The Northern Bullants from Just 166 Matches
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$ inc afl victoria september 19-20, 2009 3gst VFL FINALS WEEK 3 sewell iN thE crown rooster takes home liston to give their family car improved safety and fuel efficiency? FORD, OF COURSE ^For front and second row passengers. #Recommended offer price of Territory TX RWD at participating Ford Dealers. Prestige colour shown $400 extra. Private buyers only. †Standard SMS charges apply. SMS service not currently available on Vodafone or 3 networks. FMC5458_WML_210x140VFL.indd 1 31/8/09 12:33:34 PM FROm thE OVaL OFFiCE A semi final to remember the clash between Port and Box hill had my phone ringing off the hook. mong both long-time ratings over the two games. We must build this game into an and first-time viewers Sunday’s game peaked at event that becomes an important of the VFL, the reaction almost 150,000 viewers, part of the AFL’s Grand Final week to last Sunday’s semi- about 45,000 more than the celebrations. Whether we achieve Afinal between Port Melbourne commercial network programs. this objective depends on a number and the Box Hill Hawks has been On Saturday, we had 130,000 of factors, not the least is the quite incredible. viewers, which was double any support of all VFL clubs. I was watching the TAC Cup other channel’s audience. All clubs must be semi-finals at Visy Park when my It was timely to follow up from communicating with their players, phone started ringing with friends the weekend with our J.J. Liston supporters and sponsors that by asking if I’d seen the game. When Trophy function on Monday. attending the Grand Final, it will go I explained where I was, they told It proved a great night at Etihad a long way to ensuring the event’s me I had missed a classic. Stadium, and after a very exiting ongoing success. If we cannot It is great for the whole VFL vote count, North Ballarat’s Myles support our own competition, then competition to receive such Sewell emerged as the winner it is impossible to convince non- unbridled enthusiasm and from Werribee’s Michael Barlow, traditional VFL people to support it. compliments for a game involving who had earlier been awarded the So let’s make sure we have a our teams. As so many people Fothergill-Round Medal as the great crowd at this year’s VFL have said, not only was it one of most promising young talent in Grand Final, sending a clear the best games of VFL football, the competition. message to the media, the AFL but football of any level. With four high quality and all football supporters that Let’s just hope this has brought teams facing off in this week’s the VFL is a credible competition an expansion of interest in the VFL. preliminary finals, we need to that not only is important in the While many may not necessarily keep the momentum going both Victorian football landscape, but become avid supporters of the at attendance level and with provides high quality football well competition, at the very least television viewers, remembering worth the price of entry and well they will recognise the quality of that on Sunday there are no AFL worth supporting. football it offers. games. This leads me on to the The other significant factor one game we must support – Peter ScHwaB from the weekend of VFL finals the VFL Grand Final on Friday, Chief Executive Officer, was the increase in our television September 25 at Etihad Stadium. AFL Victoria aFL Victoria chief executive Officer: Photography: AFL VICTORIA SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2009 $3 SePteMBer 19-20, 2009 Peter Schwab Getty Images 1800 500 141 cOntentS Football Operations Manager: advertising: John Hook Jennifer Pryor (03) 8663 3007 VFL FINALS WEEK 3 Semi final reviews 6-9 High Performance Managers: SEWELL Preliminary final previews 11-13 Anton Grbac, Leon Harris IN THE Statistics: Sophie Timms CROWN 2009 Liston Trophy 14-18 ceO, the Slattery Media Group: Rooster takes home Listonn Geoff Slattery Senior teams 20-23 cOVer: North Ballarat’s VFL statistics 24-25 editor: Andrew Wallace Myles Sewell proudly Designer: Karl Chandler cradles his Liston Trophy A. Todd Medal 33 Photo Manager: Melanie Tanusetiawan medal after winning the Reserves teams 34-35 Printed by: Condor Printing award on Monday night. VFL RECORD / 3 OGR0068_VFL Talking to a gambler about their problem isn’t easy. It can often end in an argument, or worse still, not be spoken about at all. At Gambler’s Help, we understand it’s a difficult conversation to have, but we can help you with the things you need to say. You can call our free and confidential 24-hour service anytime. OGR0068_M_VFL_210x140.indd 1 21/8/09 10:02:53 AM ProudProud