VFL ROUND 17 AUGUST 2-3, 2014 $3.00 WWilliamstownilliamstown ccontinuesontinues wwinninginning rrunun BBoxox HHillill HHawksawks 116.19.1156.19.115 d CCoburgoburg 114.9.934.9.93 Photos: Jenny Owens AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Big few weeks ahead in the race for a finals spot Eleven doesn’t fi t into eight nor does twelve or for that matter, thirteen, but these are the current scenarios as the Peter Jackson VFL season enters the business end of the home and away season. With four home and away rounds remaining in the 2014 The fi ght for a fi nals berth will provide an additional season, no fewer than 13 clubs still have a mathematical incentive of the next few weeks for not only the players chance of fi nishing in the eight and participating in the and their clubs, but also for members and supporters to VFL Legendairy fi nals series. attend games to lend their vocal support. It is not only a battle for clubs making the eight, but also The race for the TAC Cup fi nals is also intense with all those clubs within it that are jostling for a top four fi nish. clubs mathematically still in the race to play fi nals. A top four fi nish can bring the coveted double chance and What provides added interest to the fi nal few rounds of the possibility of a home fi nal in the opening week. the TAC Cup season and fi nals is the availability of the Selection of fi nals venues for the fi rst week - outside of many talented players who have missed games during the two games at North Port Oval, Port Melbourne as per the year due to national championship duties or school our agreement with ABC TV - have yet to be fi nalised. football commitments. Certainly, the full time return of: Reece McKenzie In recent years, clubs who fi nish with a higher position (Northern Knights), Ed Vickers-Willis (Sandringham are rewarded with a home fi nal. No club can lay claim Dragons), Jordan De Goey (Oakleigh Chargers), Corey Ellis at this stage to fi nishing in a particular position and that (Western Jets), Jayden Laverde (Western Jets), Daniel certainly adds to the interest of the concluding rounds. McKenzie (Oakleigh Chargers), Hugh Goddard (Geelong It reinforces what has been a highly competitive VFL Falcons), Charles Curnow (Geelong Falcons), Patrick season with just three games separating fi fth through 12 McCartin (Geelong Falcons), Lukas Webb (Gippsland on the ladder. Power) along with Daniel Capiron and Jacob Weitering It underscores the depth of talent that plays each and (Dandenong Stingrays) will be welcomed. every week as well as highlighting how just about any These emerging players will gain further opportunities to club on any given day can prevail regardless of their showcase their ability, push their club’s claims to win the ladder position. TAC Cup premiership and enhance their claims to impress Such competitiveness is what strengthens and adds to AFL recruiting staffs ahead of the various forms of the AFL Draft later this year. the appeal of the Peter Jackson VFL. An exciting month for all concerned at the Peter Jackson Every match over the coming four weeks will be pivotal in VFL and TAC Cup awaits. not only whether a club makes the fi nals, but where they will sit within the eight to launch their bid for the 2014 Grant Williams Peter Jackson VFL premiership. AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Kate Mitchell Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 State League & Talent Manager: John Hook www.afl vic.com.au High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: Sean Hetherington, Williamstown Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Talent Operations Coordinator: Lauren Bunting www.vfl .com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE ABC TV Saturday August 2: Essendon vs Williamstown, 1pm Next Week: Collingwood vs Essendon VFL Radio Sunday August 3: Werribee vs Port Melbourne. From 1:30pm Live on Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN I-Phone Apps, online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au and on Vision Australia Radio on 1179AM Next game: Williamstown v Northern Blues 3WBC Saturday August 2: Collingwood vs Box Hill Hawks, 12pm Listen to 94.1FM, online at www.3wbc.org.au or the Tune In Radio app Next game: Frankston vs Box Hill Hawks Casey Radio Saturday August 2: Casey Scorpions vs Northern Blues, 1pm Tune to 97.7fm in Melbourne, via the web at www.caseyradio.com.au, or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. Next