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Roosters under threat

By Robbo May 21, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

AFL Victoria chief executive Peter Schwab believes North Ballarat's status in Australia's top state-based football competition is under threat.

Schwab said with some AFL clubs wanting to return of an AFL reserves competition, the survival of the Victorian Football League was far from secure.

Schwab said AFL Victoria wanted the VFL to retain its status, but admitted it would not be without change - a view shared by the Roosters.

"The biggest issue Victorian football has got at the moment is the second tier review," Schwab explained.

"The VFL is under extreme pressure because the AFL clubs are looking at whether they should revamp the reserves competition," he said.

"That decision will have huge ramifications, not only for the VFL, but for how they restructure the TAC Cup (under-18) system as well.

"AFL clubs want total control of their players and the only way they believe they can get that control is if they run their own team.

DOLPHINS SURRENDER TO BOMBERS

By Robbo May 20, 2007
From Frankston FC website
Reported by Michael Robinson

After a good first quarter Frankston kicked just 6 goals after quarter time and lost to Bendigo Bombers by 23 points at Frankston today.

Frankston dominated the first quarter kicking 4 goals to nil. It could have been better as the Dolphins had 135 possessions in the opening quarter.

Bendigo came out at the start of the 2nd quarter and domianted the Dolphins all over the ground as they added 7 goals to 2 and took the lead by 6 points at half time.

Needing a good start to the 3rd quarter, the Dolphins couldn't get that as Bendigo continued to dominate and Frankston became handball happy and couldn't get the ball up forward. By 3 Quarter Time the Bombers had set up a match winning 25 point lead.

The game came to a stand still in the last quarter as neither team were able to kick goals eventually Frankston won the last quarter 2.3 to 1.7 but Bendigo Bombers ran out comfortable 23 point winners.

Incredibly Frankston had 426 possesions (202 kicks, 224 handballs) for the game. Another disappointment was Marcus Marigliani was reported for Attempting to Trip Jason Cloke in the 1st Quarter.

Devil leaves postmark

By Robbo May 20, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Adam Smith

TWO VFL players were lucky to escape serious injury at Bellerive Oval yesterday when a goalpost crashed to the ground during the Tasmania-Coburg clash.

Devils' half-forward Matthew Westfield, running back with the flight to try to mark the ball, crashed into the post at full throttle, snapping it near its base.

The falling goalpost hit Coburg youngster Luke McGuane who left the ground holding his left shoulder but he later returned to the field to finish the game.

The incident occurred 10 minutes into the final quarter.

The game was stopped for 15 minutes while officials hastily erected a replacement post.

Weighing just 90kg, Westfield surprised himself after the goalpost came off second best.

"The ball came in deep and I thought I was a fair chance for a mark," Westfield said.

"I wasn't aware of where the posts were, I just jumped and ran into something and didn't know what it was until I saw it (the post) on the ground.

Pickett, Robertson star for Sandy

By administrator May 20, 2007
From the Sunday Herald-Sun

Reported by Howard Leigh
Full article Click here

MELBOURNE'S troubled season is in for a boost if yesterday's VFL match between Sandringham and Williamstown was anything to go by.

pickettByron Pickett, Russell Robertson, Paul Wheatley and Clint Bizzell all had a huge impact in yesterday's match at the Trevor Barker Oval.

Robertson, 28, sidelined with a hyper-extension to his left knee since Round 2, booted 4.3 from 17 possessions and eight marks in Sandringham's 20-point win.

It leaves the Zebras unbeaten on top of the VFL ladder after the 16.16 (112) to 13.12 (90) win.

Robertson later declared he was ready to return to the Melbourne side for next Sunday's game against the Kangaroos.

Pickett had 16 touches and seven marks floating across the half-forward line and kicked two goals.

Persistence pays

By Robbo May 19, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

GRANT Weeks endured a frustrating start to his career with the Metricon Bendigo Bombers late last year.

He had surgery on a stress fracture in his left foot early in the club's pre-season, and wasn't able to train properly with his new team-mates until mid-February.

But the strong-marking forward has put those frustrations behind him, and is set to make his VFL senior debut for the Bombers against Frankston tomorrow.

'‘It's good to get an opportunity," said Weeks, who helped run a football clinic for Year Eight students at Eaglehawk Secondary College yesterday.

‘‘It's a relief to get the chance after having surgery at the start of the pre-season - not being able to hit the track with the boys and having to watch training was frustrating.

North Ballarat expects changes next year

By Robbo May 19, 2007
From Ballarat Courier

NORTH Ballarat expects changes to the Victorian Football League next year.

But Roosters chief executive officer Mark Patterson has no idea to what extent or what shape they might take.

"I wouldn't be surprised," he replied when asked whether he believed the VFL would undergo some form of restructure.

"Everything is in the mix.

"There are various models likely to be considered."

An AFL delegation will meet North Ballarat on Tuesday, May 29, as part of a review into the VFL.

Mr Patterson said the Roosters were still to finalise their presentation for the talks in Ballarat with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou's assistant Tony Peek, AFL national development general manager David Matthews and AFL strategic planning manager Sam Graham.

The AFL announced in March it would review the second tier of the sport, with a suggestion some AFL clubs wanted to return to stand alone "reserves" rather than being part of alignments with VFL teams.

Day of reckoning for defence

By Robbo May 19, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Adam Smith

NULLIFYING one of the most dangerous forward lines in the VFL will be the key to helping the Devils arrest their five-game losing streak at Bellerive Oval today.

With Coburg possessing a wealth of strong-marking options up forward, forecast showers could also play into the home side's hands.

The form line of the two sides couldn't be further apart, with the Devils struggling since opening the season with a solid win against Bendigo.

On the other hand Coburg has strung together four wins since a first-round loss to the Northern Bullants and is sitting fourth on the ladder.

In all four victories the Tigers have cracked the 100-point barrier and with Tasmanian Jack Riewoldt, former Geelong spearhead Kent Kingsley and roaming target Cleve Hughes all lining up, coach Andrew Collins has plenty of choices.

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