SponsorSponsor of VFLVFL SeasonSeason 20092005 54287 Four’n Twenty VFL Sponsorship Record 10-03-2005 (145 x 70mm) A.V. VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Ph: 9583 8307 Mob. 0411 122 237 • Corporate Official • Training Videographers • Seminars of the VFL since 1996. • Weddings • Special Events CALL US FOR ALL YOUR VIDEO PRODUCTION NEEDS • Sports 1st semi FiNAL ReVIEW Box Hill’s Luke Breust Box Hill provided yet another tried valiantly to get his side over the line, twist when Mark Williams goaled booting successive goals to reduce the margin to less than in the last quarter. a kick with two minutes left on the clock. While the VFL Hawks fought frenetically to create chances in the dying seconds, Port Melbourne held firm to win an outstanding contest. However, victory came at a price for Port Melbourne, with captain John Baird injuring his Achilles and not re-appearing after half-time. He will not play in the preliminary final. The Box Hill Hawks also lost one of their prime movers when Sam Iles injured his hamstring and, of course, they were already without prolific possession winner Steve Kenna. Toby Pinwill, back from suspension, was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Borough’s win. Pinwill’s hard work in the clinches and stoppages continually saw Port on the attack. 1st semi Final Nathan Batsanis, who spent last season with Box Hill, also Port Melbourne 19.14 (128) proved most effective, along with Ryan McMahon. Bonaddio produced his biggest haul for Box Hill Hawks 19.10 (124) some considerable time, a most encouraging sign with the season on the line. ess than 16 hours after three-quarter time, and when The VFL Hawks were again the Collingwood-Adelaide Luke Breust kicked successive well served by ruckman Tim AFL semi final was goals and Jarryd Morton added Walsh and veteran Adem Yze, proclaimed as one of another, the Hawks were up by who seems to have unlimited time Lthe all-time classics, the VFL 10 points at the 19-minute mark whenever he’s in possession, produced one of its own. of the final stanza. along with defender Haydn Kiel, Port Melbourne and the Box But Port Melbourne was far a Hawthorn rookie. Hill Hawks played a semi final from finished. For the loser, this was always for the ages, a thriller from the Corey McGrath re-ignited the going to be a heartbreaking end get-go with more twists and turns Borough with a booming goal on to the season, and for the victor than an Agatha Christie novel. the run from outside 50, and then the chance to move one step It was the Borough that minutes later Adrian Bonaddio closer to the VFL’s holy grail. emerged from this epic with a snapped his fifth major. Within Certainly, it was the most four-point win, the same margin a twinkling, Port Melbourne held riveting finals match this season, that stood at half-time. Following the advantage, and that grip was and right up there with the five lead changes in the third galvanised when McGrath added Williamstown-Frankston semi term, the scores were tied at another driving goal. final from last year. 6 / visit: victorianfootballleague.com.au ??????????????????????????? Adrian Bonaddio was a hero last weekend, booting five goals for the Borough. VFL ReCORD / 7 2nd semi FINAL ReVIEW Bulldogs big man The warning signs came Wayde skipper proved a rare shining light extremely early – 22 seconds into for Williamstown. the first quarter, to be precise, when Chris Dawes snapped truly from near the goalsquare. Fifteen minutes and five goals later, Collingwood had stolen a 32-point march, but Williamstown, to its credit, shut down the Magpies in the second half of the quarter. When it was the Seagulls’ turn to kick to the end that was favoured by what was seemed a five-goal advantage, they managed just one goal. If that wasn’t bad enough, Collingwood added two of its own, including a brilliant snap by Danny Stanley, fast establishing himself as the player of the final series. Stanley’s goal was surpassed by a stirring bouncing run from Jarrad Blight, whose shot from 60 metres bounced through to extend Collingwood’s lead to seven 2nd semi Final goals midway through the third quarter. In reply, Williamstown, Collingwood 13.16 (94) led superbly by captain Brett Johnson, kicked the last two goals of the quarter to generate a slight Williamstown 7.12 (54) momentum shift. And, when Patrick Rose and Andrejs Everitt slotted the first ast weekend, Rusling, who had all played telling two goals of the last quarter, Williamstown coach roles in lifting the VFL Magpies Williamstown somehow was only Brad Gotch was left to past the Casey Scorpions in the 20 points down with 15 minutes L ponder the question so elimination final.