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Bombers' unity starts to develop

By Robbo June 11, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

IT has taken almost half-a-season, but Metricon Bendigo Bombers coach Matthew Knights is now starting to feel a real sense of unity and cohesion within his team.

After a frustrating start to the season when the Bombers won just one of their first six games, Bendigo has now strung two victories together on the trot.

The Bombers will chase their third win in succession today when they host the Box Hill Hawks at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in what is now their traditional Queen's Birthday match.

Should Bendigo beat the Hawks, the Bombers can move to as high as sixth on the ladder after nine rounds.

"If we play to the same level in regards to our structures and the way we took the game on against Coburg last week, we're confident we will do well," Knights said.

"The boys have got a taste or it now, and probably the best thing that has happened over the past month is we have balanced our side out.

"Simon Rosa, James Flaherty and Courtney Johns have now played three or four weeks together down back.

Frankston fades but ends losing streak

By Robbo June 11, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

FRANKSTON put an end to its three-game losing streak in impressive fashion, beating 2006 minor premiers the Northern Bullants by 13 points.

The final margin flattered the Bullants, after the Dolphins dominated the first three quarters and led by seven goals early in the final term before fading.

A perfect blend of towering size and crafty speed powered the Dolphins for the first three quarters.

While 200-centimetre pair Ashley Eames and Daniel Clarke dominated the aerial contests, the lightning Frankston attack of Ricky Morris ( four goals), Justin Berry (three) and Tory Dickson ( two) were simply too dynamic for the Bullants' defence. The undersized forward line worked beautifully, with local knowledge coming into play as the Frankston forwards continually drilled goals from long distance and almost any angle.

The Bullants are badly missing gun centre half-forward Digby Morrell, who has been sidelined since round six with broken ribs. Despite solid efforts from Josh Kennedy and Paul Colbert ( five goals), they are struggling to kick big scores without their first-choice forward.

Youthful Frankston upsets Northern Bullants

By Robbo June 11, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

FRANKSTON bounced back to form with a decisive home ground win against the Northern Bullants yesterday.
 
The 13-point margin didn't do credit to the Dolphins, who controlled the match.

The Bullants rallied late in the last quarter but never looked like grabbing the points.

Frankston coach Brett Lovett has done a marvellous job with the stand-alone club with a list of players with virtually no AFL experience.

The Dolphins have had to replace century goalkicker Aaron Edwards this season and their mosquito fleet of smaller forwards was again a key factor yesterday.

Justin Berry (three goals) is an accomplished small forward and was well supported by Ricky Morris (four goals) and Tory Dickson with two.

DOLPHINS BEAT THE BULLANTS

By Robbo June 10, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

After 6 weeks the Dolphins were back on the winners list after a 13 point win over the Northern Bullants at Frankston today.

After a very tight first 20 minutes the Dolphins slammed on 4 late goals in the time on period to lead by 25 points at the first change.

Frankston came out firing in the second quarter kicking the first 4 goals to lead by 47 points when the Bullants fought back kicking 5 of the last 6 goals to trail by 23 points at half time.

The Dolphins continued to dominate in the 3rd quarter but couldn't put in on the scoreboard eventually kicking 3.5 to the Bullants 1.2 to lead by 39 points at the final change.

Despite the Bullants kicking 6 goals to 2 in the last quarter Frankston held on for a well deserved 13 point victory.

Paul Rebeschini and Ricky Morris were outstanding for the Dolphins today as they help shut down the Bullants midfield. The play over the day to big "Normie" Clarke running goal late in the 1st quarter.

Maroons right on target, Tassie right off the map

By Robbo June 10, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by James Bresnehan

NOT enough Tasmanians cherished wearing The Map, a shattered state coach Daryn Cresswell said last night after his side's 11-point loss to Queensland under lights at Aurora Stadium.

There were tears and bowed heads in the Tasmanian changerooms after the interstate slugfest, a classic physical contest won by the Maroons over a wasteful Tasmania 13.7 (85) to 10.14 (74).

