunday's match.

"They only kicked one goal to half-time last week and have been decimated by injury and struggling for the past six weeks like us - so this is probably our best opportunity to win a game," Cresswell said.

The Devils have lost full- forward Adam Derbyshire for a week with a minor hamstring strain while co- captain Brett Geappen could miss two weeks with a shoulder injury.

Ben Careless is unavailable with general soreness, while Tom Collier and Aaron Joseph will represent the Tassie Mariners in the national under-18 championships.

Jared Ryan and Cameron Thurley were omitted.

FitzGerald's hoping Roach will be right

By Robbo June 22, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald is confident Tom Roach will be right to line up against Coburg Tigers in the Victorian Football League at AUSTAR Arena tomorrow.

While FitzGerald said he was unable to declare Roach over the line, he had been encouraged by what his hard-running midfielder had done on the training track.

"I'm more confident now than I was before training on Wednesday night," FitzGerald said yesterday.

Roach left the ground late in the first quarter against Casey Scorpions six days ago with a slight thigh strain and did not return.

Jacob Spolding is not so fortunate.

He remains sidelined with a corked thigh for a third match.

FitzGerald said Spolding was able to run, but his kicking was substantially restricted.

The inclusion of the Kangaroos' Kasey Green for the injured Tristan Cartledge (knee) is the only change to the team which defeated Casey by 14 points.

Cartledge is out four to five weeks with a strained medial ligament.

FitzGerald plans to increase the workload of key forward Callum Urch tomorrow.

FItzGerald eased Urch back after a long-term hamstring injury in the win over the Scorpions - using him off the bench.

Tassie has priority over NT bid

By Robbo June 21, 2007
From Adelaide Advertiser
Reported by Doug Robertson

THE SANFL will not explore a suggestion to bring in a Northern Territory-based team until a prior commitment with the Tassie Devils has been fully explored.

The NTFL sent the SANFL and WA Football Commission an "information" document last month saying it wanted to field a NT representative team in the Adelaide or Perth-based state leagues.

However, AFL-Tasmania, the AFL and the SANFL are in discussions aimed at the Tassie Devils joining the SANFL in 2009 if it feels disadvantaged by the outcome of the AFL's review into football in Victoria.

SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker said the league would not consider two proposals at once.

"We owe it to Tasmania. We've made a commitment to Tasmania and the AFL to look at the possibility of a Tasmanian team joining our competition," said Whicker, who has "kept the AFL fully briefed". "We respect the AFL-NT's initiative but you can't go down the track with another proposal until you've exhausted all options on the first one."

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