game: Port Melbourne vs Casey Scorpions Tiger Radio Saturday August 2: Richmond vs Sandringham, 12:45pm Users can listen by downloading Richmond’s app, via the iTunes App Store or Google Play, and choose ‘VFL Radio’ in the menu or via link on www.richmondfc.com.au Next game: Bendigo vs Richmond SEN Thursday August 7 The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8:30pm – 9pm Peter Jackson VFL Podcast Visit the VFL website each Tuesday for the Peter Jackson VFL Podcast. Join Peter Marcato and Anthony Stanguts this week as they analyse the round, and chat to special guests. Find the link on vfl .com.au or search ‘AFL Victoria’ on SoundCloud VFL Online Keep up to date with the Peter Jackson VFL via the following methods: Website: www.vfl .com.au @VFLnews #PJVFL www.facebook.com/vfl footy 2 www.afl vic.com.au THE RUN HOME The run home Port Melbourne heads the largest fi eld of clubs for more than a decade into the home straight of the 2014 VFL home and away season. The Borough is clearly the club the others have to beat, but they don’t award any medallions or fl ags in early August. Not only is there the scramble for clubs to make the eight - Frankston is still a mathematical chance after stringing three successive wins - but also the jostling for positions, particularly at the top end of the ladder. It makes the fi nal month of the home and away season very interesting. Here’s a snapshot of the race into the fi nals, club by club: PORT MELBOURNE Position: First Win/Loss: 12-2 Percentage: 137.78 What’s happened so far: After surging from the starting gates, Port Melbourne has retained the position as the clear front runner, the club others have to catch in this season’s premiership race. The Borough won its fi rst seven games, had its winning streak snapped by Geelong at the spacious Simonds Stadium then encountered a reality check when Footscray thumped them by six goals at the North Port Oval, a fortress during Gary Ayres reign as coach. Port Melbourne has responded in stunning style winning its next fi ve games in emphatic fashion with the match against Essendon - a three point win - the BOX HILL HAWKS only match that wasn’t won by 29-points or greater. Position: Second Admittedly, they were against clubs not in the eight, Win/Loss: 10-3-1 but that’s how good clubs roll. Percentage: 135.6 Likely scenario: With a one and a half game break on its nearest rival Box Hill Hawks, and a favourable run What’s happened so far: Box Hill Hawks have home, it is hard to imagine Port Melbourne not fi nishing certainly given themselves every opportunity to post a on top of the ladder. And, that brings with it a home club fi rst - back-to-back premierships. The VFL Hawks fi nal. While the venues for the fi rst week of the fi nals could easily mount a case they could be undefeated haven’t been locked away, the Borough’s performance this season. Inexplicably they drew with Sandringham this season deserves a home fi nal - and that’s a and its three defeats have been two points (North daunting prospect for any would-be fi nalist. Port Ballarat), three points (Essendon) and seven points (Port Melbourne is well poised for a 17th fl ag. Melbourne). Who’s ahead: Werribee (away), Casey (home), Certainly, Box Hill Hawks have capitalised on the Northern Blues (away), North Ballarat (home) remarkable depth of affi liate Hawthorn - Hawthorn www.vfl .com.au 3 THE RUN HOME premiership player David Hale has played a couple of Dogs become such a strong combination may fi nd games, so too Brian Lake, while Kyle Cheyney, Ben themselves not having played enough games to qualify Ross, Mitch Hallahan and Billy Hartung are staples of in the fi nals. Also, with the Bulldogs not in the AFL Box Hill Hawks success. fi nals the temptation is always there for the coaching Likely scenario: With a favorable run home it is hard staff to decide to close some players down for the to imagine Box Hill Hawks dropping out of the top four, season. but just where the VFL Hawks will launch its Who’s ahead: Bendigo (home), Werribee (away), premiership defence from remains uncertain. It’s Casey (HG), Richmond (away) unlikely that Box Hill Hawks will reel in Port Melbourne, which holds a one and a half game buffer over them. Conversely, Box Hill Hawks can ill afford to take its foot WILLIAMSTOWN off the accelerator as Footscray and Williamstown are Position: Fourth just a half game behind them.