INJURIES TO TEST BOROUGH

As every premiership coach knows, it takes a bit of luck to take home the premiership cup. And there's nothing like injuries to key defenders to test a side's metal. With Ben Schwarze out with a serious shoulder injury and Kangaroos Leigh Colbert and Glenn Archer missing next week the mighty Borough could be stretched against North Ballarat in Sunday's First Qualifying Final. When the sides last met, in round 17, the Roosters collapsed under Port's intense pressure and skill. However, this time there'll be no Corey McKernan to terrorise Roosters defender Shaune Moloney inside fifty, and with key defender John Baird likely to be selected to play with the Kangaroos and the 12/10 rule coming into operation the scales might tilt towards the Roosters.

If the Roosters are to win the game they'll need to dominate inside their attacking fifty. If Nathan Saunders and Brent Tuckey, who was terrible against Port, can put the Port defence under acute pressure the opportunities will not only open up for Djaren Whyman and Shane Hutchinson, but the defence will have time to breathe. In round 17 the rebound from defence was such that the Rooster defence had no hope. With Saunders (41), Tuckey (31) and Whyman (28) kicking 100 goals between them, the Roosters can't afford these players to go missing. With Schwarze - and probably Baird - missing down back the Rooster forwards might just be the keys to the game.

In round 17 the Roosters looked nowhere near as fit and strong as Port. Was it because they were under acute pressure? Or is there simply no hope for stand alone VFL clubs? Whatever the answer to these questions, one fact remains. Roosters coach Stevie Wright must be at his best if his side is to win. If the likes of Jeremy Clayton, Ben Robbins, Shane Clayton and Leigh Harding aren't placed under constant pressure in the midfield, and if the dynamo, Steve Lawrence, wins the psychological war the Roosters will struggle. In a changing VFL, North Ballarat carries a heavy burden. Let's hope they're up to it.

A TIGER WITH A HEART OF GOLD

In the aftermath of Saturday's inspiring victory over Coburg, Shaun Smith shed a stream of tears. Injured early, after fearlessly flying for a mark, in what was his 100th game with Werribee, Smith reminded his team-mates and viewers on ABC TV that the club is still the central force in the game of football. At a time when alignments have changed the face of the old VFA his emotional state was timely. Without players reaching these milestones and crying about them from time to time the VFL could easily be transformed into a colourless conduit to the big end of town AFL, and players could lose the sense of history that drives great clubs. Smith's emotion did more than simply reflect his love of the club and the game. It told us something about the culture of the Werribee team.

With wins against finalists the Bendigo Bombers, Sandringham and Coburg, and a narrow loss in round 13 to North Ballarat in the second half of the season there's every reason to believe Barry Prendergast's team has the talent and spirit to go all the way. Although the Zebras are in good form, this promises to be a desperately hard fought game at Port on Saturday.

THE BEST FIT?

For the second year in a row Box Hill will host a home final, when it meets a somewhat out of sorts Coburg on Saturday. Although VFL general manager Martin Stillman advised me that the loss of undercover seating at Coburg due to the pre-season fire worked against the higher placed Coburg hosting the final, I don't agree with the decision. I can understand it, but I don't agree with it. The cover at Coburg, even in the damaged grandstand, is comparable to Box Hill. A final at Coburg would have provided the VFL with a great opportunity to test support for the VFL in the northern suburbs, where local football is strongly supported. It would also have made use of the only fully terraced ground in the VFL. Sure, the safe thing to do was to play the game at Box Hill. However, with the Coburg Oval the centre of a turf war between the Coburg Cricket Club and the football club this was an opportunity to do something a little more challenging. And talking politics, can you believe that the Moreland Council let parking inspectors roam through the car park on Saturday afternoon pinching players who parked in the three hour car parks? If that's not bureaucracy gone mad, I don't know what is.

Saturday 28th August

Game 2 - Second Qualifying Final
Sandringham v Werribee
TEAC Oval - 1.40pm - ABC TV

Game 4 - Second Elimination Final
Coburg Tigers v Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill City Oval - 2.00pm

Game 3 - First Elimination Final
Tasmania v Bendigo Bombers
York Park - 6.30pm

Sunday 29th August
Game 1 - First Qualifying Final
Port Melbourne v North Ballarat
TEAC Oval - 1.10pm - ABC TV

G'Day Phil

My name is Michael Coulsell and just to give you a quick background I have been following the VFA/VFL for many years with no particular allegiance as I have frieds that Barrack for many different teams.

I have allways had a few teams that I didn't mind supporting and over the years the way AFL has gone much prefer to go to a VFL game when my AFL side Richmond are not playing.

Which brings me to Coburg - I have started following them more closely, obviously because of the affiliation with the Tigers.

Now 2 questions

1/ If Coburg finished higher on the ladder WHY does Box Hill
get a home game ??

2/ If as stated by the VFL they would try and fixture around the affiliate sides WHY did Box Hill get preference once again ?
I will be going to Richmonds last game so will miss week 1 of Coburg - if Coburg win and make it to round 2 I will miss that also as it will most likely be in Tassie.

So unless they win that I will not see Coburg in the Finals !

As per the 2 points above - if the VFL are going to start bending and manipulating like the AFL - I'll just have to end up going to the locals to get back to real suburban no Bulls#$t rules and conditions.

Thanks for your time

Best Regards
Michael

Hi Phil,

I totally agree with you on the Box Hill v Coburg match. That is twice in 2 years Box Hill have played their first final at home despite the fact that the opposition finished higher. The Coburg ground is in good nick and would be worthy of a final.

I see that you are MC for the Dandenong team of the century. I will be there no worries. I copied some tapes for Brett Fitzpatrick who was on the Southern Footy show with Pat Flaherty. They showed a bit of the old footage. It should be a great night at the dandenong Team of the Century. They will reform next season and takeover Dandy West. Interestingly Dandenong started in the VFA at the showgrounds before moving to Shepley Oval. They will most likely play at the Showgrounds and move to Shepley in 2006 when Springy goes to Cranbourne.

Camberwell who have another function in 3 weeks and should reform and play in the EFL. Lloyd Holyioke should start the ball rolling. It would be great if the Cobras were running around again in the old red/white and blue. What Camberwell should do for at least next year is organise with Box Hill to play either Port, Will, Sandy or even Coburg at Camberwell sports ground in at least a one off match at the ground. That would waken all the cobras out there and give them the urge to reform. I am sure Ken Gannon would approve the match at Camberwell.

This week's matches -

Port v North Ballarat should be a lot closer than last time. I have a suscpicion that a few North players might have dropped their heads as North seem to have bombed out of the finals race. An injury to Schwarze, no McKernan and the 12/10 AFL player rule will tip the scales for the Roosters especially if they can win in the middle and jump the borough. Werribee v Sandy will be a pearler. Werribee are playing good footy and Sandy have rediscovered their earlier form a lot depends on who is available. Tassie will respond to the thrashing it copped from Bendigo last week and will be a different story at York Park in front of 15,000 people. Box Hill v Coburg will be a close hard struggle that will go doen to the wire. All up very intersting week of footy coming up.

Cheers Phil

from George Paras

ps I might start coverting a lot of my old VFA tapes to DVD as it will preserve the quality.

I will forward you results from our VFL tipping comp.
Can you please mention our tipping results on your broadcast match on the weekend.
Thanks