VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 11 JUNE 21-22, 2008 $ INC EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE 3 GST Congratulations to DAVID ARMITAGE (Casey Scorpions) This week’s winner of the Ford “Best on Ground” Ute Visit theoval.com.au for more information. theoval.com.au D07820.FordOval-RecordAd-Armitage.indd 1 16/6/08 4:28:05 PM EDITORIAL As the 2008 season sweeps into its second half, it’s timely An encouraging to reflect on what has been an extremely busy and productive VFL year to date. first half Certainly, it has become clear how vitally important it is for the But VFL to keep striving to improve national football code that the VFL provides a strong and viable players before, they will soon be Last month, the VFL received football pathway. on their radars. a huge boost when the State While Victoria has the But, obviously, there are issues Government committed $10 highly successful TAC Cup, it’s that need to be addressed. million to capital improvements imperative the VFL continues to The uneven number of teams in across the VFL clubs. make significant strides just as the VFL reserves presents fixturing Combined with the existing it has since the competition was problems with byes and stretches assistance of local councils and revamped in 2000. club resources when games can’t AFL Victoria, there is now a strong We must aim to increase the be scheduled before senior games. foundation to improve facilities at number of players drafted out But the reserves is critical to all our clubs. This is a high priority of the VFL and this is a strong the traditional VFL club structure, as first-class facilities help to possibility given the AFL’s plans environment and culture – and entice players to the competition to introduce two new interstate offers a clearly defined pathway. and give them every opportunity licences in coming years. And, as we have seen in recent to maximise their talent. The VFL will be scrutinised like years, the VFL’s standard has lifted Unquestionably, it has been an never before as between 80-90 considerably. encouraging start to the year, but additional players are added to While on-field performances several challenges await. We must AFL lists. continue to rise, it’s crucial they are tackle them with determination, Opportunities will open up matched off field. Clubs must be dedication and discipline to not only for players straight from well managed, as we are only as ensure a strong, viable VFL the TAC Cup, but also for late strong as our weakest link. that benefits the wider football bloomers like Dale Morris, Jake We have to strive to continue to community. King and Simon Taylor. improve. Ensuring clubs have solid Where AFL clubs may administrations and employ good John Hook rarely have considered drafting people only ensures the VFL’s Football Operations Manager, 22-24-year-old state league continued success. AFL Victoria DANNY NICHOLLS EASTLINK CUP MID-SEASON REVIEW AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer: VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 11 Peter Schwab CONTENTS JUNE 21-22, 2008 Football Operations Manager: RECORD John Hook Young Gun: Danny Nicholls 5 COVER: Frankston skipper Statistics: Sam Coen Manager Director, Geoff Slattery Publishing: Round 12 preview 6 Shaun Pollard and Box Hill Geoff Slattery Editor: Nick Bowen Frankston’s proud tradition 7 Hawks captain Alister Neville Designer: Karl Chandler prepare to do battle this Sunday Photo Manager: Natalie Boccassini Round 11 statistics 12-13 Photography: Getty Images (02) 9004 2250 HOW THE for the inaugural EastLink Cup. Advertising: Jennifer Pryor (03) 8663 3007 Team and squad lists 17-20 Printed by: Condor Printing EAST WAS WON The EastLink Cup 21 DolphinsDolphins aandnd HawksHawks dodo battlebattle forfor EastLinkEastLink CupCup Address correspondence: The Editor, GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, 3001. EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE ROUND 11 JUNE 21-22, 2008 $3 Phone: (03) 8663 3000 Mid-season review 22-27 VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD 3 We make it easier to go green. 