Vics humiliate best from west

By Robbo May 29, 2007
From Leader Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy

IT WAS elation for the VFL and humiliation for the WAFL as Saturday's state league match at Port Melbourne developed into an 119-point annihilation of the visitors.

The Victorians smothered WA on the tight oval, denying them the space and time they enjoy on the larger grounds in WA.

The Vics never relented: even  in the final quarter, with his side more than 100 points in front, captain James Byrne was applying crunching tackles.

The black swans were always under pressure and always making skill errors.

They also showed a lack of aggression that disappointed coach Ash Prescott.

 ``We were looking for someone to show some mongrel. We didn't see it,'' he said.

By half-time most of the interest centred on statistical points: how many goals would spearhead Nick Sautner finish with, and the final margin.

3SER Casey FM State game review

By administrator May 28, 2007
From Anthony Brady
Courtesy 97.7 Casey FM

In interstate action yesterday at Port Melbourne's TEAC Oval, the 97.7FM Casey Radio 3SER team saw the Victorian Football League (VFL) thrash the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) by 119 points in a record-breaking victory in the Herald Sun Cup before around 3,000-4,000 fans.

A sunny day greeted both teams, however a strong wind favouring the Williamstown Road end of the ground meant conditions were difficult for players, and made for a chilly afternoon for the sun-loving Sandgropers.

The toss was won by WAFL captain Shane Woewodin, who elected to kick with the wind.

The first quarter began at a cracking pace, with both sides proficient at getting the ball out of the centre and pumping it in long and direct to their forward lines. Victoria surprised many by kicking into the wind extremely well, with forwards such as VFL veteran Nick Sautner and Frankston's Justin Berry particularly good at negotiating shots on goal.

Both teams had seven shots on goal during the first term, but already the Big V had jumped to a 20-point lead, thanks to much more accurate kicking for goal. The stand-out performers early were Victorian defender John Baird, with nine possessions in the first quarter, while Woewodin had gathered eight for the Black Swans.

WA flogging faces probe

By Robbo May 28, 2007
From The West Australian
Reported by Ross Lewis

The WA Football Commission will launch an immediate inquiry into the operations of the State team after the Black Swans were embarrassed by the VFL on Saturday.
  
However, the local game’s bosses believe WA teams will always be the poor cousins to South Australia and Victoria due to the advantages available to their rivals’ football systems.
  
Immediately after the 119-point defeat, WA’s third biggest losing margin at interstate level, WAFC director of football Grant Dorrington said his office wanted to identify the reasons behind the humiliation at Melbourne’s TEAC Oval. “We will be this week having a very big think about what went wrong,” Dorrington said.
  
“We want to talk to the players and coaching panel. I’m not criticising anyone, all of our league coaches worked with (coach) Ashley Prescott to select that team.
  
“To get absolutely flogged isn’t a fair reward for all the planning that went into it. The big question is why don’t teams come to play?”

Rosa, Cloke shine as Victoria thrashes WA

By Robbo May 28, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

SIMON Rosa labelled the VFL's 119-point win over Western Australia at Port Melbourne on Saturday as one of the most satisfying days of his football career.

Rosa - the Metricon Bendigo Bombers captain - was among the VFL's best players in its 25.11 (161) to 5.12 (42) victory over WA.

Jason Cloke, Rosa's team - at the Bombers, was also part of the VFL team that destroyed the Sandgropers.

"It was fantastic to get up and win," said Rosa, who finished the game with 26 possessions and seven tackles playing across half-back.

"Because we had only trained together for a week, everyone had to play their part and do their bit for the team so that when we see the guys down the track, we can look each other in the eye and know we did our part for our team-mates.

"That was a really big focus for the game, and everyone did their bit."

Rosa spent time on Daniel Haines and Hayden Ballantyne, as well as WA captain, and 2000 Brownlow medallist, Shane Woewodin.

Record Smashing Day at Port Melbourne

By Robbo May 27, 2007
Reported by Michael Robinson

Yesterday's result brought out the record books here is a list of records of Interstate Interleague football.

