From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

Full article Click here

PORT MELBOURNE goes into the final round of the VFL home-and-away season knowing it has a top-three spot sewn up after a 66-point victory over Collingwood at home yesterday, 13.21 (99) to 4.9 (33).

Although missing full-back Luke Livingston with a minor hamstring injury, and losing key onballer David Spriggs, also to a hamstring injury, Port controlled the game from the outset, with Collingwood looking out of its depth by quarter-time.

Unable to match Port for firepower up forward, Collingwood tried to slow the match in the second term and succeeded, restricting Port's running game and stemming the flow of goals. While frustrating their opponents with their "chip and wait" game plan, the Magpies failed to convert possessions into scoring opportunities despite Sam Iles and Rhyce Shaw, who returned from injury in good form, getting plenty of the ball across the midfield.

From the Ballarat Courier
Full article Click here

NORTH BALLARAT takes a wealth of attacking power into battle with Tasmania in the Victorian Football League in Hobart today.

The return of North Melbourne-listed Josh Smith gives the Selkirk Roosters potentially five big key forwards.

Smith lines up alongside Paul McMahon, and North Melbourne team-mates Michael Wundke, Aaron Edwards and Robbie Tarrant.

The combination of McMahon, Smith and Wundke has worked extremely well and been instrumental in developing North Ballarat into a premiership contender.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Full article Click here

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers’ tough finish to the VFL season continues at the Queen Elizabeth Oval today when they host the Werribee Tigers in round 19.

Having kicked just a combined three goals in their past two games, which have been losses by 119 and 155 points, the Bombers must today confront a Werribee side that is fighting for a spot in the top four and the coveted double chance.

Going into today’s game, Werribee sits fifth, just percentage behind the Casey Scorpions with two rounds remaining.

With the growing injury toll at Essendon now at an extreme, only two AFL-listed players will line up for Bendigo today.

Port Melbourne vs. Collingwood
Saturday 23rd August - TEAC Oval at 1:00 PM

Port Melbourne B Pleming Livingston S. Brewer HB McGrath Dalton B. Nixon C Hassett Pinwill Cain HF Smith Baird Pitt F McLaren Bonaddio Nahas R Fanning Spriggs McMahon Int W. deBruin Robbins Dwyer Martin Mullins Neville Dillon Thomas

Collingwood B Thoolen Prestigiacomo Carmody HB Lonie Cox Frost C Saville R. Shaw Barham HF Casey-Leigh Crow Mugavin F Egan Walsh MacAffer R Wood Iles Colbert Int Martello Dimattina Keefe Considine Sundburg Yaman Griffin Jurrah

From the Sunday Tasmanian
Reported from Adam Smith

Full article Click here

TASMANIA was left two agonising points short of snapping a long losing streak yesterday, falling to Collingwood in a VFL heart-breaker at MC Labour Park in Melbourne.

The Devils recovered from a slow start to dominate most of the second half, but failed to convert where it matters most -- on the scoreboard.

In the final term the visitors kicked 3.6, including missing several golden opportunities late in the game, before going down 14.14 (98) to 14.12 (96).

The loss consigned the Devils to their eighth consecutive defeat with just two rounds remaining in a horror season.

But the players finally found the passion and grunt coach Lance Spaulding has been seeking from them for the past month.