From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Paul Amy

BENDIGO BOMBERS
Coach: Adrian Hickmott (second year).
Captain: Michael Flaherty.
Last season: 5 wins, 15 losses.
In: Charles Slattery (Central Districts), Paul Scanlon (Seymour), Ky Miller (NTFL), Joel Malone (Maryborough), Jerome Jetta (Brookton, WA), Simon Weekley (Sandhurst).
Out: Brent Hartigan, Shannon Geary, Dale Young, Johnny Coghlan.
Verdict: On and off the field, it’s a vital year for the Bombers. The club needed an injection of cash from the VFL and Essendon to get through last season, and, with the alignment up for review at the end of 2009, Bendigo must show it is a viable state league entity. Essendon injuries exposed the VFL list as being tissue-thin last year and a 2007 finalist slumped to 13th. But the establishment of three training bases and the appointment of a full-time football manager in Steve Thomson opened recruiting doors, and the Bombers have gained some experienced types and some exciting tykes. Expect them to improve, but perhaps not enough to enter the top eight.

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From Inside Football Magazine
Reported by Phil Cleary

Courting the SANFL

In a sign that all is not well in the VFL, rumours abound that at least one VFL club is exploring the possibility of joining the SANFL. Given what some clubs believe is a lack of genuine commitment to a second-tier competition in Victoria in favour of the development of elite footballers the SANFL solution should come as no surprise. As it stands, only four clubs, the unaligned Port Melbourne and Frankston and the financially powerful but aligned Williamstown and North Ballarat would be in a position to explore such a strategy. Only one is in the frame. It wouldn’t be the first split in Victoria’s oldest football competition!

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From LocalFooty
Reported by Laura Jolly

Full article Click here

NORTHERN Bullants coach David Teague hopes the club’s link with Carlton makes his side a force to contend with this VFL season.

Teague said although the Bullants’ own list was thinner than last year’s, when it made the elimination finals, Carlton’s list would make them stronger.

“I think we’ll get some real depth from Carlton.