 
Highest Score by a VFA/VFL Team
28.26(194) vs Queensland at Brisbane 1979
26.15(171) vs Tasmania at Hobart 1951
24.27(171) vs ACT at Canberra 1950
25.14(164) vs Queensland at Brisbane 1987
23.24(162) vs NSW at Sydney 1960
25.11(161) vs WAFL at Port Melb 2007
22.22(154) vs Queensland at Sydney 1960

Biggest Winning Margin by a VFA/VFL Team
156pts vs Queensland at Brisbane 1979
129pts vs Queensland at Sydney 1960
127pts vs ACT at Canberra 1950
126pts vs Australian Amateurs at Hobart 1989
119pts vs WAFL at Port Melb 2007
105pts vs NSW at Sydney 1960
104pts vs ACT at Sydney 1960

BIG V SMASH SANDGROPERS

By Robbo May 26, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

Victoria have smashed Western Australia by 119 points in today's interleague match at Port Melbourne. This represents the 2nd biggest loss in WA's 198 game history.

Unfortunately for Frankston supporters Ashley Eames was one of the 3 left out before the game. WA began well with the breeze kicking the 1st goal but then couldn't find the goals for the rest of the quarter as the Vics got into the game. Victoria adding 5 goals against the breeze to lead by 20 points at quarter time.

Victoria with the breeze at the back in the 2nd Quarter started to dominate the midfield and began to dominate all over the ground as Dolphin Justin Berry and Sandy's Nick Sautner dominated the forward line and continued to kick goal after goal as the Vics piled on 10 goals and they kept WA goalless to have the game effectively over at half time leading by 80 points.

A stunned crowd at Port Melbourne couldn't believe the half time scoreline. The Vics began the 3rd term were they left as they kicked a further 5 goals to 2 to extend the lead to 98 points at three quarter time.

Vics thump WA in state game

By Robbo May 26, 2007
From AFL Website
Reported by Chris Pike

VICTORIA humiliated Western Australia on Saturday in an interstate game at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne, handing out a mammoth 119-point hiding.

The WAFL representative side never looked capable with matching its VFL counterparts, falling 25.11 (161) to 5.12 (42).

The wind at the Port Melbourne ground was tricky, and its small size did not help a WA side used to a free-flowing game.

The Mark Williams-coached VFL side had stars all over the field. Nick Sautner booted nine goals; 21-year-old Alister Neville received the Frank Johnson Medal as best on ground, and captain James Byrne, Simon Rosa, David Spriggs and Brett Johnson were outstanding.

WA had few players that could hold their heads high. Ruckman Adam Hay was awarded the Simpson Medal as best afield, Chad Jones was dangerous up-forward, but kicked 2.4, and Andrew Siegert, Theo Adams and Ben Colreavy tried hard.

WA got off to an impressive start, controlling play and the stoppages in the opening minutes. However, some sprayed shots at goal, and easy misses cost it dearly.

Chad Jones put through the first goal at the eight-minute mark of the game, but that was it for almost two quarters.

The Victorians got on the board through two goals from free kicks to Sautner and Justin Berry, before finishing the term with three soft goals that WA should have never allowed.

Rosa, Cloke to play in defence for VFL

By Robbo May 26, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

PROVIDE plenty of run and dash out of defence - that's the message from coach Mark Williams to Simon Rosa and Jason Cloke ahead of today's representative match between the VFL and Western Australia at Port Melbourne.

Rosa and Cloke - the Metricon Bendigo Bombers' pair - have both been selected on half-back flanks for the VFL for its clash with Western Australia.

'‘They will both play as defenders and we hope they can play nice and tight on their opponents," Williams said yesterday. '‘They are both in really good form and it was fairly easy to select them.

‘‘Jason has been playing in a multitude of positions for Bendigo and Simon is one of the premier small defenders in the competition, and by being selected for Victoria it's a great reward for them.

‘‘We will be looking for them to provide a fair bit of run out of the back line, be nice and steady and beat their opponent." Rosa, who has played 94 VFL games, is in his first year as captain of the Bombers and has been in career-best form this season.

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