Casey FM match review

Courtesy Casey FM 3SER 97.7
Reported by Anthony Brady

In round five of the TRUenergy Victorian Football League season, the Berwick Lodge Primary School Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER team headed north of Melbourne, to the suburb of Preston, to see Port Melbourne down the Northern Bullants by 34 points on Sunday.

In a wildly fluctuating match, the Borough got home with a five goal final term to win 15.12.102 to 10.8.68.

A very sunny day greeted players at NAB Oval, with not a breath of wind to speak of. A fairly healthy crowd of between 1500-2000 were in attendance to cheer on these long-time VFA/VFL rivals.

Things weren't going right for the 'Ants even before the first bounce, when they lost first-choice Carlton-listed ruckman Dylan McLaren to a right ankle injury. The injury happened so soon before the first bounce, that they were unable to bring in an extra player, and thus started with just three on the bench.

The Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER team was divided on who would win the match, some feeling the benefit of having players training under AFL conditions at Carlton would assist the Bullants over the stand-alone Port side. However, others felt that with being restricted to just 12 AFL players, coupled with the Borough's excellent off-season recruiting drive, would see the boys from TEAC Oval come out on top.
Reported by Ben Carbonaro

Geelong (22.21.153) defeated the Casey Scorpions (11.6.72) at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Casey have performed inconsistently so far this season and went into the clash against Geelong needing to record a win in order to set themselves up to play a greater level of consistent and determined football in the coming weeks.

The Cats played a much cleaner and less error riddled brand of football compared to the Scorpions, who were unable to stop the powerful forward line led by Shannon Byrnes who dominated inside attacking fifty.

Byrnes kicked five goals in a best on ground performance for the Cats.

King stands tall in VFL victory

From Geelong Advertiser

FORMER Geelong captain Steven King and tough defender Max Rooke gave the Cats' brains trust plenty to smile about with solid performances in the Bendigo Bank Cats' dominant 81-point win over Casey at Casey Field on Saturday.

King's return to form was a highlight, imposing himself on the contest early with some clever ruck work, and kicking the first major of the day. His work rate was excellent, running from both ends of the ground and providing consistent second efforts. The only negative came in the final quarter when he was reported for tripping Casey's Nigel Carmody.

Rooke began slowly but in the second quarter racked up 12 possessions, taking his usual courageous marks in defence and providing plenty of rebound.

It was Geelong's fourth consecutive victory and the side that included a combined 547 games of AFL experience to Casey's 74 was far too strong and classy, winning every quarter.

Bombers pay for missed chances

From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers remain stuck on just one win after five rounds of the VFL season after losing a thriller to Williamstown at Burbank Oval yesterday.

The Seagulls prevailed 15.15 (105) to 14.18 (102) to leave the Bombers in 11th position on the ladder.

It's the second time this season the Bombers have lost a game by under 10 points after they were also beaten by reigning premier Sandringham by seven points in round three.

'‘It's very frustrating losing these close games - even last year we couldn't win the close ones, so it's something we need to work on," Bombers' captain Simon Rosa said.

‘‘We played better today as a team, which is something we've been lacking in other weeks, but if we can sneak home in a close game we can probably get our season started." Last year, the Bombers lost four games by under 10 points.

The Bombers started the game well, leading Williamstown by 18 points at the first change, before the Seagulls cut the deficit to 12 points at half-time.

Williamstown then added 8.6 to Bendigo's inaccurate 5.9 in the second half to ensure its fifth win in six encounters with the Bombers.

It was the conversion in front of goal that was the difference.

Roosters crash to worst loss in 4yrs

From Ballarat Courier

WERRIBEE embarrassed North Ballarat with its biggest defeat in four years in the Victorian Football League in Ballarat yesterday.
The Tigers thrashed the Selkirk Roosters by 100 points.

North Ballarat has to go back to round four in 2003 to find a bigger loss - when Tasmania walked all over the Roosters by 123 points.

Werribee looked anything but a team which up to arriving at AUSTAR Arena had not tasted victory as it turned on champagne football to run away 26.14 (170) to 10.10 (70).

Werribee was winless before arriving at AUSTAR Arena, and looked unlikely to change its record until turning on champagne football, finishing 26.14 (170) to 10.10 (70) winners.

Werribee has always had the wood on North Ballarat, winning 15 of 18 encounters since 1996.

And yesterday's score fell two points short of the Tigers' highest against North Ballarat.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald was almost lost for words as he searched for reasons behind his team's demise.

VFL Round 5 results


Tasmania def. by Box Hill Hawks (12.10-82 13.17-95)
Tasmania2.25.28.812.10-82
Box Hill Hawks2.77.129.1513.17-95


North Ballarat def. by Werribee (10.10-70 26.14-170)
North Ballarat6.47.89.810.10-70
Werribee4.211.720.826.14-170

Williamstown def. Bendigo Bombers (15.15-105 14.18-102)
Williamstown2.57.912.1215.15-105
Bendigo Bombers5.59.911.1414.18-102


Frankston def. by Sandringham (10.8-68 14.8-92)
Frankston3.16.28.610.8-68
Sandringham6.38.612.814.8-92


Northern Bullants def. by Port Melbourne (10.8-68 15.12-102)
Northern Bullants3.23.310.610.8-68
Port Melbourne4.27.410.715.12-102

Sandy too good for Dolphins

From Frankston FC website
Reported by Michael Robinson

A good crowd came to Frankston Park to see the Battle of the Bayside. Sandy got off to a good start controlling the game and kicking 6 first quarter goals and despite the efforts of Aaron Murray kicking 3 golas himself, the Zebra took a 20 point lead into quarter time.

The Dolphins fought back in the second quarter kicking the 1st 3 goals to get within 2 points until the Zebras added 2 themselves to lead by 16 points at half time.

Frankston tried hard to stay with Zebras in the 3rd quarter but again a couple of late Zebra goals gave Sandy a 26 point lead at the final change.

Again Frankston came out and kicked the 1st 2 goals of the final quarter to get within 2 goals but goals to former Dolphin Ryan Ferguson and Peter Summers sealed a 4 goal win for the Zebras.

Cats thrash Scorpions

From the Sunday Age

Reported by Sean Cusick
Full article Click here


GEELONG has continued its hot VFL form by smashing the Scorpions by 81 points at Casey Fields, but the win was marred as former captain Steven King was reported for tripping.

The Cats were bolstered by three of last week's AFL players, Mathew Stokes, Brent Prismall and King, and all were instrumental in the match.

King, the 189-game AFL veteran, threw his right leg out and collected Casey captain Nigel Carmody late in the final quarter. King was falling down at the time and completely off balance and Carmody was able to jump straight up to take his kick, which may work in King's favour at the tribunal.

The star-studded Geelong line-up was too strong for Casey, which had flogged Box Hill by 129 points at the same ground three weeks ago.

Stokes was best on ground, collecting 32 touches and kicking two goals. Prismall looked the matchwinner at half-time, with 23 possessions and two goals. But due to emergency duties in Geelong's twilight showdown with Richmond today, he didn't return to the field after the break.

Pages