But Cresswell reserved an extraordinary broadside aimed squarely at those he felt did not pull their weight.

He felt some rode on the coat-tails of the committed, like Ken Hall, whose superb performance in the midfield won him the Lefroy Medal as the best Tasmanian player on the ground.

It was Tasmania's first interstate match since 1999.

"It's been eight years since we pulled the jumper on, and I just hope the players were hurting as much as we (the coaches), the Tasmanian fans, and the past players who have worn the jumper were," Cresswell said.

"Too many guys take representing Tasmania for granted."

Werribee blast stuns Geelong

By Robbo June 10, 2007
From Sunday Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

WERRIBEE won its fourth match on the trot yesterday, toppling ladder-leading Geelong by 15 points at Skilled Stadium.

The final margin didn't do the Tigers' domination justice, as the Cats booted six unanswered goals in the final 16 minutes.

Before that, the margin had blown out to a whopping 50 points when Werribee spearhead James Podsiadly booted his fourth halfway into the final term.

The Tigers captain finished with 4.4; the same return as Western Bulldogs forward Matthew Robbins, who was lively in attack and fierce at the man when the Cats were on the rebound.

Geelong began strongly, kicking three of the first four goals, including two from Charlie Gardiner, who loomed as an early game-breaker playing on first-year Bulldog Andrejs Everitt.

However, the Tigers lifted their intensity and put on a clinic with a sublime, run-and-handball game. They stunned the Cats with 14 of the next 17 goals to record their most impressive win of the year.

Rusty Grant shines in Werribee upset

By Robbo June 10, 2007
From Sunday Herald Sun
Reported by Howard Leigh

THERE was a touch of irony about the comeback of Western Bulldogs champion Chris Grant in Werribee's shock victory over Geelong at Skilled Stadium yesterday.

In his 18th season of AFL football, Grant spent most of his 56 minutes of game time at full-back on 18-year-old Geelong boom recruit Tom Hawkins.

"Yeah, it was a bit ironic to line up on a young fellow who has got his whole future ahead of him," Grant said. "I felt old when I lined up on him."

It was Grant's first competitive match since having surgery three months ago to have pubic bone chips removed from his groin.

He wore a large adhesive protective pad on his left knee, a legacy of past surgery.

The former Bulldogs skipper finished with seven possessions, two marks and two tackles before spending the final quarter on the bench.

Grant, who has played a record 336 games with the Bulldogs, said he felt a little rusty.

"The plan was to play 50-odd minutes in the back line to find some touch and be able to read the play, and go back with the flight of the ball," he said.

"The plan is to play three quarters in next week's VFL game against Port Melbourne and then get back into the Bulldogs side.

"I was pleased to get through the game without any problems."

Werribee's potent forward line, led by Bulldog Matthew Robbins and skipper James Podsiadly, was the catalyst for the win over the ladder leaders.

State game will end Trent's career

By Robbo June 08, 2007
From Launceston Examiner
Reported by Luke Scott

VETERAN Tasmanian footballer Trent Bartlett will run on to the ground for the final time tomorrow, after yesterday announcing his retirement.

Bartlett will play his final game for the Tasmanian side in the representative match against Queensland at Aurora Stadium.

After 81 AFL games, and four years with the Tasmanian Devils' VFL side, Bartlett said he had not made the decision to hang up his boots lightly.

"It's been something that's been in the back of my mind probably for a couple of years, and particularly over the past month," the 31-year-old said.

"I thought, what better way to finish up than to get a game for Tasmania and bow out then?"

Originally from Deloraine, Bartlett was drafted to the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1993 AFL season at number 45.

He played 22 games with the club over three years and another 17 for the Lions after the merger with Fitzroy.

In 2000 he was picked up by the Western Bulldogs, and went on to play a further 42 matches, before returning to Tasmania to play with the Devils in 2003.

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