Coburg Tigers resist Scorpions' fight

By Robbo May 14, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

Coburg has edged out a determined Casey Scorpions outfit by 13 points in a rugged encounter at Coburg City Oval. The Scorpions showed plenty of fight, but appeared to tire in the final quarter as a classy Jack Riewoldt came to the fore in his best VFL performance to date.

The prized Richmond recruit finished with five goals, including the sealer from a mark 35 metres out deep into time-on after the Scorpions had dragged the margin back to seven points.

Kent Kingsley, playing his first senior VFL match since crossing to Richmond, had little impact on the match. He kicked one goal, the result of a holding-the-ball free kick in the goal square, and was outplayed by Max Hudghton for most of the day.

Tigers coach Andy Collins wouldn't be drawn on whether his club was talking up a top-four finish to the home-and-away season. "I don't worry about that . . . we're going well, we're a team that's won four and one, so it's good," he said.

Dolphins smashed by Seagulls

By Robbo May 13, 2007
From Frankston FC Website
Reported by Michael Robinson

It was a warm day at Williamstown and the Dolphins were hoping to get off to a good start but lead by just 2 points at quarter time after kicking an inaccurate 2.7 in the 1st quarter.

From the start of the 2nd Quarter the Seagulls started to dominate with Andrew Williams dominating up forward with 4 goals and the Seagulls jumped out to a 29 point half time. Aaron Murray limped with a serious ankle injury and Matthew Burns did not play after half time with a concussion which left the Dolphins with 2 on the bench for the 2nd half.

This continued in the 3rd Quarter as the Seagulls piled on another 6 goals to the Dolphins 2 to lead by 52 points at the final change.

Despite trying hard in the final quarter the Dolphins only manged 3.5 to the Seagulls 5.6 as Williamstown ran out comfortable 65 point winners.

Bedevilled by a thrashing

By Robbo May 13, 2007
From Sunday Tasmanian
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE Devils wore their white away jumper for the first time yesterday, and then flew the white flag.

A pathetic, uncompetitive Devils were belted and humiliated to the tune of 114 points by Werribee, 31.14 (200) to 12.14 (86).

Werribee had never been defeated by the Devils and kicked their highest score against Tasmania -- and only 33 points less than its highest VFL score -- as it inflicted their third heaviest defeat in the Devils' history.

After winning their opening game, the Devils have now lost their past five. But yesterday's performance was clearly the worst and left new coach Daryn Cresswell struggling to find answers for the lack of fight in his listless side.

Passion and pride was for so long the trademark of this team, and factors which kept fans coming back even in defeat. But yesterday those factors were decidely absent.

When asked if the players were hurting after the game, Cresswell said: "No, I don't believe they are.

Big VFL squad for WA clash

By Robbo May 12, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

THE VFL will name a squad of 40 players on Monday for its interstate clash against Western Australia at Port Melbourne on Saturday week.

VFL team coach Mark Williams said the full squad would train on Tuesday.

Williams, coach of Sandringham, said the squad would be cut to 25 the following Monday.

There would then be further training sessions on the Tuesday and the Thursday before the match.

Williams would not be drawn on whether selectors would focus more on young players than veteran VFL performers and ex-AFL players, saying they would pick "the best possible side".

Young Hawks step up

By Robbo May 12, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

BOX Hill Hawks have won only one match, but coach Damien Christensen is optimistic about their prospects for the rest of the season.

The Hawks had to wait until last weekend's Round 5 before breaking the ice but Christensen says they are well on the way to overcoming early problems and should gradually develop into a solid combination.

Apart from the standout teams - last season's grand finalists Sandringham and Geelong - Christensen sees no reason why Box Hill can't match the rest.

The Box Hill coach is particularly excited about draftee Mitch Thorp, named to to play his first game today at home against the Northern Bullants.

The Tasmanian teenager, taken at No .6 in last year's national draft, has been a late starter, but has been training strongly for several weeks after recovering from a hip problem.

Tigers coach hopes they're hitting their straps

By Robbo May 12, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

FINALS stalwart Werribee has been a model of consistency since the beginning of the '90s. In the age of the football club yoyo, where teams regularly shoot up and down the ladder, the Tigers have almost been the immovable object entrenched in September action.

The boys from Chirnside Park haven't missed a finals series since 2000, and even more impressively, have missed only twice in the past 17 seasons, though they have won only one flag in that time, knocking over Port Melbourne in 1993.

Big things were tipped for the Tigers this season, but after four rounds they were still winless

Werribee coach Simon Atkins believes, however, that his team can build on its maiden victory last week — a 100-point mauling of North Ballarat on the road.

"We've been working on the smaller things that haven't been working out for the first four weeks," Atkins said.

Bombers under the pump

By Robbo May 12, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers face a difficult task to get their VFL season back on track tomorrow when they take on one of the form sides of the competition in Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

The Bombers have lost their past three games, while the Cats have won their past four games by an average of 61 points to be sitting in second position on the ladder after five rounds.

"Geelong has a healthy list right across the board and no doubt they have some quality players in their VFL team," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said yesterday.

"When you look at different parts of the ground and you see Charlie Gardiner and Todd Grima up forward, then in the midfield you see a Steven King, Mathew Stokes and and James Byrne, and in defence you see a Tim Callan, Josh Hunt and Max Rooke and players like that.

"The quality in their line-up suggests they are going to be very hard to beat, but in saying that, we played the best we had for the whole year last week against Williamstown.

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