10% wind power at no extra cost. You don’t need to change your life much to help save the If you’re keen to help in other ways, the TRUenergy environment. Simply switch to a TRUenergy Go Green website provides an energy audit calculator and energy electricity plan, which offers 10% wind power at no efficiency tips which help you reduce your energy use extra cost, plus a 3% discount if you pay by the due date. and minimise your impact on the environment. Or if you’re happy to pay a bit more, TRUenergy has a To find out more, call 1800 005 937 (8am to 6.30pm range of different plans, with up to 100% wind power. Monday to Friday) or visit truenergy.com.au/gogreen TRUenergy Pty Ltd. ABN 99 086 014 968. TRU0131 VFL 28x5.indd 1 11/4/08 2:15:06 PM YOUNG GUN: DANNY NICHOLLS Danny’s still dreaming Magpie sees VFL as launch pad back to AFLAFL For two years Danny Nicholls play with Collingwood’s VFL team lived the AFL dream. and just give it my best shot.” The kid from Rowville, via the At the half-way point of the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC season, Nicholls has done just that, Cup, spent the 2006-07 seasons as evidenced by his selection for on Collingwood’s rookie list. the VFL team in its match against During that time, Nicholls South Australia last month. racked up 27 games with While naturally disappointed Williamstown, but at the end of last that Victoria season Collingwood chose not to was comprehensively upgrade him to its senior list. beaten, Nicholls described It left the then 20-year-old to the experience as an rebuild a shattered dream. “honour” and a “good While he attracted offers from learning curve”. other VFL clubs, Nicholls decided Collingwood has to play with the Magpies’ new VFL struggled so far to make team, where he hopes to relaunch an impact in the VFL, but his AFL dream. Nicholls has been one of its For some being delisted consistently good players. would have been hard to take, Nicholls said Collingwood but Nicholls said Collingwood VFL coach Gavin Brown had handled it professionally, telling been supportive, giving him a him he had nothing wrong in his weekly assessment of how his two years. game was progressing. “When they told me I just “He tells me the positives and copped it on the chin,” he said. negatives of my game and what to “They said my form had been work on,” Nicholls said. good and just to keep my head up “I have to try to fight my way and have a crack at the VFL, try to back in there and work my butt off play consistent football and see if I and show I’m worth another shot. could get back on (an AFL) list. “I just want to raise the “I was comfortable staying with bar each week and not the club (Collingwood). I knew drop off.” all the players and I just wanted More than anything, to really concentrate on playing Nicholls wants to rekindle consistent football. his dream. “My manager had a chat with a Danny Nicholls has been few clubs about what I was going one of the standouts for to do, but I was pretty happy to Collingwood in 2008. VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD 55 PREVIEW Casey Scorpions where it kicked Werribee must a season-low eight goals, host Port Melbourne in a match that has top-four ramifications. face the Devils The Zebras trail the Borough by one match, but a victory, Finals race looks over for the loser thanks to its superior percentage, would see them climb above Port. If Sandringham loses it would give Werribee Tigers coach Simon Atkins will be Port a two-game break. hoping round 11 can Port Melbourne, riding spark a revival for his a four-game winning streak, side in the second half of the year. will fancy its chances against the depleted Zebras. North Ballarat emerged from its round two match against the Bendigo Bombers with a 52-point win. But, Bendigo, with Hayden Skipworth and Brent Hartigan in form and experienced Essendon players Jason Johnson and Damien Peverill in tow, are now a much better team. It promises to be a thriller. It would not be unfair to say the in round nine then last round The Coburg Tigers will be Werribee Tigers have been one overcame a six-goal half-time fired up to tackle the in-form of the disappointments of the deficit to defeat the Coburg Tigers Casey Scorpions. first half of the season. by six points. For the third time this season, Werribee has only once won Werribee, on the other hand, Coburg last week lost a match successive games and now faces lost by 37 points to Coburg in that it seemingly had in its a tough road to the finals if it goes round nine then coughed up a keeping. Back at home, look for down to Tasmania in round 11. five-goal quarter-time lead to be it to rebound. Remarkably, Tasmania has the Box Hill Hawks’ first victim of Williamstown should extend never beaten the Werribee Tigers the season. Collingwood’s losing streak to – the only club the Devils have not Currently, Werribee and seven. The Seagulls defeated defeated since they joined the VFL Tasmania sit 11th and 12th Collingwood by 11 goals in round in 2001. respectively, separated by six two; a similar result awaits the Tasmania has put aside percentage points. The victor Magpies this round.