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Roosters run over reigning premier

By Robbo June 04, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

THE emotion shown by coach Gerard FitzGerald demonstrated just how much defeating Victorian Football League reigning premier Sandringham meant to North Ballarat at AUSTAR Arena on Saturday.

FitzGerald rushed to his players - addressing and embracing them.

And then with misty eyes, stood back and applauded his young outfit as it left the ground.

FitzGerald said the 35-point win over the previously unbeaten Sandringham meant the competition held no fears for the Selkirk Roosters.

"This has opened up the year (for us)."

Up until the 18.15 (123) to Sandringham 13.10 (88) triumph, seventh-placed North Ballarat had struggled against teams at the business end of the ladder with losses to Geelong (top), Coburg (fourth) and Northern Bullants (sixth).

Bombers thump Insipid Tigers

By Robbo June 03, 2007
Reported by Michael Robinson

It was a beautiful cool winter's day as Bendigo finally hosted their first VFL game at the Queen Elizabeth Oval for 2007.

A crowd of around 3000 saw an even first fifteen minutes until the Bombers broke away as the midfield began to dominate. The Bombers went into quarter time with a 14 point lead.

The second quarter also was even until the Bombers kicked a late goal to outscore the Tigers by 4 goals to 3 and increase their lead to 20 points at there main break.

The third quarter was the decisive one was Bombers held Coburg goalless and kicked 4 of their own to lead by 40 points at the last change.

Cresswell: Better times ahead

By Robbo June 02, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

COACH Daryn Cresswell is optimistic that Tasmania will be a much improved team in the second half of the season.

Cresswell has had a tough initiation to VFL coaching with the side languishing on the bottom of the ladder with one win from seven games.

"Although we are 1-6, at three-quarter time in three of those six losses we have been in front," Cresswell said.

"That's because we are so young, a new team. A lot of these guys haven't played much footy together."

Cresswell is among many Tasmanians angered at the state being overlooked in favour of a New South Wales-Queensland team in tentative plans for an AFL State-of-Origin series next season.

"It is pretty ridiculous. We are a traditional footy state down here," Cresswell said of the snub.

"Queensland and New South Wales get it served up to them on a silver platter, the money . . .

"We would beat Queensland (State-of-Origin team). They are a bit fragile.

Unbeaten Zebras a tough task for North

By Robbo June 02, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

SANDRINGHAM is once again the benchmark in the Victorian Football League this season.

The Zebras are unbeaten in their quest for four consecutive premierships, a feat only ever achieved once in VFA/VFL history by Essendon in 1891-92-93-94.

And in this age of AFL alignments North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald has no doubt what the key to Sandringham's success has been and continues to be - a strong VFL list.

The Zebras have enjoyed a great relationship with Melbourne, but their ability to maintain an experienced list is the biggest factor.

Sandringham has seven players with more than 50 VFL games, led by champion full forward Nick Sautner, who celebrates his 200th milestone against North Ballarat at AUSTAR Arena today.

In comparison, the Selkirk Roosters have only five in this category out on the ground today: Shaune Moloney, Tristan Cartledge, Aaron Clark, Jacob Spolding and Leigh Ryall, who plays his first senior game for the year.

If North Ballarat is to cause the upset of the season and stop Sandringham in its tracks, it has three major assignments which must be completed successfully.

1-The Roosters must shutdown the Zebra midfield.

2-Shaune Moloney has to keep Nick Sautner to a maximum of five goals.

3-Melbourne Demons hard man Byron Pickett must be nullified.

Devils advised to ditch Kangaroos

By Robbo June 02, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

SCRAPPING its alignment with AFL side the Kangaroos gave VFL club Port Melbourne new life, and the Borough's president Peter Saultry says Tasmania should do the same.

After a successful alignment with Sydney ended for financial reasons after the 2002 season, Port entered a deal with the Kangaroos, before opting to be a stand-alone club after three unsuccessful years.

"It's a good feeling, there is a brightness about the club," Saultry said ahead of today's Devils-Port Melbourne game at Bellerive.

"There is just a feeling about the boys when they play. We are happy as a club. The decisions are made by our club, we have full control of what goes on.

"We have nobody interfering with anything we do. We give an opportunity to 22 players to play at this level."

AFL Tasmania is considering its future, which could include cutting the Devils' partial alignment with the Kangaroos after 1½ unsuccessful years both on and off the field.

"Tasmanian crowds have dropped off," Saultry said. "They are passionate about their sport and they don't see that passion with bringing these (Kangaroos) players in."

Road Warriors return home

By Robbo June 01, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Road Warriors are finally returning home for the first time this year.

After seven straight games on the road, the Metricon Bendigo Bombers will play their first game of the season at the Queen Elizabeth Oval this Sunday when they take on the in-form Coburg Tigers in round eight of the VFL.

So far this season, the Bombers have played six games in Melbourne and one in Geelong because of the condition of the QEO surface, hence earning the name The Road Warriors, similar to the Mel Gibson movie character Mad Max.

The Bombers were also unable to play any of their practice matches, which began in late February, at their home ground because of its dry and unsafe surface.

However, with the QEO now in a satisfactory condition for football because of recycled water and recent rain, the Bombers are ready to host the third-placed Tigers in Bendigo.

"At times it has been a stretch for the players and staff to be travelling every week for the past three months," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said yesterday.

Future star's Devils debut

By Robbo June 01, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

FUTURE AFL draftee Aaron Cornelius will make his VFL debut for the Devils tomorrow against Port Melbourne, but for some Kangaroos-listed players it is their last chance.

Cornelius, who turned 17 during the week, has been in excellent form, kicking five goals for the Mariners last week as a marking forward, as well as impressing for Glenorchy in the Southern Premier League and the AFL-AIS under-17 team during the pre-season.

"He is just a very smart player and he knows where the drop of the ball is," Cresswell said.

"It is good he has got an opportunity at this level and I am sure he will be able to cope more than adequately."

Apart from playing for Glenorchy, Cornelius has already experienced playing senior-elite level, lining up on Fremantle's Michael Johnson while representing the AIS team.

"He gave Johnston a bit of a touch up, took 10 or 12 marks in the first half on him," Cresswell said. "He is very mature for his age and I spoke to his dad (former New Norfolk rover David) and he's really keen to have a crack at it and I'm sure he will handle himself very well."

But the pressure is on some of the Kangaroos players to help lift the last-placed Devils.

SHAKE-UP

By Robbo May 31, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West

GENERAL manager Matthew Allan will join chairman Warren Driscoll in departing the Metricon Bendigo Bombers next month.

Allan yesterday announced his resignation as general manager of the Bombers, and will leave the club on June 30.

On the same day, Driscoll will end his tenure as Bombers chairman, which began in 2003.

Allan, who was appointed general manager in October, 2005, is leaving Bendigo's VFL club to join the Australian Traffic Network in a sales role based in Melbourne.

It's a job offer he says is too good to refuse.

"I've got a young family that I want to make sure grows up in Melbourne, where I'm from, and where my wife is from," Allan said.

"We have a large network of family and friends down there, and I guess that all comes into it as well."

Peter Lodewijks, who joined the Bombers board in January this year, will fill the role as stand-in general manager, before the club advertises the position at the end of the season.

Lodewijks will spend the next month working with Allan.

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